Series 15 episode 6

[lew]

[flyslip]

Getting in early, lew?

(The "11" was a nice touch. Or do you know something we don't?)


Oh, and congrats on the 9,000 post mark! Nice!

[lew]

Well y'know last one.....and all that as for the 11 ;D

Have I got that many posts oh my I have no life

[nobody]

Did not realised this EP was going to be on at 9.30.
I'm going to have to be a traitor tonight as Sherlock is on 8.30-10.00

[lymaze]

Glad I'm not the only one. I will watch it tomorrow (or catch the second half after Sherlock). I'm afraid my Holmes crush cannot be denied!

[nobody]

I know this is ot but is it true there will not be a series 16 but just a christmas special?

[eshalda]

I would like a series 16 and a Christmas special,or is that just greedy?

[chariset]

There's going to be a series 16. Apparently they've already got some material filmed for it.

I don't think there'll be a 17, though.

[bob]

This is the first time this season ive seen this on a sunday!

[lindenchase]

Mwah. I enjoyed tonight's episode, but somehow felt it lacked something.

They should either have produced a nostalic lookback at British car making history or have gone for one of their silly road trips. Combining the two just didn't work for me.

Check out this video in which the boys discuss the last series:

transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/08/01/episode-6-the-boys-discuss-the-series-plus-post-show-discussion/

[Wyvern]

As someone who drives an old British car, I understood the film completely. The second part in particular was an exaggeration of the mindset you end up with when you drive something utterly geriatric and frankly a bit crap (sorry, Gerald, I love you but you know it's true). You come up with all kinds of excuses because at the end of the day you drive it for the love of it, not because it's a brilliant car. If they were that good, they'd still be making them, after all. But despite all that, Hammond is right - it's fun. I honestly don't think British cars of that type make sense to anyone except the British. And to be honest, a British car industry retrospective would just end up being incredibly depressing (look up Clarkson's Car Years: Who Killed The British Car Industry? to see why), because we made a massive mess of it in the end. The TVR factory in particular utterly broke me, because it's not that many years since it closed down and you can still see evidence of the people who worked there and the cars that they made.

Thought it was a nice, solid, proper episode. I hope they keep heading in this direction for as long as this incarnation of TG has left.

Applause Store has a wait list for series 16 already, but I would be surprised if things didn't change radically for Top Gear next year. I'm sure I read somewhere that everyone signed for another two years at the start of this year, but we'll see what happens, I suppose.

[inky]

I used to work just round the corner from the TVR factory and got used to the sight of semi-ready TVRs whizzing past me being driven by IMHO spotty youths given the task of road testing them. My ex- bro in law had one in the early 80s when I had the Capri 3.0S. Same engine, smaller (and much lighter) car = much faster than my Capri and his TVR was very reliable too

[dit]

I enjoyed this episode but I didn't think it was as quite as good as last week's which I think was the best of this series. There was definitely a shortage of James (and is it my imagination or has he had his hair cut again?)

However, the Ferrari segment was excellent - love that engine sound, but lay off the F430!

The British sports car segment was interesting but not the best of their challenges. Wyvern, I now understand exactly what you mean - you drive these cars because you love them and they're fun. I adore driving my GT6 but don't expect it to be reliable!

Some of the editing in that segment was a bit iffy (that black car pulling across to join the oncoming traffic appeared twice in different locations) and for Lancashire purists they did a very odd route to TVR (up and down the coast a number of times!)

However when they got there I agree it was heartbreaking. I work(ed) about 2 minutes from the factory and know people who went to work there. The end of it was despicable and I also know other local people whose businesses (and lives) were ruined by that Russion b***ard. It was a local tragedy and to see the moulds was awful.

There is another TVR owners meet of some sort going on later this summer and I hope they enjoy themselves because there were regally ripped off.

(btw, howled with laughter at the anagram numberplates)

[Wyvern]

What really depresses me about TVR is that the Russian b***ard is reviving the name by producing a new car with an American engine and building it in Germany. It's just wrong on so many levels. I mean, OK, the engines could have been sourced anywhere, but there's nothing at all of TVR in what they're proposing and it makes me sad.

[violetrose]

I loved the 458 test in the beginning - it was nice to see just a gorgeous Ferrari go around the track. It almost seemed like there was little effort within the test itself because Jeremy enjoyed driving it so much. Seeing James' 430 was such a treat! I knew what it looked like from his column in December and saw it in one of the videos at the website, but it was just very cool. I was amused at Jez eating a Flake bar in it, hee.

I liked Jeff Goldblum, though his driving was a bit dorky! Though, I can't really judge him for the way he drove because if I had to learn stick and then go round a track I'd probably wet my pants.

The road trip itself was good. I was happy to go along and listen to the three of them talk about British sports cars, as I really know next to nothing about them other than what I've learned from the show. I felt such a sadness by the end. I think I've barely scratched the surface in understanding just what the UK has lost in terms of its auto industry. Staggering.

I'm sad it's the end of the series, but I'm very eager to see the start of the next one. ;D From what I've heard, they've already been working on it. As for there not being a 17th series, well - I don't know why a few people see it that way. I was pretty certain they'd signed on for at least another two years. The latest video on the website has Jeremy talking about how little time he's spent with his children (who I believe are now teenagers at this point), which resonated with me. If things change, then, que sera, sera. I love this show like no other and I will enjoy every moment the presenters and crew still have left to give us.

[devil-may-care]

I agree with you, Violetrose. No matter how many more series they may do, I'll be right there on my sofa with them. When they stop or just do a special or two, I'll be there for that as well.

