Clarkson Reviews the Stingray

Adrian_Thompson wrote: People in this county have a very very thin skin.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA YOU STUPID FAT

err, never mind.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson: Meh, you're probably right. Clarkson bashes pretty much everyone. I seem to have some kind of defect; I just can't find being a d**k hilariously entertaining and the joys of relentless ridicule elude me. The "stop posting hilarious .gifs" thread was probably what I deserved for confessing my dislike for dear Jeremy, lol. Carry on enjoying the show, everyone.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: People in this country have a very very thin skin.

Mostly because we're tired of fat, barely-cultured louts continually telling us we are fat, un-cultured louts.

That should be 'nearly as fat, barely-cultured louts' if you please

Adrian_Thompson wrote: That should be 'CONDESCENDING,nearly as fat, barely-cultured louts' if you please

ftfy...

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

kazoospec wrote: People from the land that brought you bagpipes should not make fun of Garth Brooks.

Mr Clarkson will happily bash those from the land of bagpipes as they Scotish and not English! And for those who get tired of him American bashing, he bashes the Germans, the Japanese, the Mexicans, the Italians and even the English with just as much relish. Think how many 'it broke down because it was built by a man in a shed' or 'unions killed the British auto industry' jokes he makes. People in this county have a very very thin skin.

Oh sure, disclaim the Scots from the U.K. when the issue of bagpipes comes up.

Duke wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote: People in this country have a very very thin skin.

Mostly because we're tired of fat, barely-cultured louts continually telling us we are fat, un-cultured louts.

Refers back to "thin skin" comment.

Clarkson would be a mullet wearing Corvette driving redneck, had he been born in the south of America instead of the south of England...

kanaric wrote:

irish44j wrote:

kanaric wrote:

stuart in mn wrote: Criticizing Jeremy Clarkson for his car reviews is kind of like criticizing Jon Stewart for his news coverage on The Daily Show. It's entertainment, folks - either you think he's funny or he's not, but his car reviews are not serious journalism.

Well the problem is almost everyone who watches top gear takes him serious and his reviews as 100% truth.

I can honestly say that I don't know anyone who takes his reviews as 100% truth, and I have tons of "car people" friends who watch it, and tons of non-car people (like my wife) who watch it. First of all, the "car guys" who watch it already have their own biases about what they like. Second of all, most of Clarkson's reviews are about cars that at best 0.1% of his viewing audience can actually afford (and I would assume that these people aren't choosing their $50k+++ cars simply on the word of Top Gear). And third, nobody every really remembers what Clarkson says about the cars he reviews. IDK about you guys, but I remember the challenges and trips (whether they be towing a Caravan through the woods, going across the Deep South trying to get beat up, or going across Vietnam on mopeds, or crossing the Himalayas in a Jag XJ-S). I find the actual "car test" parts to be the boring part of the show. They're just an excuse to get some good tire-burning drift action on the track, not serious reviews about how good a car is. They could just test the size of a car's interior space by measuring its cubic volume with a tape measure. Instead they see which car can fit a Polka band with all their instruments best. If you go into TG expecting to get an objective, factual review of something.....you're clearly doing it wrong. Most people who watch it realize it's a car-themed comedy/variety show, for the most part.

The people who take it the most seriously are the fake car guys the "how fast did you get it up to" crowd and being that I work with the military they are many and all around me. I also find people quoting clarksons rantings about panel gaps and american quality and plastic interiors non stop lately. Much of his memetalk has entered the hive mind, I see it all the time whenever I am discussing cars with anyone who is younger and especially younger people who are into VWs and somewhat with other europeon car fans. Before the show really took off i've never seen anyone talk about plastic interiors in cheap speed rice rockets or panel gaps on a viper as an excuse as to why (their wife forced them) to buy a GTI over a MS3 or WRX. When I was car shopping 3 years ago and discussing and reading automotive comparisons Clarkson/Top Gear memetalk was at a ridiculous high. It's not prevalent here. It is, however, on magazine sites like motortrend, gawker sites like jalopnik, and talking to people in person. It's maddening. I get really annoyed by repetitious memeing and parroting so maybe I just see it and remember it far more easily. I love Top Gear, don't get me wrong. Though the show has kind of stagnated into it's own memeing a bit. Once a segment begins and you get the general idea what it's about you can usually guess easily what is going to happen now. However it still manages to be entertaining.

I've worked with the military for 15 years, in a building full of junior sailors, most of which have GTIs with "euro" license plates on the front with phrases like "NOFUKSGIVN." But they never quote Top Gear when in a car conversation with me. They just tell me (unprompted) how they "smoked this guy in an STi" last night (knowing that I have a WRX) and are convinced that the GTI is the ultimate performance car on the planet.

I just smile and nod and let them keep thinking that they drive a racecar because they have a Sparco harness bar. And I always make sure to invite them to run at Summit or VIR "next month," to which they always "I really want to go, but I have to go to a wedding" or something

Joe Gearin wrote: As an entertainer he's amusing. As a car "expert" I find him lacking. He lost me when he said the Carol Shelby's racing career "didn't work out", suggesting he didn't have much success.

its the exact opposite for me, these kinds of comments make me laugh, he makes comments like this to be funny, it works.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Clarkson would be a mullet wearing Corvette driving redneck, had he been born in the south of America instead of the south of England...

Except he was born in the North of England in a far more working class / lower class area which he makes fun of, and makes fun of himself on the show.

We really should spend more time on our cars and less on siliness like this. England/USA ribbing is as old s the hills and great fun. Those who find it tiresome should simply find something more to their liking.

Now being of both heritages, I'm going to scarf a few crumpets and wash it down with Coors.

Hey it's not like Clarkson and England have any long standing bash fest with any other country....

On the Lotus Elise: "This car is more fun than the entire French air force crashing into a firework factory."

This is a Renault Espace, probably the best of the people carriers. Not that that’s much to shout about. That’s like saying ‘Oh good, I’ve got syphilis, the best of the sexually transmitted diseases!'

(about the Renault Clio V6) I think the problem is that it's French... It's a surrender monkey.

kreb wrote: Now being of both heritages, I'm going to scarf a few crumpets and wash it down with Coors.

I'm pretty sure that would get you butt whipping on both sides of the Atlantic!