Top gear australia thread - Page 8

**Peuty** · 30-09-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleekism

Just that weekend it took 6 of my mates lifting the back to get a 253 Ute to do a burnout on DIRT!!!

Must have been a pretty tired old engine, as bad as they were, they can still manage to turn the tyres on an old Kingswood quite easily.

drw009 · 30-09-2008, 01:10 PM

Few points I want to make- it was the 1st show in Aus trying to emulate a fantastic and well followed global show- give them some time to grow their own personalities before writing the show off. ( a lil disapointing trhat they tried to get a clarkson (cox), may (warren) and hammond Pizzaz style- should of tried 3 new styles)

In regards to all the ads, well pretty simple - how can they afford to do all those stunts and use all those pretty cars with out some cash flow- who is going to pay for that- a few more ads is a better pay off for substandard quality

Personally - the camera work was great- i thought itr may be a dodgy set up but ended up looking great. Ok we all new it would be the same set up as UK but would of been nice to add its own aussie style and theme with out taking away from the overall style, a few aussie icons in the studio perhaps, and as much as this shouldnt be a ford v holden thing- its one thing aussies do want to see, but maybe compare them to euro and japans best as well, a tru global comparo.

Ill keep watching as it is the best aussie car show to be shown in aus just be a little patient when comparing to the best rated car show in the globe.

**FTE217** · 30-09-2008, 01:24 PM

Caught the last 1/2hr,,,,I cringed during the Moke bit ! well it didn't get the laughs you hoped guys lucky the studio audience would have laughed because the placard said so.
Oh what is it with Aussie car shows they just seem so ordinary/amatuerish !

I'll watch next week purely for the FPV/HSV stoush then couldn't care less I'm afraid.

ST · 30-09-2008, 01:26 PM

I have to agree, we all naturally have the tendency to constantly compare it with the UK show which has no rival. But those moments you don't you realise the show is very slick and entertaining. You gotta give the hosts some credit, the guys had massive boots to fill and they were nervous as hell, of course they are going to use as many scripted jokes as possible; they wanted to break the ice.

As everyone has said; give it some time. The camera crew will get it spot on after a while and the hosts will hopefully relax a bit and just speak straight from their heads and not from a script.

It was a good starting point, perhaps trying a little too hard. Need more of an overview and conclusion for each segment, especially when they first used the track. A few helicopter shots and an overview would've gone a long way to give us some idea of the track.

DayTE · 30-09-2008, 01:34 PM

I didn't think it was too bad. Definately watch it again. Certainly has promise. It's the best Aussie car show since Torque. And I'm too young to remember watching that show!

I think we have to give the guys a bit of time to settle in to their hosting roles. Have any of them been in front of a live TV audience about to host one of Australia's most anticipated shows before? Don't know about any of you guys, but I would be pretty nervous.

I'll agree with some of the camera angles on the test track. They were pretty poor and the sound editing need to be improved. I think it will come. If you watch some of the earlier UK Top Gear shows, their editing and camera shots weren't always that brilliant on their test track also.

**Polyal** · 30-09-2008, 01:43 PM

And does our accent really sound THAT bad....seriously.....

The only saving grace I can think of is that maybe, just maybe, the two shows (UK and AUS) can have a co hosted episode and put our Aussie cars up against the worlds best.

Sledgehammer · 30-09-2008, 02:46 PM

Yeah well seen and gone, will have to watch ep 2. for the Ford V Holden but that may be about it. Its hard to compare to the UK show and thats always going to happen and any franchise show is always going to struggle. I can't see it continuing past one season, which is a shame, but we may see another show come out of this pehalps? The presenters just didnt work for me, didnt 'gell' and the cars and their tests wernt inspiring....

botch · 30-09-2008, 02:54 PM

Bring Back Blokesworld !!!!!!!

GTENVY · 30-09-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by botch

Bring Back Blokesworld !!!!!!!

Hell yeah, trailer reversing comp was hell funny as was the rest of the show

XR6_190 · 30-09-2008, 03:05 PM

To be honest, In a way I'm relieved they didn't put Ford V Holden in the first show. That would have been way to predictable, and easy ammo for critics to can it.

