Top Gear New Series

[Captain Shaw]

The Mexico jokes did not go down too well.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/741742.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12338053
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/02/top_gear_backfires
When I watched it I felt they went a little to far, I also found it a little sad to watch to be honest.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

The Mexico jokes did not go down to well.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/741742.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12338053
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/02/top_gear_backfires
When I watched it I felt they went a little to far, I also found it a little sad to watch to be honest.

I think it was deliberate, it was like they were daring people to complain.

 

[Canadave]

^ Yeah, unlike most of their joking around and making fun of people, it didn't come across very naturally. Especially from Richard, it seemed a fair bit more blatant than he normally is.

 

[Emher]

I've really been thinking about a C30 as my next car.. Can you give me some thoughts about it? I drive about 100 miles a day and need something that will hold up.

It gets comparable gas mileage to what I drive now, a Saturn Vue and I like the looks of it.

The quality is awesome. Both interior and exterior. Seats are very comfy and mileage and power is awesome. Should however be noted that I drive the D2, as in the smallest diesel without the start/stop function, and I saw that in the US only the T5 engine is available (I'm assuming your in the US), which is is the top of the line motor around here.

But let me tell you, my diesel has about 115 bhp and is very torquehappy in the lower range, and it is a blast to drive. Always have the power when you want it and since you got the wheels almost in every corner and it's a bit low and wide, it just sticks. The stability control on this car is amazing. there's a long, low curved bridge on the way to work and when it was really slippery I was able to go sideways on the bridge and still be in control. I can only imagine that the T5 with it's more even torque curve and almost double the horsepowers is a hell of a fun car.

Overall the entire car in any configuration (except for the smallest petrol engine here in EU) is great value for money. My view on Volvo as a car maker has completely changed to the better while I've driven this car.


That being said, yes this is the Top Gear thread. So more talk about growling V8s and RWD!

Damn.. I think you just sealed the deal for me.. I LOVE to drive and here in New Mexico we have lots of great stretches a car like that would love to take...

Time to start convincing the wife that our tax refund this year would be put to good purposes by replaceing my Vue, which just topped 204,000 miles.

Just realized I didn't say anything negative about the car And yes, while it is really great it has a few downsides.

Mainly loading baggage. The trunk is perfectly mine, as is the space when you fold down the rear seats. it's just that the design of the rear hatch makes some wide and/or tall things impossible to fit in. But then again, it's not a wagon, it's a coupe.

And also it only seats four, but that's by design and you couldn't really seat five in it unless the one in the middle in the back was really small.


Make sure that if you get one, get one with the ABL Xenon lights. I have them and I love them! Best low-beams lights (that turns with the steering wheel in corners at night) I've ever had in a car and the high-beams are great.

 

[Captain Shaw]

The Mexico jokes did not go down to well.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/741742.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12338053
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/02/top_gear_backfires
When I watched it I felt they went a little to far, I also found it a little sad to watch to be honest.

I think it was deliberate, it was like they were daring people to complain.

That is how I saw it too, but I just find that a little sad to be honest.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

The Mexico jokes did not go down to well.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/741742.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12338053
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/02/top_gear_backfires
When I watched it I felt they went a little to far, I also found it a little sad to watch to be honest.

I think it was deliberate, it was like they were daring people to complain.

That is how I saw it too, but I just find that a little sad to be honest.

I guess they're maybe a little sick of complaints over nothing so decided to see if they could manufacture one?

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

When QI has caused more offence than you, you have to do something to redress the balance.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

^ Yeah, unlike most of their joking around and making fun of people, it didn't come across very naturally. Especially from Richard, it seemed a fair bit more blatant than he normally is.

Yeah it did seem to be out of character for him, I'm just assuming he picked up Clarksons script by mistake.

 

[The Doctor]

^ Yeah, unlike most of their joking around and making fun of people, it didn't come across very naturally. Especially from Richard, it seemed a fair bit more blatant than he normally is.

Yeah it did seem to be out of character for him, I'm just assuming he picked up Clarksons script by mistake.

Seems that way.

Meh. If Top Gear isn't offensive, they aren't trying hard enough.

