Kerry kattona impresion top class

Even utter shite Top Gear is still Top Gear and I would be more than happy to watch anything you and the Top gear staff can come up with. If it was slot-cars or go-karts I would still watch, if only to see Jeremy ram into James at 48th scale.

All the best for the next series and good luck with the US version. I’m eagerly anticipating what is in store for the future for all things Top Gear.

Thad
Chicago, IL US

But the utter, utter shite one, no matter how bad you make it, however dismally rubbishy crap it may be, will still be better than fifth gear..

This years top gear was great!!! espesically the vietnam one.. Cant wait for next years TG. …

were was the red communist stig…….?

great series, look forward to next year.

Thanks for the awsome year guys! I have been thinking baout the 13 good ones and 1 bad one…DO IT! If it means that we get some amazing episodes it should be worth it? Or maybe like 4 specials???
All the best, have a good new years everyone!

Yeah, no Communist Stig, sucks.
Never mind.
I personally prefer the challenges to the reviews for the cars I’m never gonna get.
So, please, Top Gear, forget about spending money on cars that only people who you’ve probably heard of are going to buy, and make crazy challenges in old bangers.
Because that’s what makes Top Gear worth watching. People being stupid for no goal whatsoever.

Loved This Series.

All done for this year but a great ending to the series. You could save money on hammonds hair products, that would get you that extra helicopter needed surely. I wait for the new series with baited breath and a shall have to make the wife endure dave for another few months. A Happy new year to you all and thanks to topgear for providing the only festive program fit for my licence fee. If any budgets should be cut it should be the less popular programs on the box like..EASTENDERS.

Superb effort all at Top Gear for this series! Clarkson, Hammond and May could be thrown in a room full of Barbara Cartland books and Elvis Costumes and the public would still watch…… Wait a minute??? Episode 1 new series perhaps??? Those boys are personified hilarity!

Keep up the great work!

No matter how much money is spent on the show, it’s still going to be awesome! It’s Top Gear after all.

This years TG was great over all!
The summer run was a bit patchy in places – TGSM not so good and frankly not enough James!

The autumn series was brilliant, utter genious!
Vietnam tip top – please bring out a DVD without cutting it to pieces!!!! And…plenty of James, for which i thank you.
Happy new year to all at TG and keep up the excellent work.

Top Gear will always be Top Gear, no matter if you are driving through Vietnam or presenting awards. It’s the brilliant writing, production and 3 of the best presenters on Television that make it what it is.

Jeremy’s plan sounds good to me, and I’m sure even that last show of every series will still be better than some tripe by Trinny and Suzanne.

I can’t wait for Season 13 and thanks again for another great year of Top Gear – without a doubt the greatest motoring show on earth.

I agree, utter shite Top Gear is still brilliant TV. As long as you have the Jeremy, Richard and James, a few challenges and the odd ’special’ (as with Vietnam) that will be fine by me.

Thanks for a wonderful year of TG and I look forward to many more great episodes in 2009.

Cant believe JC has actually come up with a sensible idea regarding budget cut!!! Caravan owners club will be pleased…No caravans being blown up next series!!! How about selling some TG creations at auction??? Like Richards damper van. Or a phone vote thing… there always good a few million pounds…(ask Simon Cowell).
Seriously though, were British…we do our greatest work when are backs are against the wall. Next series will be just as good as always. all the best TG team, Happy New Year.

Keep working with the folks that you have and Series 13 will be as exciting as all the rest.

What I would like to see is someone from the audiance given the opportunity to drive round the track with Stig. Granted Heath and Safety can be a pain, but I reckon with the right attitude and the right audiance member then would that be possible? If Stig can put Johnny Vegas in a car and he can drive it without a driving licence, then surely a member of the audiance would have a great time and make something from it.?

Just an idea.

top gear is the best,how bout making your utter s**t show an outake kinda show,and the best funny bits.

I guess you have to have a certain number of shows every year (contracts, prepaid tickets). So that last, cheap show could as well be about (and with) the audience. For example:

- Humming the “Jessica” intro in chorus instead of playing it from tape (Karaoke, and ask Guinness about record numbers for that kind of thing)

- Best/worst audience car contest (JC, RH and JM check the parking lot before the show)

- Stupdidly hard quiz (from the old website) live with 3 members of the audience and big red buttons

- Lookalike contests for JC, RH and JM

- Coolwall memory (the Coolwall ist cleared and 10 members of the audience have to place the cars back where they belong)

- Cheap film: RH and JM doing wheelies on motorbikes towards each other (like knights) with JC standing in the middle and having a nerveous breakdown

There was a show in the 70’s, something like “Games without Borders” or so. They did it every month for a tenner, for years, with this kind of stuff, and the TV-audience was glued to the screens. So, i guess the last show might have to be cheap, but it does not have to be bad…

…..

Top Gear in 2009 is one of the few things to look foward to. Series 11 and 12 have been superb and it has been wonderful to see Richard back on schedule. A very big thank you to everyone on Top Gear for what will always be the best show on television.

I dont think the budget cut will b bad at all. might bring back some of the innocence of top gear from 4 years ago. . . no dramatics, just clever scripts and proper straight forward tests after all i reali only watch top gear 4 the lads not the fancy stunts!(“,)

it shall never end, long live top gear

cut the price ,have alot more in 2010

Top Gear to me isn’t about cars, it’s about 3 blokes having a good time around cars. It’s these 3 that have made Top Gear what it is. Frankly, I wouldn’t care if they devoted an entire episode to these 3 sitting around around a table drinking beer and arguing about which car is best. Yeah, it wouldn’t be great, but it’d be good never-the-less.

But here’s an idea for a fund raiser. Release the seasons, uncut and unedited, in all dvd regions. Garunteed you’ll make enough money to last a couple of seasons. Heck, you’ll probably make enough from dvd sales to send these 3 guys into space for a special.

awsome series cant wait to see what you guys come up with for series 13.
Guys over here in the land of Oz would love to have the boys over here for a challenge finding cracks and issues with our country but no idea what they could do here?
anyone else have any ideas what they could do in Australia?
it would be great to see clarkson have a go some locals over here about something
ideas for other countries?
the awards show i thought was alright james pick up line “ello” was awsome
mayby clarkson could bring another one of his cars to the show like the merc 600
what happend to his GT40?
be great to see clarkson on another bike
maybe another james in a car Vs a man on something… is there anything left he could race against?
im sure the boffens of the top gear office will come up with some great shows no matter what the budget is
hope you have a great new years and all the best for 2009

Wadda mean no money? What with all the TG merchandising this year, you guys must be slooshing in dosh. But then some say The Stig controls the money…

another thing aswell guys Top Gear Live awsome idea got my tickets already but shatterd james isnt part of the scene be great to have the trio over here but ahh well next time..

Some say he uses the money on fuel to have with his morning corn flakes

Oooh yes please Jonathan (24) that would be brilliant. Surely there’s some way you could sort the copywright for all the music used? If not, maybe we could start the international “Save Top Gear from a Budget Cut” campaign? (I know where my priorities lie in these hard times.)

I personally think this season has been a gem, everything from SIARPC to the challenges, to the brilliant road tests. The guys’ friendship has really shone through, and you obviously realise that (as much as the cars) this is one of the reasons why TG is so popular, because you gave us the biggest, juiciest cherry on top in the form of the Vietnam special.

So the season is over, but how can anyone complain for too long when you end it on such a high? Can’t wait for Season 13.

Overall, it’s been an entertaining year, with some standout moments. You took some chances, some worked better than others, but you’ve reflected and considered and it sounds like you have interesting plans for 2009. I’m looking forward to seeing what you all come up with and I’m sure it’ll keep me well entertained. I mean, yes, I can see what you mean about some things being patchy this year, but patchy TG still beats pretty much everything else, so don’t dwell on that. Concentrate on the stuff you were most happy with, and move on from there

For some reason, I love Morty’s audience karaoke idea. In fact, making a bottle show, with unseen clips and audience interaction occasionally might be fun. But whatever you come up with, I look forward to seeing the results. Just try to get the lads not to spread themselves quite so thinly around filming time next year, or I fear they’ll start falling apart!

Thanks for all the laughs and the genuinely jaw-dropping moments. Happy New Year to you and to everyone at TG, especially the unsung backroom boys and girls who work so hard to keep the Clarkson/Hammond/May bandwagon rolling (Happy New Year to those three reprobates too).

I have to say as a car enthusiast I’ve been very disappointed with the second half of this series. It’s been hugely funny, and in many ways the best yet from the perspective of someone wishing to be entertained. But why haven’t we had a review of either the Mercedes CL/SL 63/65 AMG, or the Maserati Gran Turismo S? How about the Scirocco and the Phantom Coupe? The new Gallardo and Porsche GT2 deserved their own films but were denied that because time was needed for a film about electric cars and a trip to Vietnam. Don’t get me wrong, the series has been brilliant as an entertainment show, but it used to be a show about cars, for people who loved cars with massive V10’s and the like. The second half was for people who want to see three guys dicking about…allbeit in a hilarious fashion.

Sorry!

I’m sure even with a lower budget you will come up with some wonderful episodes.
So more cheap-car-challenges then, perhaps? Instead of buying brand new Muscle Cars?

whatever you guys do its always going to make everyone laugh, and o yeh the car bits arn’t to bad either

Great episodes this year and I enjoyed it very much. I hope you guys continue with the challenges, super cars, etc.

Top Gear is television hit here back in Belgium.

See you next year!

No matter what happens to Top Gear, I will always remain a loyal fan.

The thing that makes it better than the rest is the presenters. They each have there own unique quality’s which make the show what it is. Jeremy Clarkson is remarkably witty, his excellent car reviews and subtle sense of humor makes the program worth watching just to see him! The Charming Mr James May bring’s a level-headed tone to the program, giving it a relaxed feel and Richard Hammond’s funny, yet fiesty approach is rather entertaining.

Yet, you can’t forget The Stig who is just amazing, in my opinion anyway.

If your ever stuck for an episode, maybe create a section like ‘A Day In The Life Of The Stig’ I know that I would watch it

All I have to say now is thank you everyone on Top Gear for creating such amazing episodes x

Top Gear is a fab show no matter what gets done or not so I can’t wait to see more of it!

Fabulous work guys and thank you all!!

BIG HUGS and a Happy New Year!

Fabienne

Andy, as I’ve stated before I just love love love TG. But the last season left me somewhat cold. Vietnam was nice, as was much of the Alfa challenge and the economy race (yes, I liked that one!), yet TG feels increasingly scripted. Hammond, May & Clarkson seem like characters called “Clarkson the rough one”, “Hammond the wannabe-cool one” and “May the geeky one” too often, the challenges too scripted. I love the three cocking about, but it can occasionally be too much, making the show feel staged. I know that’s in the nature of a TV show, but I don’t want to be aware of that. I don’t mind the budget cuts, in fact I’d welcome a bit of a back-to-basics approach. Shows like the Aston V8 vs. Porsche 911 vs. BMW M6 still are high points to me. And the tour through America is still my favourite piece of TG ever.

It doesn’t matter about budget cuts or anything like that because Top Gear is Top Gear and it always will be!
So good luck to everybody on the Top Gear team in 2009 and best wishes!

top gear cant be shit no matter how hard you try! (or dont try) =P

‘Utter shite’ doesn’t really bother me.

As long as there’s the usual TopGear challenges and news, then i’m more than happy to watch it a million times, after 3 months it was broadcasted, on DAVE.

This year’s TopGear was wicked. Although 2009 has been ruined as i bloody well missed the Vietnam special! Bollocks!

Top Gear this year has been the most awesome yet! Yes the 2 stars in the reasonably price car thing didn’t work, but at least you tried it and now know. The race across Japan and Vietnam special were by far the best things i’ve seen on tv this year! Take that big brother! Shame we only had 1 cool wall per series but at least it’s there. Wasn’t it series 2 when the final episode was cut budget because of them spending all the money? That episode was still cool even if it was simply done and James was playing the theme tune on the keyboard. As long as we don’t have any more news reports of one of the guys threatening to eave about money, then i ain’t worrying. And maybe Jeremy should be careful as he’s taken quite a beating this year in the series.
Take care all and keep being ambitious but rubbish (yet totally awesome)

Top Gear is Top Gear no matter how little money you seem to have you always put it together and you still end up with a great show. No matter how little money you may have it will always be brilliant to watch, pure ‘factual’ entertainment!!

However as much as i love TG i agree with what ‘Jacques Eberhardt’ above has said, its starting to become to scripted its brilliant it just seems fake. (although my fav is still the botswania special!)

Anyway im really really really looking forward to seeing more next year, and well done to the WHOLE TG TEAM on making a brilliant show every-week.

I love Top Gear and will definitely be watching in 2009. I loved the Vietnam show as well as the drive in the Ferrari Daytona.

top gear is brilliant whatever the weather even when repeated on dave! all the best for the next series!

I absolutely loved this year’s TG. Especially season 12 was just ace!
The Vietnam special was one of the best shows i’ve ever seen. It was absolutely amazing.
And actually this season i enjoyed the last episode (ep 7, christmas one) the most. I think TG is better when its less prepared, the guys come up with more crap that is absolutely hilarious!

Anyway, TG just keeps getting better every season and i can’t wait till the next one!

Andy, this show is what keeps me going believe me. Its my little something to look forward to, so even if you put the boys in pedal cars and told them to race around the studio I would still watch because I love it.

See you in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

xxxxxx

top gear is brill no matter wat!!! its by far the best show on tv nowadays! its not bout cars…… its bout 3 fellows around cars makin jokes n havin a bit of craic! its brill!!!

thanks everyone for the nice comments about my show. id like to thank everyone whos likes it and watches it. i got to go now because my computer keeps turnig itself off!
thanks againg. happy new year. goodbye

hi. wat is top gear! everyone is talking about it but i dont know what it is! sum1 tell me. email me at aaronobrian@hotmail.com…. . please!!!

hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi

There’s your theme for next series then – Budget Top Gear (With James playing the theme on his casio keyboard).

Road tests on the track or in UK – no expensive foreign trips.

Star in a reasonably priced car to be people already on the BBC payroll e.g. self confessed Top Gear fan Christine Bleakley – people more interested in actually doing the lap than pushing something they’ve put their name on.

Sponsored Cool Wall?

Waynes World-esque product placement?

Seasonal Top Gear vs Fifth Gear Challenge to split costs between the two shows?

Top Gear

This is the best series yet and many more hopefully to come.I loved every single episode especially the last one in Vietnam.The best show on T.V cant get better or funnier. Jezza, Hamster & that other guy ARE SO FUNNY when they are together in a group.