RSgerry · 30-09-2008, 03:12 PM

I was disappointed. I know it is the Top Gear brand, but they tried too hard to be like the English boys. The main bloke, Warren I think, has the charisma of a Camry. Telling everyone the 253 was a great motor!!! WTF?!?!?!!? Good for one thing only...boat anchor. A complete waste of metal. I hated the photography. And the first show could have tried to enter with a bigger bang than a test between a Forrester, an X-Trail and a Rav4. I will give it one chance next week, and if it doesnt improve, thats it.

Nikked · 30-09-2008, 04:46 PM

I dont see why people complain about the stig and the set, its Top Gear, you don't go into a Maccas and expect it to look like a KFC. The Australian version is about testing cars available in australia, stuff relevent to australia. Soft roaders are a big piece of australias roads (but they could have used a terri craptiva and a toyota or subie). And the stig is the stig.

**DJM83** · 30-09-2008, 04:58 PM

Nopt bad for the first show obviously there are going to be somethings that need changing. Loved the airborne RAV4, next week will be a killer with F6 vs R8.

**DJM83** · 30-09-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

And does our accent really sound THAT bad....seriously.....

The only saving grace I can think of is that maybe, just maybe, the two shows (UK and AUS) can have a co hosted episode and put our Aussie cars up against the worlds best.

And have them in the hands of Clarkson

rayner22 · 30-09-2008, 05:01 PM

All I'm gonna say is why the hell would you have someone on a show like that who REDLINES a STATIONARY new lambo???? Completely unproffessional. Would the british guys do such a thing?? NO

After next weeks ford v holden segment, that'll be it for me. If I wanna see Clarkson ill watch Clarkson - not that charlie guy or whatever his name is trying to be Clarkson.
And yeah ill fiftieth the idea there should have been a Territory and a Holden Captiva in the softroader challenge!!!

Trevor 57 · 30-09-2008, 05:04 PM

2 words:

BLOODY AWFUL

**Falcon Coupe** · 30-09-2008, 05:09 PM

If i see one more F6 vs GT rubbish post this thread will go in the bin, it's off topic and irrelevant.

The next show is Ford vs Holden, not Ford vs Ford.

poolkeeper · 30-09-2008, 05:14 PM

Soooo boring, except for the 10second hit of the V8 Beamer with the engine noise turned down, music turned up

Sapper · 30-09-2008, 05:22 PM

Its amazing seeing a lot of you guys carving up a show on its first episode by comparing it to a show that has been running for over 10 years. Take a look at some of the early Top Gear episodes (the ones with Tiff Needell, Vicki-Butler Henderson and Jeremy Clarkson) and then watch the recent British Top Gears and Fifth Gears and look at the huge improvements that have been made.

Despite the presenters being a little nervous, the stunts and challenges being a little simple and the jokes a bit average (all of these will improve as the episodes go along), the first episode was of decent quality. I'm not bothered by these little teething issues. It should be noted that the photography was good, the presenters do seem to gel well together and are unique in their own right. I personally reckon its great they've got a cartoonist (Warren Brown) on the show and I think it'll be a little thing that'll give the show its own flavour.

My only complaint was that the first show had too much crammed into it. I personally would have liked a bit more of an introduction to elements of the show such as an explanation of the test track (and a map too).

Be careful about rejecting the show early as we may lose something that could end up quite good. Lets face it, there are no other good car shows on Australian TV (anyone remember cringe-a-thons like Glenn Ridge's "The Car Show" ?) and this one seems decent.

cardinalred · 30-09-2008, 05:32 PM

I don't know why people were expecting originality, it is a franchise, BBC made sure it was very much a clone. In some respects it is no different to Australian Idol. The format is a direct copy of US Idol because that is what the contract said.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the filming. I was worried the cinematography would look cheap but the soft-roader and 911 segments looked great.

The hosts were nervous and a bit forced. They will probably improve. I recently saw the first UK episode that James May was in and he was dreadful!!

I don't know why they put the Maybach feature in. We spent more time talking about the headphones than the car. The Moke feature would have been OK if it wasn't squeezed into 5 minuites right at the end.

Glad they didn't go Holden v Ford straight away. Next week will be OK but you don't want it to be a screen version of Motor magazine with every episode concentrating on a hotted-up Commodore or Falcon.