 

[Canadave]

^ Yeah, unlike most of their joking around and making fun of people, it didn't come across very naturally. Especially from Richard, it seemed a fair bit more blatant than he normally is.

Yeah it did seem to be out of character for him, I'm just assuming he picked up Clarksons script by mistake.

I was thinking the same thing. I guess it worked slightly better than if May had said it, but still. You've already got a loud, offensive buffoon, you might as well give him the loud, offensive buffoonery.

 

[Captain Shaw]

When QI has caused more offence than you, you have to do something to redress the balance.

 

[Captain Shaw]

They have been made to say sorry. (sort of)
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/entertainment/tv/top-gear-apology-over-mexico-slur-$21385417.htm

Our own comedians make jokes about the British being terrible cooks and terrible romantics, and we in turn make jokes about the Italians being disorganised and over dramatic, the French being arrogant and the Germans being over-organised," the BBC said.
"Whilst [the Top Gear segment] may appear offensive to those who have not watched the programme or who are unfamiliar with its humour, the executive producer has made it clear to the ambassador that that was absolutely not the show's intention," the BBC added.

 

[Canadave]

^ I think that kind of touches on what the issue was. Because Mexico is a poor, developing country, Mexican immigrants to developed countries tend to be marginalized, so these kinds of comments come off as racist. However, had they said the exact same thing about Americans (which Top Gear frequently does, more or less) no one would have batted an eye.

 

[Captain Shaw]

http://www.thehamsterscage.co.uk/tv/
The Hamster has a web site, where he has also said sorry.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I really enjoyed this episode.
Although I have heard people who have seen a twitter about the end of the ep,are retweeting the fact James died seriously.
So I expect to see it in one of tomorrows papers.
http://transmission.blogs.topgear.c...for-james-episode-three-post-show-discussion/
Post show discussion with two of the presenters and a ghost.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I really enjoyed this episode.
Although I have heard people who have seen a twitter about the end of the ep,are retweeting the fact James died seriously.

What, even though he was in the studio on Wednesday, introducing the film? What sort of morons are we talking about here?

(probably the same ones who think the new Stig is Sabine Schmitz, when he's almost certainly Tony Davidson...)

 

[Avon]

i'd have the bentley.

 

[Captain Shaw]

Someone has complained to the BBC about the cyclists jokes.

http://www.kimharding.net/blog/?p=1636
Dear BBC

The BBC charter states the BBC aims to inform, educate and entertain. While some may regard Mr Clarkson comments on running over cyclist because they don’t pay “road tax” as entertain (Top Gear BBC2 07/02/2011 21mins 25seconds in). Others do not see incitement to murder others basis on their choice of transport, as legitimate entertain. A car is a potentially lethal weapon, a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a motor vehicle is at risk of being killed.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Actually that pissed me off a little too because it's such an idiotic point of view, but of course it was a deliberate provocation and I'm not letting myself get trolled by Clarkson.
For the sake of discussion though:
1) cyclists do pay for roads too since roads are primarily financed through the general tax pool, road tax doesn't even come close to covering the costs
1a) and even if that were not the case, I'm paying for lots of shit I don't need too; public schools for example.
2) if roads were only used by cyclists they would only need minimal maintenance, if at all. Roads get damaged by heavy vehicles, not by bikes, so why should they pay any more than pedestrians pay for roads?
3) Bicycles are vehicles with equal rights to cars for the most part and getting cut off is dangerous. I kind of doubt Clarkson is as big an asshole on the road as the character he plays on Top Gear, but people who do things like should know that it's not a joke to play with other people's lives.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Someone has complained to the BBC about the cyclists jokes.

http://www.kimharding.net/blog/?p=1636
Dear BBC

The BBC charter states the BBC aims to inform, educate and entertain. While some may regard Mr Clarkson comments on running over cyclist because they don’t pay “road tax” as entertain (Top Gear BBC2 07/02/2011 21mins 25seconds in). Others do not see incitement to murder others basis on their choice of transport, as legitimate entertain. A car is a potentially lethal weapon, a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a motor vehicle is at risk of being killed.

Either brilliant parody or just a sado with nothing to do.

Btw I'm surprised you're not more upset by James dying.