I NEED TO GET A COPY OF THE STIGS MORSE CODE CD BECAUSE I LOVE IT.

go get a life

…

“that other guy” is James. James MAY aka Captain Slow!

Top Gear f****n rules

Please – less overly obvious contrived ‘events’ in the films and don’t waste cash on the V8 blender type items. Items like the lorry fire and the Vietnam helmets are just naff and drag the value of the film they are in down. Want to save money? Take out ideas like the Fiesta test.

You also should have had a lot more concern for local sentiment with the USA bike in Vietnam – that was crass.

Other than that TG has the winning formula – three great presenters that work very well together, probably the highest production values of any show on the telly and great features. Items like the Hammonds Ferrari drive were brilliant and prove that you still can turn out some of the best.

Hmm, some sort of budget cars test would be good. A tiny bit less of the exotica in these credit crunch-y times, maybe a budget car race across the UK or something funny like that. How about something along the lines of the old Porsche challenge from a few years ago, too. Anyway, whatever happens, I’m looking forward to it. And I agree with Dave about the star in a reasonably priced car – Christine Bleakley, more people from The ONE Show, the News etc.

I also agree with Welsh F1 fan – more Fiesta-like tests! Keep the awesome photography and filming though!

Making a show for a tenner worked back in Series 3 or 4, so why not now – go for it.

I seem to remember some of the earlier TG tests – the MINI from series one, where Jeremy preferred the Toyota Yaris Verso. The Smart Forfour test. The Fiat Panda test. And of course the Fiesta test. Standard cars, entertaining road tests!

have jonathon rosses budget because he sucks and we don’t want him back give it to top gear which is way way better.

For C J said…

I was actually suggesting remove ideas like the Fiesta test )

Uninspired, silly and the final scene will have cost either the Armed Forces or the BBC a fair amount of money – I personally would prefer both organisations refrained from wasting cash on boring pap like that. And if I want to see a chase in a mall, I’ll watch Crank – the Fiesta one went on far too long and again was overly contrived.

Save money by cutting the Boring Celebrity in A Reasonably Priced Car! Usually (apart from a few exceptions) the most interresting thing in thi segment is a Chevrolet Lacetti.

Apart from that the show’s great, even when it’s done for 10p! (and I’m NOT only writing this because I wan’t this comment to appear on the site)

Some say I’ll be on “I’m a celebrity get me out of this dancing on ice rubbish” if they can’t afford to keep paying me £5 worth of castrol per week.

Ben Collins?

Ha ha!

The secret seems to be out.

Remember that old TG episode that featured them run out of money, and had to sell bits of the studio to get funding, they should do that again!!!

Another thought, sell the stigs identity on eBay, with the starting price at a cool £500k

I’m getting really pissed off with reading “I nearly wet myself when Jeremey/Richard/James fell over/crashed/etc” comments. Who is watching TG these days?

I think they need some proper feedback (eg Welsh F1 fan, CJ and mine, of course).
Keep it coming……

Hello
Vietnam was absolutely brilliant but can I make a request? Good. Could you please do a programme with most of the vietnam stuff in it as I watched Episode 1 again, and noticed the montage had bits of Vietnam in it, which we did not get to see (The Stig’s Communist Cousin etc)and I know that you did not have enough room for everything but you should make the bits we missed available online, or do a special longer one in the new year, it would be great
Cheers, Ross

Charlie.

You just got it (67 & 68)
That’ll be £250K each, please

im a huge fan but to be honest I was very disappointed with the last show in Vietnam. The show firstly i thought show be about cars not bikes and secondly some parts in the shows are very set up like the episode where they filled the 3 BL’s with water and jeremys door just happened to fall off!
More cars, less entertainment.

And another thing, don’t listen to Welsh F1 fan, the Fiesta test was brilliant, and I’m not one of those ‘put more affordable cars in’ sort of people but the V8 blender was great!!!

Welsh F1 fan, could you not hear the incredible noise that thing madd!!! c’mon man

Thank you top gear for a great season and that great vietnam epic . As for next year I’m not worried at all about the series because i know tha if the budget is small jeremy can allways throw in some jokes or take that v8 blender for a spin ;D. So thank you, merry christmas and a happy new year!

I don’t care if the cars are affordable or not. I just want more cars. The Fiesta thing was just a bit over the top, though.

Never even tested a new Mondeo when it came out. Or the new Insignia. Or the new 3 series (I think!).

And that’s the tip of the iceberg.

WTF?

Overall it wasn’t the best series of top gear but it was still a very good one.

Is there any chance next series that you coould try and get Peter Kay as star in the reasonably priced car because I was reading hs autobiography the other and he had some really funny storys about when he was having driving lessons. Just a thought

hammond drove the new(current) 3 a few series back, it’ll be on Dave any minute now….:-)

budget cuts…. drive some old bangers around the mountains of europe. i did a few years back and one of the brake calipers came off coming down a mountain… clarkson would have loved it. even if you guys pushed toy cars around on the floor i’d watch it and love it, it more about how three friends have a laugh than anything else and i’m sure we’ll need laughs next year as all else will have gone down the toilet. have a great new year and see you in 2009.

I must have seen it but I can’t remember it. Cheers MUP 1T. Off to set the Sky+…..

You know what I mean, though.

I love Top Gear.I personally think that the first show in this series was the best ever.You should make every episode as good as that one.Don’t forget Top Gear is a motoring show , a show about cars … it’s ok with the challenges but , 1 per season is enough and , I think the America special from series 9 was slightly better than the Vietnam special.Top Gear was and it still is the best motoring show on the planet and , I hope it will ever be.Don’t forget how to do proper car reviews(the Ferrari F430 one was 1 of the best , the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder one , the Lamborghini LP560 one , the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X one , for example) , don’t forget that the Star in the reasonably priced car section has to be also about cars not someones new album , the news both funny and informative(I really liked the series 11 “I went on the Internet and found this” thing or “The new Dacia Sandero”).Top Gear is also about madness (not only in the things you do on the show but also the way it’s made , I mean , in the last show after the Honda FCX review a mad supercar one was a very good way to end that epsode).This are not complains , they are suggestions.I love every single show of Top Gear.I think you should go for the 14-good-shows-one-bad-one idea , it will be great.I apologize if there are errors in the text , I am not from the U.K. I wish you a Happy New Year !!!

I’ll echo good sir Thaddeus and say I will watch Top Gear happily, even in budget mode. Cheers good sirs and see you next series!

Where do they list the sound tracks used in the Vietnam episode.

It was great music.

Even if the show where the three presenters sitting in a bar throwing stools at each other it would be hillarious.

Guido, if you go to FinalGear’s forums, there should be a thread that tells you what songs are played when – most of the Vietnam show was the Apocalypse Now soundtrack though, if that helps.

I personally was too blown away with the beauty of Vietnam to really appreciate Sunday night’s show as ‘An Episode Of Top Gear’, but having watched it again tonight, yep, it was, and one of the very best. Well done to everyone involved.

top gear is great i watch it with out fail i even watch it on DAVE lol the best bits is the challenges weather its a 10,000 pound super car or a race between car and public transport

but what be nice to see is a non celebrity to go round the track i no public liability is a fact but for those that get choosen is to sign a consent form to all injury’s sastained will be of non fault of any member of the top gear crew knore the BBC and if ther willing then let them i would be happy to do it first and gladly sign anything lol just to get the chance to do it hope you think about it and give it serious thought…..

kind regards robin

Been a brill year of top gear mega funny as always roll on 2009 cant wait 4 it more crazy shows plz!!

Top Gear is and always will be Top Gear, and Andy I need not be worried, the fans [like myself] will tune and watch the show regardless of the budget cuts, and love it all the same!!
Roll on 2009!!
Lynda xxxxx

I luv Top Gear and luv the series this year. Espicially the vietnam special it was brilliant and so so funny. Can’t wait til the next series. Can i just say that Richard Hammond’s and Jeremy Clarkson’s new dvd are brilliant well done to them. Happy New Year to everyone!!!!! Can’t wait for the New Year!!!!

i thought both shows were great and looking forward to the new series next year keep up the good work guys and to all those pc piss heads who complain if you don’t like what you see or hear watch something else

Top Gear is never shite! If you think the last episode was, if only all programs were that bad. There are only brilliant episodes and super fantastic epsiodes!
The best show on telly EVER!
Keep up the good work!

i agree

as do i

i don’t

I think they need to test more of the new cars as they come out. There have been a number of very important new cars this year that haven’t appeared on Top Gear in a road test – Volkswagen Scirocco, Vauxhall Insignia (remember Jeremy’s old test-drive of the original Vectra years ago?), Toyota iQ, Ford Kuga, New Golf, New Megane. Some old-school reviews would be good on things like this, but with Top Gear’s usual stamp of entertainment. And they really really really really need to do something on the Dacia Sandero!!!!

just like to say top gear is the best show on uk tv i just love it all the best for the new year and keep up the good work

Please make top gear part of our weekly routine throughout the year.
Every Sunday a new episode please!

No Pressure

I knew Gordon Brown’s fiscal incompetence ran deep, but please not TopGear. Just cancel Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders, BBC Wales etc etc and give the money to TG.

However, i seem to remember (OK, watched on Dave) that the old, cheap TG challenges and episodes were also amongst the funniest. Blowing up a caravan using TNT strapped to a Rhinoceros or something can’t be that expensive, bar subsequent legal fees obviously.

Andy,

Top Gear has been absolutely spectacular since season 3-4 and onwards. The 12th season is no different. It’s great that you have the guts to think outside the border and not only focus on the cars. For this, I really enjoyed the Vietnam special. The jokes can be a bit corny when it goes slapstick, but otherwise the daring British humor is just right-on.

Please continue making this revolutionary show. And for the love of God keep Clarkson, May and Hammond as the presenters. They really are a dynamic trio that completes each other.

The result is nothing short of brilliant.

I also think (I’m starting to ramble, here!) that we need to remember Top Gear is a car show. Vietnam was great entertainment, but where were the cars? The awards episode was a bit daft, too – how Jay Kay suddenly appeared from nowhere, randomly carrying a bag. And they had nothing at all to do with the awards in the magazine! It just didn’t make any sense!

Good old group tests like the Scenic/C-Max taxi test were good, and the mums testing the Honda Jazz, Renault Modus & Peugeot 1007 were even better – you could tell they loved doing that!

top gear on motobikes was crap come on motobikes for a car show. i would like the specials to stop and do more car reviews with a twist like the ford fiesta but no more stuntman pleaese.

Toyota iQ – how many people can be squeezed into one? Another idea. And now I’m going to stop coming up with ideas.

Hi everyone!
i´d like to send some thanks from Czech for your excelent tv show…Top Gear is the kind of a show i miss in my country and the only way i can watch it is the internet and czech top gear magazine, but thanks for that. Jeremy is the greatest moderator……”in the world” and the episode from Vietnam was great (i still laught when i watch Jeremy falling off his scooter:)) Also Hammond and James are super (like Hammond in the city bus race or the slowest man in the world driving the one of the fasters car in the world). so that´s everything i wanted to say and i wish you good luck in another year and can´t wait nex episode.

So from now on it will be a case of “Top Gear: Ambitious but even more rubbish!” ?

I jest, of course!

Top Gear is fantastic telly and I thank each and every one of you guys who make it. Thanks for the many hours of cracking entertainment, laughter and inspiration (Vietnam is VERY on “The List” now!)

Looking forward to more!

Happy New Year!

Andy, Thanks for another great series. With all the attention on the presenters (who are brilliant) its easy to forget the fantastic work you put in to the photography, the various articles and genral top quality production values of the show. Thank you for entertaining me and my family every week for the last three months – we’ll have to make do withe the repeats on DAVE!! Looking forward to the spring!!!

I don’t know what the average age of posters here is (judging from some of the troll comments about 10, both in years and IQ), but for those who want TG to be about cars and only cars – it used to be. And nobody watched. Or at least not enough watched for the BBC to keep it on air. So it’s either accept that it needs to cater to a bigger audience, which means stuff the die hards look down their noses at (tough), or we have one series of “back to basics”, millions desert it and it gets axed.

Oh, and last time I looked, bikes and lorries had gears too.

Here’s an idea, Andy.
Don’t call us, we’ll call you.

Under your stewardship the show has degenerated into a Scrapheap Challenge/It’s A Knockout/Men Bahaving Badly hybrid.

Congratulations on f**king up one of the best shows on the bbc.
What’s next, bringing back Tomorrows World with exploding microwaves?

Hury back Fifth Gear.

tight blog. I wish BBC Canada played the unedited version. I have to watch the shitty edited one. the nazi’s on youtube took TG off and what the hell is a torrent? this series was sick. the first episode was shit, but the Nam’ special was ILL. Top Gear should come to Canada. it’d be easy on the budget. imagine JC driving a pick-up through the coastal mountains racing Richard and James on a fishing boat. I’m sure they’d love the rain.

Peace Chaps “from the colonies”

great show would rather shoot myself than miss it

2008 was a poor year for TG, overall.

I think that you need to look back at the winter 2007 series, which was by quite some distance the best series ever, and take note from it.

There was a routine to each episode. A car test or two, the news, the star in a car, and a big film. Add a special episode (a la Vietnam or Africa), and you have a simple format that pleases everyone, and has proved extremely popular. Why change it? There has been no continuity to the past couple of series whatsoever, and it’s showing very badly.

We all love the mucking about, but this year there has just been too much poor quality messing around. The homemade Evo was the worst piece of TG I’ve ever seen, and the V8 stuff in the studio wasn’t much better, and neither is TG Stuntman. The Fiesta test, whilst good, just had too much in it. The shopping centre chase was rubbish, and the effort gone into making the beach landing deserved much more than a three minute slot – prehaps a hint for cost cutting?

There does seem to be some rather basic things you can do cost-cutting wise throughout the series without resorting to a shite final episode, yet you can’t seem to see them. Does worry me slightly.

I agree on part with adding more new car reviews – for example the evo / imprezza contest made a nice change but i also love the car challenges – perhaps to save money you could have a “viewers cars section” id love to drag my old mitsubishi round the test track bet i can beat the stig in the chevy

I think the Nam’ special was one of the best yet!!!

However, i know you can’t talk about supercars all the time, but series 12 for me was a little bit too environmentally friendly and stuff…
But that’s just my opinion (yet, it was still worth watching)

My all time favorite was Series 10. I loved it!

But again, props to you guys for the Vietnam Special–just AWESOME!!!

If you hire me again, you will cut down your budget a little. I only need petrol, not money. 10 gallons a show! Hire me again Andy!

