New series of Top Gear Starts next week at 8pm BBC2 on sunday .

At last
Just DON'T tell petep!

I cant believe they havent canned it, the old format is soooo tired, as are the presenters.

Thanks for letting us know Rob.

The old format and presenters are only as tiring as the people that moan about it/them.

I'm looking forward to it, as usual

/\ /\ /\ /\ I have nothing more to add!

For me it's like Wrestling.

I dont watch wrestling because I just cant wrap my head around the fact that it's just theatre. I know it is, but my mind just sits there going "why are you idiots cheering at a bunch of people pretending to hit each other?!!?"

Top Gear is Wrestling for Car people.

We all know it's staged, its childish and its means nothing. But yet they still tune in each week to point and laugh along with it.

I wouldnt go to a wrestling coach that was endorsed by a WWF wrestler, as much as i wouldn't buy a car recommended by Top Gear.

Where it differs from Wrestling however is the fact that'd i'd happily watch Top Gear, albeit with a sense of fear, knowing that others see it as 'real'.

Whilst I'm sure the BBC loses a number of viewers in the UK with each passing series (even allowing for a few joining), Top Gear seemingly makes so much cash from worldwide sales and other spinoffs that - until the presenters get too old to drive or there's a nuclear war - it makes no commercial sense to fiddle with the formula. If you tried to introduce new people or alter how it is presented, there would be outcry.

It is surprising that it is still going along in the same old format as it wouldn't take much to refresh it a bit but It's harmless fun at the end of the day.

I record it, which makes it easier to skip some of the tedious Captain Slow and Hamster V. Jeremy "races" across Europe etc.

There is always something in there to give you a laugh or to drool at.
It's a Cartoon show really..

Great I look forward to it, about the only thing I watch on the BBC, along with Sherlock. Makes a change from dross like Eastenders, prancing on ice, strictly, Britains (not) got talent, etc. etc.

I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to see more challenges - the ones where they buy 3 similar cars and mess about with them.

Although I've seen a few reviews of the Mac P1 and Porsche 918 online it will be nice to see them on TG.

Agree, anything that is not a "reality" or "talentless" show is welcome.

It's still a laugh at times and also gives something for Dave to show 24hrs a day.

There are no surprises why Top Gear is still running & if some still don't get it, they really want to wake up & smell the petrol. I for one take it for what it is & just hop on for the ride...

As has been said, so much worse crap on the telly, but I wont mention or go into too much details about the crappy programs.

All the above. I stopped being an avid viewer a few series ago due to most of the reasons it gets moaned about but I'll still watch it if I happen to be near the tele when it's on.

Bit of daft, nothing more, nothing less. When does it start again?

See first post

I obviously needed to put a tongue in cheek smiley there instead!

Top Gear is like an old pair of comfy slippers.

Whiffy, out of date and made of Tartan but nice to have on when you are infront of the telly. But I've grown up with it and there is always something to look forward to, even if it is Clarkson taking the p*** out of Hamster.

I must admit, the races across Europe are getting a bit tiring now. I'm sure they could introduce some new stuff without upsetting the viewers.

Have to agree, it's no longer cutting edge, but always good family entertainment, which doesn't take itself too seriously.

Totally agree

One Top Gear thing I've always wondered about.

When they had the Ferrari F40/Porsche 959 feature, they didn't take them around the test track.

Allegedly the F40 did not start and the 959 broke down.

Is that what really happened or did they purposely avoid driving them really hard in order to avoid damaging these very old and more importantly very expensive cars?

Being as they have thrashed a C-Type jag around the track i doubt they would shy about an F40. A C-type is considerably more rare, older and i would guess expensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MDTcXGsjuo If you want to see a F40 getting spanked.

Great! TV time for me again. Welcome change to Neigh-whores and Grey's lobotomy.

So, that was..... err a little silly.

A good start to the show which then descended into the usual blow up stuff and mess around with tanks.

Is it true about the Nova SRi hotwire?

The old military base they used is somewhere I used to go for work. A great little play ground !

It's the same old formula... but quite entertaining.

I quited liked the moustache joke, and the cartoon "sitting in a smouldering wreck / crater "

I think there were some cars featured somewhere

It's true about the hotwire, used to work in my Nova.

It had a good topic 1980s hot hatches but then went downhill after about 10 minutes . They could have made it really good but then the silliness creeps in . I am still waiting for the episode and then at the end to say that was great really great . Its been a long time since i have said that .

+1

I was well excited when I read 80's hot hatches were in this episode...

Then they rocked up in -

The 8v Mk2 Golf GTI, Which is a good classic I admit, then a Zetec 1800 Xr2i, which as anyone knows was and is the least desirable Xr2i built, Finally a Nova SRi! Wtf, maybe, just maybe a GTE or GSi, but I was outraged that on such a epic topic, they produce such lame cars.

Should have seen -

Mk1 Golf
205 Gti 1.6 or 1.9
Renault 5 Gt turbo

Agree a poor choice. But then again I'd have been in tears if they'd have totalled a decent 205 or Renault 5 Gt Turbo.