[11x04] July 13th, 2008

[James May's Hair]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

I voted 10. Epic race, epic cinematography on the Alfa.

Actually, that reminds me; I gave it an 8 yesterday, but that's because I was in a foul mood. It's actually a solids 9 - a 10 if James & Richard had won the race. (11 if Kate Silverton had been dressed in only a cowboy hat)

[stuvik]

Nice race...Should I mention now that I think they went to the WRONG BUDDHA?

I think they were supposed to see the largest seated stone Buddha in Japan (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...=lmc:panoramio) which is a Daibutsu (large Buddha) of Yakushi Nyorai - the Buddha of medicine. They were actually a couple of hundred metres away from it. Those with Google Earth search for: Nokogiri Yama looking down.

Either way, where Jeremy parked was probably closer to it than Richard and James so he would've won anyway

[The Fishman]

Without wanting to bitch about the episode. I rounded up from my 9.5/10 to 10/10. Would have loved to see Lily Allen and Kate Nash but they were every entertaining. Because I live in Australia, land of spiders, I know very little about your newsreaders.

[SwissWhiskey]

Theres nothing to moan about... 10/10!

[stuvik]

Originally Posted by The Fishman

...Because I live in Australia, land of spiders...

...poisonous spiders, deadly snakes, crocs, sharks...
http://www.lyricsandsongs.com/song/142210.html

[seangell]

Very solid episode, improvement on 11x03. Gave it a 9 on this basis..

Review on the alfa was great, very honest of clarkson by the sounds.

The epic race was entertaining, How the hell did James and Richard end up on different trains?? and Clarksons utter joy at getting the Sat Nav working was great to see!

The news was good, road signs bit are funny, and May and the Dacia... still gets a chuckle..

So far i am unable to fault the episode...Top gear is back.. (for this week anyways lol)

[zeoniks]

I would say it is definitely so far the best episode this season, however definitely not one of the better episodes I have seen. I give it a 9/10

They need to get better guests.

[Trollbooth]

First off let me say I thoroughly enjoyed the episode. It had everything I'd been looking forward to in this series wrapped up into a single program.

That said, I've had another look at the 8C review. I wanted it to be epic but it lacked a little something. The drawn metal sound effect and the matrix-style-attempt at moving around the car just stood out and not in a good way. It sort of pulled me out of the review to say "why the hell did they do that?" and if I'm to get a sense of the car from a TG review I can't be ripped out of the review with silly little bits like that.

The other thing that hurt the review was what little chance we get to really take the whole thing in. It's mostly close-ups of various bits of the car, but we never have a chance to get a really good look at the whole of the interior or exterior. It's like going to the Louvre, waiting in line all day, then finally getting up to the Mona Lisa and only being able to see her right shoulder and then her left hand and that's it.

When Jeremy says the handling is off SHOW ME the car handling badly. Don't show me a powerslide intercut with Jezza's babbling, show me a tight corner with the car oversteering and/or understerring.

And lastly, that opening music is great. A nice, soft bit to help set the mood; that this isn't a footballer, but a ballet dancer. Then you have to go and muck that all up with the quick cut into some fast music. It's like watching the Nutcracker cast with Manchester United. Give us a slow build here. You're not a 16 year-old on his first time out with a girl, you should know how to treat us right. There should be a slow build here, gradually upping the pace. It's an Italian car. The film should be like a gentle Italian lover. All passion and soul. And without any fiddly gadgets like a Maranello whore.

[ladora]

What an epic episode! For me, everything was perfect. Loved the race! I was on the edge of my seat, especially at the end of the race. The panicked look on Hammond's face after receiving May's phone call, and all that frantic running about had me in stitches, christ if i was in a foreign country with signs in a language i don't understand and i got lost like that i'd panic and probably just die straightaway.

Overall, great job on the episode! 10/10!

[OnlyABS]

Originally Posted by skylock

What is this?

it means "animal be careful"

[corradoboy]

Originally Posted by James May's Hair

(11 if Kate Silverton had been dressed in only a cowboy hat)

I was hopeful of short skirts on them before the show, but your idea's better

[Andreyblade]

a great episode, the race indeed lived up to the title of EPIC, it was great to see the TG crew in one of my favourite countries which is Japan.
The Alfa was gorgeous as always and May's bit with the Sandero is always great
all in all 10/10 hands down

[controlspecimen]

Fabulous episode. I was worried this thread would be full of "I bet Clarkson turned off his GPS on purpose to make it closer by getting lost, and then turned it back on when Richard rejoined James", but thankfully it isn't.

