Did Top Gear USA answer the eternal question?

I had to DVR the season premier. But it would seem they are asking...

E30 or Miata?

Do you want the answer yet?

Car Show is what Top Gear US should be.

Miata!!!!

Car Show is quite possibly the worst possible car show on tv, I'd rather watch any of the Sunday morning Spike TV shows, or even Motorweek.

TG USA isn't bad...it's just not all that good yet. It really does put you to mind of the first few seasons of TGUK. So I'm holding out hope that they give it a few more seasons before giving it the ax.

i quite enjoyed this episode. no real complaints.

geomiata wrote: i quite enjoyed this episode. no real complaints.

same here....I laughed like a little kid when I saw the monster truck versions of their cars. It was good, silly fun

Racer1ab wrote: Car Show is quite possibly the worst possible car show on tv, I'd rather watch any of the Sunday morning Spike TV shows, or even Motorweek.

I'd even rather be chained to a chair in the middle of a room full of kids while they are watching saturday morning cartoons than watch Car Show. It creeps me out.

I liked it. They are getting more comfortable with each other and their roles.

JoeyM wrote:

geomiata wrote: i quite enjoyed this episode. no real complaints.

same here....I laughed like a little kid when I saw the monster truck versions of their cars. It was good, silly fun

I hate how they lie and say dumb things like "we had 12 hours to get our cars ready" then they are all of a sudden mini-monster trucks. Yeah, like they did that in 12 hrs. In general I dislike the little contests and races because they are 100% scripted. I will say that TGUS is more fun to watch for me than the Car Show. They are both way down my list of things to watch on TV though.

It is funny that some people don't like TGUS because it is not as good as TGUK and I think it is too much like it.

I don't know, but I've come up with the first box for a TG-USA bingo (or drinking) game:

The presenters demonstrate a bizarre cheap "trick" to fix something that has broken on a challenge car.

T.J. wrote: I hate how they lie and say dumb things like "we had 12 hours to get our cars ready" then they are all of a sudden mini-monster trucks. [...] In general I dislike the little contests and races because they are 100% scripted.[...] It is funny that some people don't like TGUS because it is not as good as TGUK and I think it is too much like it.

Well, you definitely took the wind out of my sails....I was just about to object "That's what the UK show does" when I saw your last line....yes, you are right. They are doing the same thing the UK show does.

From the looks of it, the E30 looked better. Less E36 M3 in your hair.

geomiata wrote: i quite enjoyed this episode. no real complaints.

I really like the premise of the next one too.

T.J. wrote: I hate how they lie and say dumb things like "we had 12 hours to get our cars ready" then they are all of a sudden mini-monster trucks. Yeah, like they did that in 12 hrs.

I'm pretty sure that was tongue in cheek. Hyperbole for comedic effect...

Two things:

1) I busted my ass laughing when Tanner was doing his low-rider impression in the E30 by just stabbing the gas pedal.

2) I want a monster truck E30. That thing was the E36 M3.

gamby wrote:

T.J. wrote: I hate how they lie and say dumb things like "we had 12 hours to get our cars ready" then they are all of a sudden mini-monster trucks. Yeah, like they did that in 12 hrs.

I'm pretty sure that was tongue in cheek. Hyperbole for comedic effect...

I suppose, but I don't find it funny.

Yes. If the question was: Was adding a second season of this horrible program a huge mistake?

I was a little disappointed when Rutledge had to go and ruin a BLUE miata, but other than that they were funny. Adam at the end calling Tanner stuff they had to bleep.... you can tell they're getting more used to each other.

gamby wrote:

T.J. wrote: I hate how they lie and say dumb things like "we had 12 hours to get our cars ready" then they are all of a sudden mini-monster trucks. Yeah, like they did that in 12 hrs.

I'm pretty sure that was tongue in cheek. Hyperbole for comedic effect...

I agree that the idea was supposed to be comedy. But TJ is on point saying that it was not.

That's what TG USA needs to work on- delivery. And creative writing to help with delivery.

The potential is there, for sure. Whether they get it or not remains to be seen.

And getting people that can actually deliver. No one on that show is comfortable in front of a camera. That's a huge problem.

IMHO I think Top Gear really looked at their first season, and has learned from it. I see progress; it was waacky and irreverent; and you saw some real, non-scripted emotions and reactions. I found it entertaining. Yes, there's room for growth. I think this seasons rating will determine if History keeps it or renews it. 9 episodes to go. Let's watch and decide then.

IMO, they got it. They are starting to gel as a group and they're having fun. It shows through the camera.

I love it. I'm not a TGUK snob and I can appreciate it for what it is: Entertainment.

Did NOBODY else notice that the "monster truck" versions were totally different cars? The biggest tell was the Maverick, which changed years and went from a Blue interior to a Tan one. The Blue Miata also lost all of it's front end damage and had it's aftermarket steering wheel replaced by a stock one.

I noticed the E30 had a different factory steering wheel too. Had a 3 spoke early on and a 4 spoke in the monster truck.

I also thought it was interesting although the challenge was in texas, all the cars had cali plates, implying they bought them and then trailered them to texas.

I let it slide.

It's a TV show. I don't overanalyze it, instead I just try to enjoy it.

Javelin wrote: Did NOBODY else notice that the "monster truck" versions were totally different cars? The biggest tell was the Maverick, which changed years and went from a Blue interior to a Tan one. The Blue Miata also lost all of it's front end damage and had it's aftermarket steering wheel replaced by a stock one.

Which would have made a properly delivered "we had 12 hours to work on them" line REALLY funny.

I didn't see the show, though.