[12x02] November 9th, 2008

[Carbon]

Cool episode. Loved it all, especially the US part.

As a side note, to some of the Americans posting in this thread;
I cannot believe how you guys (those some of you) sell out to anti-American Europeans. Some of you even begin to apologize for America?
I cannot believe you've bought into this anti-American propaganda-like environment that's been around for the last couple of years. And what happens when ONE American defends America and criticises Europe? Another American is not slow to tell him how bad America is and how wonderful the UK is--but after years of America-bashing, I've never seen at least ONE defend America, and I've been reading a lot of boards discussing TG over the years. It's disgusting to see so many people just sell out in order to please a crowd of stuck up Anti-Americans, like the TG crew had been in the past.

Don't get me wrong. I like the UK, and I've visited many times. You're not an anti-American if you don't like American cars, or if you think some sh!thole in Reno is disgusting - I'm sure you're intelligent enough to realize, that sh!tholes exists is every part of the inhabited world (I'm not saying Reno's a sh!ithole, cause it's not--Star City, Birmingham is a sh!thole, should anything be).

I love America, also when some ignorant European (don't deny they exists) decides to propagandate, that's it "uncivilized", full of "rednecks", a "sh!thole" or what else they might come up with. I'm sure that I will get flamed at for leaving this message, because I, for once, stick up to America instead of bashing it--were I to substitute "America" for "UK" or "Europe" in this message, I'm sure nobody would say anything against it. It's all too common these days...

Rant over.

[SVThuh]

By far best episode ever. Clarkson finally admits that American cars can be good. Its about damn time!!!!

[SVThuh]

Originally Posted by Carbon

Cool episode. Loved it all, especially the US part.

As a side note, to some of the Americans posting in this thread;
I cannot believe how you guys (those some of you) sell out to anti-American Europeans. Some of you even begin to apologize for America?
I cannot believe you've bought into this anti-American propaganda-like environment that's been around for the last couple of years. And what happens when ONE American defends America and criticises Europe? Another American is not slow to tell him how bad America is and how wonderful the UK is--but after years of America-bashing, I've never seen at least ONE defend America, and I've been reading a lot of boards discussing TG over the years. It's disgusting to see so many people just sell out in order to please a crowd of stuck up Anti-Americans, like the TG crew had been in the past.

Don't get me wrong. I like the UK, and I've visited many times. You're not an anti-American if you don't like American cars, or if you think some sh!thole in Reno is disgusting - I'm sure you're intelligent enough to realize, that sh!tholes exists is every part of the inhabited world (I'm not saying Reno's a sh!ithole, cause it's not--Star City, Birmingham is a sh!thole, should anything be).

I love America, also when some ignorant European (don't deny they exists) decides to propagandate, that's it "uncivilized", full of "rednecks", a "sh!thole" or what else they might come up with. I'm sure that I will get flamed at for leaving this message, because I, for once, stick up to America instead of bashing it--were I to substitute "America" for "UK" or "Europe" in this message, I'm sure nobody would say anything against it. It's all too common these days...

Rant over.

New here, but a long time TG fan and I for one have always gotten pretty livid when the TG Trio (with the exception of the Hamster on occasion) bash American cars like they were garbage pales with a steering wheel.

Americans do not only know how to drive in a straight line (I believe we proved that point to the Italians in the 60's when the Ford GT40 finish 1,2 and 3.. In front of the "undefeatable" Ferrari team). I for one am an American and I am proud of it. I drive an American car (2001 Camaro SS with full RR suspension) and I drive an American truck with a nice big lift kit on it. I like to run the road courses and carve the canyons in my American inferior and poor excuse for a sports car, and guess what? 90% of the time Im putting ground in front of those high-end euro cars that are apparently Gods gift to sports cars.

Bleh.. If I keep going, Im just going to keep ranting. I think Ive made my point, but if I haven't, see below...

Not all Americans are inbred redneck hicks that down know how to go 'round a corner, I for one and my friends for another dozen are all proof of this.

[iam-nobody]

Originally Posted by SVThuh

New here, but a long time TG fan and I for one have always gotten pretty livid when the TG Trio (with the exception of the Hamster on occasion) bash American cars like they were garbage pales with a steering wheel.

