[imported_Dodgy]

Originally Posted by easyman

I disagree parts of america would get pretty worked up. Its just that the american audience of Top gear is probably not that closed minded. Anyone see the episode where they drive through the south and nearly get beat.

Very funny though

[imported_Dodgy]

You have to understand that Clarkson takes the piss on pretty much anything. He is patriotic, and loves to bag americans, but he freely cans poms and anyone else he comes across.

Take all he says with a grain of salt. Sure some of it may be based in part on his true feelings, but as stated above, exaggerated sarcasm is his trademark.

Be honest. Surely we've all wanted to take a machine gun to a Prius! :wink:

[jraymond]

he is polarizing. I love him

[Nixon]

There are actually folks on this board who think the negative stuff that Clarkson says about America, Germany, China, Australia, France, Switzerland, Korea, Ireland, Sweden, etc... makes him anti-American?

Whatever.

Meanwhile, all I hear about other countries from people here are people calling the French a bunch of cowards, or saying that everything from China is crap. Or bad-mouthing British soccer holigans, or talking down Mexicans for getting jobs illegally in the US.


Does that makes almost everyone in the US anti-Chinese, anti-French, anti-British, and anti-Mexican?

All Clarkson is doing is playing upon the same nationalistic group indentity taunts that get played upon everywhere in the world. It's no different than cheering for your local high school football team to beat the football team from the town next door. Anytime you draw a border and create an "Us vs. Them" situation, the trash talk will instantly start coming out.

If you hate Clarkson just because he has a pro-British bias and takes every opportunity to bash the entire rest of the world, you need to get over yourself. Try starting with judging YOURSELF based upon the same standard you are judging others.

Sorry to be so harsh, but somebody has to say it, instead of pussy-footing around the issue.

[RobLS]

Top Gear is great, and yes he is biased, but when you give him a good car, he will acknowledge that it is a good car. He is biased against BMW, didn't like the new M5, M3, and previous 1's. But when he test drove them and the 135i, he gave them a great review.

[SnakeDoc?]

(the link at the start of the thread talks rubbish. The television is Scottish and whilst the Internet's American, the www is English)

Friends, friends! My friends from across the Pond do not hate the old boy! Clarkson is a special breed of British male, one I feel I will inevitably grow into. The curmudgeonly git. The British love a grumpy old man (indeed, we have a series where Clarkson is a firm favourite called Grumpy Old Men, where celebs over 55 or so just moan about things for an hour. What other country would find that fun viewing? We do!) Men like me moan and whine about things because it's enjoyable. I don't know, I just seem to take joy in criticising things. It makes me happy.

Yes, I know, it's sad.

We enjoy mocking the Americans, as do most of the world, because - and face it - a lot of Americans are jerks. A lot of people from a lot of countries are jerks, but American culture, TV, politics etc dominates the world so we all see more of it than other countries. So don't mistake our poking fun for dislike, all the Brits on here wouldn't post if they disliked Americans. The British also like to think they're superior to, well everyone (predominantly because we are )

As several have said, a lot of what he says is for the show's sake. The 3 presenters are 'scripted' (Top Gear isn't actually scripted) to disagree.

Lastly, in terms of American cars...many of them do suck balls. It's a fact! For every Ford GT, there's an F150, for every Ford Focus, there's a f*cking Buick. And so forth. I won't make things worse by linking to his column two weeks ago which was the most hilarious tirade against the USA I've read.

Besides, he loves the 135i!

[RobLS]

I have to go with SnakeDoc? and Jeremy, and probably others, that American cars generally are, crap.

[Jack in Jax]

Surely, ALL of us realize deep down that the Jeremy Clarkson we see and read is into Entertainment first and objective journalism last. His persona is his product, and he's been very successful in selling it...so who's to blame him for that? Certainly not we complicit, entertained viewers & readers.

The 'other' (Dr. Jekkyl?) Clarkson visits hospitals to meet with maimed and despondent Brit soldiers returning from Iraq, to entertain and say thanks. He doesn't promote this as it doesn't fit his public persona, but it does illustrate the persona and the man might not quite be one and the same.

Gosh, does this mean Reality TV isn't . . . real?

Jack

[moff]

Originally Posted by esses

He really seemed to like the Jag XK8. I guess he can just overlook the fact that the XK8 is an American-designed car and that Jaguar is wholly owned by an Indian conglomerate?

Really?

Last time I checked, Jaguar was 'wholly' owned by Ford.

Also, the 1996 XK8 was designed by a Brit - Geoff Lawson (also designed the XJ220). That was then followed by the 2006 XK8 designed by.... yep, another Brit - Ian Callum who is the Design Director at Ford.

[M3WannaBe]

Originally Posted by moff

Really?

Last time I checked, Jaguar was 'wholly' owned by Ford.

Jaguar and Land Rover were recently sold to Tata, a huge Indian conglomerate.

Clarkson is hilarious. I wonder, for the folks who can't stand him, do you also dislike British humor in general? Seems that some people either like it or hate it. I love it, personally. :biggrin:

[WhiteOne]

Top Gear is not to be missed. Set the DVR. Laughter is good for you.
Clarkson loves the Audi R8 and thinks the 135i is the best car BMW makes. Sounds good to me...

