Top Gear Australia

So they made it to week two... big deal. It's SBS and they probably have the budget stitched up for the entire series so even if no-one's watching it should run till the end.

Did anyone notice there was actually a LOT less of Steve in last night's episode. Charlie and Warren have got the lion's share of the air-time, so for that reason I did enjoy episode two better than ep.1 - but only by a smidgin. It will survive on my weekly watching list only by virtue of the fact that there is nothing else on and TG-UK is still a few weeks from series 12.

On a positive note, episode two had the first quotable quote... from Charlie whilst driving the Ford GT ... "kids mutate as it drives by...". A dozen or more of these and I could get enthusiastic! We are however, still a looooong way from the rapid fire banter of Jeremy, James & Richard.

Holden vs Ford... is that it! They both win??? What a poor, weak, industry suck-up attempt that was. The writers, producers and presenters must have all left their balls at home this week if that's the limit of insight they could offer. Come on, we all knew that TG-Aus couldn't survive without some degree of local car industry support, but that's what makes the original so damn good. They bag EVERYONE! Where were the withering remarks about these two pre-historic tin cans that should have made Holden & Ford execs penises just shrivel up and drop clean off?!? Weak!

I agree that the super-pit segment had potential, but once again it was nobbled by quick-fire, un-funny one liners from three guys just struggling to inject personality. Again, they all thought shouting was a substitute for wit and pith. At least they did some damage.

Guest Steve Bisley was, in my opinion, better than Vince Colosimo. He at least had some interesting stories to tell about Mad Max and his car history - although I get the feeling they may have sounded funnier in the heads of the writers when they were putting the show together. But Charlie's interview technique still leaves a lot to be desired. Unlike other interview programs, Top Gear guest segments are not really about the guest. They are about Jeremy Clarkson paying out on the guest and getting some back, and occasionally we learn something of the guests' car & driving history.

So in summary, by episode two the producers seem keen to reinforce Charlie & Steve's driving skill since it's clear they have no personality and, once again, more gratuitous cartooning from Warren for no apparent reason. Better paced than episode one, and still great to look at, but no reason to turn the sound up. 5/10

Turned it off half way through and removed it from series link record:( Top Gear UK started as an informative show about cars and morphed into a fun program with some jovial challenges albeit relatively pointless....but the humour was there with the presenters and the show worked as they found their way. TGA is trying to be funny off the bat without "earning their stripes" and it just doesn't work for me. It is neither funny nor informative and I honestly can't see it getting any better unless they up the budget, change the presenters or change the format. I'm sure their are contractural obligations being a franchise but really, until I read some positive feedback my time can be better spent doing something else each Monday.

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Originally Posted by Psimpson7

but the Stig in the GT40 d

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It was a Ford GT not a Ford GT40:cool:

Garry

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Originally Posted by garrycol

It was a Ford GT not a Ford GT40:cool:

Garry

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mmmmmm i thought it was based on the gt40....
and the only difference of the one he was drving to the GT40 that say clarkson had was it was right hand drive, the first one ever built.

it certainly looks exactly the same as a GT40.

Ford say it was 'inspired' by the GT 40, and the new one is just called the GT. But anybody with 1/2 a brain can tell it's not a lot more than a modern replica with a thumper of an engine.

Not that it means there is anything wrong with it, although the engine is rather thirsty. Clarkson was getting about 8mpg out of his, and only 4 on the track!

The Holden/Ford test was a total farce.

All they did was drive them around the track, trying to throw them sideways as much as possible and say how good they are.

I didnt see episode 1, but I couldnt believe how hard they are trying to copy TG - UK.

All in all, while the cringe factor was high, I enjoyed it as its still a show about cars. I think the potential is there for it to get better.

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Originally Posted by MarknDeb

Nah i didnt watch it i opted for 2 & Half Men, a lot more entertaining.Cant wait till episode 7 of series 11 is uploaded so i cant enjoy the real thing again

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Entertaining ?????

I'd rather sit out on the lawn and watch the grass grow. :p

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Originally Posted by mark2

The Holden/Ford test was a total farce.

All they did was drive them around the track, trying to throw them sideways as much as possible and say how good they are.

I didnt see episode 1, but I couldnt believe how hard they are trying to copy TG - UK.

All in all, while the cringe factor was high, I enjoyed it as its still a show about cars. I think the potential is there for it to get better.

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Putting the cars in powerslides is what top gear made famous. Tiff needel had every car sideways at some point and now he is on fifth gear he still is at. Clarkson does his best to get sideways as well. Drifting is great camera action. Jury still out on presenters though uk ones are pretty good

i didn't watch the show but from talk around work today we are wondering you is going to take the kick for allowing the utes into the superpit.....:o

Its hard to see why there's so little Australian television from this discussion.

It's going to take more than a week for feedback from viewers to be received and make any changes. It just seems from the start many people are not even willing to give it a shot.

Admittedly there's a lot of work to be done. But chastising it isn't going to help make it any better. I think for an SBS production it isn't that bad (even if it is owned by BBC it wont have the same sort of budget).

The presenters seem to be getting used to their role and the segments were IMO much better this week. I found the show half entertaining. It was a bit weak not deciding a winner between the holden and ford or even running them around the track without excessive drift as a comparrison.

And Im not sure where people are coming from with the complaints about damaging vehicles. Havnt seen the TGUK show much I imagine??? Suzuki Swift ice hockey springs to mind.

The superpit segment was a laugh (along with their pretty accurate description of kal :wasntme:). The Stig driving the trucks was great. The acting left a bit to be desired and sure if it was in the UK there would have been a defender. But I think it was pretty original idea and a very good aussie adaptation of the sort of things TGUK get up too. Im not sure why anyone would be in trouble over it though?? Doubt the production team would get anywhere near the site without the proper approvals and paper work.

Im gonna give the show a chance. Much prefer to watch a sub standard aussie adaptation of top gear than see the likes of big brother or idol on tv.