Wil you watch American Top Gear?

[YSSMAN]

American stig should be fat! Anyways its obviously tanner driving in the stig outfit.

My first thought was Paul Tracy. Short little bugger, he is.

 

[wfooshee]

Another thing: American editors have got to learn than I can remember where the show was 3 minutes ago. I do NOT need 30 seconds of this-is-what-was-going-on when they come back on after a break, and I do NOT need 15 seconds of this-is-where-we're-gonna-be before they go to break.

I freaking saw it already!!! PROCEED!!!!!

That's not specific to Top gear, it's everything there is on any of these shows on any of the networks.

 

[Northstar]

Maybe they are under the assumption that we have no attention span so we may forget about the show during the commercial break.

It really is annoying and something that History loves to do unfortunately.

 

[-Fred-]

If anything I found the test track's layout to be much more interesting than the original, has a bit of that auto-x feeling to it.

 

[FoolKiller]

Your thinking of Travis Pastrana, Tanner Foust seems like a pretty dull dude to me. Pastrana would've been pretty Awesome on Top Gear US

As I was watching last night I thought to myself, "that's the guy from the GT5 and GTPSP ads. DOH!"

My bad. And to think I have been waiting to find out what the newest crazy stunt guy would be like on a show like this.

Anyone else thinking it's scripted......terribly.

Yes, right up until Tanner Foust is trying to make up metaphors. If those are scripted they have two problems. "It's like the chopping sound a sushi chef makes uh...it uh...makes you want sushi." "It's Pamela Anderson. None of its real but who cares?" How does that last one describe a Viper?

I guess I am too attached to the original UK Top Gear and I see Clarkson making fun of our American Top Gear in the new episodes.

It is this mentality I see the show needing to overcome. The Office ran into similar complaints from fans of the UK version of the show. Yep The Office US is not as good as The Office UK, and even stole most of the best jokes, but by the time the characters developed on their own it became a very good who in its own right. With time I hope we can say the same for Top Gear US.

It needs to come into its own and have its own Americanized personality to last. If we are stuck with a show that works too hard to emulate the UK version then the comparisons will never cease.

Anyways its obviously tanner driving in the stig outfit.

Is Tanner that short? But I agree that in the Viper test he even had the same issues with holding the tail steady that Tanner did. Until I see side by side interaction with each in a car on track I will be suspicious. I wouldn't surprised if it turned out to be someone like Rhys Millen, who Tanner has worked with and raced against, which could explain similar driving styles.

They have the wrong Adam , It should have been Adam Carolla.

Had they got the NBC version off the ground in 2008 they woudl have had him, but he has other stuff on his plate now.

It was just a comment that them racing a Viper through an actual town was reckless.

If closed streets during all high speed events is reckless. Only when they are sitting and talking do you see other cars. And even then I'm not sure they weren't just camera cars.

Speaking of, some work on camera angles during these kinds of events needs to be done. I saw the camera cars multiple times, including once in the mirror, only to see an exterior shot with no vehicles around. They are small and mostly unnoticeable mistakes, but if you are going to play hide and seek in car washes or sit on train bridges trying to describe the car, instead of acting like you are being pursued by an attack helicopter, my eyes will wander over the screen out of boredom.



Overall, my impression is that it is good enough. It has some rough edges and how those are smoothed out will determine how well this show does overall. I have gripes, as I have shown above, but none of them are a deal breaker and they can be improved.

For now, I have no access to a decent car themed show, other than Top Gear series 9, 10, and 11 on Netflix, so this is the best I have. I will see it through to the end likely.

Fortunately, I never started watching The Walking Dead, otherwise I wouldn't be able to say that I have nothing better to do on a Sunday night at 10:00 PM.

The real bonus is that I can always enjoy advertising geared toward car guys.



EDIT:
I completely agree with Fred on the track, especially with that dip into the teardrop. I would like to see an unedited on-board lap video.

 

[YSSMAN]

Fortunately, I never started watching The Walking Dead, otherwise I wouldn't be able to say that I have nothing better to do on a Sunday night at 10:00 PM.

I'd suggest starting to watch The Walking Dead and then catch up with Top Gear on DVR. Just sayin'.

 

[andrez004]

I don't know what to think about it. I love any show that will put cars through their paces. And being a fan of Foust's drifting... I can deal with his unnatural humor. It definitely was a copy and paste version of the original. I still like the original more, but I guess more the merrier?

 

[nick09]

Just finished watching the first episode of TGUSA and I will say it feels like when Top Gear started in 2002. It was alright but there was still need for better work on the hosts(they don't exactly argue with each other) and it needs better in-car camera's.

I'm sure this show will get better but it needs time to do so.

 

[FoolKiller]

I'd suggest starting to watch The Walking Dead and then catch up with Top Gear on DVR. Just sayin'.

No DVR.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

The hosts were a bit awkward though, Mr. Flannel seems too goofy, he doesn't look car driving material, and throwing him in a LP 670-4 didn't seem like the smartest thing to me. When Adam and Flannel were bugging Tanner, Foust should've been having some fun with it. He seemed so uptight. The Viper bit was okay, but it just seemed so silly. Next week I hope will be better, and I'm actually glad to see people put this pretty high on the initial TG list.

