[10x07] November 25th, 2007

[theboyG]

Sunday 25 November
8:00pm - 9:00pm


Motoring magazine show. Jeremy, Richard and James celebrate 40 years of British Leyland by reviewing three of their cars that aren't that bad. Also features a review of the Aston Martin DBS, Jennifer Saunders as the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' and we ask: whatever happened to the beach buggy?

Originally Posted by TopGear.com

There was the familiar smell of old motor oil backstage at filming this week, and for once it wasn't coming from James.

See, next year sees the 40th anniversary of the formation of British Leyland, a milestone that Jeremy, James and Richard thought should be celebrated appropriately. Reasonably, the producers disagreed, saying that everything BL ever produced was a bunch of rusty, patchy rubbish.

To prove them wrong, our intrepid presenters headed out with £1,200 of their own cash to buy a car to prove that some good did come out of British Leyland.

Unfortunately, they returned with a Rover SD1, a Triumph Dolomite Sprint and an Austin Princess. And a lingering smell of rust and oil.

This week's Big Feature sees them thrash the Seventies not-quite-icons to well beyond an inch of their lives... and get very, very wet in the process.

But it's not just old bangers on the show this week. Jeremy arm-wrestled James Bond himself to get the keys to the new Aston Martin DBS, a car that might just be better than the Vanquish and the DB9. Together. Find out how the gorgeous, carbon fibre-clad supercar takes to our test track in the hands of Double-O-Stig.

And this week's star in a Reasonably Priced Car is comedy legend Jennifer Saunders, who proved absolutely fabulous behind the wheel of our Chevy Lacetti.

Gallery: http://www.topgear.com/content/timet...7-series10/01/

[Frederic]

Also features a review of the Aston Martin DBS

[Peter3hg]

"Word on the street" is that this buggy will feature. It has a 1100cc Suzuki engine and does 0-60 in about 6.5 secs. Unfortunately it is Chinese so will probably fall apart.

[dino_martini]

This episode airs on my Brithday. I love Top Gear birthdays!

[anti-net]

Aston Martin DBS!!! The BL cars should be a laugh. Stil...where is Britcar!

[Msl747]

Sounds like it will be another sweet episode... Btw, does anyone know how many episodes will be in this series?

[dj.TAKA]

Originally Posted by Msl747

Sounds like it will be another sweet episode... Btw, does anyone know how many episodes will be in this series?

Ten.

Im guessing the'll leave the brit24hr till the end.

[ahpadt]

I know most of you will hate me for this, but why another Aston? Review something interesting. I can already tell what Jeremy thinks of the DBS.

Alternatives: Alfa 8 Competizione, New Fiat 500, New Volvo S80, New Mini's, New M3, New Jaguar XF (even though it's ultra-ugly), Merc SLR 722, Koeningsegg CCXR, New Audi A4, New Audi A5, Ferrari F430 Scuderia, New Monaro thing... It's tons.

And don't tell me to fuck off and watch Fifth Gear.

[James May's Hair]

Originally Posted by ahpadt

I know most of you will hate me for this, but why another Aston? Review something interesting. I can already tell what Jeremy thinks of the DBS.

I know what you mean; they should at least let Richard or James review it.

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by James May's Hair

I know what you mean; they should at least let Richard or James review it.

Let's have a bet, shall we?

He's not be gonna particularly fond of the interior - too much carbon fibre.
The engine is obviously brilliant since it's from the Vanquish - I don't know if it's a fact, but they are pretty simulare HP wise anyway.
Handling is good, but not as good as a 911, 430 etc.

Basically a Vanquish that actually works, with a manual. He's gonna tell you to save the money and buy a DB9 or a V8 Vantage instead.

[Aiolos]

^ Yeah, you're prob right, though I'm still excited.

It would be nice if they reviewed the Scuderia or the M3 or the S5 or the XF.

[M3_Powered]

The DBS!!! SWEEET!
It would be great to see James review it.

[Roberto]

Originally Posted by ahpadt

I know most of you will hate me for this, but why another Aston? Review something interesting. I can already tell what Jeremy thinks of the DBS.

Alternatives: Alfa 8 Competizione, New Fiat 500, New Volvo S80, New Mini's, New M3, New Jaguar XF (even though it's ultra-ugly), Merc SLR 722, Koeningsegg CCXR, New Audi A4, New Audi A5, Ferrari F430 Scuderia, New Monaro thing... It's tons.

And don't tell me to fuck off and watch Fifth Gear.

