Top Gear vs Fifth Gear
stevenmh
Posts: 180
Despite liking to read JC's comments and his books, I think Top Gear lost the plot a long time ago.
Love Fifth Gear.
Love Fifth Gear.
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Can't stand JC and top gear is all set up and scripted poorly and lost it's edge about 3 years ago.
still much more watchable than fifth gear though.0 -
You have to take Top Gear for what it is, now...
I find it quite entertaining, although it is all scripted and orchestrated and basically seems to be made to feed JC's ego!
5th Gear is a very poor effort, though... No contest.Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!0 -
Both are okay - Tom Ford is funny on Fifth Gear, JCs antics are sometimes amusing on Top Gear. Fifth Gear is a bit more factual, Top Gear is more for entertainment - JC seems to have a random set of criteria for whether he likes or hates a car.0
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They are both a bag of sh*te.0
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I still find Top Gear entertaining, even though it's been pretty poor this series, the last episode was dull.
The things I hate about fifth gear are the items where someone famous gets to drive their dream machine - like James Martin in a Renault F1 - and the worshipping of Tiff Needell like he's some sort of driving genius (he did a whole season of BTCC and failed to finish a single race!).
Still both are better than any of the 'satellite' offerings.0 -
I'm really not into cars at all, to prove this i drive a Hyundai people carrier and before that a Skoda estate, :oops:
I DO however love top gear as an entertainment programme. the concept of 3 blokes just mucking about together is great and depite the fact it so scripted, they obviosly enjoy themselves and that comes across. Even my 10yr old daughtwer and 6 yr old son enjoy it, particularly the stupid challenges.
If Only they did a cycling version...... but who to host it??? :?"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, your right" Henry Ford0 -
bobtbuilder wrote:They are both a bag of sh*te.
pithy yet eloquent, says it all in less words than I just did
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I tend to think of Top Gear as an entertainment programme that's based around cars, rather than being factual or informative in any way. I enjoy watching Top Gear but Fifth Gear just doesn't do it for me. I find it dull.0
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I quite like Top Gear - obviously scripted but, yeah, it's just good entertainment with a bit of cars thrown in here and there.0
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Top Gear "cant be a true petrol head until you have owned an Alfa". They get my vote just for that 8)0
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So true!Stewie Griffin wrote:Top Gear "cant be a true petrol head until you have owned an Alfa". They get my vote just for that 8)
And JC on the 3.0 V6: "That's not an engine, its a heart...sounds like a choir of angels" 8)
Anyway - I love the programme. I actually complained to the beeb after the first showing of the new format (airfield industrial unit) as it was embarrassing, and audience full of middle aged men in dodgy car jackets. It has improved, and now I find it hilarious. I went to see the show 2 years ago, the guys are even funnier off screen, and a lot less cautious :twisted:0 -
That unit (and the 3.2 V6) are definitely very pretty. My Golf R32 engine was covered in plastic and looked like something off Power Rangers in comparison. The Bimmer is better but still too plasticky.
Germans need to ditch the plastic and do chrome pipes too! And crackle red finishes!0 -
alfablue - Mmmmmmmmm 8)
One seriously NICE engine!
And yeah, Top Gear FTW!!!!Boo-yah mofo
Sick to the power of rad
Fix it 'till it's broke0 -
You have to take them for what they are. Top Gear is an entertainment programme and Fifth Gear is a Top Gear wannabe. I wouldn't mind working on either though. Getting paid decent wedges of cash to muck about in super cars, not bad if you can get it.
I thought the TG episode from Miami to New Orleans was pure gold, as was the Vietnam trip. So what if they're scripted? It's only TV. TG's political incorrectness is a welcome breath of fresh air in world full of PC crap. I don't subscribe to Rupert Murdoch so I have no idea what's available on crapelite.0 -
EdZed wrote:You have to take them for what they are. Top Gear is an entertainment programme and Fifth Gear is a Top Gear wannabe. I wouldn't mind working on either though. Getting paid decent wedges of cash to muck about in super cars, not bad if you can get it.
I thought the TG episode from Miami to New Orleans was pure gold, as was the Vietnam trip. So what if they're scripted? It's only TV. TG's political incorrectness is a welcome breath of fresh air in world full of PC crap. I don't subscribe to Rupert Murdoch so I have no idea what's available on crapelite.
