Alan B
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:00 PM |
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Top gear question
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...
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stuart_g
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:02 PM |
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it is the torque that the engine produces e.g. a car may produce 180 bhp and 300 ft/lb of torque.
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Guinness
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:02 PM |
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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
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Alan B
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:06 PM |
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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....
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StevieB
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:06 PM |
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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.
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:12 PM |
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Its because he torques without engaging his brain first.
*taxis for one*
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:37 PM |
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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]
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smart51
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:40 PM |
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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.
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owelly
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:43 PM |
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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...
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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RazMan
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:57 PM |
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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]
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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britishtrident
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 02:59 PM |
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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] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 03:07 PM |
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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
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onzarob
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 03:26 PM |
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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
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
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 04:00 PM |
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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
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gingerprince
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 04:35 PM |
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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
Vroom Vroom on Sky 1 is the real facts + figures motoring journal...
...oh, sorry forgot, no it isn't!
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 04:58 PM |
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Clarkson is a muppet
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andyps
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 07:37 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Clarkson is a muppet
Who happens to be the wealthiest motoring journalist in the UK so must be doing something better than the others. Simple thing is if you don't
like him, don't watch.
In terms of the question it is just his way of saying that most people do not understand what torque actually is, and it just relates to a number.
Yes, slightly frustrating if you want specific numerical values, but definitely not to be taken seriously. If youwant hard facts you can't beat
the better magazines.
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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roadrunner
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| posted on 5/2/08 at 08:02 PM |
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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.
That means i must be 12 years old ,because i think the program is fantastic, i look forward to every episode, i guess you think i'm a pratt for
loving it.
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