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Do Americans find it funny when British Top Gear slate American cars?



This has always been on my mind ever since the show started. Sad, I know.

Clarkson et al obviously hate American cars (with exceptions, namely Corvette and Mustang). But by looking at this board, it seems that all the Americans love the British version, and are sceptical about their own US version.

Only a life lived for others, is a life worth living - Albert Einstein

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Can't speak for everyone but I think it's funny. usually I agree with clarkson. And I think clarkson even hates the corvette and the mustang.


"Give it your all, It's all you've got"

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When he's talking about them, he trash talks. But when he drives them, he squeals in delight.

And don't talk to me about "fine British workmanship", I've owned an MG.

Queritoro, ergo sum ("I whine, therefore I am")...

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Can you give an example? The only US car he likes I can think of is the Ford.

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Jeremy drives a Ford GT. It's been featured on the show.

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he got rid of it very quickly because it kept breaking down.

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It's a Ford, they're good with trucks, crap with cars... hence the "Found On Road Dead" and "Fix Or Repair Daily"... anyone could have told him that!

And I'm from the US... I love him, and his opinions, even if I disagree- for instance, I love my Jeep Wrangler with a passion equal to his hatred of them. It's ok, I love him and the show anyway. :)

www.lost.eu/6e82c

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If you listen carefully when they did the supercar challenge with the Ford GT in the middle of season 7 he did say he sold his due to it breaking down, but he also said he bought another one or as he put it, he "liked it so much he bought it twice".

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So that must be the Ford I've mentioned then. Any other US car he likes?

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of course it's funny, it's not like they're hating on american cars for no reason.

for at least 90% of american cars, there is a better alternative and the show is simply being honest, which is what makes it so great.

I am worried that an american top gear may be biased or dishonest about a lot of american cars, but at the same time the british top gear does have a false affection for a lot of crappy british cars i would never consider.

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Yeh I guess so. Although, many Brits, or at least, English people, like a few American cars. My neighbour owns a Corvette and that is truly amazing. But unfortunately, no Dodge Charger or Corvette can compare to the likes of the Astons and the odd Noble or Jaguar. I think you're right though, American cars are just plain terrible in a general sense. I've just ordered the new 3 door Fiesta, and many of my friends, who reside in America hear nothing but complaints by Americans who desperately want that car to hurry and cross the pond, let alone a legion of other super-minis. It baffles me as to why companies over there don't respond to such a high demand for good, quality cars.


Only a life lived for others, is a life worth living - Albert Einstein

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[deleted]

American Cars are in general rubbish. However when you grow up driving things like Mustangs you tend to become fond, even ignoring faults. Every Mustang I have ever driven feels like it's steering is made of marshmellows, unresponsive and spongy. However it is a feeling that I have grown close to, and probably will never give up.

To Hell with your Granny

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As an American, I think the opinions on the show about American cars and Americans in general are usually spot on. When I saw the challenge where they drove through the south, I initially thought it was unfair since it's where you are likely to find the worst of the worst people in the States. Then I started thinking of where would be better, and nowhere came to mind.

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I initially thought it was unfair since it's where you are likely to find the worst of the worst people in the States. Then I started thinking of where would be better, and nowhere came to mind.


My friend that is a terribly offensive blanket-ass statement... I am from the south and what a lovely place it is. I think your use of the phrase "worst people" is contrived, as the south is full of cities with lovely culture and equally amazing people.
To Hell with your Granny

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My brother owns a Dodge Dakota pickup (late 90s model) among other things, and I have to say that if you are not used to it the thing can be quite dangerous especially in wet conditions. It's all down to the very soft power steering. At high speeds it feels like the truck is 'floating', the steering feels extremely soft and light and not at all secure. This is a flaw I found with many US mainstream (meaning non-sport) cars, they seem to overdo it with the softness of the power steering. In Europe or Japan a car with such soft steering would never leave the factory...

