Edd has taught me a lot of great stuff for wokring on my own cars. I always make to tune in or at least DVR newer episodes.
I hear velocity wants to do an americanized version of WD, but I say rubbish, keep mike and Ed. Just let them do 50/50 US and International vehicles.
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"Deadlands 2: Trapped" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103262/
I agree with you on a US version. Part of the charm of the show is the location and the various types of cars that are found in the UK and on the European mainland.
There are already plenty of US shows that deal with car restorations and the problem with a US show is that it would probably deal with, mainly, US cars. I'm not sure I want to watch Larry the Cable Guy buy an AMC Matador and Bob Villa fix it up.
He who fights and runs away, lives to run away again!
I have to heartily agree. They made a US version of Top Gear, and save one episode where a Mustang flew, it's been a poor copy of the original.
shareOr the American version of Scrapheap Challenge/Junkyard Wars. Completely missed the quirkiness, charm and fun of the original.
I just happened to see new episodes of WD airing on Velocity. Great seeing Mike and Edd back together again. Just watching the Amphicar ep. Fantastic little vehicle.
Yes, "Top Gear" is a prime example of how important the talent is to a show. There will only be one Clarkson, May and Hammond. Likewise, there's only one Mike and Edd. And seeing as how Mike is coming to America more and more frequently for the show, what's the point of a US version?
What the genre really needs is a DIY car show for people who aren't afraid of electronic fuel injection and flex agent. There are lots of cars made since 1986 that are now "classics", and plenty of profit to be made from restoring them!
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I finally broke down and upgraded my Xfinity cable service to HD, only to find this outstanding show on a gem of a network (Velocity).
Just as with the 2002-present UK Top Gear, it's a waste to "Americanize" this long running show.
Velocity has plenty of American shows that feature American cars of all vintages and types.
What I love about WD is that it's an equal opportunity show with many visits to the US (along with other countries worldwide)for unique cars to purchase. I'm guessing that importing cars from America is still quite a bargain vs. trying to import a car from Europe to the US.
Watching Edd China meticulously work on older cars to them bring new life is such a treat vs. the American equivalent. China's step by step repairs, and short cut tricks can be applied to any make of car. Most American car repair shows involve complex rebuilding of engines, and transmissions for the people who own vintage muscle cars.
I'm also fascinated with Mike's cheery disposition for making a bargain. He does have a great gift of using leverage to his advantage. What a stroke of genius to buy an original 1967 Camero in California, only to ship it to Abu-Dhabi for a huge profit.
But there HAVE been instances of fake drama and emotionalism.
I've lost count of the number of time Mike has supposedly lost his rag at something Edd has done to the car - like the BMW 840, when Mike shows up and sees the nose cone isn't on the car because it's off at the paint shop. Mike (supposedly) throws a right paddy and accuses Edd of ruining the car.
And the 'gag' of suggesting Edd hasn't done any work because nothing has changed on the exterior is getting really, REALLY old now.
I stopped watching Classic Car Rescue because of all the fake drama and tension, and set-up arguments and disputes.
I hope the same doesn't happen with WD. I like the programme because I can watch Edd doing work on cars that I can imagine myself doing - if I only had a workshop, lift and comprehensive toolkit like Edd. Please just leave it at that.
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I've been watching WD since season 2, and it has certainly progressed & developed quite nicely during those 10 or so years.
Admittedly, some of the banter between E&M sounds scripted, but once they're in their own specialist areas the talk is more focused & natural - especially Edd, as he informs us what he is doing to the latest car build.
The great thing about this show is that the viewer doesn't seem detached from what is going on in the workshop, unlike some other car muscle shows. The work that Edd does is usually in reach of any competent DIYer.
Okay, Edd does have all the professional gear, tools & testing equipment; but for all that, there are some jobs that can be done by anyone with a basic toolkit. And it's amazing how money you can save.
And then there's Mike: the wheeler dealer himself. He knows his stuff, and some of his advice buying a car and letting us know what to look for, is also very useful to us ordinary punters.
Given that this show has been with us for 12 or 13 years, I do wonder how much longer it will retain it's format? I wonder of E&M still get the same buzz after all those years. I just hope they don't go too radical in order to generate broader interest.
...but what I know about is Texas; and down here, you're on your own!
When I discovered that Mike and Edd are doing Wheeler Dealers in America coming this summer, I changed my opinion of "Americanizing" the show. As long as the original hosts are involved, it should be very entertaining.
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I love this series as well! Best car show on TV by far!
IT'S A TRAP!!!
Mike and Edd have a special chemistry just like May, Hammond & Clarkson a type of passion shared by car lovers all over the world but not "in your face BS" like what happens when they try to do it here in the US.
I feel like this show is a secret only I and a few others know about and we keep it for ourselves.
There's may be one show that comes close on Velocity and its still not quite there; Chasing Classic Cars ....Edd is the kind of mechanic we could only hope for when we go to the garage.