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Top Gear Australia Series 2

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Old 05-12-2009, 04:45 PM
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Watched it last night.

I agree it's an improvement on last year. Morrison is better than *** by a country mile. The boys still need to learn how to read a teleprompter more naturally and improve their comic timing but they're getting there.

The test track description was a good idea, as was crushing the 'what were they thinking' crap segment. I think the test track would come across better if they improved some of the camera angles (e.g. a cherrypicker on some of the corners would help).

Overall, not the waste of time it was last year and worth catching for a mild chuckle and car perve once a week. Not great but passes the sniff test.
Old 05-12-2009, 05:34 PM
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Best part of the show was Skaiffes reaction when they read out his time (test lap). I thought he was going to get up and leave! Good to see he still has that competitive streak...
Old 05-12-2009, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by generis
Best part of the show was Skaiffes reaction when they read out his time (test lap). ..

Yes, his reaction was just a bit over the top! Methinks he takes his car driving a bit too seriously.
Old 05-12-2009, 11:43 PM
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No ****. Bet the producers loved his flat change, not.

Get over it Skaifey. You're a has been now...
Old 05-13-2009, 02:12 AM
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TGA suffers when compared to the English version. It is very stilted in its presentation but still entertaining. Unfortunately we don't have a Jeremy Clarkson or a James May (forget the short twerp, he's just annoying) but I think James Morrison will be a good addition in the long run.
At least we have a half-decent Australian car show to watch.
Old 05-13-2009, 03:12 AM
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Good summary.

A lot of people forget too that Clarkson didn't pop out of the womb fully formed (perish the thought) as Mr Hilarious - he had a stint on TGUK in it's prior incarnation as a comparative young 'un and has spent the best part of 25-30 years as a car journo. Not the kind of experience you can compete with overnight.

Anyway, no more apologies for the Aussie contingent - they either keep improving or sink...



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Old 05-13-2009, 03:51 AM
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Better than series 1. Still not great, but watchable. Though, the car vs boat race was a waste of time as it did not show / tell us anything about the car. Also I could have done without the trampoline segment which again could have been over in 30sec and alow more time to something with substance.

I was also dissapointed that they did not take the 135i around their test track at the same time as the EVO. Comparing it to a time on their board, which was probably by a different driver (and probably with slighlty different config of the track considering all the chinaces / tyre walls are movable).

But overal good enough for me to see if the next episode will be watchable.
Old 05-13-2009, 06:48 AM
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The course is stupid David. But I cannot see TG UK test driving 135 on their track. I am sure it will be close to their FQ360..
Old 05-13-2009, 06:58 AM
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I thought it was much improved compared to the first season. They were certainly more comfortable in front of the camera than last year but still have a way to go... But hey at least there was improvement. As long as that happens there is hope. The early UK Top Gear certainly was not the the show of today!

I thought taka would soil himself watching the 135i following the Evo.
Old 05-13-2009, 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Revolver
The scary thing is it's apparently very close to his real life...even down to the weird shorts and bowling shirt look. And I actually want to punch the fat kid in the head.
Very true. We had lunch with him on the set a couple years back in LA and in that half hour he hit on 3 women, 2 of which gave him their number. So very smooth and very amusing to watch
Old 05-13-2009, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by takahashi
But I cannot see TG UK test driving 135 on their track. I am sure it will be close to their FQ360..
Why not? I'm sure it would put in a good time. Get on to them Taka!

Mitsubishi Evo X 1.28.2
Mazda RX-8 1.31.8
BMW 130 1.31.9
Old 05-13-2009, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by ILIV48
The early UK Top Gear certainly was not the the show of today!
Not wrong. That "showroom" segment they used to run about car prices was SO cringey.



Originally Posted by ILIV48
We had lunch with him on the set a couple years back in LA
Name dropper.
Old 05-14-2009, 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Tim Tam
Name dropper.
Old 05-14-2009, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by ILIV48
Very true. We had lunch with him on the set a couple years back in LA and in that half hour he hit on 3 women, 2 of which gave him their number. So very smooth and very amusing to watch
Yes but is he happy?
Old 05-17-2009, 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Revolver
Yes but is he happy?
No... Just always tired
Old 05-17-2009, 07:53 AM
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finally watched first episode of season2.

I found it enjoyable. Jazz fellow needs to chill out a bit.
Old 05-18-2009, 07:13 AM
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Tonight dipped back into desperation, I thought. Steve needs some Valium. Some of the segments drag on a bit
Old 05-18-2009, 07:32 AM
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Tonight was the first Australian Top Gear I have seen for this year and I thought it was painfully bad. I love cars and still switched over to watch that new cop show Recruits on channel 10!
Old 05-18-2009, 03:14 PM
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Looks like the producers have run out of idea's AGAIN...Already!
Old 05-18-2009, 05:55 PM
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Oh snap! They already started the second series?!

Well, I guess I'll be downloading it now... but I hope it wasn't as bad as some of the first season's... (Like the Truck competition crap).
Old 05-18-2009, 06:42 PM
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Yeah, last night was a bit dodgey. The home made electric cars was a good idea, but it didn't come off. Reverse racing? Didn't work either.

Didn't mind the charged R8 though.
Old 05-19-2009, 04:23 AM
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The 1st 10min of the show was not bad at all (ie. HSV / Walkinshaw), but after that there was nothing of interest ... and very little to do with cars. Preview for next week did not look much better.
Old 05-19-2009, 06:14 AM
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I agree, the second episode of season 2 is a downhill compared to first episode. Hope it'll pick up next week...
Old 05-19-2009, 05:02 PM
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Caught it late last night. Maybe I was tired but I thought it wasn't too bad.

Warren needs to relax when interviewing the 'star' though. Bit stilted.

I liked some bits and pieces. The difference in lap times after changing the wog wheels on the R8 was interesting.

Actually, some of the segment ideas aren't too bad and there's some originality creeping in. I just don't think the camera and editing work is up to the standard of the UK series to make it more interesting. Hopefully that will improve along with the presenters.
Old 05-19-2009, 10:05 PM
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I am going to be pretty brutal here. I watched it the other night and absolutely hated it. The Walkinshaw review was a bore and the presenter lacked enthusiasm. Did anyone else think the supercharger whine sounded fake? I will give it that the comparo between the different wheels/tyres was interesting though.

It was downhill from there. Model T, borefest. Electric cars, borefest. Reversing challenge, borefest. Warren can't interview for ****.

The whole show was poorly edited and badly put together. Did anyone notice a second Stig watching the Model T hot lap in the background?

I have read the arguments about how it's the best motoring show on TV and I agree with them because, well, there's nothing else to compare it to. That Glenn Ridge show is nothing more than a glorified infomercial. TGA is try hard to the extreme, it's boring, the presenters lack charisma and the production is **** (even by SBS standards). As for what's better to watch on a Monday night? I'd rather watch Master Chef.

I would say that I will never watch it again but they are reviewing a Maserati GranTurismo (one of my many dream cars) next week and I want to see it. I am sure they will pot it along in peak hour Friday afternoon traffic though, and talk absolutely generic monotonous **** about it.


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