[16x02] January 30th, 2011

[valbowski1980]

Second episode in a row that was disappointing. Shame since the season started so well with the Christmas special (One of their best!)

 

[Aoshi_88]

Page 11 has reminded me of the drama over Stephen Fry and QI regarding the survivor of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. They were in no way disrespectful but BBC has pulled the plug and some TV programs that would've benefited Japan and the UK have had their Japan section filming curtailed. :S

 

[awdrifter]

The episode wasn't that good. Maybe it's because I've already seen the UK vs Aus challenge. The Ferrari 599 GTO review is good, I didn't know the GTO name carried so much history. I guess they really shouldn't have used it on a street car.

The joke about Mexicans, I thought it was not that funny and kinda mean spirited, but I didn't expect so much back lash from the Mexican officials.

 

[CTFlyer]

I agree with those who complained about the Focus in the news. Great episode all round, as was the first one, classic Top Gear really. However, I already hate the direction the show has taken in the 2nd half of its existence, but it's still entertaining and sort of passes as a car show. This stab at the new Focus though is going waaaaaay too far. They made a bit of a song & dance about the old one, made it out to be a great drivers car choice for normal people, without whom TG wouldn't exist. Particularly for all those people who have bought a Focus based on TG's glowing reviews, this is just insulting. Good episode but major points lost TG, major. My respect for the show took a big hit with that little segment. They seem to have lost the last of their sense of reality now.

I need to go visit a friend now, it's just such a pity that I'm stuck with "some car" to do the journey in, a car I was actually quite proud of before.

This huge mistake, along with the Mexican joke, really make you think that they want to deliberately alienate their audience. Even through all the transformation of TG from car show to comedy central, I stuck with it because it's still worth watching, but this episode has taken away more respect for TG and its presenters than any other, even though the content was good. I thought I would be a life long fan, but the cracks are showing now.

 

[JB13]

Indeed, everybody is talking about the Mexicans but the most important part from the show was the Ford Focus. They adored the Focus and now it is "some car" and to be honest I think it looks absolutly beautiful for a normal car!

 

[Mike Nassour]

Indeed, if there is one issue with Top Gear in its current form, it's not the lads trashing of other people, it's not the lack of focus on cars, it's the inconsistency. HOW can they love the previous Focus and hate the current one? There weren't that many changes and the direction of the car remained the same. And this isn't the first time such has happened.

 

[TC]

They did an alright review the Yeti, although I've heard some people (who were probably wearing tin foil on their heads) say that Skoda paid for the praise. Who knows.

I don't bother complaining about realistic cars anymore, because TopGear simply doesn't care anymore. If they do test a realistic car, they usually blame it on all the complaints they've received, and the car usually ends up on fire or something by the end of it.

 

[narf]

HOW can they love the previous Focus and hate the current one? There weren't that many changes and the direction of the car remained the same.

According to their first drive, it is still a good car but lost its handling advantage.
In other words, the TG3 might have been simply disappointed compared to the old one.

They did an alright review the Yeti, although I've heard some people (who were probably wearing tin foil on their heads) say that Skoda paid for the praise. Who knows.

Fifth gear liked it as well, so there probably is little need to pay TG to like it as well.

 

[CTFlyer]

Indeed, if there is one issue with Top Gear in its current form, it's not the lads trashing of other people, it's not the lack of focus on cars, it's the inconsistency. HOW can they love the previous Focus and hate the current one? There weren't that many changes and the direction of the car remained the same. And this isn't the first time such has happened.

True. Did you see JC's review of the Alfa 8C on his DVD? Goes on about how awful the noise is. This after praising the wonderful noise the 8C makes in the TG review. Wtf?

 

[CTFlyer]

According to their first drive, it is still a good car but lost its handling advantage.
In other words, the TG3 might have been simply disappointed compared to the old one.

Yeah, I read that too but then what's wrong with saying so? The Focus is not "some car", they could've talked about the disappointment they have with it. What they did is make fun of all Focuses.

 

[narf]

Yeah, I read that too but then what's wrong with saying so? The Focus is not "some car", they could've talked about the disappointment they have with it. What they did is make fun of all Focuses.

The review text says it feels and drives like a Golf. That's pretty much the definition of "some car".

 

[MWF]

Indeed, if there is one issue with Top Gear in its current form, it's not the lads trashing of other people, it's not the lack of focus on cars, it's the inconsistency. HOW can they love the previous Focus and hate the current one? There weren't that many changes and the direction of the car remained the same. And this isn't the first time such has happened.

Mainly because the new Focus is hideous? The previous two generations were obviously a Focus

Mk I - The Original Focus

Mk II - Still quite clearly a Focus

Mk III - Looks like a Golf/Auris with a blue oval on the front.

It's lost its identity in their efforts to make it a true "world car" and apparently as others have said it has lost the dynamic handling characteristics that made the previous generations stand out.

Plus if the Polo vs Fiesta pricing model applies the Golf will be cheaper on equivalent models whilst, in the UK at least, holding its value better.

Sorry, Henry old son, but your guys dropped the ball on this one.

 

[the Interceptor]

Whether the latest Focus is rubbish or not is to be discussed, obviously it's not as good as it should have been. The point however is that they don't bother to tell us this on the show anymore. They just have a bunch of subjects on the news and start rambling away, because that's what Top Gear is nowadays.

 

[MWF]

ahpadt, how did you get hold of the Interceptor's login details?

I agree I'd like to see more real world reviews of real world cars. And more of May doing them since he can still make a road test entertaining without trotting out the same old cliches that Clarkson veers towards.