Whats available on crapalite? Dave has Top Gear on 5 times today. Er, yes, Dave is a TV channel
Actually, I could watch fifth gear a bit more often, just for VBH, I bet she is a bit dir....oh never mind 0 -
Yes, sounds even better than it looks, I had to get one of these before they became extinct, which they now havebigchazrocks wrote:alfablue - Mmmmmmmmm 8)
One seriously NICE engine!
And yeah, Top Gear FTW!!!!
Performance is only modest with 218bhp in a heavy car, and fuel consumption poor (17mpg - sorry, environment, I make amends by cycling) but it pulls from 600rpm to the redline and does so in great style.0 -
The Vietnam trip was great, actually inspired me to organise a cycling trip there (and Laos).EdZed wrote:You have to take them for what they are. Top Gear is an entertainment programme and Fifth Gear is a Top Gear wannabe. I wouldn't mind working on either though. Getting paid decent wedges of cash to muck about in super cars, not bad if you can get it.
I thought the TG episode from Miami to New Orleans was pure gold, as was the Vietnam trip. So what if they're scripted? It's only TV. TG's political incorrectness is a welcome breath of fresh air in world full of PC crap. I don't subscribe to Rupert Murdoch so I have no idea what's available on crapelite.0 -
Thing about TG, it appeals to a very wide range of viewers, not just the car enthusiast, underlining its "entertainment programme" status. My g/f's even like it (ahem, these are consecutive rather than concurrent! :oops:), they would never have watched an ordinary car programme. Their viewing figures are great and they make loads of money for the beeb on worldwide sales, then they can spend more and more on some of the more outrageous stunts and trips.
The Arctic trip was great
I am afraid 5th gear just makes me cringe.0 -
Stewie Griffin wrote:Top Gear "cant be a true petrol head until you have owned an Alfa". They get my vote just for that 8)
+1
Red Aende, Red Spesh Hardrock, Wine Mercian, Rusty Flying Scot0 -
Fifth gear - TG has descended into sillyness.0
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Stewie Griffin wrote:Top Gear "cant be a true petrol head until you have owned an Alfa". They get my vote just for that 8)
+1
I have since had a few cars, but nothing has ever came close to the 'feel' of driving an Alfa...Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!0 -
hopper1 wrote:Stewie Griffin wrote:Top Gear "cant be a true petrol head until you have owned an Alfa". They get my vote just for that 8)
+1
I have since had a few cars, but nothing has ever came close to the 'feel' of driving an Alfa...
About the same as driving a Vauxhall these days. But in a slightly prettier dress.0 -
Hi Matt, I too am disappointed by the use of the GM engine and platform, however, the cyclinder head is thoroughly customised by Alfa, and the exhaust note "Alferised". The chassis also has significant Alfa customisation. I guess we have to be realistic about the economics here, Alfa has been a poor seller in recent decades (damage inflicted in the Alfasud years, and somewhat retrieved by the 156 and 147) but hard as it is for me to say, the only way forward for the brand is to benefit from the economies of sharing platforms. Of course, the ultimate irony is that GM may well become Fiat, what goes around, comes around.
My GTV is based on the Fiat Tipo platform - the result is a flawed genius. Most German cars will go round corners better, dammit, a Ford Focus does better (though the GTV is very hard to wrong-foot, torque steer excepted), but no German car in the same bracket can equal the "occasion" of the Alfa GTV 3.0.
Reliability wise, the marque suffers from both prejudice and a poor dealership network (they tend not to understand the cars they sell, or give a sh1t about the customers). I have done 80,000 miles in two Alfas, things that have gone wrong: 1 clutch slave cylinder, 1 radiator leaked, 1 MAF gone, that's it, everything else just wear and tear and servicing. BTW my independent specialist (ex Alfa) charges £130 for a 12K full service, £300 for a cambelt change.
Okay, I am totally biased, but I am hooked on Alfa's, and in a way, their unpopularity and quirkiness makes them so much more attractive to me! I am dreading the time when I may have to let the GTV go, I am very afraid that I may be getting a Caterham, as befits my years and lack of hair :oops: It will be a better drivers car and not much less practical, and mpg will be double, and insurance less! I just don't know if I can give up Italian cars.