PS: Can I bring Vicks with me?

agree with you completely. enjoyed the autumn run alot more. vietnam special was gold and showed alot of the country. keep up the good work

Season 10 of top gear was the best by miles.we need to see supercar challenges like the first episode of season 10.a fiesta or a panda are brilliant little cars but we can see them on a public road and there is nothing special with that.special episodes like the trip to africa or the last one at vietnam,are excellent and entertaining too.keep up the good work mates.I personally think Top Gear is the best show on telly nowadays!!!

2008 may not have been a great year in a few respects (economically for example) but no matter what happens Top Gear seems to keep getting better and better. great work guys I’m looking forward to 2009.

get the “match of the day” musketeers in SIARPC please!

but no footballers is fine

i pray for the show to last forever

Andy,

Just keep the specials to one a year (I’m sure that sucks up most of a series’ budget!), and have more of everything else. Simple. Loved the ‘Nam episode overall, but wished there was some car input to it. Small quibble really for a quality programme! Long live TG!

2008 wasn’t as good as it could’ve been…

Everyone loves the “next to idiotic”, but this year there has just been too much poor quality messing around. The homemade Evo was the worst piece of TG I’ve ever seen, and the V8 stuff in the studio wasn’t much better, and neither is TG Stuntman. The Fiesta test, whilst good, just had too much in it. The shopping centre chase was rubbish, and the effort gone into making the beach landing deserved much more than a three minute slot – prehaps a hint for cost cutting?

There does seem to be some rather basic things you can do cost-cutting wise throughout the series without resorting to a shite final episode, yet you can’t seem to see them. Does worry me slightly.

So, please, Top Gear, forget about spending money on cars that only people who you’ve probably heard of are going to buy, and make crazy challenges in old bangers.

Dave described the changes we’ve seen on the show. Read his post. It’s a few posts up. Seems like top gear is playing on old jokes and making up for it with V8 blenders, weird jackets and fancy boy stunts. but the show is still way better than anything on canadian t.v., except corner gas.

A new formula: fast cars on the track, hot women in the studio. and few races or challenges. simple.

how much did the amphi cars challenge cost compared to that semi-truck race business? cheaaper, in this case, is much more top gear. ambitious, but rubbish, right?

Budget cut and resonably priced car? How about a win-win situation?

Ask those guests to use their own cars! Then classify them using the things like HP or power-to-weight ratio (since the existing board has no more space)? By doing so, TG can save money on the repairing bills, tyres and fuel! The show would be even more entertaining and furthermore, we can know who is the real petrol head!

*oh? some guests don’t have a car… go to fifth gear then…

Sack Johnathon Ross ..use the 18 million for Top Gear ..problem solved

Sack Johnathon Ross …use the 18 million for Top Gear ..problem solved …

Howabout using some classic roads in this country? Alston Pass f’rinstance …

This last run was one of the best ever.

Even with no cash and just the mates sitting and talking, the show would still be the best on air.

Please, please, please make DVD’s of all seasons. I’m sure enough nutters such as myself would buy them so as to make it a profitable affair.

Best regards,
A non-murdering Camaro owner.
Milford, CT, USA

I would’ve thought that TopGear makes about 100x what it costs, so surely using that money in the budget is a good skint-dodging tactic? Unless you already do that. Or the MPH money.

But frankly, if TG (read as ‘proper TV’) does eventually die, then the presenters could just become a comic triple act!

*Gasp* Or, at 9:30 they could have a 30 minute show that’s just the news, because that’s always funny and there’s usually loads of cut-out stuff, and if there still isn’t a half hour’s worth, then do the Cool Wall or something. 9:30 so that the serious news comes on straight after. Or it could replace Newsnight! Who watches that? Maybe do it weekly rather than every 9:30.

Who cares if the last show is utter shite?
Lousy Top Gear is still way better than anything on TV over here.
If things got really cheap you could always have the presenters reveiw their own cars. Actually, considering Hammond has a million rusting Land rovers, it might actually take more than one show.

I think 2008 was a great run for TG, I loved both seasons, I only which there were more episodes in each! The Vietnam special I thought was hilarous. Yes there were a few patchy episodes here and there, but even so I still enjoyed every show.

I look forward to TG in 2009, I simply think that this is the best show on television. Everything about TG is well done, the writing, challenges, and most of all the film work and music in every episode.

Keep up the good work Andy, and the rest of the TG crew!

TJ,
Des Moines, IA US

Utter utter shite? Get Mark Walberg back on. Job done.

Keep up the good work, and by good work I mean kicking fith gear’s ass.

Thanks TG

I love top gear. It is my favorite show on tv, it is quite possibly the best show about cars on earth. You guys do a fantastic job with the camera work, the sound, and the commentary. I love that you guys really drive the cars the way they were meant to be driven. There is not a single American car show that does that. Honestly all the American car shows are quite boring to watch. Its always some fat old man blabbing on about the specs and driving slow,(if i wanted to know the specs Id look them up in a book) not lighting up the tires not hearing the engine scream at max rpm. Most of all they never give there true opinion about the car. Its almost seems like there is someone behind camera pointing a gun at there head telling them what to say. Anyways I love what you guys do and keep up the good work. Also american cars are shit.

Jason,
Saint Paul, MN USA

Probably the only show that might win hands down even with a budget cut and recession looming. If you guys were on air, we wouldnt have the Mexicans borrowing too much money leaving good ole US of A all that debt.. Then the world would be a much better place.

Top gear will always be 3 guys cocking about being ambitious but… rubbish… =)

First is first please put new series up quicker for bbc america. or make the bbc iplayer available for the us, its very hard watching the new episodes w/out the bbc being cocks about it. other than that dont change a thing and more of may’s power tests and silly races w/ the stig. thank u

Hey Andy,

Keep up the great work. One of the absolute best parts of the show is that you take time to mingle with us common folk. Makes us feel involved, like a valued member of the team. I know of no other show that is so dedicated.

Until next year…

Dezza

To be honest, given the gap in production quality between Top Gear and pretty much every other show on tv these days, it’d take a fairly hefty reduction in spending before the show even dropped down to “average”.

Really, if you can produce a series like this one with such a limited time budget, I have every confidence that you can manage something fantastic on a limited cash budget. I’m not surprised you were a bit worried in the lead-up to this season – trying to do it all in eight weeks was madness! But hey, it worked.

And there’s always the option of more crap car challenges, if you’re really short on funds.

Happy new year, Andy, and thanks!

Utter shiite on TG is still better than any other show on TV. Looking forward to the next season!

In all honesty, i thought series 11 was superb and didn’t even notice it hadn’t “found its feet.”

The camera work and editing has become SO much more exciting in recent years. Well done!

Clarkson’s idea is a good one, but I would still be pleased with one less episode or something rather than all of them watered down.

And finally, as so many have said before, shit top gear is still excellent television, even if you only spent a tenner on that show :]

“Thommo said…
I’m getting really pissed off with reading “I nearly wet myself when Jeremey/Richard/James fell over/crashed/etc” comments”

But but …James! …he fell into the water! …and got all wet! …with the water! …he looked angry! …and Jeremy was laughing!

ahhhh.. I just wet myself. It’s comedy gold, I tell you.

I’ll miss all of that, but i think i’ll speak for all we will stick by like the true fans we are. in addition we will hope for the normal top gear to come back the way it’s

Top Gear…great show even in its worse moments!!!Keep it up TopGear Staff, Mr. Wilman,Jeremy , Richard and James!!!Havea great 2009..see you next year!!!

Top Gear this year has been fantastic.

I loved the Top Gear vs. The Germans thing, despite being German. Sure it was really non-PC, but it was so well made and funny I had to forgive them. As far as I’m concerned, if Top Gear gets through a series without sparking a controversy with something they say or do, they’re not doing their job properly.

Roll on 2009.

kill off “TopGear Stunt Man” as you did me. Failing is only funny to watch with Clarkson, Hammond and May.

I so can’t wait to go insane again in the Spring. It was a lovely year, as it was my first year of full devotion to the show and have enjoyed every minute of it.

What about Commie Stig?

Andy, you and your crew have done a top job with this series. As a dedicated member of the finalgear mafia, I have this to say; “don’t change a thing.” Sure, some may criticize this year’s episodes for pointless and pedantic reasons. Rest assured, however, that the dedicated fans of the show remain completely engrossed.

TG makes the best show on tv, your shite is still better than everyone else’s gold

Great year, great shows. If you need some extra money, get hired by Top Gear Australia to make their show better. Or maybe just hire me like you should have done in the first place

I agree wholeheartedly with Thommo (post 58, or thereabouts): you know what doesn’t cost quite as much as blowing things up? Testing cars.

In fairness, though, with all due respect to Mr. Wilman, I actually thought series 11 was a step in the right direction, for the most part. Episode two in particular deserves mention. It didn’t have the big silly-arse watercooler-conversation- topic film, but it *did* conclude with the best car review you’ve done in at least three years: Jeremy’s Mercedes CLK Black review reminded me of what I fell in love with about TG in the first place. It was a valentine to cars. A great car, on a great road. Once upon a time, your best films weren’t the ones that inspired “LOL! I peed my pants!” type posts. They inspired awe. They weren’t “hilarious” and “ace”. They were awesome, in the literal sense of the word. They had a sense of grandeur about them. They weren’t “epic!”. They were Epic.

As for the humour, I don’t think Thommo, or Welsh F1 Fan or myself or anyone else for that matter is saying “don’t be funny”. What we’re saying is, “Don’t try so damned hard”. With those three on camera, and with Jeremy at the word processor, it’s going to have those moments. And unlike the laughs of the torching-a-caravan variety, these ones will be genuine, and will be remembered. Christ, the biggest laugh I’ve gotten in the last four series was James’s obviously-completely-genu ine reaction to seeing Jeremy’s last service bill for his Merc 600 Grosser. Like the wonderful Isle Of Man group tests of previous series, the best moments are often the quiet ones with the three lads sitting around a table with cups of tea, trying to reach consensus on three cars. It’s simple, it’s not flashy…and if you asked anyone of us diehards, it is exactly what we would like to see more of in the future.

Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, Andy. We all know how incredibly hard you work to put this series to together, and appreciate those efforts. Some of us long-timers, though, who’ve propped you up from day one, just wish you would put it towards something more worthwhile. Something with cars, for example…

Remember: dance with the one who brought you.

Top Gear will continue to be a great show, budget cuts or not. The recession must be affecting you guys too. In any case, thanks for creating some of the best shows on the telly, Mr. Wilman. Keep up the good work, look forward to what you all will produce for 2009.

Now if we could get that US version of Top Gear…what’s happening with that?

As part of the shite, low-budget show, why don’t you run a competition open to all viewers. The prize would be to go round the track with the Stig and then set a lap time. You could pick out as many winners from the hat as you want, then they compete for the fastest time.

If you are planning to replace the Chevvy, this would solve the problem you had when it was new and you had difficulty finding celebrities to set the in initial lap times.

wondering what happened to the buggati veyron film that was shot in dubai it was raved about in the magazineand never shown ????

best show yet

All the best for 09

oh no… why will you make only 13-14 episodes next year??? this year’s series that had 14 episodes were too short… it’s since 2003 and 2004 that you did a proper 19 episodes…

top gear best programme on telly without doubt, who cares bout a budget cut at least we still have top gear.
best of luck with next series o and when is it back

the telly is going to suck for some months now.

I totally agree with comments 30, 36, 58, 70 and 149. AND A BIG -1 TO COMMENT 18! THE WORST IDEAS I’VE EVER HEARD!

Simply another fantastic series. Bring on the budget cuts if you must, just as long as each of our boys get to come back. They really make the show. Them and the really awesome cars. And the helicopters. And the explosions! Wait a minute!! Please no budget cuts! We’ll pass a donation bucket if need be. The Worldwide Fund for Top Gear’s Salvation. Call Bill and Melinda Gates immeadiately!

Hat’s off to you guys again. Top Gear is never utter shite, there are sometimes slightly more average parts but even they totally eclipse every other car show, past and present.

I have already watched the Nam film 3 times in it’s entirity and it’s an absolute classic. You guys rock. Hope you all have a fantastic New Year and look forward to catching up with you next time round.

They are right : no more stunt men , no more stunts , more supercars and insanity.If I want to know informations about reasonably priced cars I will watch another show or read another car magazine.The current format is good but Top Gear is mainly about cars not challenges.You seem to forget that.And also , I liked the Ford Fiesta review because it was mad.Regarding the small challenge in every episode,there were some good ones(finding the best road in the world, from the first episode in series 10 for example) but some bad ones too( I can’t remember one right now) so , rather then a rubbish challenge do a car review (in Top Gear style of course).And another crucial thing , don’t stop being funny(but don’t make the show for children who are 5 years old).As always , these are suggestions.Top Gear is the best.Happy New Year to everybody!!!

Even with budget cuts with i am sure that andy willman and the rest of the crew at the healm and the lads at the front it is impossible to be shite i beleive it will actually keep top as it is more money would mean things could get too big for their boots not meaning to sound like a health and safety ecomentalist vegitarianist!!!!!!!!!!

i really really enjoyed watching new series of topgear, the one with the vietnam episode 12 series 1.

it was so funny and i’ll never forget every episodes or series that i watched in my life.

i liked it when they bought each other a present.

great series!
im waiting when the next one is come out…

HAPPY NEW YEAR , TOP GEAR

I don’t think Andy should be too worried about the budget cuts because what makes the show so popular is basically Jeremy’s wit.
In other words, take Jeremy out, pour as much money as you want into the show, then it would not be that popular.

How were the first 2 shows of Series 11 rubbish? The crap police cars challenge was pure TG greatness, and the Audi RS4 vs climber race has now got a contender for the title of “best serious-ish challenge” in the form of the RS4’s big brother versus those two French blokes on skis. So no. The first two weeks weren’t bad at all! I can think of much, much worse than that. **Cough!** the Iceland film from series 6! **Cough!**

Basically, I reckon Top Gear needs more stuff like…
Alfa Romeo challenge, home-made Police Cars, Presenters’ mums testing cars, Audi A8 London-Edinburgh on one tank of fuel, Blackpool Lights race, £1000 Porsche challenge, more reviews on important new cars (in the style of 500 vs BMX, 207 vs runners). There are some good ideas coming from lots of people here. I like the idea of stars using their own cars. Or maybe it’s just time to replace the Chevy – with something like a Perodua! I vividly remember James’ review of the Perodua Kelisa back in 2003 or whenever it was. That was really quite funny. And, as I’ve mentioned before, he definitely needs to do a test with the Dacia Sandero!

It must be difficult to sift out the worthless opinions from the objective, reality-based ones. Maybe not difficult but a skill developed over time. I enjoy the interviews from a cultural perspective even if Top gear is the first place I have seen them. The guests are usually entertaining in isolation, which is probably what should be aimed for.

