[Kamazzi]

Originally Posted by iMnM

And the fact that most roads in PL - where the white F20 crashed, which wasn't M135i BTW - are liable to groove wander aka tramlining which in wet means constant aquaplaning.

So free your boots of cement bags (LOL), use your brains and enjoy your rides guys.

As a matter of fact the crash I had was on a brand new stretch of the A2 highway coming from Berlin, which is in better shape than most German highways
Another funny thing is about cement, sand or potatoes in the boot... according to some comments, the 2 series must really handle badly, seeing its basically a 1 series with extra weight behind the rear axle....

[MeganeTrophyGuy]

Finally found a link that allowed me to see the episode. Was really disappointed since he seemed to completely dismiss the M135i because it aquaplaned at 195kph in heavy water…. This is a complete contradiction of all the great things he said about the M135i in his 2012 Sunday Times column (I put up the link in an earlier post). Furthermore, he then proceeds to (greatly) overestimate the strengths of the Golf.

I owned a 2010 Gti with DSG and the optional electronic sports suspension and had two long test drives in the new one last year and I agree whole heartedly with Chris Harris and the vast majority of other journalists who, when putting up the Gti against the M135i and Benz AMG45, agree it is a very good car in many ways but place it a distant third. The additional of a mechanical diff was a major improvement over my 2010 car as was the changes to the steering rack (now 2.2 lock to lock) but there is no other way to put it but that the Gti FEELS substantially underpowered against other super hatches (not at all true of the very exciting but way overpriced Golf R which I test drove 3 weeks ago just before deciding to buy the M135i). Don't get me wrong. The current Gti is a great, well-balanced car and a perfect choice for someone who wants a very practical and safe family car that also is sporty when you want it to be. Its just not even close to being in the same league as the phenomenal Megane Trophy 265, the scrappy Ford Focus ST, the M135i or the AMG45…

Jeremy made a bunch of jokes and humorous quips to trash a fantastic car, the only real RWD hot hatch out there, just to cover up a mistake he made on the track that could have happened to any of us. 195kph in heavy rain and a flooded track is not something any reasonable person would do in ANY car, much less a RWD with wider back tires….

[westphone]

I don't understand why Clarkson wouldn't just say, "ooooops" and move on.

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by Kamazzi

Another funny thing is about cement, sand or potatoes in the boot... according to some comments, the 2 series must really handle badly, seeing its basically a 1 series with extra weight behind the rear axle....

1) Even with that shape, it doesn't necessarily have a more rear biased weight distribution than the F20/F21.

2) A rear heavy car does not automatically have worse handling, it is just different. The car manufacturer can compensate for that rear weight with wheel alignment and suspension settings to make it less dangerous. The Porsche 911 is no longer as dangerous to drive as older versions used to be.

I have tested driving with and without cement bags in the back of my BMWs at ice track weekends. It is quite interesting. The car can be quite a handful to control with the extra weight in the back, but in very slippery conditions, it is sometimes still faster than an unladen lap. The traction advantage coming out of tight corners makes up for tricky handling.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by westphone

I don't understand why Clarkson wouldn't just say, "ooooops" and move on.

Because "ooooops" isn't very entertaining or controversial. "The car tried to kill me" has a much better ring. And Top Gear isn't really about testing cars or accuracy....its about entertainment and maintaining the ratings. While entertaining, every single item is staged, including the whole M135i piece. The races they have. You seriously think they stage cameras along the route and have a real race? Of course you don't.....but its fun anyway.

Every weekend I load 2 big fishing boxes and a ton of other gear in the back of my F20. Clarkson tries a warhead and finds it doesn't fit. My son in law and daughter sit in the back when they're up from London....no need to saw off their legs. Top Gear is just a lot of fun around cars...think of them as a comedy trio and you're close to the mark.

[iMnM]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Every weekend I load 2 big fishing boxes and a ton of other gear in the back of my F20. Clarkson tries a warhead and finds it doesn't fit. My son in law and daughter sit in the back when they're up from London....no need to saw off their legs. Top Gear is just a lot of fun around cars...think of them as a comedy trio and you're close to the mark.

And back in 2012 he claimed it was normal because of rear wheel drive eating into the space in the back. Go figure haha.

[iMnM]

Originally Posted by Kamazzi

As a matter of fact the crash I had was on a brand new stretch of the A2 highway coming from Berlin, which is in better shape than most German highways

I always thought that stretch hasn't got enough camber for the standing water to run off, as most German autobahns do.

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by iMnM

I always thought that stretch hasn't got enough camber for the standing water to run off, as most German autobahns do.

Also notice that new roads can be very slippery on warm days, as the tarmac will be sweating oil.

[david.orr]

sorry i haven't read the whole thread but as i have noted in the other sub forum, that was the most screwed up comparo by top gear/clarkson and it was so bloody obvious what he had set out to achieve. GTI better car than M135i wtf

[shah269]

Did a 135 almost kill clarkson on top gear?

[ItsHectic]

No because he had nothing to crash in to and nothing to flip the car up.

[yogi]

clarkson has no journalistic integrity and carries limited credibility. he is an entertainer that happens to have a show entertaining car enthusiasts.

some of his reviews have been a complete joke and he seems to dismiss some cars just based on the fact that they are outside his taste or he prefers the competitor. top gear should be consumed for its entertainment value and anyone seeking serious reviews of a car should really look to other sources.

[ovekvam]

But then again, I think The Stig is doing his best to set good lap times. The track conditions are of course not fair for comparison from day to day, but the lap times are not staged.

[MikeRR]

Consider: IF he left the traction control on - this would never have happend...and I absolutely agree with Yogi.

[playmobilboy]

Take it easy, Clarkson's job is to attract more people to watch their show so he has to create more noise, if he rate BMW better than VW, the show is then no special

[ovekvam]

I suspect that Clarkson pretends to be a much worse driver than he is. With all that track practice with tons of cars, he must be a rather capable and experienced driver by now.

[Z8chP]

Originally Posted by cc3

He preferred the GTI

He really preferred the m135i up until his carelessness caused him to slip. After that it was just him in typical form bashing a car for no apparent reason. "It tried to kill me! GTI is better!"

[SuckMy_Nick]

Love top gear (UK) I've seen this episode a bunch of times

[synclastica_86]

Originally Posted by westphone

The girl behind Jeremy distracted me a bit, ha ha~

I was looking at her as well... Lol

[synclastica_86]

I think ppl are taking top gear too seriously. Watch Chris Harris to get a feel of how cars actually drives and for useful consumer advice. What top gear is now is nothing more than great television. A lot of the tests are plain silly but undeniably entertaining to watch. I also don't think Clarkson is a bad driver. I personally am not capable of just getting into any car and pull off controlled power slides like Clarkson. He is of course not the best driver, but I think that he's definitely above average.

[johnofcross]

Originally Posted by kdbryce

I'm just psyched for the special next week.

Already out man...

http://www.streetfire.net/top-gear/t...-1_2452895.htm

[johnofcross]

Originally Posted by synclastica_86

I think ppl are taking top gear too seriously. Watch Chris Harris to get a feel of how cars actually drives and for useful consumer advice. What top gear is now is nothing more than great television. A lot of the tests are plain silly but undeniably entertaining to watch. I also don't think Clarkson is a bad driver. I personally am not capable of just getting into any car and pull off controlled power slides like Clarkson. He is of course not the best driver, but I think that he's definitely above average.

Yup. Which is why they made fun of him right after the segment (they as in Hamster and May). They know the car wasn't at complete fault, and flat out blamed the driver, which was hilarious.