The Grand Tour Discussion Thread \m/

Except for the fuse, I think this was the first car/challenge thing where the car did not break once.  Even with all that hopping.

Jerry said:

Except for the fuse, I think this was the first car/challenge thing where the car did not break once.  Even with all that hopping.

I noticed that, and was glad for it. One of the things that bothers me is how often their vehicles break down, you know it was either (a) scripted, or (b) because of intentional abuse because it was scripted.

Although, now I think of it, none of their jaaaaaaags broke down even after taking them off a cliff. Pretty impressive.  

I really liked the segment  from the previous episode on the Porsche 917.

John was the most capable off-roader ive seen, couldn't believe what that thing went through without a failure...and ive owned 3 Landcruisers. that thing was amazing - extra kudos for the unintentional weight bias that caused the front to pogo and make that thing crawl up those hills. 

Watched the Mongolia episode last night and agree, it was spectacular. Would love to know what drivetrain it had, looked like an old diesel Land Rover engine which I assume was chosen for durability sake. Was impressive how the whole vehicle stood up to the abuse, especially once they had it submerged in the river for a bit.

Brake_L8 said:

Would love to know what drivetrain it had, looked like an old diesel Land Rover engine which I assume was chosen for durability sake.

One of them (James May I think) did remark that it was a Land Rover engine when they were opening the crates.

Really sounded like they broke down a defender 110 TDI and put it in a crate based on the descriptions and the capabilities.

It's certainly not a Land Rover chassis.  IT was bolt together in two halves with a mid mounted engine.  Sure the axles etc. were also Landy, but nothing production.  That was/is either a one off, or something designed to be dropped into remote areas and put together with hand tools like they did.  I keep expecting to find a web site, or at least a mention of a production or production intent knock down vehicle.  No luck so far.

Jerry said:

Except for the fuse, I think this was the first car/challenge thing where the car did not break once.  Even with all that hopping.

Why was it doing all that hopping? Does that just mean the suspension was not set up correctly? Certainly added in some humor. 

I'm thinking it is a one-off if only because they've never withheld any information on what they were driving before. 

Somebeach said:

Jerry said:

Except for the fuse, I think this was the first car/challenge thing where the car did not break once.  Even with all that hopping.

Why was it doing all that hopping? Does that just mean the suspension was not set up correctly? Certainly added in some humor. 

My guess is it was "hopping" because there wasn't enough weight on the front end of the vehicle.  It was pretty funny, and probably amazingly uncomfortable.  All in all, I thought they were pretty good sports about the whole thing, especially when they spun the fronts and coated everyone inside with mud. 

The hop was likely due to either mis-matched springs and shocks (where it wasn't damped adequately) or more likely leaf spring wrap (where the springs wind up and then unload causing a hop).  

Yup.   Weight bias won't give wheel hop.  Poorly designed suspension will.

I was waiting for the axles to snap with all that hopping.

So was I.   I expect that they had to have broken something suspension or axle related during the trip that wasn't shown because it didn't fit the narrative.   Because there is no way that thing would have lasted on that long of a trip with that sort of abuse.

I just kinda figured the fairly light weight (especially on the front end) compared to the Land Rover the axles and such were meant for gave them just enough margin for them not to break a shaft or anything.  

You can't hop something like that that hard on a trip as long as they claim without breakage.   I'm had similar problems with the rear tires loading up and unwinding on my TJ (In my avatar) on some uphill obstacles with reduced traction , but I have never stayed into it as long or as hard as they did. I surely would have broked axleshafts if I had.  My issues stemmed from too large of a tire sidewall (35.5") with a relatively small diameter wheel (15"), coupled with a lifted short arm suspension and worn shocks .  I solved my problem with a little more air pressure in the rear tire, better rear shocks and a different approach to that sort of obstacle.  

The specs for John are given in the "X-ray" trivia on Amazon's video player. Don't have it handy in front of me but there's your avenue for research.

whoever googled "creepy teepee", hands up LOL 

Something I noticed in this last episode was how they were interacting with the camera crew - they pulled their SUV out of the mud in one spot, and conversed with them a couple times.  Historically, they've generally pretended as though they weren't there.

Actually Topspeed wrote a good article on the show here: https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/the-latest-grand-tour-filmed-in-mongolia-is-the-best-episode-trio-ever-made-ar185126.html

stuart in mn said:

Something I noticed in this last episode was how they were interacting with the camera crew - they pulled their SUV out of the mud in one spot, and conversed with them a couple times.  Historically, they've generally pretended as though they weren't there.

ya i noticed that as well, and the voice coming from behind the camera was noticeable a couple times - Jeremy just started talking to him

There have been other occasional moments of a quick word between them and the camera crew, but there was definitely far more this time.  I always like those moments.  Especially when it's the camera crew needing help instead of providing un-seen assistance to the main trio. 

They have been heavily referring to ‘Mr Willman’ instead of ‘the producers’ ever since they found safe haven at Amazon and we’re free of Auntie. 

Adrian_Thompson said:

They have been heavily referring to ‘Mr Willman’ instead of ‘the producers’ ever since they found safe haven at Amazon and we’re free of Auntie. 

I always assumed that "The producers gave us a challenge" was part of the Top Gear IP that the Beeb kept in the divorce.