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Top Gear "Geoff" roadworthyness?
smart51 - 23/11/09 at 09:42 AM

I can't believe no-one has started a thread on this yet, so I will. I know they used a TVR chassis to get around IVA (did anyone say side impact protection?) but surely "Geoff" cannot have been roadworthy. They got an MOT on all those sharp edges?

Genuinely funny though

[Edited on 23-11-2009 by smart51]


Steve G - 23/11/09 at 09:47 AM

MOT's dont check for sharp edges!! They took it to MIRA and it "passed" there - what more do you want? LOL

Havent laughed out loud at a tv programme in ages. TG gets more and more stupid by the week but is better for it.

[Edited on 23/11/09 by Steve G]


vinny1275 - 23/11/09 at 09:52 AM

I mentioned to Swmbo about how there didn't seem to be any side impact protection on the chassis! Was hilarious, but I don't know how they don't get pulled over - it was the same with the boats and chop-top espace I think tho - there must be some way of getting around some of it. Their Limos had to be SVA'd tho, I remember that.....


cd.thomson - 23/11/09 at 10:00 AM

could they have been registered as "floats"? Geoff certainly looked like one!


AdamR - 23/11/09 at 10:00 AM

Gotta say that I found the whole thing completely stupid and irritating. There has been some incredible humor/films/challenges/races etc on Top Gear over the years but this predictable drivel proves they have just about run out of inspiration.

If they had turned down the slapstick-act-like-dumb-idiots knob just a little then it could have been a good item.


tegwin - 23/11/09 at 10:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by AdamR
Gotta say that I found the whole thing completely stupid and irritating. There has been some incredible humor/films/challenges/races etc on Top Gear over the years but this predictable drivel proves they have just about run out of inspiration.

If they had turned down the slapstick-act-like-dumb-idiots knob just a little then it could have been a good item.


Its an entertainment program....if you dont like.. dont watch it!


MikeRJ - 23/11/09 at 10:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Steve G
MOT's dont check for sharp edges!!


A car will fail an MOT if it has sharp edges exposed from e.g. rusty bodywork.


oadamo - 23/11/09 at 10:10 AM

anyone got a link to a vid i missed it
adam


scootz - 23/11/09 at 10:19 AM

I would say that the whole thing was just one continuous rolling traffic offence!

Taking it on the dual carriage-way knowing full well the impact it would have on traffic was a cut and dried dangerous driving charge. I can only assume they had asked for the BiB's permission and were suitably accompanied.

I thought it was one of the most desperate pieces on TG yet (but not quite as desperate as Hammonds hair... WTF!?).

I only watch it to see what gems James May comes out with now!


JoelP - 23/11/09 at 10:29 AM

James May definately got the biggest cheer at top gear live. The others are too annoying.


oadamo - 23/11/09 at 10:38 AM

found it how did they gat around useing the milk floats reg and that car.
adam

[Edited on 23/11/09 by oadamo]


carpmart - 23/11/09 at 10:43 AM

TG is all getting a bit yawn inducing now!

Stupid stunts, poor presenting and next to no real content, but its like a car crash, you have to look!


UncleFista - 23/11/09 at 10:47 AM

Well, bollox to you all I love it

If I want car consumer advice I'll watch Watchdog or Fifth Gear, for entertainment I'll watch Top Gear.

AFAIC it gets funnier every series

If it bothers you that much, switch off the TV ! If you search the torrent sites there are some old TG episodes available, you know, the ones with Angela Ripon and Noel Edmonds extolling the virtues of wind-up windows and wing mirrors I know which incarnation I prefer.

[Edited on 23/11/09 by UncleFista]


mangogrooveworkshop - 23/11/09 at 11:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by oadamo
anyone got a link to a vid i missed it
adam


look on I player its bound to be up by this afternoon


mangogrooveworkshop - 23/11/09 at 11:28 AM

So they have cheesed the morris owners club off....and had a good go at the TVR Oc as well.

Its all in good fun......fook life is too bloody serious as it is.


Rosco - 23/11/09 at 12:06 PM

They came dangerously close to talking about kit cars. Wasn't that a GTM Libra they showed outside the 'TG Technology Centre', and it looked like the chassis of a kit car in the back of the workshop - maybe a Ginetta?


02GF74 - 23/11/09 at 12:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by carpmart
TG is all getting a bit yawn inducing now!

Stupid stunts, poor presenting and next to no real content, but its like a car crash, you have to look!


mindless idiotic bolx but entertaining - but still a shiny star amdist the other idiotic get-me-out-of-x-factor-dancing-on- britains-got-no-big-brother bolox.

I seem to recall is was more of a car consumer programme that would evaluate cars that joe public could afford and inform of us what is new in the motor industry, sadly none of that goes on anymore but self indugence and commenting how small the little guy is.


TimC - 23/11/09 at 12:12 PM

I must say I was very frustrated by TG about a year ago; annoyed that a car program was being 'ruined' by silly stunts.

