*taxis for one*
We are catching up on top gear over in the US thanks to BBC America...but I have a question...
What on earth is Clarkson on about when describing a car has having x hundred "torques"?...has some unit unit of torque measurement been
invented to replace ftlbs or Nm?....
Puzzled...
it is the torque that the engine produces e.g. a car may produce 180 bhp and 300 ft/lb of torque.
Nope, not a new unified EU measurement, it's just that the man's an idi*t, who likes the sound of his own voice, over actual facts.
Cheers
Mike
Stuart...I thought he meant that in the context of what he was describing...but numbers without recognised units are meaningless..
Guiness....I was kind of leaning towards that explanation....
It's Clarksons way of letting the world know how much torque a car puts out without him directly admitting that he doesn't know what it means.
Its because he torques without engaging his brain first.
*taxis for one*
He often says things like "the engine has 250 torques!"
"This differential works by applying the concepts of wizardry"
He is just trying to perpetuate the myth that no-one really understands the concept of torque, he also has done this kind of thing with differentials
and with superchargers and turbos, i am certain that he does understand as in his serious moments on the show he says things which show a clear
understanding of the effects of torque and limited slip diffs etc.
[Edited on 5/2/08 by liam.mccaffrey]
It is because he thinks that no-one understands torque. If also means he doesn't have to be careful about different manufacturers quoting metric
or imperial units of torque. I think it's meant to be funny.
In reality, most of the people watching top gear don't know what torque is.
As previously said, he once explained that manufacturers quoted figures that no normal punter would understand and the figures were often dreamt-up or inaccurate. They were just figures to impress and sell cars. He used torque as an example. He then went on to explain how he was going to quote these figures as 'torques'/'horses' etc...
It's a case of 'you had to be there' really. It's just his own blend of scarcasm & irony mixed in with a dollop of showbiz.
If you missed his earlier comments then the joke just backfires and he appears a bit more prattish than usual - but he seems to be doing quite well
out of it 
TG isn't meant to be taken seriously imo and is just a bit of fun mixed in with interesting cars.
[Edited on 5-2-08 by RazMan]
Clarkston & co no sweet fa about anything technical.
Years ago Top Gear used to be an OK program, years before that it was called Wheelbase and was really excellent. Now it is firmly aimed at 12 to 15
year olds and doing an immense ammount of damage to the cause of motoring in the the UK.
I totally agree with Raz, it is meant to be funny and definitely not to be taken seriously.
Clarkson is not everybody's cup of tea and who is but I find his Show really entertaining and I think it is really good that you have three
middle aged chaps who haven't grown up being totally un-pc and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Cars are, if you will forgive the pun, just
vehicles for their comedy show.
Anyway, I like it but I've never grown up either.
John
quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
I totally agree with Raz, it is meant to be funny and definitely not to be taken seriously.
Clarkson is not everybody's cup of tea and who is but I find his Show really entertaining and I think it is really good that you have three middle aged chaps who haven't grown up being totally un-pc and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Cars are, if you will forgive the pun, just vehicles for their comedy show.
Anyway, I like it but I've never grown up either.
John
Mentioning 5th Gear has reminded me of VBH. I used to work with her brother Charlie, (CBH,) and we used to see Vicky quite often and I think she mixed
with some of the lads socially. She was and I'm sure still is regarded highly by all of us both as top totty and a very accomplished racing
driver
Instructors have their own speak and just for a lark they would give Vicky catch phrases or buzz words to say on the programme. I heard and old Fifth
Gear the other day where she closed by saying "I thank you" like Arthur Askey. Other words she has been prompted to use included Hooning and
on the slippery slope. All very childish really but it amused us to hear her coming out with these things on TV.
John
quote:
Originally posted by onzarob
I agree, TG is an entertainment show, I wish someone would bring out a proper geek friendly facts and figures car show again......5th gear maybe this but I don't get channel 5
Clarkson is a muppet
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Clarkson is a muppet
quote:
Now it is firmly aimed at 12 to 15 year olds and doing an immense ammount of damage to the cause of motoring in the the UK.
