Fifth Gear Season 16 Episode 4
June 30, 2009
No matter what Fifth Gear claims their program to be, they’re not even a quarter the fun Top Gear is. However, I have to give it to them. They’re four times more sensible than Clarkson and the boys. More sensibility this episode? Tiff tests the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Jonny drives a Ghostbusters car, Tim explores the cheapest way of servicing your car, and Tom and Jonny tries making wheelie cars.
First up, a shootout between the Mini Cooper S and the Mazda MX-5. Jason pits the nimble soft-top Mini against the metal-roofed rear-wheel MX-5. Jason tries the Mini first and he observes the heaviness caused by chopping the roof off. Its quick lap time around the track: 45.3 seconds. As for the Mazda, Jason likes the lighter and nimbler feel of the Mazda. Its lap time: 45.9 seconds. Trumped by the Minis turbo.
Next up, Tim tries out self-servicing his car, comparing the cost of going to a self-service garage compared to bringing a car to a mechanic’s garage against the cost and clock. First he takes a car to a mechanic for a brake discs and pad change. Then Tim tries to do it his own. Mechanic: 1:20 (200 quid). Tim: 1:40 (130 quid)
Top Gear Season 13 Episode 2
June 28, 2009
Top Gear is back with its second episode of its 13th series. In this show (well, according to Clarkson) – they throw a chair over a hedge, a quite interesting man drives their reasonably-priced car, and a race between the Bugatti Veyron and the McLaren F1.
First they open up with a challenge that gives “excellent consumer advice.” The boys are given 2,500 quid to buy a car for 17-year olds that would make them, their parents, and the insurance company happy. Or so they set about. They start in the office by mixing and matching car prices and insurance costs to fit their budget. Tough one for them since insurance premiums for 17-year old boys were sky high, so they decided to pretend to be dads and insure the cars as parents.
Their picks – James arrives in a Volkswagen Golf (695 quid for the car, 1,509 quid for insurance). Richard arrives in a Hyundai S Coupe (700 quid for the car, 1300 for the insurance), and finally, Jeremy arrived in a Volvo 940 wagon.
Fifth Gear Season 16 Episode 3
June 23, 2009
We’re moving our motoring show recaps over here for a change so here we are for this week’s installment of Fifth Gear. Tom and Tim opens up the show with what’s in store for viewers. In this show: a shoot-out between the new BMW Z4 versus the Porsche Boxster S, Peugeot 308 CC, the government’s scrapping scheme, Ross Noble and Dougie Lampkin on bikes, a tribute to the old Italian Job movie, and the Nissan 370Z.
First up, the shootout. Tiff and Jason take out the new BMW Z4 and the Porsche Boxster S on the track as a tribute to their first shootout segment featuring older versions of these same cars. The first challenge is to powerslide between two boxes. Score: 2-2 for both Jason in the Z4 and Tiff in the Boxster. Next is a one-lap race. The Z4 had advantages pulling up/away on the exits with its torque while the Boxster pulled away in the straights. All-around the Boxster S proves to be the superior car.
The next segment features the government’s scrapping scheme where Brits can trade in their old clunkers for 2000 pounds off the cost of a new car. This effort both helps boost car sales and get old guzzlers and belchers off the road. The requirements are: 1) car is taxed, 2) MOT test, 3) registered on your name, and 4) own the car at least a year. Tim accompanies a regular person to try to trade-in deal which only took away 200 pounds off. Tim then tries to phone dealers and even got more off the car with a bit of negotiations.
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