Americans do not only know how to drive in a straight line (I believe we proved that point to the Italians in the 60's when the Ford GT40 finish 1,2 and 3.. In front of the "undefeatable" Ferrari team). I for one am an American and I am proud of it. I drive an American car (2001 Camaro SS with full RR suspension) and I drive an American truck with a nice big lift kit on it. I like to run the road courses and carve the canyons in my American inferior and poor excuse for a sports car, and guess what? 90% of the time Im putting ground in front of those high-end euro cars that are apparently Gods gift to sports cars.

Bleh.. If I keep going, Im just going to keep ranting. I think Ive made my point, but if I haven't, see below...

Not all Americans are inbred redneck hicks that down know how to go 'round a corner, I for one and my friends for another dozen are all proof of this.

You need to chill out i am from the midlands and there all ways slanging our cars and workers off just ignore him.

[Cobol74]

Just been to Florida and the roads are not challeging so I would assume that you have cars to meet your needs - PT Cruiser was fine as a rental.

Mind you you guys need to stop saying America is best at everything - you are not! Get real and figure out where you can learn and where you can teach. As far as I can see you can do more teaching than learning - usually.

[shellygrrl]

Holy "Taking This Show And What the Guys Say Too Seriously", Batman!

I agree with Cobol and iam-nobody...and I'm from the States.

Anyway, I loved the second US road trip. Yeah, they could've laid off a bit on the whole "we have to be factual" thing; but they managed to succeed at that AND be entertaining at the same time. So good on them. Also, I think I'm falling in love with the Abarth.

[Mr. Nice]

I never voted on this episode because, if you combine this idea, and this idea, you get something similar to what was done. (which of course ='s automatic 10 from me )

To Cobol, Florida is not the entire country, in fact, it's (Florida) very flat with very straight roads. You have to remember this is a very large country, with many different types of terrains.

This is a rather extreme example, but just to show you that the entire country isn't Florida, here is Pikes Peak.

+ YouTube Video

Here is one of my favorite roads(which luckily, few people know about)

+ YouTube Video

Addressing "the best at everything" comment.... Most people like to think that their country, group, club, etcetera are better than everyone else's.

[tgbuddy]

I really liked the US road trip, especially the American Muscle cars.

However, because the presenters were told to be factual rather than dissapointed, I couldn't tell the difference.

[silverphoenix]

Originally Posted by Cobol74

Just been to Florida and the roads are not challeging so I would assume that you have cars to meet your needs - PT Cruiser was fine as a rental.

Mind you you guys need to stop saying America is best at everything - you are not! Get real and figure out where you can learn and where you can teach. As far as I can see you can do more teaching than learning - usually.

Florida =/=America, There are a few states where the roads are incredibly long and flat, and we also have nice mountain roads, we have two large mountain ranges that cut through the country, the Appalachian and Rockies, we also have many canyon systems.

[skylock]

Originally Posted by silverphoenix

Florida =/=America, There are a few states where the roads are incredibly long and flat, and we also have nice mountain roads, we have two large mountain ranges that cut through the country, the Appalachian and Rockies, we also have many canyon systems.

Anyone that thinks Floridia represents America just does not understand America and I know of no way to explain it to them.

And we like our roads nice and flat and straight because we have such long distances to travel. Florida has all straight roads because there is nothing that needs to be gone around.

Where I live is nice and flat, but less than 7 miles away to the east is Mississippi and it is nothing but huge rolling hills. People mow their yards with ropes tied to their lawn mowers there. 10 miles to the west of me is the start of the hilly country and it is just up and down. In Miss., the roads just go up and down with the hills. In Louisiana, the roads go around all the hills using the old goat and cow trails as guidance on the basis they they would follow the easiest route.

In Texas, you can drive 90 miles an hour for 2 hours and not pass anything taller than your waist. From Houston to San Antonio, there is like 2 gas stations. Sea World is 3 miles from San Antonio and sitting in Shamu Stadium, you can see the city clear as day because there is not one thing between you and it that blocks your view.

4 hours north of me you start hitting the Appalachian mountains. You better have something with power there.

So depending on where you live here can make a big difference in the car you need.