Great Year! Loved it!
And personally i would love to see 13 Top of the Arts shows and the last one really cheap…cardboard on the walls, the boys sitting around a barrel with fire…something like this

btw. Somehow i can’t watch the videofiles (outtakes and so on) from germany. Error or intended to happen?

Whatever yall do, I’m sure, will be great. I’ve always thought so. Happy New Year to all of you.

The first half of the year was great but the latter half, not so much. The rushed schedule really did show. While there was some good moments as ever, the laugh out loud ones were missing, with the exception of the end of year special.

The best times in the show are when the guys are all there doing something together, vs in those epic roadtrips where they can only make quips over the radio. When they’re for real laughing over something silly, vs pretending to race something or in a stunt.

Making the amphibious cars, the london race, the convertible people carrier, the police cars, the reliability tests with eggs and drysuits. Thats where they’re at their best. It doesnt need supercars, or even semisupercars, just foggy, clegg, and the scruffy one making fools of themselves for the publics amusement.

On a side note, if money is tight, why not simply make one of the specials a showing of a topgear live show.

Mentioned it on the other blog…

How about a new reasonably priced car (Kia, Chrysler? Or maybe a more mainstream car – Vauxhall etc?) The Lacetti is ageing quite a bit now…

Also, can Jeremy, James and Richard (as well as the Stig) set a time in this car to compare with the other celebrities?

Keep up the good work TG!

Could I say – I disagree with the majority here – the Top Gear interviews with the star in the reasonably priced car are really interesting! Don’t lose it!

Top Gear can NEVER be shit

Make the cool wall segment abit longer coz the cool wall is ace n its funny watchin clarkson + hammond argue.

maybe in the nxt series go dwn 2 the welsh beach n reveiw 3 cars (eg Jag XF, BMW Z4 M roadster + Aston V8 Vantage Roadster)

I’m sure Top Gear can do a fantastic show on a Fifth Gear budget. Am I right in thinking that blasting a zonda round the track is cheaper than buying alfas and modifying them? Dont they just give you the car? If so do more supercar tests. I loved the one where you gave several supercars 1 gallon of fuel and saw how far they got round the track. It was automotive porn!

This was a brilliant the series 12 episode 8 was the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!

Although I personally prefer the challenges, I must admit the one gallon of fuel idea was good.

You have to give it to the guys at Top Gear though. It’s become such a success now that they have to cater to everyone. Whether it be the actual car enthusiasts or the people that just want to be entertained. There is such a wide varitety of people they have to keep happy, that can’t be easy.

You did a great job this year and I have enjoyed every offering on the telly from you lot this year, keep up the good work and let us know if we need to have a collection!!!!

Can we demand that our TV licences goes to the Top Gear budget only???

Now that’s a plan!!!

Happy New Year guys.

i have to say mr. wilman, this series was the best ever. It had the comedy of the last 2 series and the seriousness of the first one’s. I have to admit, though, that the muscle cars in america really did it for me and I have no doubt in my mind that that was top gear at its very very best. Thank you so much for this series, it was everything I expected it to be and a whole lot more

I’m visiting a few peeps over in India at the moment, and haven’t been able to watch the vietnam episode quite yet…. but I rekon the lads need to come over here and do a road trip in the good old state of Punjab! Even though they horn instead of using indicators, drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid huge potholes which probably tunnel themselves back to the UK, the driving does kinda work….. so what you waiting for guys….get yourself a Jag aka Tata and come on over here for a road trip to remember!

BEST BIT OF TV ALL YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was a great two series this year the last episode of series 12 was hilarous i hope to be going to the mph show to wtch richard,jeremey and james live i cant wait

The episodes of the latest series of top gear rules. The Vietnam special was the highlight of the whole series. Although I think you better pay for Jeremy to have some British biking lessons so he can do it again because that was really funny!

The Vespa Jeremy brought was a nice bike too. I think Hammond felt a bit sorry for himself though when they sprayed his bike pink. And what was that women doing with that pink spray paint. That wasn’t even her bicycle. I’m surprised that she got away with that.

As I say, I am a real fan of top gear and it would be really cool if the TG team did something to do with cars and bikes. Don’t you agree?

I am watching all of the replays on Dave. If you keep watching them, they become the all more funnier!!

The series was great and looking forward to the new series!!

Yours

top gears, top fan

i will be more than happy to watch whatever you put on telly next series it will still be better than fifth gear.
Good luck on your next series

I hope you’re reading these, Andy. There’s an awful lot of sensible comments on here.

I know you guys are journos. Please can we get a story on Steed’s Jag XJC 12 Broadspeed from The New Avengers. I posted a link on one of the here before, but just in case you don’t know the car I’m talking about http://forums.autosport.c om/printthread.php?thread id=97802. What happened to it? Any chance of getting it on the track?

On a different subject (but almost staying on the right track) did anyone ever see the documentary about the British raid on the German dry dock during WWII? Called “The Greatest Raid of all Time” it was a truly amazing take of heroism during the second world war. It was a terrific story in itself, but what made it completely unmissable was it was presented (and no doubt written) by JC.
Seriously, if you think he’s great at blowing up caravans, you should watch this documentary. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.

I hope everyone has a good night tonight and, as JC (roughly) said, “If you’re driving make sure you take the car”

Happy New Year when it comes.

Fifth Gear sucks

TOP GEAR RULES ALL OF THE CAR SHOWS

Shame on you Tiff Needell!!

Yours

top gears, top fan

it’s not the challenges that make the show it’s the three boys that make it and hopefully that won’t change so as usual the next series will be even better

Who’s with me on this one,

Fifth gear seems so fake where ad top gear seems more informative on the cars.

TAKE FIFTH GEAR OFF Dave!!!!
MORE TOP GEAR!!!!

Your

top gears, top fan

I’d be happy with 52 rubbishy shows a year actually Looking forward to the next series.

Although the Vietnam one really was the worst one ever.
TG – Cars = Pointless.

Fantastic series!!!! Loved the Vietnam Special apart from the motorbikes Can’t wait for Series 13. Happy New Year, TOP GEAR!!!!

I agree on Top Gear, Top Fan! Take Fifth Gear off (it is only 1/2 hour anyway), so what is the point? TAKE MOST OF FIFTH GEAR OFF DAVE AND PUT MORE TOP GEAR.

I WISH THERE WAS A TOP GEAR CHANNEL… LIVE!

You could try doing one proper road test for every episode…that might work – or get people to donate towards the show – or maybe even charge (if you do) or charge more for show tickets. i would easily spend over £100 to be in the audience of topgear.

Just make sure you make it funny, comedy costs nothing, just a few brains stuck together

and i saw that documentary! it was awesome thommo SEE 184

Are you all 5 years old ? Top Gear with cars and bikes ?? pleeeeeeaase! It’s Top Gear, a car show, not something made for people who watch it just to be entertained and ,to see 3 guys making a foul of themselves , if you want just that, please watch something else . This doesn’t mean that Top Gear has not to be funny . It has to be funny but remember that it is a car show !!! And someone said something about crazy comments and real ones… do you think that the stars in the reasonably priced car section want to do the lap time in their own cars ?? comeone…. I agree with James W , the guys in America with muscle cars was one of the moments were Top Gear was at it’s very very best.I apologize if there are errors in the text . Have a Happy New Year !!!

it was ome of the best seris loved it all cant wait till 09

Top Gear is the best! No other car program can beat Top Gear…

im a 13 year old kid and i cant get enuf of top gear id selll my xbox 360 to watch a hole day of it

Amazing series!
As always..
Fifth gear ****** they can’t take a F1 car to 200MPH and Top gear can get 200mph on a publicroad in a porsche 911 turbo..

Keep series comming

the budget cut should go to Jeremy’s Salary

Everyone’s done this, i know… but here’s my tuppence worth (or 1p worth if you can’t spare 2 of them) for Jezza’s idea for a “crap last show”. make like a normal TG episode, but instead of – for example – a Zonda Vs a space-shuttle, have something like maybe an old banger vs a grannie in a motorised wheelchair.

some of the audience involvement ideas are good too.

plus, maybe now’d be a good time to do “Star in a budget priced car”?

though again, as said, it’s the team and the trio who make TG as enjoyable as it is. as you said when mulling ver the OZ TG presenters, any trio could likely say the words and do the motions as told, but the relationship between Jezza, May and Hamster are what gives that bit of telebox magicalness.

and thanks muchly for series 12. arguably the best series yet.

Was I watching the same thing as everyone else, this year has been the worst ever, first season this year was dreadful. Show seems to of lost it genuine nature, it just seems wholly put on now. Jokes are very obviously staged, not that that is bad, but it’s now blindingly obvious and is clearly trying too hard. James May crashing in the USA (cut away as he crahes and then cut back, wtf was the camera man doing, was he too busy or was it put on?) If it’s budgets your talking about, why don’t you declare the presenters wages?? and the costs of the show.

i have seen every episode since series 1. this series 12 was very bad. where are the cars gone? no car tests “top gear style” anymore. the fiesta test (?) wasn`t “top gear style”, it was just idiotic. the vietnam special whas interesting, but where are the cars? nowhere near the africa or the old america special.
i hope the next series will be like the series 10 and 11, or top gear is loosing his mojo.

what happened to the bit in vienetnam when Richard Jamas and Jezza had to try and cross the road, please can you put that bit on the website please it looked brilliant, thanks.

good series but i reckon more classic tg tests need doing nd a couple more races really wouldn’t hurt!

loved the last series,give yourselves a big pat on the back to all at TG .you dont need a big budget to knock out a brill show,take doing the news for instance,one telly ,some dodgy chairs and 3 talented down to earth mates rattling on about anything..pure genius.i do like the big budget challenges .if the beeb want to save a few quid,stop showing depressing news 24 hrs a day,cut this down and show some happy stuff instead.it ain’t rocket science.

Actually, I’ve been watching Top Gear since the first season also, and I think this season has been one of the best ever (if not the best). The trips, the challenges, the trucks, american muscle cars, bus racing, communist(ical) cars, the Vietnam special, The studio bits. Everything was so enjoyable and funny. Great stuff. Just my opinion.

I loved the last regular show, just for the mental Top gear News and the awards alone. So funny. It is possible to do a great show without a big budget.

Thank you for a great season. Happy New Year!

great series as always, cant wait for top gear 2009, one question tho, will we ever see the stig do a lap in the reasonably priced car? that would be great to watch, plus it would be great to see the celebs tryin to beat his time, Just an idea guys. And I would like to take my hat off to Clarkson 4 taking up the challenge in Vietnam, hating bikes myself i knew how he felt. Well done to all on the show, keep it up guys and girls. Happy New Year.

No matter how big the budget cut is Top Gear will always be great,
because Top Gear is the greatest show on Earth and it always will be!!
———————————————————
Happy New Year and best wishes to Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May, The Stig and all the Top gear team!!
———————————————————
Thank you very much for a great 2008 and good luck in 2009 and I cant wait until the new series!!
———————————————————

———————————————————

I think that you should get rid of the little 1.8 Lacetti and buy a Kia pro_cee’d 2.0 CRDI Sport. Bring on Series 13 and can you please consider testing the new Ford Ka but Hammond giving it a every thorough test. Have a great New Year. p.s can you please explode more caravans and try some old Lada’s

I think Season 10 and 11 were the best.
supercar challenges like season 10 episode 1 and episode 10 or even season 7 episode 3 were trully amazing.the race to japan and to oslo were brilliant.the challenges with the alfas or the low budget italian supercars rocked too!the trip to africa,america and trip to vietnam were hilarious.these are the episodes we all like.

.no more stunts,no more exploding of caravans.
.as many people said a good idea would be to let the guests test their own cars.
.besides this u can have a race with a rallye car similar to the 24hour race at season 10!
.test supercars and race cars too
.have challenges with good oldies like a sierra cosworth vs a bmw m3 e30 and mercedes 190 evo!

I have to admit Top Gear is my favourite tv show!Top Gear is trully the best!Have a happy new year and keep up the great work!

We all love Top Gear

Amen!

i was a bit dissapointed about the last series as the lads didnt do a realy mad challenge. Like racing across the globe in a £10 jaguar from the times of the egyptians. Good idea for the next hey!!

We love quality, not quantity . So good on you top gear, we love the show .Oh by the way HAPPY NEW YEAR…. ALL THE VERY BEST IN 09…..

Everyone from the 3 presenters, through the crew like Kiff the 1-armed-cameraman (really a shark attack?!) through Andy W., – you have all clearly worked your posteriors off through the year to give us Series 11 and 12 and all credit to you, when Top Gear is in no danger of being cancelled and it would be easy to go into ‘cruise mode’.

Yes, there have been hits and misses in both series, but that is a good thing! My cousin is a self-made ‘captain of industry’, and he has always told me failure is more useful than success in making sure your product will sell and be profitable.

It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone – a cosy little rut where you never fail because you never try. Jeremy, James and Richard aren’t afraid to “give it a go” – yes, sometimes it doesn’t work as well as you’d imagine and sometimes they look like prize prunes, but how many ‘celebrities’ do you know who have the intelligence and wisdom to realise that they are not really semi-divine and have no right to expect constant adulation unless they’re trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease or cancer? That lack of conceit and insufferable arrogance is a big part of Top Gear’s appeal – they don’t pretend to know everything about cars (or lorries or bikes!). Just think, how many of us would still be watching Top Gear if it had never taken the risk of trying new approaches outside the old format of reeling off the specs and stats whilst wearing tweed or v-neck sweaters.

True, maybe the fiesta chase was a bit overlong, but who hasn’t ground their teeth over rip-off parking charges and wished they dared bring their car right into the shopping centre?! As for the beach landing – loved it! The Royal Marines came up with that idea, not Jezza and considering they are the ones who fight for their country when a lot of able-bodied young men are workshy scroungers doing bod all, it was brilliant of Top Gear to agree to their idea and let the Marines have a bit of much needed fun.

As for most of the format – I like the fact that we’re not bogged down in nitty-gritty engine details. I watch Top Gear because I like to see those great cars that I will never have the chance to see, never mind drive or own in real life. My favourite has always been that Dutch Spyker in green with red leather seats, followed by the Veyron. I don’t need an indepth report on a Yaris because it’s a common car. My mechanic’s there for anything that goes wrong under the bonnet, and if you do have a proper accident (like when I lost a wheel at 40mph) knowing exactly how your engine works as the car goes berserk does you bod all good anyway.

