Top Gear Australia Season 2 finale preview
June 24, 2009 by George Skentzos
Just as Top Gear in the UK starts off its new series, our own home-grown version is set to come to a climactic close with the final episode of the second season due to air next Monday.
In the finale, Steve claims his prize for beating James in the mobility scooter race by reviewing the iconic Ford Falcon GTHO Phase 3 before leaving it in the hands of the Stig for a benchmark lap.
Meanwhile, Warren Brown drives the car that Porsche said they would never build, racing a diesel Cayenne SUV against an Australian stock horse.
With a “route that has more bends than a contortionist’s Christmas party,” Warren negotiates the winding mountain roads while the horse takes a Man from Snowy River approach.
Then it’s Warren versus James in the battle of the super luxury sedans, pitting the most expensive Japanese car on sale in Australia, the Lexus LS600hL, against the German luxury icon – the Mercedes Benz S-Class.
“How predictable, a big grey Mercedes. How challenging!” said James. “Coming from you who’s turned up in an automotive equivalent of a digital watch,” said Warren.
Finally, an onscreen underworld character is the ‘Star in a Bog Standard Car’ with Gyton Grantley taking the wheel of the Proton.
Print it: 
I can honestly say I have not seen one episode of this attempt of comedy, oh that’s right it’s about cars!!
laurie
nothing will ever be as good as the origonal
Just to look at Top Gear Australia itself, it is a good show.
But it becomes lame after comparing with the original Top Gear UK, the AU version just doesn’t have that blinking inspiration.
Of course it’s not as good as the original.
But, it’s bloody good for a show of it’s own.
As least the content is more revelant to Australians than the pommy version.
As an Aussie living in the UK for the last 7 years, I like both, but ATG is fun to watch and check out the latest Aussie cars.
I liked the first series better with Charlie Cox, who is now working for the BBC TV, doing MotoGP commentary.
Stop complaining. We’re the only country to get an export of this show.
And of course it’s not as good as the original; take a look at Top Gear UK season 1+2, and tell me how good they were. And also TGUK’s current budget to take into account.
We wanted a Top Gear and we got it. It might be different but let it grow.
There’s also Top Gear Russia. And to be honest it’s better than Top Gear AU.
Yep, TOP GEAR Russia is alright…
The problem with Top Gear Australia, is their sad attempt at humor… Charlie Cox was alright, he had character, but they got rid of him.
I can’t stand the two other clowns , they are bloody nerds, and they try too hard to be funny, Yet they aren’t!!
It evolving. Definitely heading in the right direction, when are we going to launch a Holden into the stratosphere? Steve and James seem to “act” a little too much. They don’t have the chemistry enjoyed by the U.K franchise. I’m proud of the Aussie effort and look forward to giving the third series my continued support.
I tried watching this show on Monday night but couldn’t deal with it. Its still far too cringing – I feel embaressed for the presenters.
Dejavu has a good point. Top Gear Oz is nowhere near as good as UK Top Gear but it is still not too bad as a stand alone show. The first few seasons of Top Gear UK are horrid compared too the last 7 or 8 seasons. The first few with the big dude as a co host doing 2nd hand car reports etc. I found a complete joke. That is because I saw the later seasons with James May and then saw these earlier seasons. Because I had a superior benchmark from which too judge, the earlier seasons looked like complete rubbish. Top Gear Oz has a far superior product in Top Gear UK too be judged against so of course it is going too look lame in comparison. I must say that James Morrison has really surprised me. The first episode I did not like and I wanted gravelly voiced Charlie back, but now it is Charlie Who?
It just goes too show how important Captain Slow is too the UK show as a whole. Yes JC and Hamster get the credit for the show but Captain Slow is a very important ingredient for the show’s success IMO!
“Charlie Cox was alright” – You’ve got to be kidding me?
He was useless. He shouted all the time, waved his hands around aimlessly, and tried too hard to behave like Jeremy Clarkson.
This season has been heaps better than the first, but it still feels like they’re trying too hard to emulate the UK series. For example, the guys running into each others’ cars at the start of the VIP limo challenge. That was a plain ripoff of something the UK guys would do.
Hooray, this is nearlty at an end.
Could only bear to watch the first one to see if James Morrison could overwhelm the two idiots, but sadly not.
Just watched TGUK S13 E1 and even on their reduced budget, it’s MILES ahead. TGAU will NEVER achieve anything close to UK while the two idiots are kept on.
Even the first season of TG-UK was better than the TG-AU version, and that is for one simple reason: TG-UK was and is and always will be foremost a show about cars, with a good measure of comedy and entertainment thrown in. TG-AU however, is always trying too hard to be funny and entertaining and then they remember it’s supposed to have cars in it…
All TG-AU car tests and the other things they do on the show are completely pointless! The TG-UK show does have a couple of fun (and entertaining) stories on it, but when it comes down to it, they always review and test cars properly…
After watching TG-UK I always feel like I’ve learned something about cars, like which is better, worse, etc. But after watching TG-AU I feel like it’s supposed to be a car show but instead it’s a try-hard comedy show that is ackward and not informative and that they put “funny” first and “cars” last…
I hate how they show the world Australia through these bogans eyes. Yes world we still paddock bash and drive in outback hurling unsophisticated english and stereotype jokes about other people.
