Richard Hammonds 10 Best American Cars.

Duke wrote:

Keith wrote: Maybe he just likes cars. Weird, huh?

I know, but having him not automatically hate all American cars makes him by far the outlier in the British motoring press. He's an anomaly. Even cars they can't find any other flaw with at all get the obligatory knock that "it's too wide for our B roads" or a patronizing comment about a pushrod engine. You know when they get down that far, they are just stretching for any reason at all to criticize it.

But it has leaf springs, which they haven't used since the Romans left!

Yeah, I seeth every time I hear Clarkston whine about "cart springs" or "Vietnamese suspension". That moron says the 'vette has "leaf springs"
It's ONE spring you idiot! And they make it work! Heck, because it's a transverse spring, it still has all the sophisitication of a coil spring setup, but without the vertical height.

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, I seeth every time I hear Clarkston whine ....

Then he has accomplished his purpose - to make assinine statements that get people riled up when in reality he doesn't give a crap.

Of course, everyone realizes that there's a difference between a public and a private persona - right? They play up the British nationalism on the show because, well, it's funny.

Keith wrote: Of course, everyone realizes that there's a difference between a public and a private persona - right? They play up the British nationalism on the show because, well, it's funny.

Sometimes it's not.

I don't get how people think Top Gear isn't as funny as hell. I laugh my ass off at every episode.

93EXCivic wrote: I don't get how people think Top Gear isn't as funny as hell. I laugh my ass off at every episode.

I think Top Gear is hilarious - often in ways they don't really intend, because a lot of times when they try to be funny they fail spectacularly. But try reading the reviews in evo magazine, among others. No humour or public persona there.

Duke wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: I don't get how people think Top Gear isn't as funny as hell. I laugh my ass off at every episode.

I think Top Gear is hilarious - often in ways they don't really intend, because a lot of times when they try to be funny they fail spectacularly. But try reading the reviews in **evo** magazine, among others. No humour or public persona there.

Yeah. It is called being British. I don't see your point.

(I have a British citizenship)

Some of their material is a bit repetitive. For the most part, its the really snarky looking-down-their-nose stuff that I find less amusing.

I do thoroughly enjoy about 99% of their programs. Best bits are where they've obviously gone off-script in dialogue or action. Accidents, dropping swear words, bouts of maniacal laughter; that's the closest to them being themselves, and I really enjoy that.

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, I seeth every time I hear Clarkston whine about "cart springs" or "Vietnamese suspension". That moron says the 'vette has "leaf springs" It's ONE spring you idiot! And they make it work! Heck, because it's a transverse spring, it still has all the sophisitication of a coil spring setup, but without the vertical height.

it's kind of his "thing"... i miss watching Top Gear.. no BBC America here and i'm too much of a fat lazy American to be bothered to download it because i've got a Camaro to get running..

Yeah, it's not like any US automotive journalists ever make fun of foreign cars. Clarkson is British, and he's on the BBC - of course he's going to play to his core audience.

Yeah, I know, it's his "thing". But it makes him look like a moron. You wanna attack a car for having a particular type of suspension? Learn something about it.first.
All in all though, I love the show.

I think it really is a British thing. I remember my g/f and I laughing hysterically when Mike on Wheeler Dealers complained about "dodgey American electrics" in a C4 Vette. I'll take American electrics over anything British or German any day.

Clarkson seems to have made quite a good living looking like a moron.

Clarkson's a driver and journalist, not a mechanic or an internet nitpicker. And he's very good at being an entertainer. I don't think he looks like a moron myself, I think a lot of their humour is far more clever than is given credit. At least the really funny stuff is.

I think it was someone at Top Gear who said (paraphrasing): Stupid people acting stupid isn't funny. Clever people acting clever isn't funny. But clever people acting stupid is funny.

In this thread, we take a sampling of 3 TV personas and define an entire country's population with them.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: In this thread, we take a sampling of 3 TV personas and define an entire country's population with them.

Whilst accusing one of them of being a moron.

Appleseed wrote:

N Sperlo wrote: I don't understand the selection of a Dodge Ram over so many other better options.

Did you watch the trip to New Orleans episode? He drove a white Dodge. Sentimental value?

That's where I was leaning and didn't really say any more about it, but yes. That was my second thought. Like I said, I thought way to much about it. Wasted a few minutes of my life.

Hey Keith, it's spelled humor. No U.

I actually found his analysis of why James and Jeremy rag on Americans insightful (I'm not a tall man myself). He knows what getting bullied is like and doesn't stand for it. 6ft + tall people aren't used to big(ger) things and are threatened by them. I hadn't thought of it that way, and it's pretty neat.

I like Clarkson for what he is: a lovable buffoon who cares more for the laugh than to make any particular point. I am Jeremy Clarkson sometimes.

Just saw the episode with Amanda Heard. You are going to want to watch that segment. Always love it when an American is on the show and carries themselves well. See Mark Wahlberg. Want Amanda Heard.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Hey Keith, it's spelled *humor*.

Not if you're using English.

If you're using American English, you're right.

I love the show, but especially the adventure ones. Those guys keep me laughing.

spnx wrote:

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Hey Keith, it's spelled *humor*.

Not if you're using English. If you're using American English, you're right.

next, Teh E36 M3 is going to tell us it is cruel to drive our cars over sleeping policemen

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: In this thread, we take a sampling of 3 TV personas and define an entire country's population with them.

As I said, read evo magazine. Same shtick, except they're not playing it for laughs.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Just saw the episode with Amanda Heard. You are going to want to watch that segment. Always love it when an American is on the show and carries themselves well. See Mark Wahlberg. Want Amanda Heard.

I have no idea who Amanda Heard is, but she totally sounds like someone Bart would call Moe and ask for.

In reply to Jay:

Amanda Hugginkiss

Jay wrote:

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Just saw the episode with Amanda Heard. You are going to want to watch that segment. Always love it when an American is on the show and carries themselves well. See Mark Wahlberg. Want Amanda Heard.

I have no idea who Amanda Heard is,

A hot bisexual muscle car and gun enthusiast actress.