drat01 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 :-) - best answer yet mate. Damn I wish I had thought of that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Evans does own a 250 GTO, probably wasn't the one they used but he does own one. Mind you that 599 GTO was quite a car, the downshifts on that was very clever (just hold down the paddle shift and it automatically downshifts the gears). It's precision when turning into the corners and tight bends was very clever, put your foot down and it will refuse to accelerate hard until it is ready.. you can argue it is annoying but you could always switch it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted February 2, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 2, 2011 you can argue it is annoying but you could always switch it off. Where it becomes undriveable Obviously I prefer a car with no electronics as long as it is driveable and I can even tolerate a car that has electronics to help you, but when a car goes to the 'F22' extreme where the electronics are the only thing keeping it on the road (give or take...) then I think it's not a car I'd want to own - given the choice (that I'll never have...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrees Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I detest Clarkson for many reasons, I think his knowledge on cars is poor, his views on life are pretty disgusting at times - bit that's probably another conversation - and his presenting style is one-trick pony. See the other two I like, and can watch programmes they do quite happily, James May especially has a few easy watchable programmes. James May does strike me as a Guardian reading, card carrying member of CAMRA type of bloke. Eminently likeable and quite dotty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regular_john Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I know a lad who went to a school often used in filming various Top Gear scenes, apparently there's no 'character' or 'roke play' to Clarkson, he genuinely does believe he's better than everyone else. Oddly, that makes me like him more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C4rvillan Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I agree that some of the material is coming around again a la The Stig taking Captain Slow's drive but it is still watchable mainly because people want to see the latest cars and how they evolve with even more gadgets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b23avfc Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Some friends who spent a lot of time where clarkson lives said he genuinely is that obnoxious... That's why he gets viewers, nt cool for real life but that's him. That race at the end was good fun tho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 you can argue it is annoying but you could always switch it off. Where it becomes undriveable Obviously I prefer a car with no electronics as long as it is driveable and I can even tolerate a car that has electronics to help you, but when a car goes to the 'F22' extreme where the electronics are the only thing keeping it on the road (give or take...) then I think it's not a car I'd want to own - given the choice (that I'll never have...). Yeah, fair enough that's how I see it too. Something like the BMW iDrive system that helps you on the road is fine.. mind you I hate the iDrive system, pain to setup but fine once you get going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat01 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Good article from a "friend" of the programme Steve Coogan link Top Gear's offensive stereotyping has gone too far, says Steve Coogan Comedy can't always be safe, and sometimes entertainers need to challenge social orthodoxies. But 'saying the unsayable' is different from simply recycling offensive cliches about Mexicans As a huge fan of Top Gear. I normally regard the presenters' brand of irreverence as a part of the rough and tumble that goes with having a sense of humour. I've been on the show three times and had a go at their celebrity-lap challenge, and I would love to receive a fourth invite. But I think that's unlikely once they have read this. If, however, it makes the Lads question their behaviour for a second – ambitious, I know – it will be worth it. I normally remain below the parapet when these frenetic arguments about comedy and taste break out. But this time, I've had enough of the regular defence you tend to hear – the tired line that it's "just a laugh", a bit of "harmless fun". Some of the Lads' comments again, in case you missed them. "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus, with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat" (Richard Hammond). Mexican food is "sick with cheese on it" (James May). Jeremy Clarkson added to the mirth by suggesting that the Mexican ambassador (a certain Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza) would be so busy sleeping he wouldn't register any outrage. (He wasn't and he did.) OK, guys, I've got some great ideas for your next show. Jeremy, why not have James describe some kosher food as looking like "sick with cheese on it"? No? Thought not. Even better, why not describe some Islamic fundamentalists as lazy and feckless? Feel the silence. They're all pretty well organised these days, aren't they, those groups? Better stick to those that are least problematic. Old people? Special needs? I know – Mexicans! There aren't enough of them to be troublesome, no celebrities to be upset. And most of them are miles and miles away. The BBC's initial mealy-mouthed apology was pitiful. It cited the more benign rivalry that exists between European nations (ah, those arrogant French, over-organised Germans), and in doing so neatly sidestepped one hugely important fact – ethnicity. All the examples it uses to legitimise this hateful rubbish are relatively prosperous countries full of white people. How about if the Lads had described Africans as lazy, feckless etc? Or Pakistanis? What's more, this was all spouted by the presenters on one of the BBC's most successful programmes, with ratings that could only fail to impress Simon Cowell (very fast lap time). Forget the World Service; overseas, Top Gear is more frequently the public face of the BBC. The Beeb's hand-wringing suggested tolerance of casual racism, arguably the most sinister kind. It's easy to spot the ones with the burning crosses. Besides, there is not a shred of truth in Top Gear's "comic" stereotype. I can tell you from my own experience, living in the US, Mexicans work themselves to the bone doing all the dirty thankless jobs that the white middle-class natives won't do. What makes it worse is that the Lads wear this offensive behaviour as a badge of pride, pleased that they have annoyed those whom they regard, in another lazy stereotype, as sandal-wearing vegans with beards and no sense of humour. Well here's some Twitter hot news: I don't have a beard, I'm not a vegan, I don't wear sandals (unless they're Birkenstocks, of course), and I have, I think, a sense of humour. I also know something about comedy. It's true there are no hard fast rules; it's often down to judgment calls. It's safe to say, though, that you can get away with saying unsayable things if it's done with some sense of culpability. I've been fortunate enough to work with the likes of Peter Baynham, Armando Iannucci, Chris Morris, Simon Pegg, Julia Davis, Caroline Aherne, Ruth Jones, and the Mighty Boosh – some of the funniest and most innovative people in British comedy. And Rob Brydon too. It's a diverse, eclectic group of people with one common denominator: they could all defend and justify their comedy from a moral standpoint. They are laughing