Show's on Cars on TV,,,The Good Bad and Boring | FerrariChat

Show's on Cars on TV,,,The Good Bad and Boring

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by writerguy, Jun 24, 2006.

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  1. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    Otto
    So i have been thinking about this for a while but the thread regarding the Speed "Test Drive" got me to scratching my chinny chin chin


    We will assume that everyone has seen Fifth Gear and Top Gear... We will take those out of the running because they are brits and better than ANYTHING in the USA.

    I have been watching Hotrod TV (did some work in the Carrera coverage) seen everything from Unique Whips (low end) to Behind The Headlights (best GT 40 show i have seen yet)

    What do you like, What do you hate What do you watch when you happen across it and what do you watch and never miss....
     
  2. Bimmerista

    Bimmerista Formula 3

    Feb 7, 2004
    1,765
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    Mike
    Overhaulin is good

    Pimp My Ride is a disgrace

    Car & Driver TV was good, but I think its canceled now

    Trucks is a very informative show

    Thats all I can think of off the top of my head.
     
  3. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    Nov 26, 2001
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    All the talking head shows bore me

    I'll admit a strange fascination with "Pinks", it's not good tv but it is fun to watch

    "Car Crazy" is fun

    "Lucas Oil On The Edge" is usually bad TV but fun to watch. Where else do you find Figure 8 chain racing and summer snowmobile drag races?

    There was a show a few seasons back called "Nascar driver 360" where they would follow a driver around for a week and show what happens in their life. That's the kind of programming that makes fans bond with their drivers, and it's a big part of the popularity of NASCAR

    There's also that series that I can't recall the name of right now, that highlights a particular brand each time. Alfa, Ferrari, Jag, etc
     
  4. jordanair45

    jordanair45 Formula Junior

    Feb 6, 2006
    929
    I would say that "Rides" is the best show in the US.
     
  5. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    Good input

    keep it coming

    Rides i agree but it is very spotty, some are great some are eh...
     
  6. J.P.Sarti

    J.P.Sarti Guest

    May 23, 2005
    2,426
    All the shows were hit and miss, the best ones were the History Channel Autombile series, I liked the interviews with marque experts and especially any old film footage showing the vehicles being made or raced
     
  7. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie
    Consultant

    Feb 21, 2001
    4,286
    American Muscle Car

    Behind the Headlights

    Dream Car Garage

    Car Crazy

    My Classic Car

    De Cadenet driving old sports/racing cars (handle escapes me).

    The Motocross Files (not cars, but wheels and cool).

    Barrett-Jackson coverage
     
  8. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,428
    FL
    TRUCKS! was hands down the best, but then Stacy David left and two dudes took over. I just can't accept those guys no matter their skills in metal work. Luckily, Stacy is working on his own show to bring and I can't wait for that.

    Other than that, I wasn't a fan of many other shows except maybe Popular Hot Rodding Magazine TV (long title, lol). I liked how they had those CGI mechanical cutaways of the mechanics of car parts. It really taught me a lot about how engines work and why one would choose different cam shaft lobe sizes and things like that.

    I can't remember the name of the show on Speed Channel (when it was called that, not Speed TV), but it was a European TV show. They did a lot of tests on cars we didn't have in the US like the Peugeot 507, MB A-class, etc. They stopped showing it after a while.

    Edit: ^+1 on Dream Car Garage, but only the old one. They used to really only show how to do a complete restoration, but then they moved onto pretty much only test driving cars, which I don't care about much. Top Gear does that for me.
     
  9. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    Again Great feedback all


    Now to add to the mix....

    The shows that exist some are good some are bad


    If you were the network dude looking to greenlight a new show what would you want to see....
     
  10. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    A pre-sold advertising package would put almost anything on the air. Look at ESPN2
     
  11. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    I have............ ;)
     
  12. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,428
    FL
    The only car tv programs I enjoy and would like to see more of are really restoration and hand fabricated customization. The latter meaning no bolt-ons like intakes or exhaust. I mean complete custom english-wheel formed body panels, welding, engine rebuilds, etc. That's the thing I loved about TRUCKS!.

    The guy did everything by hand and showed it step by step. I liked it because: 1) I don't have a garage to do this 2) I don't have the time or money to do this and 3) most importantly, I don't have the skill to do this and I enjoy watching a skilled craftsman literally create art right in front of me on the TV.

