Surprise Surprise, Top Gear doesn't tell the truth - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

66olds442 · 03-30-2011, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Fans of a particular show featuring three middle-aged men with an unhealthy penchant for cars, plus a fourth individual whose interests are rather more elusive, probably remember a 2008 episode in which the Top Gear crew lambasted the Tesla Roadster. (If not, a particularly low-quality recording is embedded below.) On that show, Jeremy Clarkson could be seen flogging one around the track, complaining about a range of only 55 miles before showing that car being pushed into the garage, supposedly out of charge. Not true, says Tesla, who has filed a lawsuit against the BBC for libel and malicious falsehood. Tesla claims that, among other things, two cars were provided and at all times at least one of them was ready and willing. Beyond that, Tesla knows that neither car ever dropped below 25 percent charge, meaning the whole pushing into the garage thing was, well, staged. It's hard to look at this as much more than a PR move, Tesla waiting over two years to file, but that doesn't mean the complaint isn't legit. Now it's time for the Beeb to roll out its crew of tame racing lawyers. Some say their suits are made of wool, and that their briefcases contain actual briefs. All we know is they're very well compensated.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/t...e-for-comment/

TOMS1SS · 03-30-2011, 08:00 AM

Isn't the range on a Tesla about 200 miles? Seriously as much as I like the show we're talking about Top Gear, you want serious automotive journalism you need to go elsewhere. I actually got a chance to test drive one of these last December and they were actually surprisingly cool. Didn't make sound mind you but it had awesome acceleration. The replacement batteries cost about 40k, the rep told me he could get me a deal for 35k if I bought it up front.

66olds442 · 03-30-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fearer2010SS

Isn't the range on a Tesla about 200 miles? Seriously as much as I like the show we're talking about Top Gear, you want serious automotive journalism you need to go elsewhere.

I've never believed Top Gear for anything other than entertainment. I just posted this because their are stupid people out there who take what they say as Gospel. Just like the idiots who believe the Daily Show is news.

When they complained about the ZR1 GM found out that they were pushing the car beyond what any sane human being would use the car for and intentionally broke parts of the car to make it seem like the car was cheeply made.

Also in the comparision between a $120K Mercedes and the Camaro SS they picked the Camaro. I know our cars are great, but not THAT great.

Justification · 03-30-2011, 08:26 AM

I found this comment quite apropos

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66olds442

because their are stupid people out there

Sorry couldn't resist.

Love British Top Gear, not the american version cause they picked the wrong guys to host.
That said, it is just an entertainment show.

TMoneySS · 03-30-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66olds442

Also in the comparision between a $120K Mercedes and the Camaro SS they picked the Camaro. I know our cars are great, but not THAT great.

BLASPHEMER!

toesuf94 · 03-30-2011, 08:38 AM

Yeah...and Tesla is still selling all they can make at a premium, correct? There is a wait list on a $100,000 car during a depression...seems Top Gear really put a dent in the sales.

And, I am willing to bet that flogging the thing around a test track at WOT will shorten the battery life quite quickly on ANY battery powered car. The Top Gear segment on the Tesla was entertaining...that was all. After watching, I still found the Tesla to be what it is: an expensive and cool Golf Cart that I will never be able to afford nor desire to own.

When Jeremy Clarkson test drove the 2006 M5 he beat the p^ss out of it and broke the rear differential. He made it a point to tell the millions of viewers that the car looked like a "baboon's backside" and that it broke when he drove it...calling the car very fragile. Did BMW sue? No. Let it go Tesla...nobody cares.

halo8hkk · 03-30-2011, 08:43 AM

top gear is a worthless show. unless its some high end euro car all they do is b$%&*h about it. and if its an American car forget it. they will nitpick every thing.

BigCarrot · 03-30-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halo8hkk

top gear is a worthless show. unless its some high end euro car all they do is b$%&*h about it. and if its an American car forget it. they will nitpick every thing.

I've heard them bash American Cars and People but an old episode I saw where they tested a CTS-V, Corvette ZR1, and Challenger SRT-8 on the Salt Flats in Utah they all ended up loving them =o

It's a fun show to just watch expensive cars be driven the way we all want to drive them sometimes =)

SEOhioSS · 03-30-2011, 08:52 AM

Tesla is using this as an excuse to put their name out there and market their cars. They already launched a website for the suit and had thought this through. Considering this happened in 2008 and they are just now doing this, i have no pity for Tesla. If Tesla didn't want the chance of their car being presented in a negative light, they could have just not given them one to drive, like Chrysler did with the Challenger. They refused to give them one.

