[14x05] September 8th, 2008

[SL65]

This week, Tiff and Jason battle it out in another one of their famous dogfights. This time the boys are racing two V8 mega-saloons, the BMW M3 and the Lexus ISF. To help them decide which car is more exciting they connect three young models to heart-rate monitors. Which car will set the girls’ pulses racing?

Jonny helps England’s favourite boxer, Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton, with an unusual request. Ricky’s pride and joy – a beloved Reliant threewheeler van just like the one used in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ – needs an MOT. Unfortunately the car looks like it is only fit for the scrap yard. Ricky will be heartbroken if he has to say goodbye to his motor. Can Jonny do anything to save it?

The late, great Ayrton Senna once said, “If you think I’m fast, wait until you see my nephew”. Fifth Gear is privileged to introduce Bruno Senna as this week’s special guest presenter. Bruno is on the verge of becoming an F1 driver and is perfectly placed to give the lowdown on which four-wheel-drive supercar is the best – the Nissan GT-R or the Porsche 911 Turbo.

Also this week, Tim exposes which dealers are responsible for the biggest rip-offs when it comes to servicing costs.

Tom Ford has the only television test of the Dodge Challenger – an Americanmuscle car with 70s styling.

And Vicki Butler-Henderson stages a shoot-out between the Vauxhall Astra Nurburgring and the Ford Focus ST.

[vikiradTG2007]

No freakin' way...

Fifth Gear is privileged to introduce Bruno Senna as this week’s special guest presenter.

[Aiolos]

OMG, this episode should ROCK.

M3 vs. IS-F + Hot Girls? Yum.

(ironically the car that feels most unstable at the limit will win do to the increased heart rate, so maybe the winner won't really be the winner )

Bruno Senna in a GT-R vs. 911 Turbo

(Too bad that couldn't have used this Turbo in a Turbo vs. GT2 test, I thought that really would have been interesting. )

Don't care about Johnny's bit too much, neither for Tim's, as I don't live in the UK so those dealership prices won't really compare, since some brands will undoubtedly be Europe-only ones like Renault.

Hopefully VBH won't do one of those dumb-ass shootouts that plagued the previous series. And will that be the new Focus ST, who's pictures have been floating around the spy shots forum?

[ahpadt]

Sounds awesome

I think they've overused the BMW M3 now tho...

[nefarious79]

The M3 has been overused, and on paper this should be a good shoot out but there is no question that the M3 will win. The Lexus, like all other jap cars is built off a spec sheet for spec sheet buyers.

Tom is going to have a field day complaining about this on the Challenger, after looking at one I would rather have a Charger SRT8 if I was going to be given one or the other. The Charger looks and seems like it has a smaller footprint than the Challenger.

Oh and enough with the GTR to 911 turbo comparo's, if you want to compare it on paper to something within that price range pick an SRT-10 Viper or Z06. Or comparing like hp cars the GT2 or F430 or Gallardo since the GTRs are realistically in the 530hp range.

[Cobol74]

Looks like a really good ep. I will even like the UK interest only items of course. My bet for over priced crap dealers is. ....

MERCEDES -we shall see.

[dino_martini]

Too bad they couldnt get Plato to test the Challenger. He did a fairly good job with the GT500. The ISF is the first Lexus I like though, I would do anything for a Blue Mica with White Leather ISF.

[JCTK]

sounds like way, WAY too much stuff packed into 1 hour through...

[Viper007Bond]

http://forums.finalgear.com/fifth-ge...-2008-a-30232/