[Svets]

I give it a 9. Loved it. Pure and simple.

The 8C is sublime and I liked the colour, so sick of red Italian cars.

Any Ferrari anorak to confirm / refute May's claim about the Ferrari engine?

That beaver comment almost had me choking on my dinner. Hilarious, not simply just the comment but the priceless look of confusion and ignorant bliss on her face.

Also loved how Clarkson had the Chinese characters on his head band upside down and the wrong way until he had it the right way towards the end.

Thank you Top Gear for such wonderful entertainment.

[zeoniks]

That comment that JC mentioned about Ferrari ("Ferrari only look good because they're Ferrari) is so true. I never quite liked the styling of a lot of Ferraris. They all take a bit of getting use to looking at.

Lamborghinis on the other hand look amazing, especially that amazing looking Reventon.

[raphael]

I feel a bit sorry for giving it only 9, but it can not match with 10x01 (best driving road), still it would take its place in my top 5 of all episodes, maybe even top 3. I can not wait for test of Maserati GranTurismo, which is has the same chassis and engine as Alfa Romeo 8C, but it is cheaper, and (in my opinion) better looking.

Jeremy's line about beaver was hilarious Still, I do not know why Japanese girls do not wax themselves.

[airmenair]

It was good, haven't rated though but I'd reckon a 7 or 8. I still like the all the other races they have done better. This one seemed short, not the amount of film they showed but the distance they traveled, only 400 miles? All the others felt longer, maybe its because they crossed multiple countries. This gave it a more epic distance feel about it. Crossing Japan, the short way does't feel very epic to me. I imagine this couldn't be helped too much because they needed a close race and somewhere the bullet train could go so I won't complain too much about it. I'm not a fan of the GTR either so that kind of brought it down a little bit to me and I found myself really rooting for the train. The tension was real and gripping though and the Bill Oddie thing had me laughing, along with the whale songs and some others.

About the 8C, love the car to death but I think it got a bit of an unfair rap after the test. A 1:38? C'mon that shouldn't be close to what that car would get in even fair conditions. That was the single worst track conditions I have seen a car tested in on Top Gear. Even with the bad handling JC was telling of, with 450 hp, lightweight, and an LSD I would think it could get at least into the high 1:20s. Watching the stig drive it, you could see how gingerly he was approaching corners to keep in on the track. Shame they couldn't get a good day to test it on. I imagine they time they had the car was very limited so they had no choice.

EDIT: Also, like many of you have said, have Richard and James become a side show to Jeremy? I mean, JC has always been the face of Top Gear but I've never found myself questioning the lack of exposure of Richard and James when it comes to reviews up until this series.

[Gman333-X-ferrari]

Originally Posted by Svets

Any Ferrari anorak to confirm / refute May's claim about the Ferrari engine?

Yep, the California's the first Ferrari ever to have a front-mounted V8-engine (technically a front-mounted mid-engined V8, as the engine is behind the front axle, that's just too pedantic.)

[Dr_Grip]

I wonder if the constant accidental slipping the Dacia Sandero into the news could be a hint at the new resaonably-priced car...
...after all, the whole concept of Dacia as a brand calls for a Dacia being the reasonably-priced car.

Apart from that: solid episode, eventhough some of the Presenters vs. Japanese laguage bits were overacted. I simply refuse to believe there's no "english" button on ticket vending machines in tokyo.

[Blythy]

Originally Posted by Dr_Grip

I wonder if the constant accidental slipping the Dacia Sandero into the news could be a hint at the new resaonably-priced car...
...after all, the whole concept of Dacia as a brand calls for a Dacia being the reasonably-priced car.

Apart from that: solid episode, eventhough some of the Presenters vs. Japanese laguage bits were overacted. I simply refuse to believe there's no "english" button on ticket vending machines in tokyo.

not another RPC, there's only just enough names on the board for it to be interesting now.