Couldn't agree more. I always got the feeling that lesser episodes in the twilight years of TG were just filler, budgets running low or maybe the interesting new cars had already been featured. Poor comedy is their attempt to compensate for lack of quality content. No doubt some ideas sound great on paper (while drinking) but don't translate well to the screen.
Probably optimistic but I hope the complete reboot, with legal obstacles, is at least some of the reason TGT underwhelms. Hopefully they'll figure out that crap gags aren't the only recourse to fill a 60 to 70 minute programme.
Meanwhile, "back in the studio"
new TG is stuck with fresh presenters failing to deliver the old team's concept of a car show. They're the ones who need to start anew.