[12x06] December 7th, 2008

[RedAero]

First off: was I the only one that thought the fast lap segments were actually one lap? Because in this episode, you can see it is clearly pieced together from multiple laps, and for both cars: the camera on the Veritas' rollbar changes position(it's on top at the start, and goes to the side everywhere else), and lighting changes on the Caterham lap are blatantly obvious.

Also, anyone who couldn't see the weird crush coming was not around for the last two

Altogether great episode, 9/10 from me, because of the news and star segments. Boris didn't even mention what car he had.

Edit: Just noticed, no Morse code this week(obviously no radio), and no "Are you wearing that for a bet?" joke.

[Seppel007]

I just watched it and gave it 10/10. The caterham was one of the best cars i've seen around the track.
The fiesta part was great, especially the race in the mall was "cinematic" !

[salguod]

Loved it, so a clear 10/10.

Caterham, do want. Veritas don't want. Communistic cars, don't want.

Fiesta test was spectacularly awesome, that should be made compulsory for every driver, to drive a car through a shopping centre being chased by a black Corvette.

Also, was just thinking about this before I posted, but when was the last time that Clarkson and Hammond did a feature together, it is either Hammond and May, May and Clarkson or individually...

[Bartg.pl]

Fantastic episode, letter from mr.Needell was absolutely hilarious idea And great to see our very own Polonez truck destroyed

[Whappeh]

Best episode in a long while I loved it. This whole series has been great, but this episode takes the cake.

[Desertship]

great one. Didn't liked the communist section (boring), but on the other hand first sircap i watched completly (because i knew the guy) so thats equals. But there was a littel bit of looniness missing to a ten. The Fiesto the was epic reminded me of the Lotus apache Episode wich is one of my all time favorits. A good 9 i would say.

[kurthest]

Catherham was great, they could have left the Veritas in that german shed tho. No need to show it, really.
Jezza vs James in the commie cars was epic.
Boris was great, what an atypical politician.
Fiesta test was epic.

However, one thing that made me give it a poor score; Hammond introducing the show. That felt wrong somehow.
I guess it's because of Jezza's loss of voice, but still very wrong.
Also Hammond's Stig introduction was pretty poor.

On that basis, I give it a 6/10.

[corradoboy]

Originally Posted by Plissken

the kind of silly that makes us vote a complete idiot like Boris into a position of authority.

Only us Brits can do silly like that.

*waves Union Jack proudly*

Errr.....the septics are good at that too....

Except we do it deliberately to be funny, they are too thick to realise what they're doing.

BOT - Well, a return to form, and how glad I was to see it.

The Caterfield vs Veritas review was good and started the show off well, with the Caterfields lap really getting my juices flowing. It looked just the sort of car I love and reminded me of being on track in a mates Atom.

The news had me chuckling throughout. It didn't get tedious this week thankfully.

The Soviet car feature was hilarious with JC & JM weaving their magic well.

Boris was funny, livening up the tired SIARPC section. They need more guests like this and Kevin McCloud from last week rather than self-publicists on a marketing exercise.

The Fiesta review was brilliant ! The classic mix of JC's humor, TG lunacy and superb camera and production work combining to give an entertaining mix of fact, information and opinion wrapped up in ridiculous, extravagant, implausible yet hilarious surreal stupidity.

9/10 Getting up there with the best.

[Cobol74]

No GB pretends to be a politician - Boris is just Boris and is actually infinitely preferable to the newt fancier IMHO.

^ I'd have knocked it no more than 1 point for those transgressions myself.

[acabinian]

11/10.

MALL RACING. A DREAM OF A LIFETIME, REALIZED (sort of).

Best combination of tests, cocking about and information in a very, very long time. Ford, bring the Fiesta to full production in the U.S. I want one!!

Originally Posted by kurthest

However, one thing that made me give it a poor score; Hammond introducing the show. That felt wrong somehow.
I guess it's because of Jezza's loss of voice, but still very wrong.
Also Hammond's Stig introduction was pretty poor.

On that basis, I give it a 6/10.

EPIC FAIL.

I loved Hammond introducing the show. Definitely a good change-up from Clarkson's introductions. Not liking Hammond I see here?

[ssreverb]

This is the first episode I've ever given a 10. Not only were all 3 segments informative and entertaining, the editing was even more creative than usual and the choice of music was spot on (and boy was this one packed with songs). The use of filters and archival footage during the commie bit was well done. And to top it off, the race through the shopping mall was hilarious. How'd they get permission for that?

[kurthest]

Originally Posted by acabinian

EPIC FAIL.

I loved Hammond introducing the show. Definitely a good change-up from Clarkson's introductions. Not liking Hammond I see here?

Of course I like Hammond. TG wouldnt be TG without him.
I just didnt like him introducing the show.

[acabinian]

Originally Posted by corradoboy

The Caterham vs Veritas review was good and started the show off well, with the Caterham's lap really getting my juices flowing. It looked just the sort of car I love and reminded me of being on track in a mates Atom..

FTFY

I originally thought the R500 was the one with the V8 motorcycle engines, not the 2.0L 4-cyl of past Caterhams. But, still, that R500 is insane; maybe more so than an Atom, IMO?

[acabinian]

Originally Posted by kurthest

Of course I like Hammond...

Definitely doesn't sound like it to me. But, to each his own.

[PlaneDriver]

"Where does the power come from Boris?"
"It comes from the plug."



8/10

-2 for a weak news segment and I didn't enjoy the Commie section very much. Loved the Fiesta review though.

[Dsemaj]

10. Awesome, just awesome. Leave it at that.

[Cobol74]

Did I say: that Fiesta is a great little car?

[pitdog]

On Ubuntu finally managed to download the show in about 40min. What an episode - state of the art stuff. 10/10 from me. Some surreal stuff e.g. zebra's haed, Dodge in teddy bears, grenades in cupholders etc
The show actually made my wife think about the new Fiesta instead of Suzuki Swift And me about Caterham.
In studio dialog, crap cars, Caterham and finally the new little Ford - brilliant.

[M3_Powered]

Great episode as always, kinda did feel like an old episode to me. Caterham was very impressive.
All other segments were great, especially the ford. lol Couldn't stop laughing when he put in the Zebras head
rated it 9/10 but I should have given it a 10

[2Billion]

Oh the Weird Crush thing warmed the cockles of my heart. Final Gear: making the news that much better.

One of the good ones, no question. I was tempted to watch it immediately a second time, not very many episodes - even the great ones - do that.

And Ford had better stay in business long enough so I can buy a Fiesta in this country. I wanted one before, but when I'm chased through a mall in my Escort by people in Corvettes I find it somewhat lacking, so I think that Fiesta would make my life much easier.