To be honest, the budget cut exemplifies everything that is wrong with the BBC – people used to declare “I work for” with pride, now people whisper it as an embarrassed admission. Top Gear is BBC 2’s top rated show, and therefore, you are all being punished for excellence?!! In what lunatic asylum does that make sense? And what message does it send out to impressionable children already half-brainwashed by X Factor, I’m A Celebrity etc, that they don’t need to do anything to get lots of money and be famous:
“Well children, look at Top Gear – they understand the need to work hard and put their best effort in and they’ve won lots of awards and they’re a top rated show!”
“What did they get for being so brilliant then, miss?”
“Well, er, ah…”
“Did they get prizes, miss?”
“actuallytheywerepunished withabudgetcut…”
“What was that, miss?”
“Don’t slouch, Jenkins, now everyone turn over the page to the tick-box GCSE on ethno-centric diversity understanding…”

I look forward to Series 13 in March, but I’d like to enthusiastically endorse Jonathan (24.) idea – release the series on DVD, but do it properly, with extras.

I bet there are reels of outtakes that could add hours of enjoyment to each series. Top Gear already has some products on DVD but these have been a let down – the boxset special that I bought for a friend as a gift only to realise that the American special had been chopped from 60 to 52 minutes and that the Polar Special was the 70 mins it had been.

If you sell each series across all the regions and make it a quality product, you will make a fortune that you can plough back into the show. Getting permission for some of the music might be an issue, but if it came down to a choice between not having the DVD and having an exerpt of generic tune, I’d live with the bland music. James has a music degree; I’m quite sure he’s capable of composing an original score for certain scenes. I would certainly love Series 11 as I missed the early episodes due to illness – including James’ “flirting” routine which completely baffled me on the “awards” episode. I now have to wait for them to come round on Dave in the knowledge I’ll be losing 15-20 minutes of prime TV viewing to adverts.

You have produced some great TV this year; all the best for 2009 and looking forward to Series 13 – I have no doubt that it will be great.

it was all great all episodes

Hammonds the best and the porshure 911 is the best car ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!1

Come on 2009!! Great last episode, go on Clarkson; get a bike – secretly you want to – and nowadays you don’t have to purchase gay boy leathers!

Happy New Year to all.

Top gear woz even better this time. That last challenge woz brill. Shame top gear hasn’t had the ferrari enzo fxx, that wuld beat everythin else like the veyron, which surprisingly was slow, newayz, nxt 1 will b out of this world.

i love the whole serise it doesnt matter about the big stunts i would watch it if they were just sitting and talking for an hour. so i cant wait for the next serise

ferraris’ are crap italian junk … go for an aston

epic

I really enjoyed the last series. The challenges are the best part of the show in my opinion.

So if you have to cut back on spending don’t scale back the challenges.

Roman
Toronto, Canada

the series was incredily funny and entertaining, way better than that fifth gear filth. good luck

when is top gear back on t.v because i already miss it and vietnam was too funny i have watched it 4 times

I like top gear and i always wath it and some repets on Dave channel and my frends watch it it ’s always good laught

why dont they just fire Johnathan Ross permanently, theres a few million right there, nobody has missed him but I would be mortified if TG was cut!

I vove top gear and i like watching repets on Dave and my my friends as well

To get more money why can’t you release more dvds with lots of extra footage and outakes from the series and all the special trips. The bbc would make loads of cash for that and also they could sack Jonathan Ross for good (that would save a bob or two) less episodes of Eastenders,its on far too many nights a week! Basically keep Top Gear (one of the bbcs most popular programmes)and trim the fat from other areas. LONG LIVE TOP GEAR !!!!

Top Gear is an awesome show and im always eager to download it. Thats the point i think everyone is making, we’d all watch top gear no matter what. Looking forward to TG live.

TOP GEAR IS AWESOME!

top gear is THE BEST THING ON THE BBC and is worth every penny of the license fee. thanks chaps for making it the best

Awesome work as always guys..The Vietnam show was just amazing…Id watch Jezza James and Richard sitting around scratching their balls and picking their noses and it would still be hugely entertaining and hysterical….Happy new year to all at TG…Looking forward to 2009’s madness!

Love you !! xxx

TOP GEAR IS THE BEST IT IS NOT CRAP IT IS SIMPLY THE BEST EVER SHOW TO WATCH! JEREMY, JAMES AND RICHARD, ARE THE MOST GREATEST PRESENTERS OF TOP GEARS, IF THEY DIDN’T HOST THE SHOW I WOULD NEVER WATCH TOP GEAR, I DONT CARE WHO’S BEEN PRESENTING TOP GEAR BEFORE J,J,R I KNOW IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIFELESS AND BORING BUT THESE PEOPLE MAKE IT SUCH A FUN SHOW TO BE WATCHED!!! JEREMY IS THE KING OF THE SHOW!!!

top gear is the best

As said earlier, the stuntman things are a waste of time. As far as a blanket statement, whatever the segment-type (presenter-competition, road test, challenge) stay away from the little contrived, overly pre-planned acting and such, the more genuine the event, the better.

It seems that there could have been an extra comparison test of new metal, or the new car vs the established competitors. I mean, the manufacturers loan them, right?

And Top Gear Australia blows because they tried way too hard copying Jeremy, James, and Richard. They should be their own personalities, not the same “oh, he’s slow, and he gets lost all the time”. Enough said.

Overall its been a good solid season. The episode in Vietnam may be my favorite of the season. For me, its less about the cars and more about the entertainment of seeing the boys interact on trips like Vietnam, America and Africa.

Keep up the great work! We in the USA love it even with Jeremy’s hate of Americans.

Overall its been a good solid season. The episode in Vietnam may be my favorite of the season. For me, its less about the cars and more about the entertainment of seeing the boys interact on trips like Vietnam, America and Africa. My least favorite, is still the stuntman skits. They’re not funny and add little value to the show. You can save some money right there.

Keep up the great work! We in the USA love it even with Jeremy’s hate of Americans.

Regardless of the responses you’ve seen, this year was still a great year for the show in my opinion. I do not watch television (here in the USA), simply because it’s 99.5% annoyance. Top Gear is like a breath of fresh air, that can keep me entertained for an entire show. A bad Top Gear episode still trumps the best American Idol or similar reality tv show garbage we get here, in my eyes.

There’s a Bluebird over the White Cliffs of Dover…….NO, please not Ginna Campbell please

i think that you guys deserve a big round of apluse because it was a very good year and the best part of it was top gear and the STIG happy new year bye……………………………..

I thought that the last studio show was a blast. The News and Awards were great fun and there’s nothing I like more than a good laugh and just it’s happening in a car show doesn’t bother me. I like the cars but the fun makes it all the better.

As for the trimming down, well I agree with Tom from Calif. Stuntman doesn’t add much to the show and I wonder if the SIARPC would be missed, but then we wouldn’t get the little gems like the Will/Jeremy/Kristin love affairs. But, well, I wouldn’t miss it. But if you have to replace the car, why not save a few quid and replace it with a banger. That would give Simon Cowell something to really moan about lol.

2008 was a great TG year and the road trips and challenges were brill. Cut backs or not, I’ll always look forward to seeing TG and am missing it already. Here’s to 2009.

Happy New Year all

this was the worst series in the history of top gear. only show 2 and parts of 4,5,6 and 7 were good (vietnam special was fab!)v8 meat, no, show 1,no,show 3 no, awards BIG NO!!! change all these stupid challenges such as HGVS into power tests

the “HA NOI cockup” was planned i think…coz during the movie when jeremy says “would you like to hop to ha noi…yes i would” but anyways what a cockup lol nice 1 guys happy new year and see you guys soon

Here’s a thought.

We hate volvo and caravans right?

So why not do a descruction derby with 740 estates towing a caravan, but the rules say no contact on the caravans or points lost…. and then everyone looses points… just a thought.

Or just see how many people we can get to get a photo of themselves on a truvelo (front facing) speed camera with either clarkson, hammon, gay, or stig covering their face and number plate.

Whoops did i say gay? I ment very gay.

loose stuntman.

and how about star in an old resonably priced turbod car?

say a 1996 rover 620 ti. and see who blows the head gasket first? soddin K series engines!

There could be a few sneaky ways to spread things out, and make 13 brilliant shows, and one half decent…..

For instance, in 1 show getting Jeremy, Richard & James to build a rally car on a budget then doing a series of challenges at a Rally school (filling in the bits in between with a few car reviews)… then in the next episode have them taking part in an actual rally.

And maybe also a 2-part trek across Australia in Aussie Muscle cars (similar idea to the California – Bonneville trip), perhaps with the 2nd to last show covering Perth to Adelaide (padded out with a couple of other reviews + Star in reasonably priced car)…… then in the last episode covering Adelaide – Melbourne – Sydney Harbour Bridge / Opera House, complete with more challenges such as seeing how fast the “Stig’s Australian Cousin” can take the cars round a race track + some sort of brake test challenge on the set of Neighbours (and fill in any boring bits with the TOP GEAR awards).

Another idea that could be worth a shot is getting Jeremy, James & Richard each build a LOCOST sports car… and then set them a load of challenges (as with things like the £1500 porsches, amphibious cars, etc) http://en.wikipedia.org/w iki/Locost

And perhaps also setting them a UK Motorbike challenge (similar to the Truck’s one), just to get more laughs off Jeremy’s insults about Motorcyclists.

Nissan Skyline race across Japan in Series11 ranked among the best ever TOP GEAR episodes… so maybe send them back to Japan for another race there, like maybe racing the latest Japanese microcars from Nagasaki to Sapporo.

Star in the reasonably priced car…. perhaps reserve the 2 at a time for when sticking racing drivers in the reasonably priced car, and trying to get some old rivals up against each other (e.g. Tim Harvey vs John Cleland, Coulthard vs Barrichello, etc)…. and we’re still waiting for Hamilton to return to see what he can do round the track in the dry.
And for the new car…… how about turning that into a Top Gear Challenge too, with Jeremy / James / Richard each picking a car (e.g. Fiesta, Panda, Prius, Corsa or whatever)… then testing them to destruction to find the best one for the job.

As for both 2008 series (S11 + S12)… both among the best ever apart from S11 E2 (which I can’t remember), and S12 E3 (which was funny, but somehow didn’t feel up to scratch).

Just miles better than any of the other shit on TV. I`d pay a licence fee just for TG.

Ally in Dundee

it was funny when they done the awards and the worst chat up lines and then you see those nice girls and james may goes ……… hello lol

Sorry but why not save money by axing the garbage altogether, watch the Chuckle brothers or go to the circus and watch some clowns with their exploding car, Top Gear has lost the plot.

What you really think that !

i bet youre some one working for fifth gear

Carman!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO JEREMY CLARKSON, RICHARD HAMMOND, JAMES MAY, THE STIG AND ALL THE TOP GEAR TEAM!!
BEST WISHES IN 2009 TO ALL THE TEAM!!

Happy new year to everyone who sees this. Unless its 2 days after.

i have watched top gear since the new start back in 2002 and it just seemed to get better and better but this series was missing the fun from the previous ones, the american episode this series was great and so was the corvette chase through the shopping mall and the trucking episode was amazing, but the rest was missing fun, i love it when clarkson hammond and may get given money for a car and then breakdown and hit eachother all the time, its quality! the american episode that included buying that dodge ram. cadilac and camaro was the best episode ever! i for one want more like that! please top gear, bring back that fun! oh and please get rid of the star in a reasonably priced car that just eats up at valueabale powersliding time, its soooo boring! thaks for reading this! josh_hamer@hotmail.com

I’m with Thaddeus, I’d love to see you guys build a couple of cheap go-karts out of old lawnmowers and free junk, race them around a track then destroy them in some ludicrous manner, or you could even put the Star in the car and have him race Captain Slow in a go-kart. That would be hilarious and very low budget. Then you would have enough to blow on something really cool.

LH
Pearl City, Hawaii

loved this series!!!! dont worry about the budget cut mates, anything you guys put on will be massively epic as always. heres an idea, for the last shite episode, just put the three in a rooom and give them something to argue about, like whats the best car in the world. or do a show with all the cut out bits! i think i speak for a lot of people when i say that would be awesome.

love your show! keep it going!

HAPPY NEW YEAR STIGGY!!!!

Also, surely gotta get James May testing this sometime next series:
http://www.dailymail.co.u k/sciencetech/article-109 7324/Worlds-flying-car-ro ads-year–just-130-000.htm l

If you got less money do more used car insanity. I like it as long it’s about cars.

I agree with #255,
i also would love to see some build-off’s in 09.
And please put Rowan Atkinson in the reasonably priced car!

Best tv show ever! “NEVER STOP MAKING THEM”

PS: thank the lord we get BBC is Canada

Ok on episode 2-American Muscle, did anyone who in the past said that series 12 episode 2 wasn’t up to scratch and was too restraint, wasting our time with over-idiocy angering many(ep. 1 & 3) ? yeah i was one of them too; now towards the end of top gear series 12, do you notice a change of your view of ep 2; is it getting positive

I found that every week when reviewing ep 2 since ep 2 came out, it began to warm itself towards me; ep 2 was different from the normal explosion and exuberance we normally so often get. At the last episode before the special, i found myself really liking ep 2, the cars and the colours of them, reflected that warm sunny , society free living feeling; that we shy & contained British with the world wide known Cloudy English weather, don’t really get and feel, but want.

Because the episode wasn’t as interesting as it could have been, not as head on flamboyant and exuberant as we normally get, we were left with de idiocy and boring way of presenting; that at the end of the show I felt a feeling like I have been conned (i want my money back and so at first i was angry felt cheated too much of boring dreary rubbish; from flamboyant and exuberant presentation and actions very related to cars( like car duel, 0-60 test top speed , catch up ect) we where stuck with 3 late middle aged men boring us on TV, letting us watch them rot in car.- So first reaction, rubish!

Put after the weeks i watched it again, spooling back several times picking up details, Paying more attention to details and suck the positive out of that, which is present.

aah a good comparison, ……. welll… ah! got it!

ep.2 felt Like good red wine. Its not up to standard u would expect, when it’s just 2 – 3 weeks old, the chemicals haven’t mixed yet, at least a year is needed for it to be classified as and acceptable wine, that will be known under ”Light”.

Ep. 2 didn’t appeal to me when it first came out for public view, but gradually after almost 2 months i like it quite a bit, would even dare to say ep 2 comes at least third to the ”Vietnam Special” special; yeess that was a bomb.

So Top gear didn’t make presentation of cars;
instead they conentrated on making us wine.

