That's right ladies and gentlemen. It's the Stig's Russian cousin, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZtig.

bring back Victor Meldrew I say, that bloke who always has a downer on everything !

I don't believe it

No not Z cars Jim, you be talking Dixon of Dock green next.

I will always watch TG but must admit I have enjoyed fifth gear on channel 5 also but then again it's likely to have something to do with VBH ragging something around a track

Bottom line. It's just nice to have entertainment with cars in it.

Agreed

I wouldn't disagree with you at all about that, but you might think that, after 20-odd series of the same people doing the same thing there might be room for something a bit, you know, different?

Now the series is about them and the cars come second. I still sort of enjoy it.

But yes they need to shake it up somewhat.

If there was a engine/car building section and a weekly profile on someone from the motor/sport world i would be happier.
And i dont mean star in a crappy car.

Agree that either way, it's in need of a serious refresh. Despite the earlier TR6 jibe , the one I'm looking out for is the episode featuring a Fiat spider (-v- MGB and Pug 308) due to be broadcast 22/3. But in the meantime it's becoming a tad tiresome.

I even found the following immitation / "homage" to Topgear more watchable that the real one. That must say something...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiV2cuM30Zg

WARNING
For those that knock Top Gear, it starts in one hour - don't watch it

For all the others that enjoy it, YES! Top Gear starts in one hour.

And relax

When does it start for those of us that judge each episode on its merits?

For those of us with a 16-year-old stepson staying, when does it start?

I'll be watching.

Mmm. Quite entertaining this week.

I've driven across the top of the Claerwen reservoir many a time in me Bravo HGT and Coupe when out for a mid-week blast. Wouldn't want to drive up it though, you know what the hand brakes are like.....

I've driven it a few times too, and on the motorbike via the hill top road to Devils Bridge. Folks used to live in Crossgates near Rhayader.

In fact this may be the pic from a few years ago

Admit it, you like it really

No stepson = no Top Gear! (Unless there's an F1 driver I like on...)

I wish I did like it. In fact, I think one reason I'm able to get so cross about it is that it should be so much better and then I would like it!

Was it just me, or was last nights rather better for the lack of silliness just for the sake of it?

Will Smith was good - far less "hollywood" than I was expecting

I even liked JCs i8 article - quite informative, but mid 30s mpg ??? I guess its a sports car, and if you drive it like one, you're essentially running a very high specific output IC engine, so its hardly a surprise

It's basic physics, Nigel - doesn't matter how the power gets to the wheels, whether you're driving them directly or generating power from the IC or generating electricity from the IC engine, it's all using petrol.

A kinetic energy recovery system is only effective if you do a lot of braking and acceleration; picking up waste heat energy from the turbo spin a la F1 is about the only way you're going to improve the specific volumetric efficiency of the engine (as a complete system).

That i8 is only going to work economy wise if you have a short commute and never turn on the engine (or most of the toys like heating or aircon); otherwise it's a 250bhp combination and it's going to drink fuel at the same rate.

This of course is the big scam with hybrid electric cars: 120mpg my arse... only on the euro IC test when the IC engine is hardly used because the battery takes over. If they'd stuck enough battery to give the range of a Tesla, I could be interested, but for me I need a minimum 200 and ideally 300 mile range, and that comes out with at least 60-90kWh of battery.

I like the daft episodes of Top Gear just as much as the marginally less daft ones like last night’s. So long as they keep a balance between the two throughout the series, I’m happy enough.

I still remember how deathly dull the original Top Gear became. I much prefer the ‘light entertainment with cars as the theme’ show they make nowadays.

As for the i8 … I saw one in the flesh recently and whatever you think of the technology it’s an absolutely gorgeous thing to look at. BMW’s designers have managed to make it beautiful as well as futuristic.

Last night's episode was good, I thought.

A couple of car 'reviews', a couple of entertaining guests and a piece about an icon of the car world (although I could have done without the winching up a Dam bit).

All in all, a standard Top Gear episode but without the ridiculous stunts and set up bits.

Last night's episode was a return to form, the ambulance escapade the week before I really did find a cringe.

You could really see the fear in Hammonds face winching up that dam.

I enjoyed last night episode but then again I like all of them.

Hmm... I rather suspect that the good Mr Hammond was never more than a few feet off the foot of the damn.

Either that or they edited out the safety ropes remarkably well.

I refuse to believe TG stage anything for entertainment purposes

That Merc was quick. A Merc V8 is definitely on my shopping list.

I liked the SLS too. Sounded great. Also like the rear - kinda remind me of a Porsche 928.

The damn bit was a bit strange. You could tell from the start that it was never going to get to the top without moving the anchor point. Hammond also didn't have a helmet or seatbelt on either, and the roll bar didn't exactly look that thick!

That Jaguar low drag GT sounded wonderful

But £850,000! One for the rich and famous I suspect

should be good next week... about classic cars