Oh stop moaning! Aston Martins are the best looking cars in the world and they sound amazing... I can't wait to see and hear it.. Yum! Why would I want to know about the new A4, new M3, S80 or Ferrari? Don't watch Fifth Gear, they are just doing cheap boring copy-cat challenges. Instead, buy Top Gear mag and there you will find the reviews to all the cars you have mentioned!!!

By the way, the new Jag looks gorgeous, and I can't wait until they test it on Top Gear. The VXR8 is to be tested on Top Gear soon.

This is shown the day before my birthday.... I can't wait to see the BL segment, it is going to be hillarious

[wooflepoof]

Originally Posted by Roberto

Oh stop moaning! Aston Martins are the best looking cars in the world and they sound amazing... I can't wait to see and hear it.. Yum! Why would I want to know about the new A4, new M3, S80 or Ferrari? Don't watch Fifth Gear, they are just doing cheap boring copy-cat challenges. Instead, buy Top Gear mag and there you will find the reviews to all the cars you have mentioned!!!

By the way, the new Jag looks gorgeous, and I can't wait until they test it on Top Gear. The VXR8 is to be tested on Top Gear soon.

This is shown the day before my birthday.... I can't wait to see the BL segment, it is going to be hillarious

It's just a shame they made the "best looking car in the world"(can't say cars its just the same car with different lengths basically) only once and decided they didn't want to try and top it. 'Nother vent and a couple inches longer/shorter NEW CAR YEAH!

Can't wait for the BL challenge maybe we'll see the stigs British cousin!

[CrazyRussian540]

Originally Posted by ahpadt

Let's have a bet, shall we?

He's not be gonna particularly fond of the interior - too much carbon fibre.
The engine is obviously brilliant since it's from the Vanquish - I don't know if it's a fact, but they are pretty simulare HP wise anyway.
Handling is good, but not as good as a 911, 430 etc.

Basically a Vanquish that actually works, with a manual. He's gonna tell you to save the money and buy a DB9 or a V8 Vantage instead.

Don't for get the parts out of the Ford waste bin.

[powah]

DBS should be awesome!

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by wooflepoof

It's just a shame they made the "best looking car in the world"(can't say cars its just the same car with different lengths basically) only once and decided they didn't want to try and top it. 'Nother vent and a couple inches longer/shorter NEW CAR YEAH!

Can't wait for the BL challenge maybe we'll see the stigs British cousin!

It reminds me of when someone releases a new product. New packing - same shit. "NEW FLAVOUR COLA LIGHT FUCK YEA" - result is is something that tastes just like the old one.
New V8 Vantage = slightly shorter DB9 with a Jaguar engine.
New DBS = give the old Vanquish a sexy body kit and updated interior and sell it for a millionbillion.

How much would you not prefer like a new M3 v RS4 v C63 challenge over a single DBS review?

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by dj.TAKA

Im guessing the'll leave the brit24hr till the end.

The crew told us at Silverstone that it was going to air in November, but that was probably just a rough figure at that point.

[epp_b]

dd-D..B...SSsss

[marcos_eirik]

Originally Posted by ahpadt

It reminds me of when someone releases a new product. New packing - same shit. "NEW FLAVOUR COLA LIGHT FUCK YEA" - result is is something that tastes just like the old one.
New V8 Vantage = slightly shorter DB9 with a Jaguar engine.
New DBS = give the old Vanquish a sexy body kit and updated interior and sell it for a millionbillion.

When the old one is so brilliant, why bother changing it? Even if the body hasn't changed much, what's underneath has. So it's more like a brand new product in the old package.

Anyway the V8 Vantage is a lot more than just a shortened DB9 with a Jaguar engine. The chassis was extensively reengineered and is actually signicficantly stiffer than the DB9, despite being lighter. The engine is also significantly changed, only the cylinder block remains. The looks, well it looks similar to a DB9 but it represents a different Aston mood, being much more taunt and angry, yet still sophisiticated.

The new DBS is actually based on the same significantly improved chassis as the DBR9 racecar. The interior is an update of the one in the V8 Vantage, which was an update from the one in the DB9. The point of these updates is to gradually move away from the Ford partsbin, as the company isn't under Ford anymore.

Originally Posted by ahpadt

How much would you not prefer like a new M3 v RS4 v C63 challenge over a single DBS review?

I very much wouldn't prefer thatactually. I would prefer a review of a single real sportscar that sounds and looks as good as the DBS over a gruop test featuring those retirement bins with big engines...

Anyway, I really do look forward to the DBS test.