And you know wats funny? Jeremy did give us a warning at the beginning of series 11 of this year, remenber? They wanted this time to an audience older than 10 or so.

i am from romania and i must admmit i don`t have a driving license… so sorry.. promise i`ll get one this year.. it is the first of january 8.07 in romania and i have just finished watching the vietnam special.. for those who think top gear is a car show their wrong… it is so much more than that… it can make people who know absolutely nothing about cars, like me, look forward to every episode and to argue with the girl friend who wants to watch soaps or wants to bring them to life… so all i can say being the first day of 2009 is… damn i promise i`ll get a license!!!!!!! all the best to all top gear fans and may we watch clarckson hammond and may at least till 2012 and if the world won`t come to an end then ) for many years to come… a great year to one and all

top program nothing else can beat it i once caught a glimpse of that other so called car program on itv it registered very high on my snooze meter . clarkson hammy and capt slow are top presenters

Excellent episodes! Hey, the new TG HK Magazine’s great! Enjoy it very much. Congratulations to you on your first bike experience JC. Love the hilarious jokes of TG, real cool. SIARPC is great fun, guests are awesome, hey find some sportsman as guest. No need to tell us how good supercars are, find us some more rubbish cars and make fun of them.

By the way, why don’t you guys drive the RPC yourselves?

To save money, how about more simple road tests. Have 2 or 3 a show. They can’t be that expensive compared to some of the other more grandiose segments. Keep up the good work.
How about testing the R56 Mini Cooper S?
Cheers

Budget cut? Why not do some car reviews; they’re cheap : ) Good series overall though, last episode especially. Just a couple of (probably quite expensive) plunges into a horrible abyss I’d rather not see again. Maybe a budget cut will be good, TopGear may have to return to its core, and I for one would rather like that : )

Loved the series! Great work. Tog Gear just gets better and better each year. Looking forward to the 2nd season of Top Gear AU (once they start being themselves it will be great…. and after they fix the sound+picture quality)

I thought the last series was one of the worst.
In particular the last episode, what has happened to Top Gear, its become more like a holiday programme.
Where was the first drive of the Ferrari California.
I want to see more super cars and less Wish you were here!
Bring back the old top gear!

Loved every episode so far! Especially enjoy all the specials, happy new year to everyone at Top gear.

reply to tgfan

I see what you mean. But you have to admit top gear would not be the same without their trips!

I think Top Gear should make a movie. It should have loads of challenges and other car reviews etc.

Come on every body, we should be rebelling against Fifth Gear and email Dave to take them off.

MORE TOP GEAR.
TOP GEAR HAS A POINT TO IT WHERE AS FIFTH GEAR DOESN’T!!

yours

top gears, top fan

Rock on top fan! Everytime I go on Dave at weekends it’s fifth gear. Top gear is only on at 4, 5 and 8 on weekdays!

everybody look at comment #245.

WHAT A SCUM! HE SHOULDN’T EVEN BE ALOUD ON THE TG WEBSITE FOR PULLING A FAST ONE LIKE THAT!!

TAKE HIM OFF
TAKE HIM OFF

HE IS OBVIOUSLY WORKING FOR FIFTH GEAR

top gear, top fan

I love Top Gear, but I have to agree with comment 245, Top Gear has lost the plot a bit.

Bring back old Top Gear,

Bring back great car reviews!

Fantastic series, always is, the BBC should cut looking for whatever in the attic etc and find you the extra pennies!

Try a format like TG anywhere in any country in the world and it will fail like nothing ever, ever..ever failed before, TG rules again and
we all Love the show here in Belgium.

when is tg back on tv

The beeb should forget about making shows like strictly come rubbish and start saving money to make top gear, anyway why put on rubbish like strictly, when top gear should be on all day. One more thing, why don’t top gear make a vieo game.
P.S Why don’t you get an award for the best show… IN THE WORLD!

The beeb should forget about making shows like strictly come rubbish and start saving money to make top gear, anyway why put on rubbish like strictly, when top gear should be on all day. One more thing, why don’t top gear make a vid-
eo game.
P.S Why don’t you get an award for the best show… IN THE WORLD!

I DON’T CARE WHETHER FILTH (YES, FILTH)GEAR WINS THE LOTTERY AND CAN AFFORD TO BUY A FORD KA, TOP GEAR WITH 1P OR 1 MILLION POUND, WILL BE THE BEST SHOW ON EARTH, AND ANOTHER THING JEZZA DESERVES TO GET KNIGHTED, AND ALSO I SEE FILTH GEAR DON’T HAVE A MAGAZINE…

TO SHORTEN EXPENCES JUST BE YOURSELF AND THE SHOW WON’T BE … (SORRY, I’M 9)

great show but when is top gear back on ? ?

Highlights from this whole last year have to be the specials.. They are outstandingand shouldnt be cut. Personally I would be happy with two 6 episode series and one fantastic special. If you have to do a cheaper episode how about an MPH special behind the scenes for people who cant get to see it live… just an idea

Absolutely loved the show this year, I’ll take a shite episode of Top Gear over any other show on tv. I can’t wait to see what you boys come up with for next year. And finally, extra thanks to Jeremy , James and Richard… while some episodes may not be as good as other, their chemistry makes the show what it is. Keep up the good work, maybe the budget cut will be a good thing, getting back to raw simple power tests (like the TVR Sagaris and Marcos TSO tests) might not be a bad thing.

briliant series!!! loved every minuite!!! no matter what if you have clarkson, hammond and may and a bunch of brilliant writers the show will be brilliant!!!!

Top Gear, here some sensible tips.

If u are running on a low budget now, many surely wouldn’t mind when you cut this following away from the program, and instead u can extend the time you to show the Videos you already produce.

ex. — You plan a journey with some new super cars through some astonishing regions; on the program you got only 10 mins to show us all of the trip, but with some of the bits that We don’t mind to have removed, instead of 10 mins, you now have 10 EXTRA mins to fill us in more of what you did and saw in your trips or car reviews.

What can be removed, that most people won’t object to, knowing what they will get in return.

- Cool wall
to be honest guys, that is the most easiest choice of all, remove the cool wall thing; cause really, no-one sensible cares of what car you thing is coll super coll in another league or complete rubbish; every one can really decide for himself if the car they choose fits their style, and if they can be seen in public with.

ex. Richards madness saying in series 11 that aston martin isn’t cool, or you can’t be seen anymore driving it — dreary rubbish!

But if you guys happen to be sooooo Obsessed with letting everyone know what you thing is cooll and what isn’t, hey, we got THIS website here!
Plug it in here.

+ and that is at least 5 min saved.

- Good news = dacia sandero ha ha ha
basically, the good news bit should be transient, only present us with the good news bit, if there is actually something interesting, not presenting us with Unnecessary details ect.

+ Try keep this part short, so you save
potentially 8 mins of extra spare time.

+ And so here, making simple changes, you have
an extra 12-18 mins. that u simply use to
extend the videos that you have already
prepared.

- STOP CRASHING CARS YOU WOMBATS .
It doesn’t matter if the cars cars you destroy only cost 400 quid, this 400 quid can really help you to pay for the Fees to travel through the ”Border Posts ” of the different country’s for example.

I don’t really get much fund from seeing caravans getting crashed, does anyone prefer seeing 1 )a caravan crashed to as suppose seeing 2) jc, hamsta and captain undertaker taking a LoTus Exige – Nissan GTR – and a porsche 911 Boxter through the mountain regions of France?

These changes are simple and painless!

There you go guy’s!

i’ve got an idea for a challenge.

the three of them buy a cheap supercar for as little as poissible. one challenge is to reverse a lap around the track only by using the rear window and the rear view mirror! now i’d like to see that…

I’m with Jezza.

Keep the cheap episode. It’s just the one that only gets watched 10 times and not 100s like the great New Orleans road trip.

Keep up the good work.

More offroading would be cool. James on the rally tracks and Jezza playing the fox was good tv.

How about you do a few more of them car challenges where the presenters have to pay for the cars and try and earn there money back? it will be cheap because they wont get there money back!!

Talking SIARPC – if the car does get replaced, be nice to see if the Lacetti WTCC car could be engineered into a feature against the road, something I can;t undersand why it hasn’t happened already. format of it not given specific thought, but perhaps Jezza who re-inforces the idea of the car being sh1t and plonking him in the Touring car? I dunno, but would be cool to see

I reckon that next series they should get a new reasanably priced car the Mazda 2TS/Mazda 2sport

Rather than SIARPC, why not do Stars in their own cars. Now i’d much rather watch that. I’m sure JK would have trouble choosing which toy to bring down to the studio!

The shite ones are the ones that always get you into hysterics. So no complains – Top Gear will be Top Gear. Funny, hilirous facts that everyone (apart from people who find fault everywhere) can enjoy.

even theres a budget cut top gear will still be better then fifth gear even if its not the best episode they’ve done

Can’t wait for Top Gear 2009, whether the show will be in the dark because they can’t afford the electricity bill or even if they audience is wearing coats because it’s cold in the studio.

I think the best way to save money is for them to stop going to places like Japan and Vietnam, I know that they are great shows but I bet with a good script they could pull the same thing off here in the UK.

The lads are always great to watch, so keep the good work and a Happy New Year to all of you who work on Top Gear

I really love the new series – and all the changes – but before everyone kicks off at me I’ve been watching the show since the 2001 “revival”.

I love the Cool Wall, and the news, and they’re probably the cheaper parts to film – please don’t get rid of them! It would be nicer to see more reviews, especially James’ ones (I adored his Zonda review the other week, it was brilliant) but I like the entertainment, it keeps the show fresh.

It’s daft that they’re cutting your budget when they spend some ridiculous amount on Strictly Crap Dancing and Little Dorrit and whatnot. Mum used to watch Strictly when I was trying to watch Top Gear and it inevitably ended badly. Cancel SCD and give the budget to Top Gear, that’ll solve a few problems!

(On another note, why can only 18s upwards go see TG?! I’ve been desperate to go for years and I’ve still got a year to go!)

Have James play the theme tune on his keyboard…that was a laugh
Erm…..thats all i can think of.

luv the show never miss it, nam episode woz gr8. keep up the good work

Where’s the communist Stig?….. anyway, great show ever.
If you gonna spend a lot of money in the show you should come to Mexico, that will be funny and great!!

2004 and the atom (next year it will be the tg car of the year)

We all love Top Gear for the ridiculous challenges and the mostly hopeless outcomes.

The Vietnam challenge was outstanding, and the anphibious bike challenge was a brilliant idea!

Can’t wait until the next season of Top Gear begins so we can all see some more pointless fooling around!

Look, we all watch Top Gear, because we know that it is better that that channel 5 show that does not deserve a name.
2009 should be a piss take on the recession and why not go to China,or India, and do some major cocking about. Then force feed the hamster, a snake, squid, Vietnam food smoothie,(made with the JC V8 blender of death.

Keep it up for 09

top gear is a cool car show on t.v but it is also a kind of a comedy! there is always a good theme show and we always have a good laugh watching it. it gives the right advise about cars but, on other shows they are too embaressed to give the real advise. these guys are always up to a challange no matter what.

Very frank and honest, I think thewhole “I wonder if it can escape three chinese mud wrestling dwalves” could be lost on tight belts. Go back to dealing with “impracticle classics”, as every viewer has/is been there.They for me hold most water, yeah I love the car I’ll never own, but really, l liked the vietnam to do, was funny and stupid as ever. Helicopter gun ships and submarine fights are for clarkson dvd one off’s.

It would be good to see Lewis Hamiltion on again … although he’s so busy I don’t think that will happen.

But great series, especially the HGV’s!

top gear is the best show…….in the world

it was a fat show. much better than 5th gear, i wud lov to b a topgear presenter but i don’t know anything about cars. only that they are fast and expensive, which i can’t buy.

some say that top gear is is so good that if it was on every sunday every other tv show would be out of buissness
and that if the stig says one word jeremy clarkson will die

jeremy i’ve got an idea for your v8 thing,why don’t you strap it onto a shopping trolley.

I cant wait till next years Top Gear.

Super work guys, i just hope Series 13 isn’t unlucky and hampered by all the financial crisis.

Even if you only had a tenner it would still be the best car show ever.

p.s. I quite enjoyed the 2 Stars in the Reasonably Priced Car

Keep up the good work

Only just started watching Top Gear, and can I say what a fantastic show it. Being a girlie (fastly approaching middle age – yet younger than Hammond), with absolutely no interest in cars, some would say that it is quite a supprise that someone like me would enjoy the programme. But it is great. The fun, frollics and hillarity, usually at the expense of poor old James makes the show fantastic. Well done guys, it’s a shame that the budget is being cut, but I’m sure that the show will still go on. Having spent every night this week watching clips on the lap top, I suppose I had best spend some time now doing some work on here! I’m sure lots of people send in ideas, but what about letting us average, reasonably normal! girls have a go in those fast cars. It beats dropping the kids off at the childminders in the Zafira, and you could swap your day of fast cars and fun for a day in our lives!!! After all, it would be cheap (untill we crash, that is).
Keep up the great work, looking forward to the next series.

Happy New Year…

… And if you’re reading this on Dave – Happy Easter.

What a excellant series. The vietnam special was the best, even though the challenges wernt as good as the ones in previous seasons it was still miles better than fifth gear. Its just a al round great programme.

To be honest I thought that this series was appalling compered to the others. I understand that the TG office was filled with complaints but TG is not the only show to take the piss out of Strictly Come Dancing(Harry Hill TV Burp). I hope TG gets back to normal soon.

Happy New Year

Keep up the good work Andy! I hope the lads have left time in their busy schedule to film a few clips while visiting Aussie next month! In fact, with the AU$/GBP exchange rate – why not film the whole series down here!

top gear this year was amazing cant wate for the next season realy want to see how they will out do this year’s seasons

Season 12 is the best of the seasons imo. As for budget cut’s a lot of the time it is the boys who make the show enjoyable not just the cars. I would still watch. How bout you fellas come over here and make Top Gear aus better. At the moment Fifth Gear is better than Aussie Top Gear.

always been tawn between cars and pc’s, cars have won, i am now 2/3rds a driving instructor. i’d much rather be driving for myself in the race world. pls any advice

Hell, I thought the awards episode was brilliant too. Finish the autumn run next year with a show like that–hell, maybe for that last show one road test, SIARPC, maybe the Cool Wall, and make the rest of the show Top Gear Awards–let them give awards out for whatever they want.

Even the shittiest Top Gear episode is millions of times better than anything else on the BBC. Come to think of it, why don’t they cut funds for the other crap they show and no one watches instead?

Thank you Mr. Wilman! For making some of my dreams into realities!

Dang you guys are popular :]
By the time i scrolled down to write my two-cents i forgot everything.

TopGear is the best pretty much…no matter what. Yay to more challenges and episodes!

[mabye bring Jason Statham to SIARPC?]

