What is wrong with Fifth Gear...

Howie696 · July 13th, 2009, 5:46 PM

Sorry if this has been raised before, but I just joined and wanted to ignite something, perhaps...
For me, one of the problems is it tries too hard to be Top Gear (and fails to be honest). The presenters aren't as funny, cool or charismatic as Clarkson & co, and somehow what they think about the cars just doesn't seem relevant. They also seem to review cars after Top Gear has already done (a more comprehensive & better) review...
No-one seems to have noticed that Jason Plato is a git! (In my humble opinion...) Am I missing the point, is he a god of the wheel? Has he won so many races that his opinion is not to be challenged? When he drove the Mini Convertible the other week, he described it as 'a tart's car', or words to that effect. Its just that, in the way he said it, and with the intonation, he wasn't joking. His tongue was definitely not in his cheek. Buy the Mini and you're buying a car that's only fit for a mere woman to drive... Unreconstructed Man perhaps? Misogynistic sexist twat? you decide...
The only presenter I feel any empathy with (apart from Tiff who has in my opinion more than earned his stripes) is the young fellow who does the cheap alternative segment (and had the misfortune to drive about with Derek Acorah the sickeningly fake medium). Fifth Gear needs to stop trying to be another programme and to find it's own identity. And to stop ripping off Top Gear features (anyone remember the Toyota Pick-Up/how tough is our old Mercedes Estate coincidence?)
Rant over. I watch Fifth Gear when Top gear isn't on. And to be honest I sometimes change to Dave to watch a TG repeat when Fifth Gear gets too smug and annoying... Peace images/smilies/biggrin.gif

starfox07 · July 14th, 2009, 12:02 AM

Whats wrong with? You don't like it...pretty simple really.

LeVeL · July 14th, 2009, 12:51 AM

dude, if you don't like it then don't watch it, I don't give a shit. I don't like oranges, yet you don't see me bitching about them, now do you? I just don't eat them and go about my day. I suggest you do the same and watch whatever you like to watch and don't watch whatever you don't like to watch. We don't really care. Besides, this useless TG vs FG topic has been beated to a pulp already. To each his own, end of discussion.

LurkerPatrol · July 14th, 2009, 1:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeVeL

dude, if you don't like it then don't watch it, I don't give a shit. I don't like oranges, yet you don't see me bitching about them, now do you? I just don't eat them and go about my day. I suggest you do the same and watch whatever you like to watch and don't watch whatever you don't like to watch. We don't really care. Besides, this useless TG vs FG topic has been beated to a pulp already. To each his own, end of discussion.

QFmotherfuckingT images/smilies/clap.gif

I tried to get into 5th gear after watching tons of TG, and I just couldn't. So rather than get all worked up about it, I just declined to download any episodes of 5G.

Simple as that. Go watch good eats. It's a good show, and it has food in it.

The Fishman · July 14th, 2009, 9:17 AM

It has to be said "Too many car reviews". If you want car reviews "Fifth Gear is the place", if you want to see grown men cocking about in cars, "Top Gear is the place".

Simple as that.

Howie696 · July 14th, 2009, 4:59 PM

Hmmmm... As a matter of fact, my wife asked me exactly the same question - 'why are you watching it then?' In my defence, m'lud, I can only say I have only watched it when TG has been off the air. Living in Blighty, I have the dubious privilege of watching these shows as they are aired... I was unaware that this is an anglo US/Australian forum...
I DO think, however, that TG is funnier than Fifth gear images/smilies/smile.gif

btw, LeVeL, nice avatar.
Now if anyone can tell me how to get more than 220bhp out of my MG...

LeVeL · July 14th, 2009, 6:00 PM

Fifth Gear just has a different approach to reviewing cars, that's all. Instead of complaining, albeit in a hilarious way, about random useless features and options, they race cars and compare the handling and such. Perhaps not as entertaining, but certainly more informative. To each his own, but I like both, with the nod going to TG.

As for your MG question - drop an LS1 in there. That's my solution to all power problems images/smilies/tongue.gif

mickeyyeety · July 14th, 2009, 9:29 PM

Since when has Fifth Gear actually reviewed any cars recently? They get in, and give some half-assed points and then forget about it. They've been trying to cram soo much into a little time, and we haven't seen a proper review from them in awhile.

One example is the MKVI GTI review. Johnny doesn't say ANYTHING about the car. This was a review, I was looking forward, but all they did was beat a horse. NOTHING about the car...

Cobol74 · July 14th, 2009, 9:32 PM

FG I like, a lot - TG I love. ...