 

[albteman015]

WOW! The Viper ACR beat 3 Lamborghinis around the track! Awesomness!

Uhm? You were surprised by this? The ACR holds many lap records.

 

[Minty]

Another thing: American editors have got to learn than I can remember where the show was 3 minutes ago. I do NOT need 30 seconds of this-is-what-was-going-on when they come back on after a break, and I do NOT need 15 seconds of this-is-where-we're-gonna-be before they go to break.

I freaking saw it already!!! PROCEED!!!!!

That's not specific to Top gear, it's everything there is on any of these shows on any of the networks.

Thats for people who come in after a commercial break.
Turning on your TV and seeing a Viper driving away from an attack chopper would be pretty damn confusing out of context.
Oh, the only thing more irritating than all caps, is large, bold, colored font. You sound like a damn 12 year old typing a comment.

 

[SuperShouden]

Uhm? You were surprised by this? The ACR holds many lap records.

I was. I wasn't aware of the lap records held by the Viper ACR. Although, they did mention that the ACR holds the production car record around Laguna Seca. I can't wait to drive it in GT5.

 

[fitftw]

pretty sure the SX4 test car is an automatic. What a shame.

 

[blue night]

http://www.insideline.com/features/review-top-gear-usa.html

Insideline reviews the first three episodes and basically sums up how I feel about it perfectly.

 

[astrosdude91]

I was. I wasn't aware of the lap records held by the Viper ACR. Although, they did mention that the ACR holds the production car record around Laguna Seca. I can't wait to drive it in GT5.

Yes, and it's currently number 6 on the Nurburgring lap times. Infact, it held top position for quite some time.

 

[wfooshee]

Thats for people who come in after a commercial break.
Turning on your TV and seeing a Viper driving away from an attack chopper would be pretty damn confusing out of context.
Oh, the only thing more irritating than all caps, is large, bold, colored font. You sound like a damn 12 year old typing a comment.

Yeah, I know what it's for. What it accomplishes is a condescension to the audience, a demonstration of the producer's belief that we're just too stupid to keep up, and it's offensive, and that was supposed to be my point.

Oh, and thank you so much for the netiquette lesson, Mr. 21-poster, but I was conveying shouting. I'm sorry I hurt your ears.

pretty sure the SX4 test car is an automatic. What a shame.

Buzz Aldrin commented several times during his run about gear selection, including getting 3rd instead of 5th. I have a feeling his time's not going to hold up very well.

 

[Akira AC]

I think that the problem with the Us version is very simple:

If Homer,Marge,Bart,Lisa y Maggie Simpson were taken out from the Simpson it would it be the same?

the main problem with US top gear is that they put professional car reviews and not comedians,a working formula would be Jay Leno with the guy from Saturday night live or a comedian who is a car enthusiast,in that way it might work.

What I saw is more like Michaels Schumacher's top gear to be honest,still I'll be looking forward for the UK version season 16.

 

[Apollo87]

I think that the problem with the Us version is very simple:

If Homer,Marge,Bart,Lisa y Maggie Simpson were taken out from the Simpson it would it be the same?

the main problem with US top gear is that they put professional car reviews and not comedians,a working formula would be Jay Leno with the guy from Saturday night live or a comedian who is a car enthusiast,in that way it might work.

What I saw is more like Michaels Schumacher's top gear to be honest,still I'll be looking forward for the UK version season 16.

+1 on Jay Leno.

I also thought it was okay definitely needed work but it was fairly enjoyable, besides with TGUK currently on a break this is a good show to satisfy my need of car enthusiasm on TV.

 

[SuperShouden]

Yes, and it's currently number 6 on the Nurburgring lap times. Infact, it held top position for quite some time.

You're right. It is in fact the fastest American car around the 'Ring and 7th overall beating the Zonda F, Koinegsegg CCR, the Enzo and the Maserati MC12....by 2-3 seconds. That car is F-A-S-T! It is the fastest track-day car in GT5 if not the fastest production car in the game....Sweetness. I learned something this week.

 

[Minty]

Oh, and thank you so much for the netiquette lesson, Mr. 21-poster, but I was conveying shouting. I'm sorry I hurt your ears.

My low post count has nothing to do with whether or not that's annoying. I know it was to convey shouting but that doesn't make it less annoying, you know, since shouting is also annoying. Shouting is also something 12 year olds do, especially when it's because of something that costs you an extra 30 seconds, that saves people who just started watching from being confused. I could agree with you if it was like some shows that waste half the time in the show for a recap in unnecessary detail, but the recap for this show was short.
Sarcasm is equally annoying, so I'm going to go ahead and not reply to anything else you say in this thread.

 

[FoolKiller]

the main problem with US top gear is that they put professional car reviews and not comedians,

Adam Ferrara is a stand-up comedian and actor.

the guy from Saturday night live

Which one? Some suck, some are funny.

or a comedian who is a car enthusiast,

Supposedly this describes Adam, according to the Web site bio.