LOVING CLAKSONS MOD SUIT IN VIETNAM SPECIAL,

WICKED STYLE JEZZA.

Well I didn’t read ANY of this so I might as well say somthing nice

See Ya

This exceptional series will certainly spoil every viewers in the future. Therefore, in response to the budget cut, how about spending most of the budget on every episodes except the last one with the award show + outtakes?

i dont know why richard and may’s lap time in the reasonably priced car has not been done please do it i want to see how fast they really are and even jeremy

jeremy was talking about mercedes s black i just want to know more about it

Thanks for all your comments about the show.In seires 13, i will test the new porsche ruf ctr3.it is fenominal.

HAPPY NEW GEAR

Are you really the Hamster?

I think the hamster would be able to spell. lol some people.

Anyway amazing series and I will look forward to a new budget cut Top gear and the crappy left over last one yaaay .
x

Reference the 13 great episodes and the 14th not so good. Do a show like vietnam but base it in the uk. (Bikes or cars for less than £500 or something like that. Nam was great!!!!!!)

i thought that the series was great and have really enjoyed it. i cannot wait till the next series which i am sure will be s good and mad as ever.
i can’t wait to see it and will hopefully get tickets to se the show live

i would like to see a specialist after market tuning company have a go at project evo because i think it can be done

stop the fubu,, lying about tesla booo bboooo

Good luck in 2009 series.. i’m sure they will be as good as we expect and even more, despite the budget cut, i’m 100% confident that your shows will remain top one -at least for me-
Looking forward to watching new series full of speed, performance, new cars and new jocks as well ..

Regards,
Ahmad W. Mushasha,
Jerusalem,
Palestine.

you could have a top gear digger race or have an episode with no sound and it would be better than strictly come dancing , and look at how many people waste their evenings watching that…

impatiently waiting for TG series 13, cant wait to see what you come up with im hoping for another trans-continental race like Veyron vs. Plane. and maybe a movie about modified production cars, like the Hamann, Techart,and Mansory. that would be brilliant

In regard to the budget cuts, i suggest you focus more on obsolete used european cars.. it’ll be more interesting watching more second hand cars from early 90’s or 80’s in your comming shows, not for crashes or bind races purposes, but for comparisons and evaluations..

BR
Ahmad,
palestine

You guys did ran out of budget back in Season 3. At the last episode, Hamster and Clarkson announce that they had spend all the money.

Or was that a joke?

Why are the video clips from series’ not shown in Australia unavailable on the Web? Has it occured to anyone in the BBC/SBS that blocking these clips might discourage people from watching the next series as opposed to looking forward to it?
I understand that a ‘Commercial Agreement’ is obviously in effect but blocking 3 to 11 minute video clips is petty!

i like johnnys idea of a showin of a tg live, was at dublin show, wud love to see it again

Why buget cuts when BBC pays so much to its stars such a Mr Ross and Mr Norton their shows are not a patch on top gear so please bbc spend your money on quality tv and give more to the top gear team. Just a thought if they cancel strictly come dancing they would have money to make 20 good programs

Andy, for a cheap challenge how about getting the lads to make Lego cars!!! JM would build a full scale model, RH would eat the bricks and somehow JC’s Lego would catch fire

Can the web team please stop wasting front page article space with links to the car chooser and videos that everyone has already seen? We used to get new car articles pretty much everyday on the old topgear site but now we’re lucky if we get one piece of news per week. Do we need reminding of the car chooser, bits that didn’t make it to the show (which we watched when they were first uploaded) and videos ripped from youtube? The space would be better used for the new car reviews which for some reason don’t make it onto the main page anymore!

Rant Over.

dave your wrong you idiot

dave stop moaning your the only one who cares about the website shut up

the guy called dave works for fifth gear he hates everything about top gear get dave off the website

Yeah, Dave…how dare you bring up a legitimate beef about the website (a CAR ENTHUSIAST website) completely dropping the ball on the subject of…cars. What in the hell is wrong with you? How dare you point out the obvious, here in an appropriate place? Don’t you understand the deaf-dumb-and-blind stroke-job etiquette around these parts? If you actually have something constructive to add, you’re in the wrong place, sunshine…unless you pepper your post with words like “ace” and “fab” and “lol!” and are prepared to admit that the worst episodes of TG in recent memory (the ones without cars, for instance) are, in fact, the best ones in recent memory.

This is Handjob Central, Dave, so damnit son, shape up or ship out!

(Oh, and you’re exactly right, incidentally. I can only assume that the new site is geared primarily towards those too young to actually drive cars, or those too drunk and stoned to realise much less care that cars have become a distant second on the scale of importance now not just for the television show [which is horrifying enough], but now for website as well. Once upon a time, didn’t the old website give us at least a half dozen good new car articles on the front page every week? Looks like being a car fan is making you an endangered species within the TG empire these days…)

I think that this year for TG has been great. News and Funny bits, not all about cars, put together is a brilliant combination. Thought that the Vietnam special was cool even though there weren’t any cars, especially bit where James fell off his makeshift ‘boat’. Well done for making such a great year of telly.

seriously, I’d watch a whole series of the three of them sitting around doing ‘the news’!

Yer elfin the cheapest bits to show are always the funniest ones, as it is never known what the lads will say.
Especially Jezza.

Xx

the nest car should be a Dacia sandero or a dacia logan, the show was amazing hope to see Tg soon, oh and if u really want a challenging challenge, you should come to romania, and but the boys to buy really old car like 30-0 year old dacia’s and aro’s and make them drive across the Transfagarasan( a really high altitude road )

What do you thinks better?
The new lambo

Or The New aston

Both 4 door both hardcore

thomas1

Dave loves Fifth Gear and Top Gear, that’s why they are both always on his TV Channel all day!!

Keep up the good work, life without Top Gear would not be worth living!!!
The team on screen are the best and keep getting funnier!
Long Live Top Gear even if they cut your budget to a £1.00

One more thing, bring TG Live to the US.

Personally I think this season has been one of the best. I’ve got to say it really is a credit to yourself, jezza, hammond and may plus all the 100s of people who must work exceptionally hard that the show STILL stays fresh and massively entertaining after all these years.

Thanks guys.

Topgear is the greatest tv show ever, and in my mind all the people envolved in it must have genius genes in their DNA…i would like to propose to NASA that the next time they send another probe (like voyager in the 70s)into outer space they should enclude a dvd (and a dvd-player)of the best of TOPGEAR as a token 0f human achievment,spirit and humor! any lifeform with eyes will want to make friends with us after that!and they may want to subscribe as BBC viewers too!!
thank you and a happy new year
Jack Aldahi from Germany

As long as Hammond, Clarkson, May and the Stig are there, Top Gear is still Top Gear. who cares whether you think its gonna be shite, as long as those nutters are on our screens taking the p**s out of each other and crashing about like bulls in a china shop we’ll still watch. the only time TG will get bad is if one of the presenters goes… so what ever you do, do NOT get rid of Hammond, Clarkson, May or Stig. EVER. pleeeeaaasssse?? and guys- don’t go if you have the chance.

so everyone, Happy new year and here’s to the next shite or not shite Top Gear series!

Ali. xx

I suppose ‘Strictly Come dancing’ will have the usual funding and the usual pushing it down our throats at every opportunity. Maybe we should have a ‘Strictly Come Motoring’ with some dance moves. Mind you – dont thik I could face Clarky doing the waltz – unless you all tried it in different motors similar to the football match.

Hi Guys,

As always top telly, makes me feel a little happier paying the BBC for telly.

Can i please start by saying how much I enjoyed the ‘Nam special, it was one of the two Christmas specials i watched this year (the Royal Family was the other for anyone interested). I can omly hope that it helps the Country a little.

Last few seasons (how American??) have been hit and miss, however that obviously has been high- lighted so i don’t wish to dwell.

The relationship between the presenters is the key to the programme, to such an extent i have used it it my classroom to show a team in action

Don’t let the money issues get you down, just keep thinking out of teh box and it’ll be fine.

Look forward to the next sesaon as always,

JC,JM & RH hope you had a great Christmas and New Year

(BTY Love your new book RH, kept me busy this Christmas)

Dear The Guvna (See post 346),
Once again you are the voice of reason. I was going to say your post was ace, but I thought I’d better not….. Besides, I’m old enough to drive and use full words in SMS messages, so why would I?

I told you, it’s becoming a brand, nothing more. Once Ant & Dec start blowing caravans up on their TV shows TG will lose all the goons who laugh at one of the team falling down (OK, it can be funny, but I’m not going to post a comment saying I nearly wet myself. Jesus!) but couldn’t give a shit about the cars. Then where will TG be, since the people who used to watch it for the cars may have resorted to – ahem – 5th Gear.

TG these days reminds me of the whole story of Extras where Ricky Gervais’ character Andy Millman sells out to the lowest common denominator just to get/stay on the TV. Let’s just hope these surprisingly clever (although you’d have to read what they write in the press, have seen some of the other things they have done and have watched more than the last couple of series of TG to know there’s more to them than just blowing shit up) men have the same epiphany Andy Millman did.

Fingers crossed, eh?

(ps – sorry for all the brackets)

Strictly Come Dancing isn’t that bad! It’s actually quite funny. Hamster nearly went on it, apparently. He was seen meeting the professional dancers somewhere in Soho.
Can’t wait for the new series of Top Gear. It seems to be becoming more frequent in the television year – a brilliant sign indeed! Come on, Spring!

Imagine Clarkson doing a Salsa or one of the other latin-y type ones. Or May doing a quickstep. Hmm. Maybe it’s time for a Top Strictly Gear Special for red nose day?!?! Like the Top Gear Of The Pops. Or not.

Top Gear 2008 was immense , cant wait to see what the boys get up to in 2009, no matter how shit people think the show is, it will still be sooo much better than that cheap excuse of a motoring show , fifth gear !

keep up the good work fellas !

Wow!

Been a brilliant series, like the ones that have come and gone in the past.

Looking forward to see what we get this year too… great work guys.

Ben – http://myworld360.eu

can’t recall the series dat the ferrari f430 appeared in bt that waz da best and l respect you guys for making top gear l give you my appreciation and totall respect you.

you make it worth while so thank you

Sadly I can’t agree with all the effusive “top gear is wonderful” comments. I liked it when it was a car show – not a vehicle for the 3 presenters to dick about, albeit often entertainingly. I was so bored with the Vietnam episode that I swithced off two thirds of the way through – for gods sake, the final episode spent riding mopeds….
So I think the way to address the budget cuts is dead easy – kill foreign travel, focus on car tests in the UK and allow the presenters to shine as car reviewers who entertain, not entertainers who periodically review a car.

hi i have a idea,why dont richard,james,jeremy go buy £1000 bamgers each and do a series of tests ect how fast can u drive ur car over a speed bump befor somthing important brakes and whats the deepest water ur car can drive through befor it cuts out or brakes and how high and fast do they dare to jump there 1000 pound bangers and u can think of the rest and u can do ur point scoring board i think personaly that will be a good one to watch.

I like having a few episodes of each style each series. My in laws that are easily offended can watch a few that go easy on the US, my wife wants to know when the cheap car contests are on, my dad loves the races, and I love the actual car reviews. Just keep doing what you guys do! And sell DVD sets so we yanks can support the show.

Please can JC, RH and JM post something on the Horsepower blog?

Yep, they need an epic race in Romania: Dacia Sandero vs …. a donkey?

If budget is the problem, why you don’t split the cashing of the live shows and the dvds and invest the money in the 2009 series ?
Another suggestion: in Turin we waiting you for a big live show, this is the european car capital, come to visit us before all the factories die.

If your going to change the SIARPC vehicle from the current one…I suggest the Suzuki swift but use the sporty version with front and rear disk brakes…anyway it is still a reasonably priced car here in OZ and maybe the times will come down a bit…it would be nice to see some more newly ex-F1 drivers (Button, Davidson)comes to mind to set the times first and then the so called pro’s JayKay etc have a go…

Oh and forgot to mention the Vietnam show was just the best ever…well done and from all of here in the land of OZ (Perth) there is such a huge following, ‘blokes’ and ’sheilas’ alike keep up the excellent work.

Can you test Lamborghini Réventon? I want to see how fast it goes and how well you can drive it! Im from finland, so I can`t see your newiest section. Can you bring it to me somehow?

I didn’t think it was as good as the last series, it was good, but at alot of points it got a bit boring. Also, I didn’t think the special was anywhere as good as the Polar, US, and Africa specials.

Keep it rolling guys! Why not have a balance of cars and a few epic special ones sometime? The Vietnam special was sheer brilliance!

Yes! More low budget cars and less boring over-scripted truck fires!
Thank you budget cuts!

All changes are good, the thing you cannot change is the 3 persons hosting the show

If the shows isn’t kept fresh, it wont be the best car show in the world!

I think this series was a huge improvement over the last series (11) the reason being that the last series was too childish, immature and the presenters were trying too hard to be funny when they clearly didn’t need to be, They brought back the essence in this series (12) of what top gear is really about, an informative, witty, and informal television programme about cars. the way it was supposed to be.
Good work jezza, hamster, may and the rest of the team and wish you all the best in the next series and hopefully in the many series’ to come.

As ever brillant 2008 and bring on 2009

You should get james to do the last shit show in a WW2 style like when they put fake cut out tanks around fake airfeilds in WW2 but use cars to move the tanks and some challenge or shit…
anyway james would get the blame because … well he’s from WW2

If you [Top gear] are looking for funding, I’ll happily make a donation as I am sure that many ther fans would, is top gear allowed to accept donations, or has the bbc greated a policy against it??

They should just sell the cars that they used in the challenges on ebay, they’d get tonnes of money!

Just keep doing what YOU ALL do best and make a great program, even one that costs a tenner. Maybe that’s the one worth waiting for!
Best wishes for the New Year.

PS I agree with ED. post 63………..

Well I always watched it for the cars, but I haven’t resorted to watching Fifth Gear. I do, however, think the show needs a return to more car stuff, rather than being focused on the three of them falling off mopeds, leading to people watching because ‘it makes them wet themselves’. It seems half the people who watch Top Gear don’t even have a clue about cars.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to the next series. I’ve always loved Top Gear, and I’ll always watch it!

hi guys! please can you do more fun things like cheap car challenges p.s i love james may! love,
andy

The second half of the series was my fav ever! By the last episode I was soo into it again I didn’t even notice. So a budget slashing last episode is a great idea, be good to see some different things tried… (don’t do it too well tho or the Beeb will ask for the whole series to be like that!)
1st half of the series was a little below par tho, especially the ‘BBC’ guests!