Howie696 · July 14th, 2009, 9:47 PM

Ooer a bit of controversy there methinks lol. Is everyone still afraid to say what they really think of Jason Plato? Is he really scary?
While I'm on the subject, what are we doing in Afghanistan? Answers on a postcard please... images/smilies/sad.gif

Cobol74 · July 14th, 2009, 9:53 PM

Someone has not read the posting rules?

LeVeL · July 14th, 2009, 11:11 PM

this is the worst thread ever images/smilies/lol.gif

oh, and I like Jason Plato. There, I told you my opinion of him - happy?

pitdog · July 15th, 2009, 12:21 AM

well, I managed to watch a couple of episodes of 5th gear, not to get the laughs, but to see their tests. and with most of their conclusions I happened to not agree. With Top Gear - the show is entertaining, but also they make valid points about the cars they manage to test from time to time.
also 5th Gear is trying to copy some of the stuff from the master, but ...
so to answer the question that is the title of this thread - it's boring. boring and often wrong... at least they like good BMWs images/smilies/smile.gif

boooooring

peodude · July 20th, 2009, 11:52 PM

With 16 series of Fifth Gear and 13 series of Top Gear, that's a combination of 29 series, of course there is bound to be some overlaps in material, intentional or unintentional. There's only a finite amount of ideas that one can come up with, and a helping hand from something that worked on another show isn't a bad thing. It happens in the film and music industries as well.

camelfarmer · July 21st, 2009, 12:14 AM

Weird fred. But as we are talking about it, doesn't it seem that they try to make it shitter than it needs to be? It makes me embaressed for them.

awdrifter · July 28th, 2009, 11:36 AM

The older seasons of FG (with only Tiff, Jason, Vicki, and another older presenter, I don't think even Tom was brought in yet) were very infromative. They car reviews are actually reviews. Then after 3-4 seasons ago when they brought in Tim Lovejoy they tried to copy TG, and fails horribly. Now the show is stuck in between. It's not as good as before all the changes, but not as bad as when Tim Lovejoy was brought in.

DaBoom · July 29th, 2009, 4:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awdrifter

The older seasons of FG (with only Tiff, Jason, Vicki, and another older presenter, I don't think even Tom was brought in yet) were very infromative. They car reviews are actually reviews. Then after 3-4 seasons ago when they brought in Tim Lovejoy they tried to copy TG, and fails horribly. Now the show is stuck in between. It's not as good as before all the changes, but not as bad as when Tim Lovejoy was brought in.

+1 to that

Vislami · July 30th, 2009, 11:05 AM

I actually like Fifth Gear in some cases, like a good car review or something like that. Even though I hate the presenters.. They are just trying too much and really isn't as charismatic as they could be. But I still like to watch it and it just is

geeman · July 30th, 2009, 4:56 PM

What's wrong with Fifth Gear is that everything is so rushed. There are too many segments and they are too short. Especially the challenge bits need a lot more time than they usually get.

Dsemaj · July 31st, 2009, 6:08 AM

Fifth Gear's main problem is that they're trying a little too hard to be Top Gear - not only in the type of challanges they do (which isn't so disastrous), but they're trying to fit just as much content into a slot that is 15 minutes shorter. If they got rid of one segment and expanded on the rest, the result would be far more focused and not seem as rushed. I still like Fifth Gear, they've got a good mix of presenters at the moment, they just need to expand the reviews a bit and focus more on being a car show.

I mean, for instance, who really cares about the Tiff and Jason absurd challenges, especially when they don't even spend enough time on them? Scrap them and maybe work on some more outlandish or epic reviews instead. I mean, Jason's TTRS review would have been far better if it wasn't so short and rushed. It ended up seeming a bit pointless.

July 13th, 2009, 5:46 PM	#1
Howie696 Joined: Jul 13th, 2009 Last Online: August 6th, 2009 Location: Preston Posts: 5 Car: MGZT 190+ Rep Power: 0	What is wrong with Fifth Gear... Sorry if this has been raised before, but I just joined and wanted to ignite something, perhaps... For me, one of the problems is it tries too hard to be Top Gear (and fails to be honest). The presenters aren't as funny, cool or charismatic as Clarkson & co, and somehow what they think about the cars just doesn't seem relevant. They also seem to review cars after Top Gear has already done (a more comprehensive & better) review... No-one seems to have noticed that Jason Plato is a git! (In my humble opinion...) Am I missing the point, is he a god of the wheel? Has he won so many races that his opinion is not to be challenged? When he drove the Mini Convertible the other week, he described it as 'a tart's car', or words to that effect. Its just that, in the way he said it, and with the intonation, he wasn't joking. His tongue was definitely not in his cheek. Buy the Mini and you're buying a car that's only fit for a mere woman to drive... Unreconstructed Man perhaps? Misogynistic sexist twat? you decide... The only presenter I feel any empathy with (apart from Tiff who has in my opinion more than earned his stripes) is the young fellow who does the cheap alternative segment (and had the misfortune to drive about with Derek Acorah the sickeningly fake medium). Fifth Gear needs to stop trying to be another programme and to find it's own identity. And to stop ripping off Top Gear features (anyone remember the Toyota Pick-Up/how tough is our old Mercedes Estate coincidence?) Rant over. I watch Fifth Gear when Top gear isn't on. And to be honest I sometimes change to Dave to watch a TG repeat when Fifth Gear gets too smug and annoying... Peace Last edited by Howie696; July 13th, 2009 at 5:49 PM. Reason: spelling mistakes

