[01x01] September 29th, 2008

[SL65]

Episode 1 of 8:

If you thought the Brits had done it all with Top Gear - wait until you see Top Gear Australia, debuting on SBS Television on Monday 29 September at 7:30pm.

In the first episode of an eight-part series, hosts Charlie Cox, Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati play hard with all-wheel drives on sand and snow.

There is a glimpse of the new LP560 Lamborghini Gallardo super sportscar, Charlie test drives the latest Porsche 911 and Warren tests the appetite of Great White Sharks off the coast of Port Lincoln – using himself as the bait.

One of Australia’s hottest actors, Vince Colosimo (starring in SBS’s Carla Cametti, PD), is Top Gear Australia’s first studio guest.

“Surf, snow, sand, sharks and supercars - episode one of Top Gear Australia has got the lot!” said Top Gear Australia’s SBS Executive Producer, Denise Eriksen.

“Charlie, Warren and Steve - well, Charlie and Steve - have driven like stars and Warren has done his best with sharks and sausages.”

“SBS is incredibly proud of this first episode in an amazing new series which takes Australia's passion for cars in exciting new directions.”

Top Gear Australia debuts on SBS, Monday 29 September at 7:30pm.

[SL65]

Not much to say but yay! Hopefully this is the first of many Top Gear Australia pre-ep threads

Any predictions as to which soft-roader will be their favourite? I'm guessing the all-competent X-Trail unless that Rav4 has the 200-killaWASP V6 under its hood

[Blayde]

I sure hoped the X Trail would have looked better than that, but all the Jap-Jeeps are looking bulgy and overblown these days. I'm glad they stopped bringing it when it turned into that ugly thing.

edit: But isn't the Subie a tough nut? I'd have guessed it would be more pricey but would be better across the board...

[Khaki]

You bloody beauty SL65, nice work! I cannot wait.

[Shawn]

Crikey! Looks quite decent actually, looking forward to it especially after all the doubt and questions about the fate of TG:Aus.

[Tranquillizer]

you are a bloody legend mate. thanks

[The Fishman]

The X-Trail has a Victorian Numper plate on it.

[SV]

Thanks for the post SL

Hurry up and be the 29th of september already!!!

[Supracharged]

latest fifth gear didnt like the forester except it was the shitty auto

so hopefully they got all manuals or at least decent semi autos like i think the xtrail has

id say its the RAV wins

[fbc]

Woo - here's to the first of many, many of these threads. Really looking forward to this.

[mclarensmps]

Genuinely excited about this as TGAu looks extremely promising! The hosts seem great!

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by SL65

Episode 1 of 8:

• The team compare the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Rav-4 and the new Subaru Forester
• Warren drives the Maybach 57S
• A car is converted to house Warren who acts as shark bait

That was an SL65-worded episode synopsis. As soon official wording is released - it will be posted here. But yes, this is the content of the first episode.

Anyone else notice that the car is pointed the wrong way around (It also appears to be on eastlink before it opened)

[SL65]

Originally Posted by The Fishman

The X-Trail has a Victorian Numper plate on it.

Nissan probably sent it up from their Australian headquarters in Victoria. Car manufactures do that all the time for things like motor shows and other types of promotions directly related to the company.

[Wuked]

Looking forward to it, just concerned about few things...

Hope the show

1. Doesn't try and cater to RR vogue/ML/X5 buying mum - who gives a ...
2. Snobby nsw/vic stock brokers who only drive their show off car on sundays... w*****s
3. On the nsw/vic point - forget that people DON'T ONLY live in these two states (or out back roads, yes there are other cities... except in SA, obviously).
Regardless of population centre, most people watching won't give a F which is better to drive to your holiday home at Mt Buller (get a landcruiser).
4. With the exotic car tests, is cars that are actually importableable and carry a warranty - "is you can afford it you can afford to fix it" = BS if you're paying that much for a car
5. Hope it can avoid the so over done mag tests of: ford v holden (ooohhhhh they have just released series-III of watever with 5kw more and new bonnet scoops...), ute vs suv vs station wagon etc.

Originally Posted by Supracharged

latest fifth gear didnt like the forester except it was the shitty auto

1. Don't rate 5th gear tests - biased, obvious, stupid
2. Tests in UK vs Oz = diff conditions, diff concerns, diff $$ing comp to competition
3. Don't like 'em but subi's never die

[Wuked]

Really do hope time isn't wasted on exotic cars that aren't evening going to be/likely sold here properly - eg

Ford GT, was really only made lhd, have to get another company to make conversion, can count on one hand how many is Oz and less than one hand how many will see regular driving

Pagani Zonda, yes great car, yes seen it already in numerous other tests, 4 in Oz so far and two not road registered... test of it = irrelevant, watch UK TG from years ago.

[beeetle]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

Anyone else notice that the car is pointed the wrong way around (It also appears to be on eastlink before it opened)

good point, and it does looks like eastlink
hopefully they did went flat out with the maybach then

[PlaneDriver]

Man, I'm gonna have to torrent this one too. I hope I have time to watch. I may have to watch Doctor Who less.

[tone76]

Seems like a good mix of aspirational and attainable vehicles. The original TG seems to have largely ignored the latter for the last couple of years unless it can be incorporated into some sort of dramatic short film (e.g. Fiat 500 in Budapest). So to see a straightforward comparo of 3 mumsy cars is actually quite refreshing.

That said, it's good that TG Aus seems to have some automotive pr0n and some good old fashioned cocking about too. If 1x01 is anything to judge by, then the mix sounds like it could be just right ...

Bring on 29/9!

Originally Posted by SL65

Nissan probably sent it up from their Australian headquarters in Victoria. Car manufactures do that all the time for things like motor shows and other types of promotions directly related to the company.

Makes sense. Every time there's a Mitsubishi being reviewed in a car mag, it's got SA plates on it - probably for the same reason (Mitusbishi's Australian HQ is still based in Adelaide, even though they don't make anything here anymore). It still looks weird when you're reading something like Wheels or Motor and you see a car with SA plates on it though, go figure ...

[Richmondgal]

Can't wait for it. Looking good for a first ep. I wonder how Warren went in the moke with the shark.

[STi Nut]

i can't wait for it, i just hope it is as good as all they hype.....