OT: The Grand Tour

[aTotal360]

Anyone else a huge (old) Top Gear fanboy? What are your thoughts on the new show?

Episode 1 was a great start.

Episode 2 not so much. Felt like they are trying too hard to out do the other with one liners. It also felt more like a well produced, variety show about the guys with a drop of car centric content. The inside the tent scenes were way too long.

Hopefully they can get back on track to being a car show.

I'm torn on "The American". I like Mike Skinner, but he doesn't fit the show.

 

[MarkDallas]

I've been trying to find time to check it out. I'll report back.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Episode 2, from all accounts, was taped before Episode 1, or at least the tent segments were. The spec ops course was fun, but certain parts of that segment ran too long. And the tire smoking part could have been dropped completely, but I at least appreciate they were trying to show us some local culture. And the interview with the guy who built the car felt awkward. There was tremendous buildup to it then he was on for about 10 seconds.

Episode 1 was beautiful and I hope the rest are like it.

I'm not completely sold on the new track. I know they had to do something different from the old track, but it doesn't seem to have developed the 'personality' that the old track had. They did everything on that track, from drag racing the latest offerings from Ferrari to Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. I would happily pay $1,000 to take my 4 cylinder commutermobile on the TG track for a couple laps. The Eboladrome, maybe $100. The new track just isn't in GT enough. I'll give it a chance though.

I like Mike Skinner on the show and I hope he finds a groove. Definitely seems disjointed from the rest of the show. I hope he makes a tent appearance soon.

They still haven't done an epic trek (e.g. Argentina, Nile, deep south USA) type of episode, but we're only 2 in. It looks like there will be a Skeleton Coast episode at some point, which I expect to be great.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

I have enjoyed the first two episodes. The magic the trio had is still there, but I agree the tent segment are too long.

I do realize its a new show, and they are having to start over. Right now, it seems a bit too scripted, though. I always liked the unscripted banter of the old Top Gear. It will get better over time like TG did.

Mike Skinner...meh.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

I like itS

As said, episode 1 seemed to have picked up where Top Gear left off. Mile skinner is a lil awkward. I think someone like Kenny Wallace or Michael Waltrip would have been better. I did spit out my drink when he said "this thing wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a dogs ***".

i have a feeling that it will land on its feet when the car challenges start.

 

[SuspectZero]

I'm a huge TG fan. I don't have prime so I haven't seen it yet. I'm glad to see the boys back in action though. Anyone know where I can find it online without paying for a prime account? You know, asking for a friend.

 

[EngDawg]

I really liked the Vulcan review from ep. 2. The spec opps course I thought was a bit of a stretch but still funny at times.

Ep. 1 was good except for the fact that all three of those cars had been reviewed by Clarkson, May, and Hammond before on Top Gear.

Mike Skinner is no Stig, but still good. Would have been great if they could have gotten Ben Collins on the show like this clip.

https://youtu.be/rvt_4Uii5AU

 

[aTotal360]

Getting The Ben Collins back would be fantastic.

 

[Lou3000]

It's gorgeous in UHD. Maybe the best display of the tech yet. If you have a 4K TV, show it off with the Grand Tour. I don't think the show feels any different than Top Gear, though I really wish a variant of Star in a Reasonably Priced Car was back. I'm also not sold on the track, it doesn't really seem to let the car shine. I'll give Mike Skinner a chance, though I wish his quips were less scripted throw away jokes and based more on the actual car itself.

 

[MaroonNation]

Top Gear sucked since Jeremy Clarkson was removed. He was a jack-*** elitist but he, James May and the short dude were great TV.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Damnit. I thought this was a Possum thread!

 

[vocaldawg]

Top Gear sucked since Jeremy Clarkson was removed. He was a jack-*** elitist but he, James May and the short dude were great TV.

There weren't any episodes without Jeremy. He wasn't in the studio in the last one, but was still in some clips. The show stopped after he was fired/quit.

 

[SuspectZero]

Um... I can't tell if you're serious or not. There was another season with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc. Chris Evans has been cut and I believe Matt will take over primary hosting duties. At least that was the last I heard. However, it just wasn't the same. I'll give Matt a chance if they do another season. Anyone heard anything else recently.

 

[vocaldawg]

semi joking/semi serious..... meaning, as far as i'm concerned, that show died when he left and James and Richard followed, even having the revamp and the other presenters, it wasn't worth watching at all.... almost as bad as the American version. The three of them make the show. I've only watched the first episode of The Grand Tour, but am happy so far with the results. I think the per episode budget is something along the lines of 8-10 times the previous BBC version (large portion in salaries, albeit), so that'll be exciting to see. The footage was incredible and I'll second the disappointment with the three cars of choice. They were already done. Here's to seeing some new adventures!

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

I watched one episode of TG last summer. It was cringe inducing. It was a 15 minute Chris Evans segment (awful), a 10 minute Matt Leblanc segment (actually pretty good), 10 minutes of Star in a Reasonably Priced Rally Car (they should have left the course alone), and about 20 minutes of ten other presenters in a bunch of unrelated segments.

 

[MaroonNation]

The funniest TG episode I have ever seen would have to be the Jeremy Clarkson in the Robins Reliant 3 wheel car that flipped over every time he turned a corner or the one where he is driving the tiny little portable car through BBC headquarters.

And whoever brought up 4KHD TG has always been at the forefront of cinematography. They always did the best filming of track scenes

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

Mmmmm...possum.**

View attachment 5556View attachment 5557

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Episode 3 bump.

Loved episode 3. They didn't have the American, but Hammond was more American than the American to make up for it.

 

[aTotal360]

Sweet. I'll check it out later today.

 

[MaroonNation]

Those pearly whites give him away every time.

 

[MaroonNation]

I've also become a fan of James May's other endeavors (nohomo). I appreciate his imperial whit.