I fully understand that other brands, German in particular, always make more sense, funny thing is, I don't like taking the good sense option...I think it is an affliction. My g/f says it's a stupid car - we rely on her car to transport our bikes
You need a g/f with a sensible car to run a 2+2! She wants an Audi next - if it can take 4 bikes (2 road, 2 mtb) I'll be happy! Been trying to sell her on a Skoda actually!
Sorry, that's off my chest now...
and you are a decent sort too Matt (other thread).0 -
alfablue wrote:
The Vietnam trip was great, actually inspired me to organise a cycling trip there (and Laos).EdZed wrote:You have to take them for what they are. Top Gear is an entertainment programme and Fifth Gear is a Top Gear wannabe. I wouldn't mind working on either though. Getting paid decent wedges of cash to muck about in super cars, not bad if you can get it.
I thought the TG episode from Miami to New Orleans was pure gold, as was the Vietnam trip. So what if they're scripted? It's only TV. TG's political incorrectness is a welcome breath of fresh air in world full of PC crap. I don't subscribe to Rupert Murdoch so I have no idea what's available on crapelite.
Have you been yet? If so, what was it like?
It looks like a beautiful country (with some cheap tailors ) 0 -
Vietnam is an amazing country, great food, scenery, beaches and plenty to see. You should go. In fact most of Asia is pretty cool.
As for FG being a TG wannabe I do have to disagree. Isn't FG run by people that were in the original TG before it became a silly show that happens to feature nice cars but actually tells you very little about them?
At least FG has some good tests, interesting info and is factual. Sure TG is entertaining at times but I will watch Only Fools and Horses if I want a laugh.
I have to go now, all these acronyms are doing my head in!! 0 -
Alfa - good reply. But again, I think the GTV is one of the last "proper" Alfas. They used to be damn good cars. But their top end Brera, despite 250bhp gets to 60 in OVER 7 seconds because it's so heavy - around 1800kgs. That's appalling and a good sign of what has happened to Alfa. The 8C is one of the prettiest modern cars and by all accounts a very good one - but it's well over £100k and there are hardly any around!
A Caterham would be a lot of fun... :twisted: 0 -
Alfas used to be fabulous, light, direct and characterful. it started going downhill with the Arna (rebadged Nissan Sunny) and now they are bloated Fiats in slightly more racy outfits.
and as for reliability - my mate has a two year old one and when you indicate the air con fan speeds up..... oh and before that it got stuck in 4th gear... just dreadful pap now i am afraid trying desperately to live off their previous reputation as something special (which they were)0 -
Yes, the Brera is a disappointment, performance wise its slower than my GTV, which just undercuts 7 secs (and which I find is quite slow). It looks good, but is again a disappointment when compared to the original concept car. I would still buy one over the competition, and just drive slowly! The 8C, now that's pretty, only 500 made I think. And the 8C spider!!!
One of the best:
The Caterham should be great fun, my sons bought me a day in one round Silverstone for my nth birthday, amazing car that punches vastly above its weight! Dunno if I can give up on the Italians though :?0 -
Bringing up the Arna is well below the belt!camerone wrote:Alfas used to be fabulous, light, direct and characterful. it started going downhill with the Arna (rebadged Nissan Sunny) and now they are bloated Fiats in slightly more racy outfits.
and as for reliability - my mate has a two year old one and when you indicate the air con fan speeds up..... oh and before that it got stuck in 4th gear... just dreadful pap now i am afraid trying desperately to live off their previous reputation as something special (which they were) :oops:
I have only bought secondhand Alfas, I have had no problems, they seem very well put together and designed, and the engines are very strong. Of course there were some early nightmares with Selespeed units, and going much further back, awful rust, electrics and reliability issues. The Brand is always going to suffer from this reputation, which is worsened by the bad dealer network. My first Alfa, a 145/146, actually had a better reliability record than the VW Golf (according to warranty direct), which were always sold on reliability! My GTV has a reliability record 25% worse than the Audi TT, but mine has been rock solid, and would I want to be seen dead in a TiTTy???? :shock:
I actually like Fiats, would probably choose one over the more sensible competition, also. Again, probably style over substance, but I'll take that. 8)0 -
I am into cars and I drive a Skoda estateBarkiesnake wrote:I'm really not into cars at all, to prove this i drive a Hyundai people carrier and before that a Skoda estate0