It was a very good series, but can we please lose SIARPC? It goes on too long, it’s incredibly boring, and isn’t necessary. I know conventional wisdom has it that you can’t make a show without celebrity content these days, but it can’t have escaped your notice that Clarkson, Hammond and May are themselves pretty famous, surely enough to carry the show by themselves. As indeed they did in the Vietnam episode. I bet you woudn’t lose a single viewer if you junked it – in fact, you’d keep the ones (like me) who switch channels when that bit comes on.

TAKING A WALK AROUND THE OFFICE DONT MIND ME!
I will have that CCXR

to Dave…. i know u work fr fifthgear… dont hide it…. stop writin stuf… im friends wit james may by da way…..

didnt buy you anything then?
have you a full tank?
mines in limp mode
soon be in sight

Long life to Top Gear and we just hope this financial meltdown is over soon.

Regards from The Republic of Panama

Chevy

I am going to assume the budget cut is down to the recession? So I would think that for that reason the car reviews should have the reduced budget, as in an economy crisis of all times, the last thing people will be thinking about is buying cars.

On the subject of 2008, simply brilliant, as always.

Thanks for another fantastic season! I hope to see a return of the GT-R at some point, for some kind of fun…

Random suggestion… do a segment where you look for someone who has modified an ordinary car that can compete with a supercar.

Chase
Plano, TX

What exactly did the Vietnam segment have to do with cars? I watched the whole damn thing and it was a long drone of whining and making fun of James. Do what you want with James. I don’t give a toss about him, but at least do it while you’re having fun with cars. If I wanted to watch a show about mopeds I would watch Knight Rider or Dukes of Hazzard.

By the way, I can’t believe the Corvette ZR1 wasn’t car of the year.

I don’t mind one crap show. Also the guys have some nice cars, why not use their own wheels in a challenge or two to save on money. The episode where James and Jeremy took their giant cars to London was great. With the money saved by using their own cars you can invade more beaches in more affordable hatchbacks. Or tanks, you decide.

I enjoyed every single episode of series 12 and watched most of them several times. It was as funny and entertaining as it could possibly ever get with so many epic scenes and moments. Or the stars (damn, what a prick you have for major in london love him!) in the reasonably priced car.

I raise my hat for everyone on the team – this series was a blast in every way and i can’t wait for the next to start.

But please BBC – let us poor non-UK people finally watch your programme online!!! The german television sucks hard and i’d love to have a reasonable alternative at least on the web. *sigh*

Anyway – happy new year everyone.

I love Top Gear . Keep up the good work

This last series was great and particulary Vietnam Special was fantastic: it was an adventure such as everyone have always wanted to live once.

I think quality is to be preferred to quantity. So if you really decide to reduce the number of shows in order to mantain the actual standard, nobody could blame you.

Bye everyone from Monza

My idea to make SIARPC more “car like”= Have Jeremy, Hammond and james buy each their 1000 pound car at the start of each season, then allow the guests to choose which of these cars they want to do their lap in.

Andy, get it done, now:p

Top gear UK, Oz top gear no comparison.

Hello,

Greetings from cold arctic Finland. I appreciate the work you are doing, and the eager waiting for the next season has already begun here. The last season left me a bit cold though.

Not because of the Dynamic Trio or the quality of the show, but it seems Top Gear is going towards the general “brainless fun” category. Stunt jumps and bus races.. Scooter driving? Where is the petrol pumping action packed show which once concentrated purely on sports cars and enthusiatic driving? Series 10 opening episode was something I’ve watched 5 or 6 times, but I can’t find myself rewatching the current episodes. Budget cuts are of course a must in every business these days, but maybe you could focus on something like classic car tests and interviewing past and present racing drivers? Something that isn’t that expensive and would warm up the heart of us hardcore petrolheads. Please try to find new topics by going outside your “traditional window” instead of trying to figure how to wreck cars in different ways.

I would like to see race between past F1 drivers with something as simple as go-karts, or a BMW/Merc/Audi challenge similar to the Alfa Romeo one. These are just my opinions, but everything doesn’t need to be big and flashy American style for the show to stay enjoyable and for growing viewer amounts. Thanks anyway for a great show, hopefully you can continue to provide us with a great Sunday evening entertainment.

Top Gear rules!!!

Loved the series and looking forward to the new series if there is one (please make more)!!!!!!!

Shame there was no green communist stig!!!

Bring back Oliver for something!!!!

I think that if this is all about a budget cut, we need to see the cars featured become less pricey. Volkswagen Scirocco, Renaultsport Twingo, Insignia, Citroen C5 are all brilliant new cars of the year that have had rave reviews everywhere, but nowhere to be seen on Top Gear. Yes, the supercars look beautiful and sound brilliant, but nobody is going to be buying one in this credit crunching. The likes of the Scirocco and Twingo are hugely fun little cars, as proved by Clarkson’s review of the Abarth 500. Cheaper cars doesn’t mean less fun. And more challenges should probably be done in the UK, rather than Vietnam and the French Riviera. But as always, Top Gear is entertaining. I’d just like to see more cars, and more cheaper cars in this doom and gloom recession. Anyway I’m really looking forward to the new series.

Here is an idea… How about all the chaps out here in webland bung you a few quid each, I mean – we all subscribe anyway via the old aunty beeb tv licence – and that gets parceled up into utter shite anyway. TG is the only bbc production I would miss.

I agree in part with JP from Finland. When you tested the Enzo back in series 5 and had the McLaren, the Ferrari F40 and the Jaguar XJ220 I desperately wants to know what a power test of those cars might look like. What kind of speed can they achieve on your 1.7 mile runway, what lap time can they do, things like that. Why not have a classic Top Gear segment? I believe it was the Christian Slater episode when James drove a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, and later he drove the Maserati Bora to that trendy towerblock with the grass on the roof. Jeremy already drove a modified Jag E-type and an Aston DB5 on the track. Now lets find out which cars really are better… “The cars from the Blair era, or the cars spawned under the reign of Mrs. Thatcher.”

Guys guys guys…

… even the lowest standard of Top Gear is way above anything anyone can see on telly these days.

Please be as you all are, we love what you do so brilliantly. Thank you for all the shows.

Cheers & happy new year everyone,

Pavel
Prague, Czech Republic

when is top gear back on the tele

Jeremy
Could you make a V8 hair dryer?????????????

OK, here’s an intelligence test.
Who actually thought the new Richard Hammond show Total Wipeout was any good?

So there’s a budget cut for TG yet that piece of horseshit gets commissioned? Christ Almighty!

I’m sorry to be so blunt but I just couldn’t believe my eyes. In fairness RH doesn’t seem to have much to do with the show except a couple of bits from a studio and voicing over. It’s almost like he was added just to make sure the show got to air.
I guess you need to pay for the Aeromax somehow, eh Richard?

I’m amazed the BBC weren’t flooded with calls from people saying, “Just how stupid do you think we are?”. It was truly insulting.

Any way, back to cars. I like the idea of 0TOVR6T (post 408). Stick an F40 & an F50 round the track. Oh, and perhaps an F1.

Sorry – didn’t realise there was a seperate thread for Total Wipeout. I’m off there!
I’ll be back to talk about cars later.

The budget cut may not be all bad. Watching some of the early re-runs reminded me of the brilliant dialogue and well observed comment in the ‘ordinary’ tests, which is now often replaced by expensive stunts.

And how about challenging Tiff Nedell to take on The Stig in the next series. Cant be that expensive can it? I would love to watch that.

This years Top Gear was great! Personally I think this was Top Gears best year! The Ford Fiesta in the shopping place/Royal Marines beach assult was just pure classic Top Gear, proper top notch stuff. For me I thought that was my TG highlight…Until I watched TG in Vietnam, cant find no words for that, it was just purely amazing! Funny as hell, Pleeeease release that on DVD in the new year, desperetly want to watch that again again again & some more. I’m glad you showed what Vietnam is REALLY like and not some bent & twisted 3rd world, war ridden feild the Yanks want us to believe it is, (Speak for themselves cause their country isn’t that sh*t hot) And the dig at the Yanks Jezza was classic too…But he couldn’t more true.

08; Great year for TG, already thinking of this years.

It’s perfect the way it is….Apart from one little thing….I wish SIARPC would go, yeah we’ve had some really good stars, but theres been A LOT more crap ones too…..It’s had it’s good run…Time to get rid of it.

Keep up the great work.

Yeah. SIARPC sucks.

SIARPC is only good if the star is a self confessed car nut.

Some of the shameless plugging from some of the stars in that last season was embarassing.

I can’t believe the TG allowed that. I’m sure I recall in the dim & distant past JC said they wouldn’t plug things on TG.

I think the show needs a bit of an overhaul. Please, Andy.

1 – Tests! TEST MORE CARS!!!

2 – Start an old supercar laptime board (F40, F50, Countach, F1, XJ 220, AM Vantage, etc) as suggested by 0TOVR6T. You could even do a roadtest in them beforehand……

3 – Get the presenters & The Stig to put in laptimes in the new RPC.

4 – Lose all the stupid stuff (V8 rocking chair springs to mind). That’s for people who aren’t interested in cars.

5 – Repeat some stuff. Do the Silverstone endurance race again. in a different car. It won’t be the same the second time around.

6 – Keep having a laugh. Even though the content of 5th Gear can quite often be better than TG, it’s the JC, RH & JM that make it entertaining.

7 – Maybe on the occasion have a guest presenter. A proper car nut. Rowan Atkinson, Jay Kay, Nick Mason perhaps.

Keep up the good work, but make it better.

AHHHHHHH DUITY, AHHHHHHHHHHHH DAIARIA! FROM FAMILY GUY. ONLY ON WGN CHICAGO. IN THE USA. IN THE STATE OF ILLINIOIS.

No it doesn’t!

Every penny – goes on telly!

Eh?

Well Thank You for your comments we will take them on board and we will see what we can do about them. This is an automated message from the BBC, please do not reply or continue writing about this blog as the comments section is now closed.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS thank God this is gonna be great!!!!!!!!!!!! :0)

Is it?

(I meant ‘Is it?’ to the post left by ‘Top Gear Admin’, by the way! )

A lower budget version of TG will be still great. After all its the interaction of Jezza, James and Richard that make the show, as much as the cars they are testing. TG Australia has been tried and failed miserably, there was no cameraderie or chemistry between the 3. Not one of any TG fans I have spoken to liked the local show, and most gave up after a few weeks! Keep up the great work TG UK, low budget or high budget, the original and the best.

Hi,

the last series really contains very interesting stuff (the trip to america although it was not supposed to be entertaining…and then could have been better, the london mayor siarpc, the truck challenge and so on…) but America’s administration have made it curiosly right. TopGear is now rated as an “entertaining show” and not as a car one. TopGear is aimed at petrolheads and petrolheads love cars and not just our prefered presenters messing around. And just a note concerning the budget issue, I’m sure you guys are too much creative and that money are not going to restrain you for producing such a great show. (it reminds me an old topgear show which was the latest of a series and was very successful)

Many thanks to the whole team

this series was ok nothing special

Cant fault it, yet again it was a great series !!!!!!!!
Why cant they just cut 5th gears budget, if they have one that is.

P.s Do some more stuff with trucks.

Well nothing too say then, it was one hell off a series. it was great, as always. Will always remember the fiesta test with clarksson. Never a dull moment with that man.

Then the vietnam show was awesome. And i agree with some off the top writers, sell the dvds complete 1 – 12 with some extras.

Comments from all 3. There must be alot off that.

That will bring in som extra money.

Will be looking forward too season 13.

Only problem this year was the lack of the golden cock award.

i think the america road trip with the zr1, cadilac and charger was the best episode yet, i’d even say it was better than the tg goes camping or the caterham building. and thats high praise. fifth gear burnt the cool wall, so you lot should buy fifth gear, burn it, the claim off the insurance!!! then there’ll be plenty of pots to piss in:D

You guys can take the budget set out for the Aussie version of the show and use that if you want to In fact would you please, please take the budget from the Aussie show I’m on my hands and knees here begging you to take our dollars, turn them into pounds and use them there. Nothing against the guys here just the UK version is soooo much better.

Top Gear this year more than any other seems to have expanded its operation, theres merchandise all over (even M & S), you guys are producing DVDs every series, Hammonds DVD top gear quiz, Top Gear in Gran Turismo (prologue and the full version which I understand is due at xmas 2009), Top Gear Australia / America must be paying you guys some kind of fee. Its amazing that the more popular you become the less you have to continue what your doing !! Although despite having budget cuts, maybe series 13 is where you guys beg and borrow from the manufacturers for test cars, have 3 at once in the isle of man, little snippets from each presenter and get the Stig to thrash the s**t out of them, watching the last one you guys did in that senario was priceless.

2009 is already gearing up to be a tough year for car manufacturers, maybe some extensions of the news segment to explain just how far some of these car makers are to going out of business, what that means for motorists etc. Granted its Top Gear so do an “in the s**tometer” with it, thats not going to cost anything extra, get the blue peter guys to build it.

Challenges – My first idea would be give the lads £500 each and get them all to buy, say an old vauxhall corsa. Once they have them give them a further £500 to get additional speed out of them. Its simple. Its cheap. It’ll be funny as hell.

Fuel economy – Go up north and stock up on petrol now! Its currently 30p a litre cheaper than it was at its height a little over 6 months ago (83.9p per litre). Stock up and save hundreds (if not thousands depending on how much Jezza actually uses!!!).

The world is in a downturn, despite the fact you guys have had your budgets cut, it also means that people are selling things cheaper to move items. Learn how to barter my friends and you may realise that you may not lose anything or as much as you initially envisioned from the show!!!

Finally check licensing laws. Top Gear is the most pirated show on the planet. Surely some kind of official program could be set up to charge people from outside the UK say a £1 or equivelent for full access to the show. Im sure that will be introduced at some stage but If you need a boost to the coffers, its definately something to consider.

And Isaac, I agree after watching Top Gear Australia, it is no where near the atmosphere of the UK show. The guys don’t have that chemistry yet (maybe never will), and the show just doesn’t seem as fun as the UK side of things.

Maybe another useable idea: since you already publish all kinds of outtakes on the site, you might as well make a 14th episode with just that – outtakes, bloopers and such. Could be done for a tenner or under, I guess.

I watch the show every day when u r on TV even on shity Dave. Oh and wot the hell is that ‘Anonymous’ guy saying nothing special well if it wont nothing special why for the first time did they use BUSES, TRUCKS and all that? I personaly think it was ur best series for a while! could you give us some credit also for watchin the best motering show on TV (TG) and not 5th Gear as that is not a motering show all they do is test what is the best roadster and pit mazdas against apache’s. T G 4 LYF (well, until u go off air!)