I adored this episode! ;D The Ferrari test was great! I really thought James would be a bit more apocalyptically mad at Jeremy for making a total mess of his F430!

Loved the premise for their British sports car challenge. Not only to show what has happened to the car industry in Britain, which we have experienced here in the US and are still experiencing, but the tongue in cheek way they made fun of the producers and the poor Stig!
I loved the number plate anagrams and the Stig attempting to drown! ;D
Saw a film done in Detroit recently showing whole neighborhoods that have been abandoned since certain car factories have been shut. Terribly depressing. And there only seems to be more to come - unfortunately.

Jeff Goldblum was fun, geeky and endearing! I can remember when he was a relative nobody in "Earth Girls Are Easy"!! Gave him points for trying! ;D ;D

[lew]

Aug 1, 2010 16:56:14 GMT @nobody said:

Did not realised this EP was going to be on at 9.30.
I'm going to have to be a traitor tonight as Sherlock is on 8.30-10.00

me too, not that I have a crush.......so only got to see the second bit of TG did the washing up for siarpc, felt sad about the TVR factory, oh and the other place (jensen) felt like you could hear the ghosts of the past as I'm around today shall watch the rest later, or the before ;D

[From Afar]

Aug 1, 2010 18:07:37 GMT lymaze said:

Glad I'm not the only one. I will watch it tomorrow (or catch the second half after Sherlock). I'm afraid my Holmes crush cannot be denied!

Watched this new Sherlock last night, thought it was fab too.... have to wait for TG "to arrive" so will see this last episode tonight hopefully

Aug 1, 2010 19:32:05 GMT eshalda said:

I would like a series 16 and a Christmas special,or is that just greedy?

I want both too *sticks out bottom lip & pouts* and no Eshalda it's not greedy just obssessed enthusiastic ;D

From reading all the comments so far am looking forward to watching this one when we acquire it.

[lymaze]

I only caught the last half so I won't judge it until I watch the whole show but I don't know, I do feel the bell is tolling a little. Sadly there is a bit of a stale feel about it at times. I think what needs to happen is an injection of either youth or another presenter, maybe not studio based, but one who does one of the film segments for them. As for the Stars, why so many Americans? It does smack of desperation that they think it will bump the figures up. I do love this show and at its peak it was producing the best and most original entertainment around, but I'm a bit concerned it's now on the way down the other side of the hill or at least wobbling at the top.

[jacqui]

Enjoyed last nights episode. especially the ferrari's LOL at Jezza eating chocolate in James' car - would have annoyed me too!!!
Both are awesome cars but i do have a soft spot for F430 for some reason!!!

Loved the Brit cars challenges, stig in the car wash made me laugh and the anagrams made me snort wine through my nose - V attractive ;D

[dit]

I must admit the anagrams bit made me LSLIFTC (Laugh So Loud It Frightened The Cats)

[lew]

Just watched it all finally.....well a fitting end to a good series, roll on to the specials.

[eshalda]

Last nights episode was a real nostalgia trip for me, having at one time or another been driven, or have driven, all three of the British sports cars. I once though the Lotus Elan was the pinnacle of perfection - well it was back then.

[nobody]

Really liked this episode I would have loved to have seen James face when they brought his car back.
Because I live in a ex mining, ex textile area and grew up watching in our case American b***ard buying and shutting the factory's because they just wanted the name, the ending really got to me and I nearly had a girly moment.
Mean no offence to our American members.

[devil-may-care]

New photos are up from episode 6:

www.topgear.com/uk/photos/top-gear-15-episode-6-live-recording?imageNo=0

[chariset]

James is saying "Get your feet off the table, you great oaf."


The episode was decent, and quite poignant at the end, but the pacing was weird. I have to confess, it wasn't until they hit the last factory that I realized they were visiting the places where their makes of car were made. And I wasn't sure what to make of the Stig gags. If they had left it at the exploding car, maybe it would have been funnier -- but then people would have been in a panic about Stig being killed off. Otherwise.... some poignancy, a lot of tomfoolery -- and not much of what makes the program great, which is the presenters' honest appreciation of their cars and each other.

And the constant thrashing of James' Ferrari just seemed mean-spirited -- it doesn't seem right to compare the godlike 458 to the 430, which is about as close to entry-level as a Fezza gets. James said himself he bought it used and all he wanted out of it was the thrill of ownership and some 'fizz.' And even then, the 430 danced circles around the Pagani Zonda and the Ford GT when they went to France and played on the mountain road waaaaay back in Series 7.

I thought they should have applauded him for buying one at all, frankly.

[lew]

Got up to photo 9 and thought "you could do a lot to that" ;D

[From Afar]

Finally watched this last night..... it was a good episode all round (I a polled it at an 8), although I did think the British Sports car film was a bit conflicted as it was trying to be sad and funny all at the same time and for me it didn't work that well.... however Jezza in that hat and Hammond with a bottom in his face and Stiggy in the car wash were class funny moments ;D and James was quite divine all through that film

Jeff Goldblum was lovely.... I used to have a massive crush on him in my youth He seems like a really nice guy and bless him lots for doing the circuit in 3rd gear.... I wouldn't mnd giving him some stick lessons

Am missing TG already :-( and can't wait for the next series or specials - what ever happens next!

Oh and yeah James did look like he has had a hair cut at first but I think it was just the way it was styled.... and he is no longer the shaggy long haired one on TG - Hammond is ;D

[dit]

lew - thought it was only me!

[From Afar]

Aug 3, 2010 7:51:14 GMT lew said:

Got up to photo 9 and thought "you could do a lot to that" ;D

I'm going to go look at photo no 9..... right now ;D