Monday night’s episode of Top Gear Australia was a bit of a hit and miss affair. The amphibious car challenge (pictured above) was quite good, if a little predictable. But, like previous TGA segments, it didn’t really forge a meaningful conclusion. Although, watching the car start up first go and drive out of the water was pretty cool.
Charlie’s test of the Audi R8 had all the right ingredients, but he, and the SBS crew didn’t quite get the mix right. Good, but not spectacular. Oh, I love watching a car doing donuts as much as the next person, but it really is time for Top Gear Australia to drop the fascination. Repeated power sliding, good. Repeated donuts, bad.
The Toorak Tractor gag was actually pretty good I thought. However, where Top Gear (Series 12 starts in a few days) almost stumbled into being irreverent with similar stunts, being forced from the outset doesn’t always come off every time for TGA. Still, I liked this clip, even if the Saab at the end was probably a set up.
As much as I am loathe to say it, Shannon Noll was the surprise packet in this episode of Top Gear Australia. “Yeah mate!” Can’t say I’m too keen on his music, but the kid can drive. And more power to him for that.
Steve’s BMW 135i review was not too bad. Mainly because the 135i is shaping up as being a truly modern classic. The camera work was well shot, and despite sneaking in a few faster public road sequences, the let’s-drive-slowly-and-not-upset-the-wowsers still doesn’t look as exciting as the cars deserve. I expect there’ll be a few complaints from said wowsers, too, at the 135i crossing double white lines at one stage.
After last week’s episode, this week’s was a minor disappointment. Sticklers continuing to compare the show, blow by blow, to the UK original will no doubt be very harsh in their criticism. Those willing to judge the show for the light entertainment it is intended to be, however, will still be looking forward to next week’s show.
More pics after the jump.
5 replies on “Top Gear Australia – Series 1, Episode 5”
It’s a shame that the ratings continue to decline because this show deserves to succeed, despite teething problems.
A little annoying for me is that they get too many of their facts wrong. e.g. Charlies comments about USA ‘yank tank’ rental cars were about 20 years out of date, and the Caddy CTS doesn’t really have ‘the same engine as the Commodore’ (they have the same architecture but no Holden 6 has 227KW!).
In next week’s episode you’ll see them state that the only other little car aside from the Barina without ABS is the Hyundai Getz – wrong again.
This is all nitpicking for sure, but when a big part of their target audience is car enthusiasts it would pay for them to pay a bit more attention to the substance, without sacrificing the style.
They’re fair comments Revhed.
I disagree with u, he is right that Cadilac has the holden engine. The main if not the only reason (i am no engine engineer) is that it has more power is because of direct injection, and i think thats about it.
Depends, I guess, on your definition of what ‘the same’ is. Direct Injection is a significant difference in my view.
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