Now wonder the big players don’t give these idiots their nice cars. This show should die, and so should its view of Australia.
I think they’ve tried hard to improve series 2 and while better than series 1 they still have a lot to do.
After fixing the camera and track work from last series (so much better IMO) as a few have touched on before they need to get rid of those two morons who are not funny and make me cringe. I like James Morrison he’s natural and brings across his own excitment at driving the cars.
I am amazed out how perfect the complainers are here! Get a life. It’s only a show. Don’t watch it if you don’t want. My standards and expectations aren’t in the stratosphere as many here seem to be. I just like watching shows for what they are and I don’t try and change it to what I expect it to be……so many overly judgemental people these days……can’t please anyone it seems.
Personally I like the show. It’s building a reputation but with a change of presenter it takes time to get back into the swing with chemistry. I think there have been funnier and more interesting episodes this year than last and I will continue to support the Aussie version as well as the UK version. Both have their place in my opinion. I am not perfect and don’t expect everyone else to be!!
Dont forget Fifth gear! (UK)
Less comedy but they fit in a sh*load more cars.
I don’t normally watch it because it’s not informative nor is it entertaining ( to me).In the 10 minutes I’ve seen of this years episodes James Morrison seems ill at ease and Steve is an absolute goose. The concept of rehashing old car ads just proves how bereft of ideas they really are. Maybe a few road tests wouldn’t go astray.Rather than copying the UK it may be better to base the show around the actual talents and ability that your hosts possess.
I watch the show every monday because i love cars and am a car nut.. BUT…. i tell ya it is a hard stretch to do it. Warren just makes me what to burn my ears off with a hot firestick. He is just sooooo NOT funny, it makes me cringe, I hate it especially when he interviews people for about FOREVER and laughs at any and everything they say and doesnt ask what cars they love or drive most of the time, he really makes me cringe more the steve.
steve is ok but he needs to stay off the ADHD meds for one show.
I know i will get crucified for saying this, but the show on saturday afternoons Test Drive is what topgear should come close too…..not exact but close, atleast they review car proeprly, dont get overexcited about everything and they act naturally……
anyhow….BRING ON TGUK PLEASEEEE SBS….SOOON…
i feel it will be after the dam tour de france is finished…dam
oh what!! no more comparing Audi to a commodore….ROFL!!
But just to add to my 2 cents above….Im glad we have a car show at all…and this is so much better than nothing… :)
exactly, now we have both.
series 2 is far far far better than series 1 omo
The TGAUS boys do make me cringe with their attempts at humor at times but at the same time I dont think they are doing that bad of a job, TGUK is a class act and anyone is going to be hard pressed to even come close to it, TGUK really is THAT GOOD and its popularity just continues to grow, very rare to find three hosts who gel and bounce off each other so well like these guys do.
I would prefer to see the TGAU fellas at least trying to be funny as opposed to presenting the show in a Leyland Brothers monotone style.
Try to watch it as a standalone show and give it a fair chance to develop.
TGA is pretty good despite having a fraction of the budget of TGUK. I’m sick of all the whingers bagging the local product. If you think you could do a better job then come up with your own program. Sell your house and put your money where your mouth is. Clarkson, Hammond and May have been around for years before Top Gear and are experienced presenters – our guys aren’t and need time to develop.
Elitist and Thomas69 never fail to amuse me with their pearls of wisdom.LOL
Top Gear Australia = EPIC FAIL
Top Gear on bbs = best show ever
The hosts on Top Gear australia are just plain shit! Steve’s alright but the other two are just way too bogan and nerdy
Realcars, do your comments ever have substance?
The Aussie Top Gearjust tries too hard to be funny… The UK guys in comparisson are natural and just having fun. It’s as if SBS is always constantly telling James, Steve and other guy (the one with the bad pr0n-actor mustach whos not funny at all) that they must try to be funny at all costs.
If I wanted to see fake and bad acting, I would watch “Home And a Ghey” or “Gaybours”… stupid soapies that never seem to end…
“Then it’s Warren versus James in the battle of the super luxury sedans, pitting the most expensive Japanese car on sale in Australia, the Lexus LS600hL, against the German luxury icon – the Mercedes Benz S-Class.”
Can’t wait for one of these morons to say “I’d get a Caprice, and pocket the change. Australian engineering equals the best from Germany and Japan, honestly you’re a badge snob if you choose a Lexus or Benz over a Holden”.
When will they put down this lame show?
Season 2 is better than season 1 and season 3 will be better again.
Sure, its not as good as TGUK but at least it has relavance to australia which keeps it entertaining. And its an aussie car show which i can easily stay awake to watch. The other ones are a bit boring IMO.
