Top Gear Episode 3-10-08 F599

I watched it, but BBCA edited out the cool part -- the 275 GTS he drove to wrap the segment.

I didn't admire how he abused the car, but his point about the car being one big computer/science project is pretty accurate.

 

Don't agree with his preferences but see them as unbiased and not agenda based.

 

Clarkson doesn't abuse the car for what it is, his job is to find the pro's and con's of the cars he drives. Its an imbelished version of constructive critisism and it helps the producer improve on their next model. He has said before how the company's have thanked him and it helped in improving thier cars.

 

Don't really see it as complaining about it , just not his "cup of tea".

 

Top Gear is a lot of fun but shouldn't be taken for much more than entertainment.
P.S. See Ckarkson thread on UK forum

 

The guys of the vintage forum said that his comments about the 275 were far from accurate. The makers of Top Gear are more interested in good jokes than in real information.

 

You have to take the things Clarkson says with a grain of salt.

 

Good show.... he loves Ferrari, but not afraid to pick on them.

Question- Is the 599 such a Hi-Tech machine that you can't feel the performance unless you're at a high speed track? He left the impression that the computers drive the car, and the limits are so high that its too easy to drive on the street at normal speeds (70-140mph)

Still, for a TV show TOP GEAR is soooo much better than anything in the USA

 

Clarkson is my automotive God and I haven't found a statement yet I would disagree with. You also have to know, that he himself is a HUGE Ferrari fan and admits to a pro Ferrari bias. He also owns Ferraris. I agree with him that the 599 might be an engineering marvel, but it is not very exciting optically. Lots of Ferrari fans on here said the same thing when the first pictures circulated on the internet.

BTW: Clarkson is totally in love with the F430 and considered that as the best car of the year (when it came out). So he isn't hot about the 599, big deal.

PS: The "abuse" part is Clarkson's trademark: Powersliding all over the runway. It is very juvenile and makes this middle aged man grin from ear to ear.

 

Here's the vid if anyone would like to see: (including the 275 GTS)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7TVRM0rjBU&feature=related

 

I love this show because of Clarkson's comments, and he has many valid points, but as others have said sometimes you need to take it with a grain of salt.

 

I don't think he bashed it. As someone said earlier, he is quoted as having said something to the extent of, "You see, I think of Ferrari's as a scaled down version of God." It's great that he isn't so biased as to exalt one that he finds wanting.

And you do need to take what he says with a grain of salt, but that's what I love about the show. Good British humor.

And who gives a damn if he flogged it?? I'd do the same thing with that car had I an empty air strip. Wait a minute, I'd do the same thing with any car and an empty air strip. Obviously that's not how it's supposed to be driven, but sliding is just so much fun...I can't hold a grudge. Damn the electronics and let me burn the tires off.

 

+ 1,000!

I'm still looking for that airfield here in the States. Regular tracks are way too unforgiving...

 

I find Clarkson incredibly entertaining. I admire his wit and I think he gives most cars a fair assessment. I think a large part of his arrogance is self-lampooning. He's written a Ferrari book, which I have, but, surprisingly, it isn't especially good. I find his other books hilarious. They make a transatlantic flight pass very quickly.

Jack.

 

Funny you say that: Before a transatlantic flight I normally download some TopGear episodes to watch during the flight. I have laughed tears.

Before TopGear Clarkson did something called "Motorworld" (or something like that). Although not the grand show TopGear has become, but you could already discover his wit and sharp eye for observations. He did one about my former home of Switzerland and he nailed it with every single statement. Some of his disdain for the overly law enforcing Swiss can still be seen lingering in the Veyron vs Cessna race from Italy to London.

One of my all time fav shows is "The good, the bad, the ugly" where he tests the US car market. To make a long story short: Only the GT40 is to his liking. Unfortunately he never tested the Saleen, which I'm sure he'd liked as well.

PS: Last time at Heathrow I bought every single TopGear DVD I could find (technically they're not TopGear, but content wise they're almost identical). The clerk checked out 15 DVDs and was surprised to see that an American would like their BBC show that much.

 

I think you're right. How many times has he referred to himself as a "fat, balding, middle-aged man"?

The show's great, and no one's making a buy or no-buy decision on a 599 based on Top Gear in any event.

 

Yeah, well strap him into a chair and make him watch U.S. television for a week and he'll understand...

 

+1. Although I've heard Britain's got some pretty wacked-out stuff, too...who doesn't these days??

 

Clarkson said that when he was driving the CS in a comparison with the GT3 RS. He is one of the most witty personalities on TV. It is difficult sometimes to know if he is making a serious comment or just joking.

 

I saw the show and enjoyed it...I thought he was spot on about my favorite modern Ferrari, the 599...

 

You should all see JC's new dvd, called supercar showdown. Great DVD. I saw it a little while ago and if I remember correctly, he said he loved the 599.
I can really recommend this dvd, it's very amusing and hilarious. He compares several supercars and non-supercars on the Ascari racetrack in Spain, and he even crashes a GT3.

 

+1

Very good DVD.

 

But his arguement is deeply flawed. He loves the F430 because it takes a big step developmentwise and that is what sets it apart from the 360 and other sportscars. The same arguement is used to ´bash´ the 599, saying it is too perfect and therefor lacks soul (and then he turns to a 275 GTS to prove a point).

Same thing with the 575. The took it out against the Vanguish. Overall conclusion is that the 575 is better and faster, but just because it is a Ferrari against a Aston Martin, they went with the Aston. Clarkson litteraly remarked that he was getting tired of Ferrari because they kept bringing out superior material.

 

+1

I think people who dislike Top Gear take the show far too seriously. Lighten up. The show is all about having fun!

I mean how awesome is it, that they have celebs drive around the track in a beater? Pretty ****ing awesome. As well as building off the wall cars and creating off the wall challenges.

Maybe it's just me, but if I have a wide open track to have fun with cars, I am going to burn the hell of the tires and drive just like Clarkson. Why not?