    That's why I'm not a huge fan of Horsepower TV because most of the stuff they did were bolt-ons. New headers, throttle bodies, exhaust, computer, etc, all wrapped up and tested on a dyno. I don't care for stuff like that because I can and have done it in the past on my cars.

    There was another show on I think Spike TV that twin brothers hosted. They bought a Toyota Supra and rebuilt it from the ground up. Very nice job, but the show was cancelled before they finished the car.

    For other types I shows I would like to see would be similar to the Allianz F1 videos. I like how they go into detail on the way F1 cars work and different track setups and why. I really suggest you guys check out these videos, really good stuff: http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st45216.htm

    Other than restoration TV shows, I like stuff such as Best Motoring. Specifically, testing super cars against one another. If they could do something like the series Ferrari Victory By Design, Maserati, Aston, etc, it would be great. Not an hour or 1/2 hour show on a car marque, but on a specific car. You could have an episode on how the Enzo was built and things like that.
     
  13. ECTurboGSX

    ECTurboGSX Formula 3

    Dec 26, 2004
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    When Rides covered the design and building of the Murcie roadster, that was my ideal car show. I also loved the Victory by Design series. I absolutely despise Unique Whips.
     
  14. jerseydriver

    jerseydriver Formula Junior

    May 10, 2005
    272
    anyone see "trick my truck"?

    funny
     
  15. Dino Martini

    Dino Martini F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2004
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    I dont really like any of the car shows on TV. Besides Top Gear..really they arent that great.
     
  16. Asian1118

    Asian1118 F1 Rookie

    Mar 23, 2005
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    O yeah thats a funny one.
    I like to watch the "engine block". Overhaulin is a good show, motorweek is a good show i like goss' garage segments.
     
  17. TopMonkey

    TopMonkey Karting

    Mar 14, 2004
    214
    Monroe, LA
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    Joel C.
    Trucks was my all time favorite, thats what I would do saturday mornings with my dad... Watch Trucks. Then the two jackasses showed up and ruined it... I just can't watch it anymore. Sort of embarrassed to say, but I really like "Trick my Truck." Only CMT show I've ever watched. Horrible acting, but I think my deep-down urge to be a trucker kind of forces me to watch it.

    Cheers,
    Joel
     
  18. alin13

    alin13 Karting

    Jan 1, 2006
    230
    personally i quite like 5th Gear, they have some nice road test, not just comedy (TG). But there is elements of it i don't like, so just skip through it lol
     
  19. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
    12,313
    At Sea Level
    Victory By Design. I love this series.
     
  20. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

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    What do you skip?
     
  21. Papa G

    Papa G Formula 3

    Dec 29, 2003
    1,406
    There were a couple of shows that were on I think the DIY network where some Brit guy was restoring a Jaguar E-type (Carography??) and a Triumph Bonneville (Bikeography?)

    Also, during the car show they would sample various vintage automobiles - Triumphs, MGs, ALFAs, etc. and put them out on the track. The track was always wet and rainy and were driven by either the shows driving instructor/old racer or the owner. After the drive the instructor would rate the cars based on performance, looks, etc. characterstics on a scale of 1- 5 with 5 being the best and tally them up.

    The bike show would sometimes interview some other bike owners on their ride with some history about their bike.
     
  22. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
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    yes - on DIY they also restored an alfa spider which was terrific, as well as a vespa scooter which was fascinating; very gearhead oriented, nice knowledgeable host. they have alse done some interesting american stuff like the early 60's tbird.
     
  23. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2002
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    Dean
    There's a show on DIY called Classic Car Restoration - most of them are pretty good, but I can see where a lot of people would think it was like watching paint dry. 6 episodes or so, taking an old car and doing a restoration on it. Good variety too, they've done a '38 Packard, '62 Corvette, late 60's Alfa spyder, early 60's T-Bird, and '68 Camaro RS. Really a niche show but well done IMO.
     
  24. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    So again If you were building a show what would you want on it
     
  25. Bimmerista

    Bimmerista Formula 3

    Feb 7, 2004
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    Tons of fast European cars & a preferably sub-28 year old attractive Swedish chick who knows a lot about cars to be the host. :D
     

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