Top Gear AU is not a car show. It’s a bad try-hard comedy show with some cars in it. None of the tests are really relevant in the real world.
TG-AU answers the questions that nobody is asking. No rich person wonders if they would lose a pointless “race” against a jet sky. No dictators want to know if a Kombi would be a safe transport for them. No one in their right or even crazy mind would convert a crappy 80’s Honda into a ute, they would just buy a proper ute like everyone else. Etc, etc, etc… Yes things like these are great in small doses to “break the ice” between serious car tests, but a show that is all about idiotic lunacy that is NOT funny, simply shouldn’t be allowed to call itself a car show.
Someone please tell them to test cars properly!!! At least every now and then!!! And not just drive it on a race track, do a real world test like the proper ones we see here on Car Advice!!
Laurie,if you havn’t watched it, how or why do you comment.DUH
To the rest of you utter whingers, for EFS sake dont watch it.
Is that simple enough for your simple minds ? THE OFF BUTTON
By the way, its a TV show, not life saving surgery.
GET LIVES
Nemesis – you also perfectly described TGUK, they goof off, have stupid races and aren’t very serious and test cars that 99% of their viewers could never afford.
It’s all about fun, having a laugh and fast cars.
That what these shows are about.
The whole idea of things like converting the Honda into a ute, is about the fun doing it, of course no one outside the show would do something like that.
I love both versions of the show, great entertainment.
Do any of you even know how long top gear has actually been going in the UK ?
Have you heard of Tiff Needell.
This show is an absolute dud, its up there with neighbours and home and away. But then again they probably rate higher than this.
@Allergic To Nuts Etc
Isnt tiff needell from 5th gear????
Meek & feeble attempts at replicating the original wit of Jeremy Clarkson is terrible!
Charlie Cox was the worst. It has improved since he has left but still offers little insight into the world of cars in Australia.
Its almost an insult to the audiences intelligence as to how little detail is covered!
More emphasis is placed on amusing simple minds with stupid stunts instead of properly reviewing a vehicle and the drive it offers.
I agree that the show is getting better, but the creators of the show have missed the target, big-time! One of the best segments on the show has been Mark Skaife doing his hot-lap, so why can’t we get good drivers who have a good sense of humour. The V8 news show with Skaifie, Brad Jones etc is 10 times more entertaining because they are a true reflection of aussies.. Passionate about their cars, but aren’t nerdy enough to sit in their bedroom and think drawing cartoons when you are an adult is in the slightest bit amusing.. IT ISN’T!!!!!! Please inject some life and personality into this show so it isn’t so cringeworthy.
Love the fanboys who are hitting the thumbs down button on anyone who criticizes Top Gear Australia. Well here’s something for you to cry about. To the people who think it shouldn’t be compared to the original. Of course people will, if they wanted it judged independently, the producers of the original shouldn’t have sold the franchises to other countries. It feels like a bad replica of the original! In a world where you can’t see the original, that would be ok, You could get away with it. But MaK is spot on. The humor in insincere, everything is just in order to imitate the original. This is from production elements including theme music, opening sequence, studio set, titles, camera work, editing.. it’s all just copycat. Then there is the obvious copycat humor. Only the three British guys seem to genuinely have fun, and interact without it feeling like it was scripted. I would have more respect for Top Gear Australia if it was called something else, and the hosts were themselves instead of trying to replicate someone else. I don’t care for the argument that Top Gear (original) started off as not good. That doesn’t mean I should like another show that is not good. I didn’t watch Top Gear back then, probably for that reason. I actually used to hate the Top Gear magazine years ago! But it’s a great TV show now, so i watch it, and i like it! If Top Gear Australia becomes decent one day (and funny and original), then I will like it and watch it. But right now it is pathetic. Now I want to see the pathetic fanboys give me loads of thumbsdown! Release that anger! LOL
Crouchy, I believe Tiff is on 5th gear, not too sure as i have never succomed to paying for something that I can get for free, like water.
Anyhow, my belief is that TG has been going for at least 20 years, I used to watch it as a younger bloke in the UK. I recall reading that it has been going for 30 years.
Tiff was the presenter many moons ago, back then they tested cars !
Anyway, my point is that the whingers compare, yet TG UK has had a fair old while to develop has it not ? So again I say turn the damn thing off if you dont like it.
That goes for you too Alex, I gave you the first thumbs down, :).Why waste your time bagging a TV show.You appear to be fairly intelligent, so why waste your energy ?
IF ANY OF you come up with something better one day then great, but I doubt you can or will.
THE OFF BUTTON !
Yes TopGear Australia’s hosts and humour is quite sad (Crap!). I say bring back TopGear UK at the usual time, 7:30pm on Mondays!!!!!!
i missed this episode, what was the GTHO pharse III time around the Top gear track??
I hear its not the real deal Chopstar .Was portrayed as one though ,heard a few stories about the guy that owns it shall we say!
thats sucks…
thought it may of been the case thou, as who would really let someone flog there Very rare $500,000+ car around a track…..