BigCarrot · 03-30-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEOhioSS

Tesla is using this as an excuse to put their name out there and market their cars. They already launched a website for the suit and had thought this through. Considering this happened in 2008 and they are just now doing this, i have no pity for Tesla. If Tesla didn't want the chance of their car being presented in a negative light, they could have just not given them one to drive, like Chrysler did with the Challenger. They refused to give them one.

That didn't work because they just went and bought one =D

IrocJack · 03-30-2011, 08:59 AM

Their funniest show was when they had to buy american cars for less than $1,000 and drive them down in the south. They all got to paint each other's car with a saying on it. Needless to say they got ran out of town by some town folks with rocks !!

halo8hkk · 03-30-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

I've heard them bash American Cars and People but an old episode I saw where they tested a CTS-V, Corvette ZR1, and Challenger SRT-8 on the Salt Flats in Utah they all ended up loving them =o

It's a fun show to just watch expensive cars be driven the way we all want to drive them sometimes =)

that was actualy on last night.

nancygrl · 03-30-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66olds442

Also in the comparision between a $120K Mercedes and the Camaro SS they picked the Camaro. I know our cars are great, but not THAT great.

Like that was a fair comparison...Well, everything that they do is entertainment only and to be taken with a grain of salt.

Hamster is the only one of the trio that likes american muscle cars, he's a closet american

DarkneSS · 03-30-2011, 09:04 AM

Top gear is 90% entertainment, some stuff is true but if you watch that show for accuracy then you need to rethink your choice.

03-30-2011, 08:00 AM	#2
TOMS1SS Drives: NA Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NA Posts: 12,126 View My Garage	Isn't the range on a Tesla about 200 miles? Seriously as much as I like the show we're talking about Top Gear, you want serious automotive journalism you need to go elsewhere. I actually got a chance to test drive one of these last December and they were actually surprisingly cool. Didn't make sound mind you but it had awesome acceleration. The replacement batteries cost about 40k, the rep told me he could get me a deal for 35k if I bought it up front. __________________ El funcionario señor de los desiertos de Mojave y Sonora.

03-30-2011, 08:38 AM	#6
toesuf94 Drives: THR #11 E-force supercharged Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 4,746	Yeah...and Tesla is still selling all they can make at a premium, correct? There is a wait list on a $100,000 car during a depression...seems Top Gear really put a dent in the sales. And, I am willing to bet that flogging the thing around a test track at WOT will shorten the battery life quite quickly on ANY battery powered car. The Top Gear segment on the Tesla was entertaining...that was all. After watching, I still found the Tesla to be what it is: an expensive and cool Golf Cart that I will never be able to afford nor desire to own. When Jeremy Clarkson test drove the 2006 M5 he beat the p^ss out of it and broke the rear differential. He made it a point to tell the millions of viewers that the car looked like a "baboon's backside" and that it broke when he drove it...calling the car very fragile. Did BMW sue? No. Let it go Tesla...nobody cares. __________________ Cars and women are both going to give you problems...but you can pay somebody else to fix your car! Last edited by toesuf94; 03-30-2011 at 09:15 AM.

03-30-2011, 08:43 AM	#7
halo8hkk Drives: 2000 Z28. 2010 1SS IMB. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,081	top gear is a worthless show. unless its some high end euro car all they do is b$%&*h about it. and if its an American car forget it. they will nitpick every thing. __________________ 1990 RS = First Car -SOLD 2000 Z28 = SOLD 2010 1SS/RS = Mysstique Whipple Supercharger Dyno= 618hp 555tq at the wheels IMB Silver Stripes VIN#44025 Born: 9/9/09 Delivered: 9/28/09

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03-30-2011, 08:52 AM	#9
SEOhioSS Drives: 2011 Synergy 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 281	Tesla is using this as an excuse to put their name out there and market their cars. They already launched a website for the suit and had thought this through. Considering this happened in 2008 and they are just now doing this, i have no pity for Tesla. If Tesla didn't want the chance of their car being presented in a negative light, they could have just not given them one to drive, like Chrysler did with the Challenger. They refused to give them one.

03-30-2011, 08:59 AM	#11
IrocJack Drives: 2010 2LT/RS RJT Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,683 View My Garage	Their funniest show was when they had to buy american cars for less than $1,000 and drive them down in the south. They all got to paint each other's car with a saying on it. Needless to say they got ran out of town by some town folks with rocks !!

03-30-2011, 09:04 AM	#14
DarkneSS Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Westchester, New York Posts: 3,715	Top gear is 90% entertainment, some stuff is true but if you watch that show for accuracy then you need to rethink your choice.