GT0336 · 30-09-2008, 05:34 PM

Wasn't over the moon about the first ep, mainly the younger host, he seem to be trying to hard. But it is the first ep, should be good next week.

bob 351 · 30-09-2008, 05:43 PM

i thought that they tried to mirror the uk show they will need to pick there game up or the show might get the chop[ first episode was only average bordering on rubbish

Rodp · 30-09-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 220XR8

Sorry, that was my attempt at a bit of sarcasm, I really don't believe the F6 should be compared to any Holden V8 as it's a different beast altogether. But lots on this site revere it.

Depends on how you look at it.

You're unlikely to get many HSV fans considering a GT variant, their taste in V8's lay in the Holden badge. When the F6 came out, however, many had/did consider jumping into the turbo 6 based on its stellar performance figures and modability.

I'd much prefer to see a battle of a Clubby vs Ford's quickest, the F6... and I'm a V8 fan!

Rodp · 30-09-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleekism

Also what about the part where the main presenter said the 253 was a "great good revving engine. Just that weekend it took 6 of my mates lifting the back to get a 253 Ute to do a burnout on DIRT!!!

Perhaps they're aging. I had a HK with a 253 in it and I absolutey loved it. Sounded horn, went well and did rev pretty hard. Was my first V8.

Rodp · 30-09-2008, 06:04 PM

Just watched it on Channel BT and I thought it was a reasonable first up effort.

What were they thinking? Not a bad concept. Didn't know a thing about the washing machine car so would have preferred a little more info on it.

Moke segment - should never made it to air. Pointless, absolutely pointless. Not fun, not funny, perhaps later in the series and trimmed down a little it may have had a place.

Maybach - a little less pointless than the Moke segment, but not by much. All this buildup of being escorted on a deserted highway to have him sit in the back, pull out a pair of headphones and plug it in.

Softroader segment - I can live with that. Was entertaining to watch.

911 review - Not bad, great visuals and hopefully as time goes on he will give his own honest opinion without throwing in Clarkson metaphors.

The jokes were falling flat most of the time and you could hear a pin drop during Vince's interview. You just can't out Clarkson, Clarkson so they shouldn't bother trying.

I'll watch the whole season and give it some time to develop. I've certainly watched much worse Australian Car shows, ie: all of them up to this point...

tetgreg888 · 30-09-2008, 06:06 PM

Hope it improves and they don`t try to mirror the poms.
The only Question I have is how many cars do we really have in Australia that are ready available compared to England ( EUROPE ) I mean will some of the Performance / luxury car makers send a 1.5 mill car down here to have one of these jokers flog the crap out of it.???

220XR8 · 30-09-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

Depends on how you look at it.

You're unlikely to get many HSV fans considering a GT variant, their taste in V8's lay in the Holden badge. When the F6 came out, however, many had/did consider jumping into the turbo 6 based on its stellar performance figures and modability.

I'd much prefer to see a battle of a Clubby vs Ford's quickest, the F6... and I'm a V8 fan!

May as well put the F6 up against The Generals quickest...W427

Bucknaked · 30-09-2008, 06:19 PM

I'm not sure if this is posted anywhere else, apology's if its a repost

Quote:

With the premiere episode just around the corner, Top Gear Australia has revealed all the juicy details surrounding its second episode to CarAdvice.

In this episode, the team are poised to settle the great Aussie muscle car grudge match - Holden versus Ford.

Charlie and Steve have taken the HSV Clubsport and FPV F6 to Wakefield Park in NSW for a final performance showdown between the brutes.

Then the trio have also managed to shutdown the largest open pit gold mine in the country - the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, where they will test their ute of choice in a race against the Stig.

After nearly being eaten alive by sharks in the first episode, Warren Brown is faced with yet another ‘deadly’ challenge - to convert a Smart car into a hearse for under $200.

The token supercar for the week will be one of only two right-hand drive Ford GT’s in Australia with Charlie Cox behind the wheel.

Steve Bisley of Mad Max and Water Rats fame will attempt to outpace Vince Colosimo as the star in a reasonably priced car.

Episode two of Top Gear Australia airs Monday October 6th on SBS.

RG · 30-09-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 220XR8

May as well put the F6 up against The Generals quickest...W427

Yes let them put up a general release vehicle up against a special limited release special. That makes sense to me.

Note: the above post contains extreme sarcasm.

Jack91 · 30-09-2008, 06:31 PM

Yeah, the only part that annoyed me was no Territory in the sand to snow challenge. It was all forced and scripted, but what did you expect? As has been said, they're trying to live up to the greatest show on earth, give them some time to relax.