[Russo]

there are several faults to the tv program...

not understanding the difference between wheel hp and crank hp

justifying paying less and sacrificing comfort for the gain in performance bargain (V8XR vs M5 then C6 z06 vs Ferarri 599)

testing the red convertible mustang as a GT

comparing a stock convertible cobra against a modded (and more expensive) GT

not understanding the usefulness of a pickup truck that doesn't prefix with the word Toyota

80% of the program is honest truth.. i'd like to see the American car hobbiest mags/tv programs try to replicate the same thing... of course they won't, due to the probable loss in credibility from auto makers and the hyprocracy of past statements... in the end, it's all entertainment...

[esses]

Originally Posted by moff

Last time I checked, Jaguar was 'wholly' owned by Ford. Also, the 1996 XK8 was designed by a Brit - Geoff Lawson (also designed the XJ220). That was then followed by the 2006 XK8 designed by.... yep, another Brit - Ian Callum who is the Design Director at Ford.

The '96 XK8's exterior was penned by Fergus Pollock, the interior by Karen Anderson, and engineer Bob Dover was the project director (and, later, chairman of the board). Lawson was the head of Ford/Jaguar's in-house design team - not specific to the XK. Callum is a Scot, and is probably an American citizen by now.

Originally Posted by SnakeDoc?

Lastly, in terms of American cars...many of them do suck balls. It's a fact! For every Ford GT, there's an F150, for every Ford Focus, there's a f*cking Buick. And so forth. I won't make things worse by linking to his column two weeks ago which was the most hilarious tirade against the USA I've read.

I was with you until you said F150. The one thing American car mfgs can make are trucks (and guns)! :drinking: Nothing better than an F350 dually for towing a 911 RS America to and from the track. :biggrin:

[d1ez3]

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle3103294.ece

He calls the 135i the best car BMW makes

[rcracer_tx]

After driving most of the American sports cars, I have to say that Clarkson is right..... All of the mass produced cars in America are piles of shit. I actually wanted a new vette' until i went and test drove one. That car felt cheap and like they put soapbox derby suspension in a car and expected it to handle well.

[Jack in Jax]

A few data points to illustrate how well Top Gear & Clarkson are received as entertainers:

-- it was announced last month that there will be a USA-based Top Gear TV show
-- a few months ago, announced that Australia will offer a Top Gear TV show
-- estimated in Wikipedia that Top Gear is the most widely downloaded TV program in the world right now
-- I meet & socialize with a very international crowd because of sailing - mostly Europeans, Aussies, Kiwis and N Americans. Everyone seems to both know about and enjoy Top Gear; most of us carry multiple seasons of Top Gear on our laptops.

Hyperbole sells, and Reality TV appeals even tho' viewers recognize it isn't really 'real'...

Jack

[imported_Dodgy]

Originally Posted by Nixon

There are actually folks on this board who think the negative stuff that Clarkson says about America, Germany, China, Australia, France, Switzerland, Korea, Ireland, Sweden, etc... makes him anti-American?

Whatever.

Meanwhile, all I hear about other countries from people here are people calling the French a bunch of cowards, or saying that everything from China is crap. Or bad-mouthing British soccer holigans, or talking down Mexicans for getting jobs illegally in the US.


Does that makes almost everyone in the US anti-Chinese, anti-French, anti-British, and anti-Mexican?

All Clarkson is doing is playing upon the same nationalistic group indentity taunts that get played upon everywhere in the world. It's no different than cheering for your local high school football team to beat the football team from the town next door. Anytime you draw a border and create an "Us vs. Them" situation, the trash talk will instantly start coming out.

If you hate Clarkson just because he has a pro-British bias and takes every opportunity to bash the entire rest of the world, you need to get over yourself. Try starting with judging YOURSELF based upon the same standard you are judging others.

Sorry to be so harsh, but somebody has to say it, instead of pussy-footing around the issue.

[imported_Dodgy]

One point that illustrates the popularity of the show....

In the UK, Top Gear is watched by almost as many WOMEN as men.

Name one other motoring show that appeals to the other (larger) half of the population?

It's all entertainment, but the guys really know their cars, and can drive them. I respect their ultimate thoughts, regardless of how stupidly they get there.

Hell, it was Clarkson's article in Jan this year that clinched my decision to buy the 135.

Whilst he bashes, criticises etc BMW's at any opportunity, he thought this one was a keeper! GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!

[Jack in Jax]

" If you hate Clarkson just because he has a pro-British bias..."

Suggest you watch more Top Gear. No nation that builds cars endures more abuse from the Top Gear Trio than Britain, who's history of rubbish is criticized at every turn. (Well...perhaps except for the French)

Jack

[Russo]

Originally Posted by Jack in St. Pete

" If you hate Clarkson just because he has a pro-British bias..."

Suggest you watch more Top Gear. No nation that builds cars endures more abuse from the Top Gear Trio than Britain, who's history of rubbish is criticized at every turn. (Well...perhaps except for the French)

Jack

they hate France in every aspect, they hate American because we're fat and lazy...
James May once said that France is a country you drive through to get to Germany... and that it was filled with land burning communist peasents...

[imported_Dodgy]

You guys need to lighten up. They say what they say to inspire reaction.

All comments are based on cliché and timeless generalisations.

Hell, he loves a GERMAN, GIRL, who can drive fast. How's that possible for a Brit guy you lambast so.

Clarkson LOVES old Citroen's, and they are French

Check out You Tube- Top Gear Nürburgring Ring to see. Also, search for Worst Cars of Century. British you'll find.

Again, take a chill pill and don't take him, or yourself, too seriously!

[Rezrectd]

Controversy sells