July 14th, 2009, 12:02 AM	#2
starfox07 Joined: Oct 7th, 2007 Last Online: 4:27 AM Location: Ennis, Tx, USA Age: 20 Posts: 3,377 Car: 1984 Mazda RX7 GSL-SE Rep Power: 81	Whats wrong with? You don't like it...pretty simple really. __________________ -Environmentally Hostile-

July 14th, 2009, 12:51 AM	#3
LeVeL Joined: Jun 16th, 2007 Last Online: 3:36 AM Location: MA Age: 21 Posts: 2,972 Car: CG5/F23A1 Rep Power: 100	dude, if you don't like it then don't watch it, I don't give a shit. I don't like oranges, yet you don't see me bitching about them, now do you? I just don't eat them and go about my day. I suggest you do the same and watch whatever you like to watch and don't watch whatever you don't like to watch. We don't really care. Besides, this useless TG vs FG topic has been beated to a pulp already. To each his own, end of discussion. __________________ ^Don't worry he's a closet ~~homosexual~~ Miata driver. - Twerp128 flickr . . . photography + UMass Motorsport

July 14th, 2009, 9:17 AM	#5
The Fishman Joined: Apr 10th, 2008 Last Online: 2:43 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 411 Rep Power: 10	It has to be said "Too many car reviews". If you want car reviews "Fifth Gear is the place", if you want to see grown men cocking about in cars, "Top Gear is the place". Simple as that. __________________ Ambitious but rubbish.

July 14th, 2009, 4:59 PM	#6
Howie696 Joined: Jul 13th, 2009 Last Online: August 6th, 2009 Location: Preston Posts: 5 Car: MGZT 190+ Rep Power: 0	Hmmmm... As a matter of fact, my wife asked me exactly the same question - 'why are you watching it then?' In my defence, m'lud, I can only say I have only watched it when TG has been off the air. Living in Blighty, I have the dubious privilege of watching these shows as they are aired... I was unaware that this is an anglo US/Australian forum... I DO think, however, that TG is funnier than Fifth gear btw, LeVeL, nice avatar. Now if anyone can tell me how to get more than 220bhp out of my MG...

July 14th, 2009, 6:00 PM	#7
LeVeL Joined: Jun 16th, 2007 Last Online: 3:36 AM Location: MA Age: 21 Posts: 2,972 Car: CG5/F23A1 Rep Power: 100	Fifth Gear just has a different approach to reviewing cars, that's all. Instead of complaining, albeit in a hilarious way, about random useless features and options, they race cars and compare the handling and such. Perhaps not as entertaining, but certainly more informative. To each his own, but I like both, with the nod going to TG. As for your MG question - drop an LS1 in there. That's my solution to all power problems __________________ ^Don't worry he's a closet ~~homosexual~~ Miata driver. - Twerp128 flickr . . . photography + UMass Motorsport

July 14th, 2009, 9:29 PM	#8
mickeyyeety Joined: Jun 29th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 55 Rep Power: 18	Since when has Fifth Gear actually reviewed any cars recently? They get in, and give some half-assed points and then forget about it. They've been trying to cram soo much into a little time, and we haven't seen a proper review from them in awhile. One example is the MKVI GTI review. Johnny doesn't say ANYTHING about the car. This was a review, I was looking forward, but all they did was beat a horse. NOTHING about the car...

July 14th, 2009, 9:32 PM	#9
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 3:20 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 8,597 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 126	FG I like, a lot - TG I love. ... __________________ Lotus 7 Registration Mark = KAR120C : Engine Number = 461034 TZ Ross Brawn genius or what?

July 14th, 2009, 9:47 PM	#10
Howie696 Joined: Jul 13th, 2009 Last Online: August 6th, 2009 Location: Preston Posts: 5 Car: MGZT 190+ Rep Power: 0	Ooer a bit of controversy there methinks lol. Is everyone still afraid to say what they really think of Jason Plato? Is he really scary? While I'm on the subject, what are we doing in Afghanistan? Answers on a postcard please...

