top gear to eliminate supercars from the program?

jhv · 03-24-2009, 05:18 AM

this is probably a repost, whatever

Quote:

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson has been told by BBC bosses to ditch £200,000 supercars and review budget models instead.

He and his co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May have been ordered to downsize because of BBC spending cuts.

Producers also want the show to reflect the changing interests of viewers hit by the credit crunch and show “more sedate cheaper, greener” models.

Plans to feature the likes of a Lamborghini, Ferrari and a Porsche have been axed.

Jezza, 48, Hammond, 39, and May, 46, could be seen behind the wheel of cars like the dinky £10,000 Toyota iQ and “unfashionable” classics like the Citroen Ami 8 and a Lanchester.

Clarkson had vowed to ignore the Beeb’s budget squeeze but executive producer Andy Wilman, 48, said last night that the show could not ignore the recession. He said: “This series we were going to film a road trip with a Lambo and a Porsche.

“Now it will be cars like the Toyota iQ because they’re smart and clever and you can sense the mood. We’re not that thick.”

He said BBC2 were thinking of screening a version called Boring Top Gear, featuring “down-to-earth” consumer advice rather than blowing up caravans or playing darts with scrap cars.

Earlier this year Clarkson said he would ignore the 30% cuts. He said: “We’ll keep going till the cash runs out.”

The presenters’ salaries have not yet been hit. Clarkson is believed to get £2million a year, while Richard Hammond and James May get £25,000 a show.

A BBC spokesman said: “You can rest assured that the supercars will still be there in the new series because those cars are about fantasy and escapism.

“But we realise money’s tight, so we’ll also be devoting screen time to smaller, cheaper cars.”

source:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view...edit-crunched/

i hope this doesnt happen, the supercars and antics are what make top gear

Splinter4784 · 03-24-2009, 05:57 AM

wow

like i really want to see the Toyota IQ

or or a Nano Tata

go around the track.

This is going to kill the show, I love top gear and how they test all the supercars and go on awsome trips.

What a Massive mistake on there part.

ptack · 03-24-2009, 07:12 AM

We'll see. It's very common to have these kind of tug o wars between the bean counters and the entertainers. In fact it's unheard of not to have them to some degree. What I like best about Top Gear is that they usually do a wide variety of things. I think a micro car derby would be a funny episode. Put Clarkson in the Tata.

FStop7 · 03-24-2009, 09:40 AM

that doesn't make sense. they don't pay for the cars that are on the show, they're press fleet vehicles. i call BS.

lib · 03-24-2009, 09:48 AM

If Top Gear removes supercars from their lineup... I remove Top Gear from my PVR.

InsaneSkippy · 03-24-2009, 09:52 AM

What if at the start of the season, they each got one decent supercar (including the Stig)?

Then, each episode could have a segment with challenges, races, games, etc. This way it would help keep the story going throughout the season, and we'd still get to see the same expensive tomfoolery we all love so much.

EDIT: After reading through it again, it just seems like some publicity stunt. The cars get AMAZING advertisement by airing on that show, you'd think the manufacturers would be paying BBC

Garduna · 03-24-2009, 10:09 AM

sounds really depressing. top gear is known for their crazy antics..... if that's gone, a part of the spirit of top gear will go with it....

MisterSkiMask · 03-24-2009, 10:19 AM

More publicity shenanigans.

Year's_End · 03-24-2009, 11:24 AM

that sucks ass, but if they have more reviews like the Ford Fiesta i won't mind too much.

ragingclue · 03-24-2009, 11:34 AM

They've done plenty of crazy stuff in normal - even shitty - cars.

flyinb501 · 03-24-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FStop7

that doesn't make sense. they don't pay for the cars that are on the show, they're press fleet vehicles. i call BS.

I agree. Nobody cares about econoboxes... Especially not enthusiasts.

ragingclue · 03-24-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyinb501

I agree. Nobody cares about econoboxes... Especially not enthusiasts.

An enthusiast can have fun driving the wheels off of whatever you put him in.

montreal red · 03-24-2009, 02:23 PM

it would be a waste if top gear eliminated supercars completely... i love the crazy things they do in 500+hp cars... it just wont be the same with cars like a tata nano...