I know that you are a bad machine. That's why the factory keeps you here. Do you know how I know? I know because I'm from the factory. I make the machines.
Midnight Express (1978)

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lol thats funny did u see the episode where they were almost killed because their cars said that they supported gays. The south is a very uncomfortable place to be in.

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I think that the people in the south were more pissed at the guys for trying to instigate something by putting those decals on the car, especially when they can tell it's a joke because you're video taping it. That's like me going into a Jewish neighborhood with "I am a Nazi" on the hood of my car and video taping their response. They could care less that you're a Nazi, but they don't appreciate that you took the time to go into their neighborhood to say that stuff.

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Except that Jews have an actual reason to dislike Nazis, as does everyone else. The slogans on the cars were only offensive if you are extremely close minded.

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Well, I think Jeremy really loved the Corvette Z06.

And I've owned a Mustang, and he's right -- they're rubbish.

He's also right about the RX-8 (and RX-7). I owned several RX-7s (conventional and Turbo) and they run rings around 99% of American cars.

I've also owned a Lotus Seven, and you should see their episode with that one! Speaking of running rings around things...

BTW, Richard Hammond liked the Cadillac he reviewed.

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Well, I think Jeremy really loved the Corvette Z06.

Is that the one with the wobbly plastic back? IIRC, he liked it on the track and hated it on the road.

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Oh c'mon. I too live in the south, and have my entire life. But I'll be the first to admit that we have some of the dumbest most closed minded people in the nation. I'm sure you can go up north or out west and find some yokels that are just as dim witted, but go anywhere in Mississippi and most of Alabama and you'll find ridiculous rednecks, the same type that were featured on Top Gear. Now, MOST of the people you'll meet are fine, they're just normal people doing normal things, but there are some red-dogs out there who fly the confederate flag and think anyone who isn't like them is some communist infiltrator trying to subvert the population. It's sad, but its true. I could go on, and in greater detail, but I think I've made my point.

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I'm sure that southerners are a lovely bunch so long as you're not black, an atheist, gay, or in any way different.

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[deleted]

I'm American and I for the most part also hate American cars.

Can't keep me off this escalator!

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As an American, I find their comments funny, but I take it with a grain of salt. Especially since I know the show is scripted and a quick look at J.D. Power and Consumer Reports (yes, I know, American publications) don't rate a number of European cars high. Clarkson LOVES the Land Rover, but it is usually dead last on J.D. Powers' reliability reports.

My reaction to the first U.S. visit (not the latest that my friends and I call the "apology episode") was why would they pay $5K for those three cars? $500, sure, but $5,000? Either they got ripped off or it is "scripted."

Another point I would like to make about European vehicles sold here in the U.S.: to buy a family size car here (Accord, Camry, Malibu, etc.) for under or about $25K is relatively easy to find. Excluding rebadged European cars, what European FAMILY size car can you get for that here? A VW (maybe a Volvo) is the only two that I know. I don't think you can get an entry level Mercedes, BMW, or Land Rover for that price.

Am I saying American vehicles are superior to European vehicles? Absolutely NOT. I own and probably will continue to buy Japanese. I am simply saying European cars might be better built, but they are priced much higher. On Top Gear, they will name a compact car and say it is 18K Pounds. The Pound is worth 50-100% more than the Dollar (I think I said that right). A compact car for 18K DOLLARS is high, let alone $27K to $36K.

So, to wrap up: the show is scripted, European cars are more expensive, and they are not necessarily superior to U.S. made vehicles. I watch the show for the entertainment more than news and I think that's why it works. I would never rely on it to buy a car (at least, not the show, but their website does have serious car reviews not done by May, Clarkson, and/or Hammond).

