[12x05] November 30th, 2008

[corradoboy]

Originally Posted by pduthie_au

Anyone got a link to that Range Rover video ?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQiFhI6P8k

This is better though....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rs-jAImScms

[Currahee474]

WTF is with all these rubbish police ruining my motoring program? GTFO TIA!

[Martin]

9/10

Overall was good. I loved the Cool Wall segment, lots of fun. SIARPC was more interesting, and what an epic track time!

The Ferrari/Boat race was not as good it sounded.

Looking forward to next week's with Boris!

[LoadStar]

8 out of 10.

A solid episode, still good, but it felt a bit derivative at times. The bus rallycross reminded me of the caravan rallycross (and not just because they mentioned it at the beginning of the segment). The race from Portofino to Saint Tropez felt... well, a bit like just about any "car vs. ______" race that they've done in recent years, with the only difference being that the police pulling over Richard because they thought the car was stolen seemed genuinely unscripted, and therefore genuinely very funny.

The SIARPC was OK. As a Yank, I had no idea who the guest was, and he did seem to repeat himself a bit as if he had a few talking points that he wanted to bring up. (For instance: his dad was an engineer; he is now going green with his cars.) It was still interesting though as it was about cars, not just about the latest project the star is trying to push. The segment got really good when he put in that amazing lap around the track. It was very nice to see Cowell bumped down to third.

The car review was good, and somewhat surprising that it was able to hold it's own against the BMW. In the end, knowing that the two were that close in price and performance and all that - I'd take the BMW anyday of the week, no question about it and no comparo needed. Like they said, you'd have to be an idiot NOT to.

The one thing about the news I want to know: why are they willing to give enough credit to Lexus (a dressed up Toyota) to seriously put it up against a BMW, and yet repeatedly dismiss Infiniti as strictly a dressed up Nissan? Of course, I disagree with them that the G Convertible looks much like the SC430... but I also disagree that the SC430 is all that ugly, so who is to say?

What I think this series needs right about now is a major Top Gear project, along the lines of the Top Gear Space Shuttle. That would be very cool to see right about now.

[H0nzik]

The studio segments were pobably the most hillarious so far in this season. The bus race and riviera segments weren't bad either but I somehow felt that it was just a slightly different approach to segments that have been on Top Gear so many times already.
And did anyone else notice that Hammond was going past a road sign that clearly said "Derniere aire en France" (last service area in France), which means he was not only going in the other direction, but he was also in France, even though he was still supoosed to be in Italy at that time. I know they do this sort of stuff, but I just don't like to be able to notice it that easily.
The Sant Tropez traffic was very authentic on the other hand, we wanted to go there last summer but got stuck in traffic, so we just turned around and didn't bother.

[MP5A4]

Can anyone read moris code? XD

[Mark355]

"Jag?"
"A6."
"Cock."

Was hoping the gorgeous Lexus would trounce the Bangled M3. News was great, as was the bus derby. Bit disappointed that Jeremy didn't appear in Italy as a third contender, but the Ferrari was beautiful and the boat was very cool. James sure took a beating. Skipped over the interview as per usual. Very glad to see the Cool Wall this week!

7/10

[corradoboy]

Originally Posted by MP5A4

Can anyone read moris code? XD

Look back a few posts, it's been translated.

Originally Posted by H0nzik

And did anyone else notice that Hammond was going past a road sign that clearly said "Derniere aire en France" (last service area in France), which means he was not only going in the other direction, but he was also in France, even though he was still supposed to be in Italy at that time.

They've stated a few times that they usually run the race in real time, then reverse the route to do the supplementary filming. Of course, as they are simply making an entertainment show they needn't actually bother at all with the race and just film it to give whatever impression they require, but JC says if that was ever the case he wouldn't want to do it as he likes the realism and to provide a true challenge for us to watch. Allegedly.

[2Billion]

I would give my left nut for that Ferrari.

As for the episode itself, it felt like series 5. Interesting cars, silly races, and everything pretty much worked. I'm not one of those people who doesn't like the new episodes or big films or what have you - I like them quite a lot, actually - but this kind of reminded me of when I got into the show, and just the flow and style of those old episodes.

So a 9 then.

[CrazyRussian540]

I'd have to give 12x05 my first 10/10 of the series.

[redshift]

was the Ferrari missing its left side mirror?

[Ziggy Shadow-Dust]

Good opening review, a Lexus that's excellent (wow!).

News was funny, especially the moment tries to set off the toy car to 'push back' the car coming in the oposite direction and it ends up falling of the table lmfao.

Buses was entertaining, though I felt it was missing something, I can't think what. Maybe it would have been better if it was done in the 'cheap car challenge' style. Ofcourse there wouldn't have been enough presenters for each type of bus (although they could have used The Stig, Big Stig, Rig Stig, Top Gear Stuntman, Theivin' Ian, African Stig, Top Gear Dog to pluck a few names...).

SIARPC was a bit of a yawning affair, until the actual lap and was amazed at how well the guest did (forgot his name). I thought to myself "Simon Cowell must be shitting himself."

Cool Wall: "You're American? You can't be. You're not fat enought." Good to see Clarkson considering a Volvo V70 as sub-zero.

Race: Bloody hell that was some pounding James took. Personally I wanted James to win, and he did. Of course the real winner is the Ferrari 365 GTB 'Daytona'.

9/10. Minus one on account of the unexciting guest.

[go4gr8]

I loved the carbon fibre toilet! Too bad JC wasn't in it when James was driving.

I also liked the audience participation. They need more of that.

BTW, it's "morse" code...and it's obsolete.

[juanma]

I really liked this episode, I have to say, the Ferrari is beautiful, but I might be too young to fully appreciate it, Ferrari has made much better cars.

Oh, and I truly enjoyed having an American on the studio. If that girl happens to read this boards, I would love to take you out on a date. Cute, at Top Gear, who may live on this side of the pond? Top three requirements fullfilled.

[_HighVoltage_]

Honestly, I lol-ed at the Cool Wall segment when Clarkson met the American girl

[javamon]

Originally Posted by ahpadt

Anybody else who noticed this?
(the girl on the deck)

lol, i think subconsciously. 47:28 in the river rip, for those who enjoy possibly nude barely discernible female forms

+1 to the season 5 comparison - i consider season 5 as the benchmark. excellent ep today. and whoever picks the music has almost exactly similar tastes to myself - any given thread over in that subforum (especially today), reads like random on my music library.

[willson.thomas]

Perfection...

Top Gear is back!

[AltimaXX]

The american girl was really the highlight for me... Seriously though, this episode had some great dialogue, and I laughed damn hard at times, but the films weren't that great. The bus race felt played out, and the race, while it was interesting, wasn't exciting. I didn't find the car the slightest bit attractive...yes, I know, I'll probably be shot for that. The guest, on the other hand, was excellent.

[Whappeh]

American girl was awesome. Does she post here?

[Viper007Bond]

10/10

Originally Posted by redshift

was the Ferrari missing its left side mirror?

Well define "missing". As was fairly common in that day, the car only had a driver's side mirror when it came out of the factory.