Do you like the SIARPC segments?

[The Chad]

Originally Posted by upyourego

There seems to be a lot of hatred towards the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment but I personally really enjoy it.

It's a nice break and is always good to get a couple of different voices on the show. Plus it's great to see people I'm used to seeing in completely different environments - doing something outside of their normal comfort zone.

Having read through a number of threads with people saying things like "I have no idea who that guy is - scrap SIARPC" or "I hate the SIARPC segments" and such like - and noticing a number of those comments came from people outside of the UK - I thought it might be interesting to see how many people like it/hate it and where they are from.

So do you love/like/hate SIARPC and are you in the UK or out of the UK?

The segment, in the beginning, was okay but not spectacular. However, I do enjoy watching the segment when there's people that I recognize on. I'm not necessarily referring to international superstars either, but like the Jimmy Carrs of the world. Heck, I bought his book after learning about it and having seen his sense of humor on Top Gear.

Then there are people who are extremely boring or someone I do not recognize. The ones I don't recognize I don't mind watching, but the boring ones can be quite the chore to struggle through.

I don't hate it, but I don't really love it. It's nice the show has it, and I would probably miss it if it were gone, but clearly, the segment is not targeted towards me. I recognize that.

[TopGearDog]

Hehe a Z06 would be a bit too dangerous, thats why i said "reasonably" fast.

Something reasonably fast (and relatively safe) 4WD like an Evo or a Impreza would work, i mean they have set people out in an Impreza before, fastest faith or something i believe.

Another idea, since they are doing 2 per show now, is a proper race, like head to head at the same time. Or how about a go kart race? Remote control cars? Race against the Stig? Stig in the Lacetti and guests in an Evo? Anything to spice things up, if you know what i mean.

[47]

Depends who's the gueast. Even if I don't know them I'll still watch, but if I get bored after a minute, I'll fas forward.
For instance yesterday (11x02) I have no idea who those guys were (although, the older one is familiar) but they were interesting and Jeremy was excited when he anounced them so I watched the whole interview!
Also, Steeve Coogan, Michael Gambon, didn't have a clue who they are, in they're first SIARPC, but I loved them!
And I don't mind the mostly british guests.

[Mineworksfine]

I only came here to say I wasn't going to post anything on this subject, but since I am here.....

I think SIARPC has lost its way a bit that's all. It used to be about getting car related stories out of the guests, like Coogan spotting bits of old Volvos from still shots, or Alan Davies telling the tale of him and some fellow comics being pulled over in Birmingham in the middle of Birmingham and the copper sticking his head thru the window and asking "So youse lot are all comedians then?".

I don't feel that there is anything inherently wrong with the concept, just that they've taken their eye off the ball somewhat and a bit more careful research into the guests beforehand to ensure that they have something a) car related and b) potentially amusing to talk about then I don't think it matters particularly whether one knows who they are or not. You can only work with what you are given - I don't imagine Parkinson was too chuffed after Meg Ryan but he got over it.

And whatever ones opinions about SIARPC, surely you have to admit that Trevor Eve telling Clarkson he knows nothing about cars is an all time classic?

[vikiradTG2007]

Originally Posted by Mineworksfine

And whatever ones opinions about SIARPC, surely you have to admit that Trevor Eve telling Clarkson he knows nothing about cars is an all time classic?

Surely.

We need more guests like Trevor on SIARPC.

[fbc]

Oh the whole I like the segment - always have enjoyed it. Apart from the infamous 11x01 averageness it's a part of the show that I think still has a place. I'm not sure if the current have-two-stars-at-once format works as well - less time for JC to ask good questions of each star.

[Mineworksfine]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

Surely.

We need more guests like Trevor on SIARPC.

Good point well made.

And if a member in Romania can appreciate a quality guest for who they are and what they say then I rest my case. Guests are fine as long as they are properly vetted and have something relevant to say.

[matt2000]

I'm not sure the two guest idea is really working that well, the two so far have been pretty average at best (I hate Alan Carr, he just irritates me) but hopefully they should improve.

[jayhawk]

It goes on for about five minutes too long for me.

[katwalk]

I think the segments are more enjoyable when the guest is an ass

[Viper007Bond]

Poll added.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

I'm really torn, sometimes the guests are completely boring, but sometimes you get guys like Jimmy Carr, Trevor Eve, Patrick Stewart, or Sir Fiennes who just knock your socks off. I say leave the segment in, if they're boring I'll fast-forward.

[TJP]

I quite like the segment. I find the interviews more interesting when the guests aren't there to promote something; although the Ronnie Woods interview was great & he was promoting his book!

To me the real enjoyment of the segment comes when the guest takes the track time seriously. The way in which Jeremy makes the guest agonise over their lap times is great to watch.

Case in point would be Jennifer Saunders. Total surprise that she was quite the car enthusiast and was so close to getting the top time, it was a great SIARPC.

As for getting less U.K. persons on the segment, I agree with James May's Hair.

Cheers.

[skylock]

Originally Posted by Lilleput

That's not what we meant, the guests are mostly people on British television, regardless of channel, i know it's a British show but 90% of the audience are not from the UK so these people may as well be some audience member and that's why they're not interesting.

It doesn't matter if 90% of the audience is from Mars. It is still a british tv show.

Maybe the fact I found top gear specifically because of SIARPC may color my opinion. Had I not downloaded the episode so I could see the star, I would have NEVER watched a car show, much less have to learn how to do torrents so I could see said car show.

Maybe I am just more woldly than most americans, et all, but I have at least heard of almost every star they have had on, with the exception of the long haired guy from 11x01 and the 2 this week. And I like the sopt.

[Holiace]

Meeh... I live in Sweden and more or less ALL stars on the show are people I've never heard of!

[vikiradTG2007]

As I mentioned before. A big YES if the stars are interesting to interview, a big NO if they're boring or idiots. So the combination of the two of them is a "Meh..."

[TomCat]

I've never really cared for the segment. It's funny watching a few of the mess-ups on the track, but thats about all.

[dj.TAKA]

I think top gear needs them, but I'm usually not interested in it because it's too long for my liking and takes time from more exciting and funny stuff, good chance I don't know they people and therefore don't care. So I watch it the first time through, and usually skip it if I watch the episode again.

I do enjoy it when it's someone I know or someone silly, like the Minister of Transport back on Series 6/7?

[NooDle]

I watch the show on BBC and the repeats of last year on a local channel, Canvas.
Because the show is shorter on Canvas they cut stuff out like the news and stuff (irrelevant anyway since it's over a year old) but they kept in the SIARPC bit, which annoys me

half the time, the "celebs" are unknown to anyone outside of the UK, or they have a book/cd/TVshow/whatever to plug, so lots of time is wasted on that. I'm also not at all interested in people's car history (srsly, who gives a flying fuck if you had a Rover?)

So I voted : outside of UK and I hate it.

They could put more cool wall in, or another 10 minute car review or something

[mazdaddy]

There isnt a "I love it and I used to live in the UK so I get the British humour and the references"