Most everyone around here has a big 4X4 truck. You don't need them all the time, but when you do, you sure are glad you have them. And just for the record, we have never had anything stolen out of the back of our truck.

[flydiscovery]

Oh boy do I have a smart response to that. I will save it though, because you seem nice.

[janstett]

Originally Posted by skylock

And we like our roads nice and flat and straight because we have such long distances to travel. Florida has all straight roads because there is nothing that needs to be gone around.

I was watching a show on Discovery or History about the design of the Autobahn and they compared and contrasted to the US Interstate system.

The Germans are more into driver involvement, so they purposely kept the Autobahn interesting and even added curves when there were no natural ones. Some worried that it would slow things down (shortest distance being a straight line between two points) but in the end it helps avoid road hypnosis.

In the US, they just wanted maximum efficiency when designing the interstate since there was so much real estate to cover in linking the country, so pretty much straight lines unless something is in the way. To add curves would have driven the costs up (creating more miles of road and thus $$$).

The Germans dig the road deeper and have lots of curves. The Americans roads are not deep (and thus require constant maintenance from potholes, etc.) and pretty much straight.

But to Cobol74, don't assume Florida is representative of the US. Everything in Florida is rectangular. In other parts of the country (I live in the Northeast) there are plenty of interesting roads, particularly in the older cities, on the coasts, and in the mountains.

[silverphoenix]

Originally Posted by janstett

I was watching a show on Discovery or History about the design of the Autobahn and they compared and contrasted to the US Interstate system.

The Germans are more into driver involvement, so they purposely kept the Autobahn interesting and even added curves when there were no natural ones. Some worried that it would slow things down (shortest distance being a straight line between two points) but in the end it helps avoid road hypnosis.

In the US, they just wanted maximum efficiency when designing the interstate since there was so much real estate to cover in linking the country, so pretty much straight lines unless something is in the way. To add curves would have driven the costs up (creating more miles of road and thus $$$).

The Germans dig the road deeper and have lots of curves. The Americans roads are not deep (and thus require constant maintenance from potholes, etc.) and pretty much straight.

But to Cobol74, don't assume Florida is representative of the US. Everything in Florida is rectangular. In other parts of the country (I live in the Northeast) there are plenty of interesting roads, particularly in the older cities, on the coasts, and in the mountains.

I could see where that came from, the US has the most extensive highway system in the world still(until china exceeds the US), but cost was probably a HUGE factor, the US doesn't have the same population density as most EU countries and landmass wise is nearly the size of EU. In any case one can blame Florida for Nascar though if you want, they started off as ex-bootleggers racing on Daytona beach.

[The Bloody Awful]

"Where's May?"

"Pack it in Clarkson I'm on the throne!"

[svb]

Originally Posted by janstett

I was watching a show on Discovery or History about the design of the Autobahn and they compared and contrasted to the US Interstate system.

The Germans are more into driver involvement, so they purposely kept the Autobahn interesting and even added curves when there were no natural ones. Some worried that it would slow things down (shortest distance being a straight line between two points) but in the end it helps avoid road hypnosis.

In the US, they just wanted maximum efficiency when designing the interstate since there was so much real estate to cover in linking the country, so pretty much straight lines unless something is in the way. To add curves would have driven the costs up (creating more miles of road and thus $$$).

The Germans dig the road deeper and have lots of curves. The Americans roads are not deep (and thus require constant maintenance from potholes, etc.) and pretty much straight.

That figures. No wonder the autobahn is so much nicer.

I saw something in a scientific magazine once that was a cross-section showing the engineering of German autobahn vs. US interstate and it basically jived with what you're saying. The German version is deeper, has built-in drainage, etc etc etc... there are numbers of reasons why it is superior.

Of course to do the same thing in the US is almost assuredly cost-prohibitive and I'm sure that's the main reason our system is different. But I still don't care for it.

[smilemani]

Meh, I would have loved to see an animals carcass on top of the ZR1!

[amsung2]

i didn't like the challenger

[aerodynamic]

i didn't get the part during the news when jezza says "I will ring ralph schumr...and we are off the air?"

[jlmeyer420]

Did they sell the Challenger yet?
Or does Hammond still own it...

[shellygrrl]

They must've by now; I'm sure.