At some stage I had a kind of epiphany and chilled out about it. I laughed a lot last night. I now realise that proper information on fast cars comes from EVO or other sources and that TG is just a laugh. "Star in a....." bores the life out of me as do some of the other features but 'Geoff' was FUNNY.


britishtrident - 23/11/09 at 12:17 PM

Projecting edges do come under MOT regs under condition of vehicle --- but it is basic commonsense rules that apply ie no sharp edges that could catch on somebodies clothing.

It is deliberately worded a bit ambiguously to allow for all the nasty sharpbits on some very old vehicles.


Toltec - 23/11/09 at 12:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Rosco
They came dangerously close to talking about kit cars. Wasn't that a GTM Libra they showed outside the 'TG Technology Centre', and it looked like the chassis of a kit car in the back of the workshop - maybe a Ginetta?


According to this post on PH there will be a kit car on TG next Sunday.


MikeRJ - 23/11/09 at 12:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scootz

but not quite as desperate as Hammonds hair... WTF!?


Heh, my wife even commented that the scruffy sod should get a haircut!

I did think that the £5k mentioned for an extremely battered Chimaera was a bit on the steep side, you can get quite usable examples for not much more.


hoots_min - 23/11/09 at 01:32 PM

funny - yes. but why couldn't they have just used the chimaera body, spent a bit of cash getting that fixed up and take the big engine lump out and fit a couple of electric motors. Stick all the batteries up front to give similar weight distribution, still got a boot and best of all: no where for Hammond to sit with his all too familiar reactions and captions.

Top Gear has started to look all a bit staged - Geoff rolling down the hill, pushed back 'into' the fans - but can't dispute that it was laugh out loud funny.


blakep82 - 23/11/09 at 01:51 PM

if you don't like TG, you know what to do...

Description
Description


blakep82 - 23/11/09 at 01:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by hoots_min
Top Gear has started to look all a bit staged


name a comedy program that isn't though lol


D Beddows - 23/11/09 at 01:58 PM

It is funny...... and I do think the lighthearted/comedy approach is excellent - but it is getting to be about the time for some new ideas.......It has made James May a star which is a good thing as his Toy Story programs are excellent - but Top Gear just keep doing the same sketches over and over which is not such a good thing.....


blakep82 - 23/11/09 at 02:04 PM

i'm not sure how much of this latest series will be repeated on daytime dave


scootz - 23/11/09 at 02:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
if you don't like TG, you know what to do...

Description
Description



I did... just before the second part of the electric-car feature came on - it was that lame! First time I've not watched a whole episode.

I don't think anyone is saying the show is complete cack and therefore worthy of avoidance... just that there's so much potential going to waste. It was much more amusing when there was a naivety about the three goons dicking about. Now the producers / writers seem to think they're making a (bad) sit-com and it's just become a bit predictable.

I'll still watch it though as there are the occasional nuggets of greatness and James May still entertains.


rf900rush - 23/11/09 at 02:15 PM

Loved this weeks show.

I think their joke attempt of an elcetric car, was aimed as the joke electric cars out there at the moment.

I actually looked into the G-WIZ, until I worked out that the running costs was higher the my Subaru outback


Johneturbo - 23/11/09 at 04:39 PM

I did like the Genny in the back


morcus - 23/11/09 at 07:11 PM

Off course Geoff was a joke, they bought an electric vehicle and canabalised it to make another one, If it habe been serious they could have built it for alot less than the 6 or 7 grand that monstosity cost. But it was entertaining. I do wish they would put more car reviewing back into topgear, I'd also like to see more history type segments aswell.

The problem with 5th gear is they are always trying to be topgear but half there presenters are just annoying. Used Car roadshow is where its at for the real consumer advice.

was anyone else actually curios to see how the Gwiz would go up the hill and dissapointed that they didn't do it? I love to have a go in one just to see what its like, but you could have a real car for the same money.


dogwood - 23/11/09 at 07:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by D Beddows
iT made James May a star which is a good thing as his Toy Story programs are excellent -


I agree, I thought his Scalextric at Brooklands was brillll..


morcus - 23/11/09 at 08:47 PM

I still say they should compulsory purchase all that stuff and rebuild it, then hold the GBGP there.


Ninehigh - 25/11/09 at 05:47 AM

F1GP at brooklands? You do know half of it is now offices and houses.


Nash - 25/11/09 at 08:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by morcus
I still say they should compulsory purchase all that stuff and rebuild it, then hold the GBGP there.


My heart (see nostalgia) agrees with you BUT this country is partly in the state it's in because we live in the past and rest on our laurals.

It's time we invested in the future and not just as a financial institution or service society. We've seen how fickle that is. we need some longer term views that stretch beyond a political term.

In motorsport (let's get back on topic here) let's develop new infrastructure to match the quality and professionalism of the teams. Top Gear should be promoting british expertise and leading lights in the automotive industry. Kit Cars and more impotantly the skill and inginuity that goes into the builds (look no further then here for that) are part of that as are the Universities and the courses they now run in motorsport and automotive engineering.

My point is we need to look at what British expertise can do for the automotive industry and develop the next stage of "alternative" auto technology now that would be something to watch on Top Gear!

Soap box back under the table.

........ Neil


morcus - 25/11/09 at 02:40 PM

So we should build new tracks?

I really don't understand why that stuff was built there in the first place, did people not realise how important Brooklands is when they gave it the go ahead?