at hypocrisy, human frailty, narrow-mindedness. They mock pomposity and arrogance. If I say anything remotely racist or sexist as Alan Partridge, for example, the joke is abundantly clear. We are laughing at a lack of judgment and ignorance. With Top Gear it is three rich, middle-aged men laughing at poor Mexicans. Brave, groundbreaking stuff, eh? There is a strong ethical dimension to the best comedy. Not only does it avoid reinforcing prejudices, it actively challenges them. Put simply, in comedy, as in life, we ought to think before we speak. This wasn't one of those occasions. In fact, the comments were about as funny as a cold sweat followed by shooting pains down the left arm. In fact, if I can borrow from the Wildean wit of Richard Hammond, the comic approach was "lazy", "feckless" and "flatulent". Richard has his tongue so far down the back of Jeremy's trousers he could forge a career as the back end of a pantomime horse. His attempt to foster some Clarkson-like maverick status with his "edgy" humour is truly tragic. He reminds you of the squirt at school as he hangs round Clarkson the bully, as if to say, "I'm with him". Meanwhile, James May stands at the back holding their coats as they beat up the boy with the stutter. It's not entirely their fault, of course. Part of the blame must lie with what some like to call the "postmodern" reaction to overzealous political correctness. Sometimes, it's true, things need a shakeup; orthodoxies need to be challenged. But this sort of ironic approach has been a licence for any halfwit to vent the prejudices they'd been keeping in the closet since Love Thy Neighbour was taken off the air. Also, a factor little picked up on elsewhere in the Lads' remarks is that they do, after all, present a car show. And archaic attitudes are endemic in a lot of motoring journalism. I confess I am an avid consumer and I have to wade through a sea of lazy cliches to get to anything genuinely illuminating. Jeremy unwittingly cast the template for this. Twenty years ago, when I bought Performance Car magazine, his column was the first I would turn to. It was slightly annoying but unfailingly funny. Since then there have been legions of pretenders who just don't pass muster. There is a kneejerk, brainless reaction to any legislation that may have a detrimental effect on their God-given right to drive cars anywhere at any speed that they consider safe. They often remind me of the National Rifle Association in the US who, I'm sure we can all agree, are a bunch of nutters. It's a kind of "airbags are for poofs" mentality and, far from being shocking, it's just shockingly dull. It would be fine if it was confined to a bunch of grumpy men in bad jeans smoking Marlboros at the side of the Millbrook test track, but it's not. As I pointed out, it's the voice of one of the BBC's most successful programmes. The Lads have this strange notion that if they are being offensive it bestows on them a kind of anti-establishment aura of coolness; in fact, like their leather jackets and jeans, it is uber-conservative (which isn't cool). Gentlemen, I don't believe in half-criticisms and this has nothing to do with my slow lap times. But, increasingly, you each look like a middle-aged punk rocker pogoing at his niece's wedding. That would be funny if you weren't regarded by some people as role models. Big viewing figures don't give you impunity – they carry responsibility. Start showing some, tuck your shirts in, be a bit funnier and we'll pretend it all never happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCDAN Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Well thats case closed then Steve... I agree to some extent with what hes saying but if we continue to censor what peeople can and can't say on the tv/radio then sooner rather than later its going to be diluted crap in every format? Should we censor stand up comedians aswell so we end up with 100 lenny henry's? Or do we let them off but penalise tv presenters? I don't believe this is something that can have a firm line drawn on it in terms of whats acceptable and what isn't, the margins are just too small, its something that comes down to common sense, don't like it then don't watch it, simple as. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat01 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 It's not about censorship though it's about common decency. Also considering the amount of revenue that the BBC get from selling Top Gear across the world, I bet they are a bit concerned about the behaviour of Clarkson et al. Coogan makes some very valid points and when / if they ever do get around to revamp and improve the tired format then they can address the style and content maybe (getting rid of that idiot Clarkson certainly would be a step in the right direction) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevMur Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 This was linked under Coogan article. Stewart Lee talks 'Top Gear' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted February 6, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 6, 2011 The most disappointing thing in this whole sorry saga was that drat, my pun God, missed calling it a tyred format :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 That would have been wheely lame though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 This was linked under Coogan article. Stewart Lee talks 'Top Gear' He gives Richard Hammond a hell of a kicking in that. As far as I am aware, Stuart Lee and Richard Hammond were both at Solihull School at the same time, though Lee is a year older. I wonder if they knew each other when they were there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 This was linked under Coogan article. Stewart Lee talks 'Top Gear' He gives Richard Hammond a hell of a kicking in that. As far as I am aware, Stuart Lee and Richard Hammond were both at Solihull School at the same time, though Lee is a year older. I wonder if they knew each other when they were there?"It was just a joke" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevMur Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Was it on last night? Did they refer to Mexican-gate at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 7, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted February 7, 2011 Yes it was on last night, and yes they referred to it. Jonathan Ross was the guest and they chatted about it. I thought last night's was quite funny. Something about them insisting on referring to that shite car in Albania as "the Bentley" made me laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyav Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Jonathan Ross becomes a bigger nobhead the more i see this drivelling talentless smarmy halfwit try and become funny its time he was floated off to the wilderness and as for top gear same old same old as in the 3 take 3 mega expensive cars AGAIN on a pointless road trip somewhere in a third world country it seems they've exhausted this show now as its the same format virtually every week, i tend to hardly watch it any more btw the new stig seem a lot faster and more fearless on the clips ive seen him in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazdavies79 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 That would have been wheely lame though.These puns are driving me mad. Top Gear; it's always been boring, now it's predictable and boring. Clarkson makes a living in the media and on TV from being a xenophobic right wing bigot, which he probably is, but he knows it's served him well going that extra mile (oops, I did another pun). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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