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Your a tard jason. The show is not scripted, in fact it won an international emmy in the Non-Scripted Entertainment category. And if you had listened to what the price was, as it is almost every time, 1000 british pounds. Which is about 1500 american dollars. Which makes your whole argument about European cars being priced higher completely absurd. Besides, Mercs, BMWs and Land Rovers aren't entry cars over there either. And of course the mercs, bmws and rovers cost more, they are built better and have much more luxuries than say your avg crappy accord, camry, or malibu. There's a reason for the price hike. So yea, a compact car for 18000 british pounds is quite a bit, but you know what price it comes to when you convert it? 26.5 grand american. so babel on all you want about how JD power is the greatest rating system ever, but do some damn research first.

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Ah, blackscarlet, you crack me up! Do you honestly believe everything on the show is unscripted? Including the bits that they ADMIT was scripted? So, you really think they ACCIDENTLY set a caravan on fire?

Then, you repeat what I had already said. You said, quote: "the price was, as it is almost every time, 1000 british pounds. Which is about 1500 american dollars." Which is exactly what I stated when I said "The Pound is worth 50-100% more than the Dollar." You see, about a year ago the Dollar was so weak the Pound was worth twice as much. Therefore, depending on what series you are watching the price can be 1.5x to 2x as much.

And, recently, I have been watching some of the early shows (series 3, 4, and 5) and they make several comments about how unreliable the Land Rovers are which is exactly in line with what J.D. Power has been saying.

Now, are you trying to tell me you would be willing to pay "26.5 grand american" for a regular ol' compact car? Not a hot hatchback like a GTI or Clio, but a standard Honda Civic?

My friend, do read carefully the post on here before answering and do a little bit of research first. Oh, was that your advice to me? Seems I already have done my research.

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I'm an American and I care about how a car handles, which immediately eliminates 99.9% of American sports cars from my list of cars that don't suck.

I mean, really, the z06 and cts-v are the only American cars that I would considering spending my own money on.

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I'm american and it doesn't bother me a bit when they slag american cars because for the most part american cars are very poor quality. But as an owner of two 1960's british cars I can say that 1) the cars the British made back then were highly unreliable and prone to electrical and mechanical problems, and 2) you *beep* brits haven't made a car that was worth a damn since then.

I'd like to see the episode where they defend a Land Rover. I really can't imagine how you could genuinely defend one of those heaps of junk. They are inexcusable pieces of s*** that don't handle on road or off road well, they are totally unreliable which makes them a further liability off road, and they are too complex and expensive to maintain which makes their durability and capability as work vehicles worthless. The Land Rover has no positive qualities.

BlackScarlte: BMW and Mercedes make entry level sedans in Europe that would sell for around $25K in America, but they don't import them to the USA.

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The reason american cars drive differently (poorly in most cases) is because they were built for american roads. Generally straight.

British cars were built for british roads. Narrow and curved. Also, they were built not to be driven too much.

I love british cars, they're a blast. Especially on british roads. Give me a mini in the countryside and i'll never stop smiling.

But I have to say the bashing of the american south east is rather ignorant. Are we missing meccas of culture like Miami and New Orleans? Atlanta? There's ignorance everywhere, ranging from left to right. Just because it's not your particular brand of ignorance, doesn't mean it's not ignorant.

Plus NASCAR people...was is and always will be a southern sport. Thanks to those 'rednecks' or 'country folk' or what have you running from the Feds with the booze during prohibition.

I personally hope Top Gear (when it debuts) is as entertaining as it's british counterpart. I also hope it's as insane.

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I don't mind at all when they make fun of American cars. Personally I don't think you can really compare European cars to American cars.

America to scale is a much larger country thus creating a much different need for cars. In Europe there are amazing public transportation systems (I wish we had a fraction of that) In America we get cars because there is an absolute need for them to get to work/school/events etc.... In Europe the car culture still has that "need" but they also have a greater option of "want" with their beautiful luxury cars.

I cannot speak for others but based on what I have seen in the show there are not many trucks in Europe, In America (at least where I live) it is almost necessary to own a truck for work reasons, or weather.

There's a bullet out there for everyone the trick is to die of old age before it finds you.

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