July 14th, 2009, 9:53 PM	#11
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 3:20 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 8,597 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 126	Someone has not read the posting rules? __________________ Lotus 7 Registration Mark = KAR120C : Engine Number = 461034 TZ Ross Brawn genius or what?

July 14th, 2009, 11:11 PM	#12
LeVeL Joined: Jun 16th, 2007 Last Online: 3:36 AM Location: MA Age: 21 Posts: 2,972 Car: CG5/F23A1 Rep Power: 100	this is the worst thread ever oh, and I like Jason Plato. There, I told you my opinion of him - happy? __________________ ^Don't worry he's a closet ~~homosexual~~ Miata driver. - Twerp128 flickr . . . photography + UMass Motorsport

July 15th, 2009, 12:21 AM	#13
pitdog Joined: Jun 23rd, 2008 Last Online: November 17th, 2009 Location: poland Age: 34 Posts: 65 Car: bmw 330d, fiat punto Rep Power: 6	well, I managed to watch a couple of episodes of 5th gear, not to get the laughs, but to see their tests. and with most of their conclusions I happened to not agree. With Top Gear - the show is entertaining, but also they make valid points about the cars they manage to test from time to time. also 5th Gear is trying to copy some of the stuff from the master, but ... so to answer the question that is the title of this thread - it's boring. boring and often wrong... at least they like good BMWs boooooring __________________ "Non gratum anus rodentum"

July 20th, 2009, 11:52 PM	#14
peodude Joined: Dec 18th, 2008 Last Online: October 18th, 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 26 Car: Mazda 6 Rep Power: 4	With 16 series of Fifth Gear and 13 series of Top Gear, that's a combination of 29 series, of course there is bound to be some overlaps in material, intentional or unintentional. There's only a finite amount of ideas that one can come up with, and a helping hand from something that worked on another show isn't a bad thing. It happens in the film and music industries as well.

July 21st, 2009, 12:14 AM	#15
camelfarmer Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bristol Posts: 364 Car: Ford focus Rep Power: 12	Weird fred. But as we are talking about it, doesn't it seem that they try to make it shitter than it needs to be? It makes me embaressed for them.

July 28th, 2009, 11:36 AM	#16
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: 4:49 AM Posts: 1,956 Rep Power: 47	The older seasons of FG (with only Tiff, Jason, Vicki, and another older presenter, I don't think even Tom was brought in yet) were very infromative. They car reviews are actually reviews. Then after 3-4 seasons ago when they brought in Tim Lovejoy they tried to copy TG, and fails horribly. Now the show is stuck in between. It's not as good as before all the changes, but not as bad as when Tim Lovejoy was brought in. __________________ TP

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July 30th, 2009, 11:05 AM	#18
Vislami Joined: Nov 3rd, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Kuopio, Finland Posts: 115 Car: Mercedes-Benz E200 CDI LFS Status: Rep Power: 6	I actually like Fifth Gear in some cases, like a good car review or something like that. Even though I hate the presenters.. They are just trying too much and really isn't as charismatic as they could be. But I still like to watch it and it just is __________________ Ambitious but rubbish... Viva La Clarksonistas! Drinking is my stuff...

July 30th, 2009, 4:56 PM	#19
geeman Joined: Apr 18th, 2005 Last Online: 2:28 AM Location: Finland Age: 23 Posts: 1,305 LFS Status: Rep Power: 62	What's wrong with Fifth Gear is that everything is so rushed. There are too many segments and they are too short. Especially the challenge bits need a lot more time than they usually get. __________________ Stop chasing shadows, just enjoy the ride.

July 31st, 2009, 6:08 AM	#20
Dsemaj Previously Known As Jamesd Joined: May 3rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Adelaide, Australia. Age: 18 Posts: 2,671 Car: '95 BMW 530i, '85 Nissan Bluebird S3 GXE Rep Power: 40	Fifth Gear's main problem is that they're trying a little too hard to be Top Gear - not only in the type of challanges they do (which isn't so disastrous), but they're trying to fit just as much content into a slot that is 15 minutes shorter. If they got rid of one segment and expanded on the rest, the result would be far more focused and not seem as rushed. I still like Fifth Gear, they've got a good mix of presenters at the moment, they just need to expand the reviews a bit and focus more on being a car show. I mean, for instance, who really cares about the Tiff and Jason absurd challenges, especially when they don't even spend enough time on them? Scrap them and maybe work on some more outlandish or epic reviews instead. I mean, Jason's TTRS review would have been far better if it wasn't so short and rushed. It ended up seeming a bit pointless. __________________ 1995 BMW E34 530i V8 M60B30 218HP/163kW 5sp Auto 1985 Nissan 910 Bluebird I4 CA20S 105HP/78kW 3sp Auto Last edited by Dsemaj; July 31st, 2009 at 6:11 AM.

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