But then again we can all go and test drive normal cars and form opinions ourselves, or consult the numerous serious car mags for road tests, stats and more. And there is always Fifth Gear.

What none of us can do is the kind of thing that they do on TG, with the exception of some of the road trips and since the whole world (pretty much) is skint we can't even do that any more, so for the vast majority of the current audience it fulfils a fantasy existence.

Anyway.......

 

[narf]

There's also topgear.com - it has several real road test / reviews.

 

[Ayman]

At first, this was a discussion about how the TG boys were "mistaken" to describe the Focus like they did. I'm afraid questionning people's taste and preferences is simply irrelevant, in any matter, let alone that concerning a car. I subsequently thought I shouldn't bother getting involved, and then there was mentionning and doubt of and about the show's "consistency", I have to say, that although there is irrefutable evidence which shows the hosts' schizophrenic judgements, we can't ignore that they are entitled to change their opinion about any given car if they decide to based on some parameter (which they don't necessarily have to share with us - partly because they can decide not to, but especially if the paradoxical opinions had been given on two different media entities which is the case for Jezza's view on the 8C's noise). And also, referring to what bumphs say about the old and current Focuses being basically the same is no pretext for saying that the presenters were mistaken in trashing it, it's all about the driving experiences.

My point is, to make it clear, that we have no right to reproach them for thinking that the new Focus is some car, and that it doesn't mean that their opinion about the old one has changed in any way... I don't see what the drama's for in CTFlyer's post.

People complain when the news segment has a too serious part in it or focuses with much emphasis on a delicate matter... But then again they also complain when the news go completely wild and there's penis this and pussy that. Get a grip, enjoy the show. The multitude of episodes is there to balance things out.

I might sound desperate in my multiple attempts to defend the show's credibility and integrity, and my philosophically outrageous arguements may seem ridiculous and laughable. But all I'm trying to do is help you understand that a show only dies when its fans and viewers feed on its longlived glory and become nitpicky to a point where the show is simply and mistakedly no good for them anymore, leading to its wrongful death... That would be tragic, IMO.

Ayman

 

[the Interceptor]

People complain when the news segment has a too serious part in it

People do that? Who? When? Where?

 

[Ayman]

* The News -> Yawn. 3 laughs. Why try to be serious at petrol prices?

The petrol price talk felt a bit out of place

These are just some examples I'm sure... And they're from a recent episode too.

EDIT : As a NB the need for which results directly from the fact that most of your rebuttals in general (which I've read) are communicated in a predictably very disrespectful way (yes, by my standards). As a NB, you shouldn't respond to this with a demeaning remark on how I've only mentioned 2 people, going on one episode. Demeaning for them of course, as for me, idc frankly.

 

[the Interceptor]

EDIT : As a NB the need for which results directly from the fact that most of your rebuttals in general (which I've read) are communicated in a predictably very disrespectful way (yes, by my standards). As a NB, you shouldn't respond to this with a demeaning remark on how I've only mentioned 2 people, going on one episode. Demeaning for them of course, as for me, idc frankly.

NOW you have my attention. Would you care to provide a few examples of my disrespectfully communicated rebuttals?

Also, does "NB" stand for what I think it does? I have an idea, but I don't want to take it away, so please tell me what this means.

 

[CTFlyer]

At first, this was a discussion about how the TG boys were "mistaken" to describe the Focus like they did. I'm afraid questionning people's taste and preferences is simply irrelevant, in any matter, let alone that concerning a car. I subsequently thought I shouldn't bother getting involved, and then there was mentionning and doubt of and about the show's "consistency", I have to say, that although there is irrefutable evidence which shows the hosts' schizophrenic judgements, we can't ignore that they are entitled to change their opinion about any given car if they decide to based on some parameter (which they don't necessarily have to share with us - partly because they can decide not to, but especially if the paradoxical opinions had been given on two different media entities which is the case for Jezza's view on the 8C's noise). And also, referring to what bumphs say about the old and current Focuses being basically the same is no pretext for saying that the presenters were mistaken in trashing it, it's all about the driving experiences.

My point is, to make it clear, that we have no right to reproach them for thinking that the new Focus is some car, and that it doesn't mean that their opinion about the old one has changed in any way... I don't see what the drama's for in CTFlyer's post.

People complain when the news segment has a too serious part in it or focuses with much emphasis on a delicate matter... But then again they also complain when the news go completely wild and there's penis this and pussy that. Get a grip, enjoy the show. The multitude of episodes is there to balance things out.

I might sound desperate in my multiple attempts to defend the show's credibility and integrity, and my philosophically outrageous arguements may seem ridiculous and laughable. But all I'm trying to do is help you understand that a show only dies when its fans and viewers feed on its longlived glory and become nitpicky to a point where the show is simply and mistakedly no good for them anymore, leading to its wrongful death... That would be tragic, IMO.

Ayman

You're completely missing the point. There's nothing wrong with the fun stuff, if they want to mock cars (Dacias!) then that's fine. The Focus though is one of the few cars singled out for great praise from TG in the past, so to now call it "some car" is ridiculous. They went from giving it great praise to relegating it to the likes of a Micra. They lose a lot of credibility here, I don't know how you can't see it. Nothing to do with too serious or too silly here. Consistency, as stated above, is what we want. I'm not nitpicking at all, it's like a huge continuation error in a movie, and worst of all suggests that they never really cared about it at all, which means all the enthusiasm in the previous tests was false? Well done indeed Top Gear clap clap