TK-421 · 03-24-2009, 08:51 PM

Jeremy won't have it - he loves Ferraris waaay too much

blue2fire · 03-24-2009, 11:22 PM

Probably not right. The cars are only from the press fleets, why would it make a difference?

03-24-2009, 05:57 AM	#2
Splinter4784 414 little horsies 56 Rep 405 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Beverly Hills iTrader: (2)	wow like i really want to see the Toyota IQ or or a Nano Tata go around the track. This is going to kill the show, I love top gear and how they test all the supercars and go on awsome trips. What a Massive mistake on there part. __________________ Race Precision Inc
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03-24-2009, 07:12 AM	#3
ptack Brigadier General 269 Rep 4,470 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i [6.50]	We'll see. It's very common to have these kind of tug o wars between the bean counters and the entertainers. In fact it's unheard of not to have them to some degree. What I like best about Top Gear is that they usually do a wide variety of things. I think a micro car derby would be a funny episode. Put Clarkson in the Tata. __________________ 135i, SGM, Coral, Sport Package, Auto, Premium Hifi, USB/ipod, Apex EC-7s, PPK Stage II
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03-24-2009, 09:40 AM	#4
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	that doesn't make sense. they don't pay for the cars that are on the show, they're press fleet vehicles. i call BS. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
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03-24-2009, 09:48 AM	#5
lib Major 141 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: <This space for rent> Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ATX iTrader: (0)	If Top Gear removes supercars from their lineup... I remove Top Gear from my PVR.
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03-24-2009, 09:52 AM	#6
InsaneSkippy Lieutenant Colonel 79 Rep 1,597 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida iTrader: (1)	What if at the start of the season, they each got one decent supercar (including the Stig)? Then, each episode could have a segment with challenges, races, games, etc. This way it would help keep the story going throughout the season, and we'd still get to see the same expensive tomfoolery we all love so much. EDIT: After reading through it again, it just seems like some publicity stunt. The cars get AMAZING advertisement by airing on that show, you'd think the manufacturers would be paying BBC __________________ Last edited by InsaneSkippy; 03-24-2009 at 01:40 PM..
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03-24-2009, 10:09 AM	#7
Garduna Brigadier General 160 Rep 4,013 Posts Drives: Sedona 1er\|Yellow S3\|NardoTTRS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (5)	sounds really depressing. top gear is known for their crazy antics..... if that's gone, a part of the spirit of top gear will go with it....
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03-24-2009, 10:19 AM	#8
MisterSkiMask Banned 147 Rep 2,014 Posts Drives: I Can not say Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: you must not know iTrader: (0)	More publicity shenanigans.
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03-24-2009, 11:24 AM	#9
Year's_End Lieutenant General 1149 Rep 12,445 Posts Drives: 2020 Shelby GT350 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	that sucks ass, but if they have more reviews like the Ford Fiesta i won't mind too much. __________________ Past: '08 E92 335i\|ZPP\|ZSP\|6AT Past: '15 Mustang GT\|401A\|PP\|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350\|6MT
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03-24-2009, 11:34 AM	#10
ragingclue One cam is enough 132 Rep 6,801 Posts Drives: VF Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville iTrader: (1)	They've done plenty of crazy stuff in normal - even shitty - cars.
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03-24-2009, 02:23 PM	#13
montreal red chris 278 Rep 12,144 Posts Drives: White Boat Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (31)	it would be a waste if top gear eliminated supercars completely... i love the crazy things they do in 500+hp cars... it just wont be the same with cars like a tata nano... __________________ Current: 2013 F10 M5 & 2016 Mini JCW 2013 GLK350 (gone), 997.1 GT3RS (gone), 2009 WRX STI (gone), e92 M3 (gone)
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03-24-2009, 08:51 PM	#14
TK-421 Registered Sex Offender 573 Rep 4,759 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| 1JZ S13 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	Jeremy won't have it - he loves Ferraris waaay too much __________________ Stop putting stuff like painted reflectors and premium package in your signature. You're embarrassing.
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