I can see a benefit to the cost-cutting. The last series was IMHO awful, with less and less 'car' content and way too much silliness. I have every episode stored on my PVR and have re-watched none of them, and even turn the Dave showings off. I have never done this with ANY previous season. Even the Vietnam special was unenjoyable as Top Gear, but quite good as a travel diorama/documentary/comedy. I long for them to do group tests like the ones on the Isle of Man of realistic, affordable (mostly), everyday cars on real roads with a Stig lap as a finale. If they really want to represent the credit crunch, then resign the million pound hypercars to minor car porn articles in favor of some stuff we all can buy, drive and enjoy. It doesn't have to be like 5th Gear, it wouldn't be as the presenters are so much better, but the show could get back to its roots a little. Audience figures might drop a little as kids and girls drift away, but unless they change something, soon, then car nuts like me are the ones drifting off. A lot more thought needs to be put into the guests for SIARPC too, if indeed the feature is to remain. They never used to use it for 'plugging' the latest tatt book, film or whatever, and it needs to get back to petrolhead celebs rising to the challenge with passion, and giving us a good laugh when they fail miserably. Keep the news, keep the Cool Wall, keep the pretty girls in the front row, it's not all bad. Let's see more IoM, Pendine Sands, Buttertubs Pass, Scotland. Let's see Scoobs vs Evo's vs Focus RS's, Atom vs Radical vs KTM vs R500, S5 3.0 TDi Quattro vs 335D vs some Merc or another, Fiestsa vs FIat 500's vs Suzuki Swifts vs Mini's vs whatever the Hell else, on road, and track, with insight and wit. No lorries, no oriental scooters, no post war communist crap, no powerboats !!!!! Look over
THIS and notice how the whole of S12 featured just 17 cars. S01E08 featured 9 on its own ! I'd rather watch that eight times than watch S12 again.
Right, flame me !
