It's a good job that they managed to foment the Argentinian crowd into creating a news story for them, to keep you watching to the end, because really nothing else happened for an hour and three quarters. I am a big fan of the programme but that was a sorry, tired effort. Was it even relevant that they were using V8's, the 'challenge' seemed to be just to not break down, but never worry because Hammond conveniently had a full welding kit in his boot to fix a sheared steering rod (! ).
The whole thing just looks so contrived now, every year it's the same. 1. Arrive in foreign country in totally unsuitable car 2. Modify car to make it worse 3. Get stuck in mud, Snow etc 4.upset locals in some way 5.Hammond breaks steering rod . I think a new script writer is needed.
its was the convenience of the "Sat Phone" NOT HAVING SIGNAL that got me..
you'd have thought they'd done some sort of preparation for this , everyone knows Argentina hates the Brits lol...
I love Top Gear, & these "Specials" show another side to the 3 "Sun Dancers"
I actaully shed a little tear to Jezza's 928 Car Of Choice Story... I wanted to see it make it all that way
For a trio whose mechanical knowledge normally stretches to using a hammer, they did all seem suddenly very good at fixing some quite serious problems...?? Jeremy suddenly a fully qualified electro-mechanical expert who managed to rewire his whole wiring loom, and then just for fun bodge up Hamster's horn to his brakes....?? While Hamster himself then produced that welder from out of an already well packed boot..?? Very odd...!! Bit like another special on the other day, where the one half sensible member, James, managed to fix his dead car in Iraq, while having nothing more than a small socket set and some oil...??
Like stated above, now a very tired formula that really needs rethinking before they do the next one..... 31 crew for the trip this time out too... why?? what did 31 people do during the trip, except for carrying a dozen 4x4's worth of equipment that can't have really been necessary..?? Therefore, me sees a 'jolly boys outing' there somewhere..??
Isn't part of the 31 man team a mobile mechanic (all be in minimal), incase one for the land rovers breaks down, wouldn't they have SOME tools/ parts in case of emergency, unless its the belt for a Porsche (lol)..
of course they all ways have backup and spares with them christ they aint motoring in the south of england
and 31 is prob a smaller team than most of outside broadcast units
I have to say i enjoyed this year's special,scenery was amazing and they spent alot of the time pranking on eachother rather than any of the people they encountered along the way,its a pity the end was spoilt by extremists as i thought the car football idea would have been fun.
7/10
(29-12-2014 15:13 )HannahsPet Wrote: [ -> ]of course they all ways have backup and spares with them christ they aint motoring in the south of england and 31 is prob a smaller team than most of outside broadcast units
Spot on. They actually showed the support truck at one point which looked suspiciously like a Dakar Rally Truck to me... Those things carry all sorts of on board kit.
As for the 3 presenters, none of them are the mechanical numpties that their TV persona portrays. James May is very handy with a set of spanners..
I can understand people feeling that the Top Gear formula was creaking with old age after the first part. There was nothing new to offer and it reeked of being overly contrived. However, the second part was much better and the end was quite honest and the tension was plain to see.
They clearly mentioned that the Argentinian people had been in the main very friendly. The Argentinians do not hate the British, they have a big mistrust of the British Government but then so do 3/4 of the world and the majority of the British People! The crowd that had gathered were nationalists and yes it was pretty stupid in hindsight to go to the city where the Belgrano sailed from, but thats not the fault of the three presenters. The production team and the BBC itself has to take responsibility for that. It's also not the first time that TG has filmed awkward scenes. Surely playing Born in the USA on loud speakers in the Vietnam special had the same potential to cause an incident or riding through deprived areas in the US with provocative signs painted on the cars and lets not forget India. All questionable in taste for some.
Having said that, Top Gear is a massive product for the BBC and exported around the world. Stunts like this do nothing but add to those sales as it guarantees big audiences. These specials do a good job of providing a light hearted travelogue in other countries for sure, but perhaps they need to go to less remote countries, spend a bit more time on the cars and film it with a little less contrived incidents occurring. Should hit the viewing figures I imagine though.
Top Gear is ok but for something a little less scripted I prefer Eastenders or for something more realistic I prefer WWE wresting.
Can anyone guess which episode i'm watching:
Right instead of reviewing a car anyone might buy, lets all get into a car, race across a country. Clarkeson can have a fast one, Hammond can crash a little bit into May who's driving slow and it will be hilariously funny and not at all scripted.
That's right I could be watching any episode from any series from the last 10 years, it's absolute bollocks,