I agree they need some work, but there is a lot of time left to see if it ever meshes just right.

 

[Famine]

Oh, the only thing more irritating than all caps, is large, bold, colored font.

Prepare to find about 1% of this site quite irritating.

 

[blue night]

Anyone else watching the newest episode right now?

Tanner racing skiers on snow in a Evo. LOL, cars racing random things, very Top Gear like. It's funny how Tanner can't resist drifting everything! I can't believe some of the shots they got, when the skiers were jumping over the Evo I was like, "No way! They scene had to be staged!" Anyway the whole segment sorta made me look envious at the Evo with my Impreza owner eyes.

God I wish Adam would stop wearing Flannels everyday.

 

[Joey D]

Yup, the Evo thing was very staged. There is no way they would be sliding a car on a public road and then showing it on national TV.

This show is just so....irritating. It had the potential to be good, I can seem glimmers of it popping out all the time, but then it's just squashed by poor commentary, camera works or ridiculous comparisons. I am going to keep watching it hoping that it busts out of its shell and becomes something halfway decent. I know it won't be on the originals levels but at least get to the Australian levels.

**The speedo thing in the Aston was painful.

 

[Fame_Mcswagg]

I am actually enjoying the show. I never seen the british or any other version but it doesn't seem bad to me. The commentary sucks but I watch it for the cars, nothing else.

Edit: Do they always do this sub celebrity sit down thing? If so huge letdown I was just starting to enjoy this show.

 

[Joey D]

I'd do yourself a favour and look up the original British version, you can find in on several different mediums, even BBC America.

Edit: Do they always do this sub celebrity sit down thing? If so huge letdown I was just starting to enjoy this show.

It's decent on the British ones because they don't have some putz who shouts about cars changing colours. I wonder what they hell happened to Dominic Monaghan, I guess Lost rotted his mind or something...unless he was always like that.

But at least it was less painful then Buzz's interview "oooohhhh you went to the moon and owned some cars and damn you have big hands".

 

[blue night]

Seriously? Do you guys have to do this, "it's not as good as the original one! waaaaaaaahhhh!" thing every time? You're not even adding anything new, go back a page and what you said was already said. Could we have a thread to just discuss the show, cause I would like to do that because it's a pretty interesting car show.

 

[FoolKiller]

God I wish Adam would stop wearing Flannels everyday.

Adam or Rutledge?

Yup, the Evo thing was very staged. There is no way they would be sliding a car on a public road and then showing it on national TV.

Unless, of course, they had permission, which I am sure they did since everything in California requires a permit in advance, especially filming of television shows in public locations. They probably had certain closed off sections he was allowed to use, which was where we saw his hoonage action, and then certain public areas that he had to follow local laws in because they were the only way to get to where he was going, which is where he got stuck behind a propane truck.

This show is just so....irritating. It had the potential to be good, I can seem glimmers of it popping out all the time, but then it's just squashed by poor commentary, camera works or ridiculous comparisons. I am going to keep watching it hoping that it busts out of its shell and becomes something halfway decent. I know it won't be on the originals levels but at least get to the Australian levels.

Tonight's episode was better than last week. The three of them seem to gel a bit better, but I do believe I have found the biggest issue: They are all three trying to be Clarkson, Tanner with his in-car driving reviews and poor metaphors, Adam with his pushing the edge jokes (stereotyping blind guys, nice touch), and Rutledge with his US Britain bashing and constant comparisons to women. They need to be themselves.

I wonder what they hell happened to Dominic Monaghan, I guess Lost rotted his mind or something...unless he was always like that.

Always like that. I've seen him do Lost interviews every season and he was like that from the beginning. I've even heard him discuss his car wishes before.

But at least it was less painful then Buzz's interview "oooohhhh you went to the moon and owned some cars and damn you have big hands".

If satellite radio has taught us anything it is that stand-up comedians and alleged actors are horrible interviewers. Give them an hour of random talking and you are golden, but give them a guest and they act star struck.

Seriously? Do you guys have to do this, "it's not as good as the original one! waaaaaaaahhhh!" thing every time?

All that was said was Joey saying that Dominic Monaghan was being weird, which isn't common on the UK version.


What I do find funny is how many people are commenting on the staged stunts and danger of them when they are practically carbon copies of stuff done on the UK version. I don't remember anyone commenting on staged shots when Hamilton raced up and down a mountain (not on the slopes though) against two skiers and they jumped his car, bouncing off his roof, on the way down.

Honestly, the biggest crime this version has is that it is comparing itself to the UK version. They need some writers that haven't seen the original.

 

[SuperShouden]

Rutledge Wood needs to go away. He has NO car experience whatsoever apart from driving to work and liking cars. And everything he says just makes him seem ignorant. If they need a comedian, there are about a billion others who know a thing or two about cars and won't sound stupid every time they open their mouths....like Christopher Titus.

Seriously. "Let's put them to the test...the American way." then he does EXACTLY what they would don the British version of Top Gear.

And WHY oh WHY is HE doing the interviews? Let Tanner to the interviews. Are they trying to ruin the show or just make everyone HATE Rutledge Wood.