Ok, there now have been 19 or so threads started about this. By now everybody knows there was a Fiero on Top Gear USA. You can discuss it in this thread, post links to video's if you like - just don't start new threads about it! I will close all other threads about Top Gear, even the ones which have been around for some time now - simply because I don't want to go through all of them and see which was first/has the most info/etc.
Keep it civilized. I know some of you hated the new show. Others hate the fact a perfectly good Fiero was wrecked. And some even liked the show.
Personally? I haven't seen it, but it would be a bit hypocritical getting all worked up now that they wrecked a Fiero. I mean, I laughed (my frickin' ass off, I might add) when Top Gear UK wrecked several Robins. Although I must admit I didn't laugh too hard when they dropped a piano on a Morris Marena. I really think they went a bit too far destroying such a nice and classic piano.
PS: I am the Stig.
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06:13 PM
PFF
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Fieroseverywhere Member
Posts: 4242 From: Gresham, Oregon USA Registered: Mar 2006
I enjoyed the show. I think it followed the real series well. now I do not agree with several of their supposed facts. I think he gave a very honest opinion of the car. Just wish they knew about the two cup holders behind the instrument pod as far as destroying the car, well accept the fact, we love these car but they will never be a classic like the muscle cars of the 60 and classic sports cars like Lambo's lotus, the prancing horse ect.... We love them for what they are and what they can become.
Joe
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**************************************** Found a 88 formula Waiting to get a fence so I can re-home it There are Two kinds of Fiero's : Notchies and Donors!
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07:09 PM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6091 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
Well I saw the show. Yes they trashed the Fiero. But they were better about it than I expected.
Tanner got the car and he is the only one on the show that is a real car guy. Also the Fiero hit the other cars several times and had a bowling ball dropped on it with little isses. In fact it held up well till they filled it with water.
The only real negitive was the mention of Fires and the recalls. No lies on the recall and the fires deal was just mention and nothing more. I half expected them to set fire to the car but the did not.
As the way Top Gear treats cars world wide they were fair and did not single out the Fiero from the group. If anything it held up well like it did on Myth Busters.
I suspect the water got into the computer since it was not sealed up.
At least now I know a Fiero will hold 51 gallons of water. Though the Americans wimped out and did not fill the cars all the way up as the English show did.
[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 12-20-2010).]
In my opinion and i might have to speak for the majority is that a FIERO should have been the one to win that and i think that it would save GM and even Pontiac but there is no hope now
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08:02 PM
86FieroSEv6 Member
Posts: 438 From: Navarre, Florida, USA Registered: Nov 2010
So let me get this straight. As long as a camera is rolling I won't get charged with malicious mischief and destruction of private property . . . . . . . right?
Top Gear USA is a farce. The Three Stooges on the show can not come up with an idea that was not on the UK version? This show is an insult to the American car loving people and to the real Top Gear in the UK.
That show was the last time that I will be watching.
Tanner is the only one with talent and he should make guest showings on the BBC show.
Thats all.
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08:07 PM
PFF
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hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6091 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
In my opinion and i might have to speak for the majority is that a FIERO should have been the one to win that and i think that it would save GM and even Pontiac but there is no hope now
There was really no win here. I mean a contest on who can drive the farthest with a inteiror full of water?
This was purely for entertainment. The problem is it was a joke already told better by the Brits.
Word of advice to these guys. Don't tell a joke that ain't funny more than once.
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08:46 PM
kwagner Member
Posts: 4258 From: Pittsburgh, PA Registered: Apr 2005
I thought they did a decent treatment of the car. I also found myself - dare I say it - liking the notchie style more than my fastback
I "settled" for a notchie when I got mine, and I find myself liking it more and more to the point where I doubt I would take a fastback over an aero-notch anymore..
Back to the show, I get annoyed with the British one too when I realize that only May really knows anything about the mechanics of cars. Generally it is a non-issue, but sometimes it really bugs me how obvious it is that the hosts are just journalists who really don't know jack. The American one is the same, but I think we nit-pick more than we do the UK one. Tanner definitely does know cars though, which is nice.
I would love to see them replace Adam with Tim Allen, so we have a FUNNY comedian who is also a real car nut, and replace the gay lumberjack(name?) with Stacey David so we have the "good ole boy" redneck all American guy, but one who is awesome and knows what the different parts of a car do and so on, and is ENTHUSIASTIC about them. I think Tanner Foust, Tim Allen, and Stacey David would be a great combo.
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09:07 PM
deezil Member
Posts: 779 From: St Louis Mo USA Registered: Mar 2010
I think the show could definitely do with some new presenters, or maybe just with a bit more 'showboating' from those in charge now. When I watched the episode, it just seemed a bit lifeless- they were funny, but their humor wasn't as witty as TG UK (or, for that matter, AUS). Maybe if they played off each other a bit more and if they added a bit of personality to their lines they might take off. Isn't that why TG UK was so successful? Watching JC, JM, and RH play off each other (with interesting results?)
First off, I'll repost my statement from a previous thread:
quote
I've been watching this thread from the sidelines since it came up last week... I am happy to see that not everyone is ragging on TopGear US, and a few of you are even complimenting it! I too was worried that PFF would become the American version of the Morris Marina Owners Club. Especially after the backlash from Leno's stunt which resulted in the crushing of a Fiero (quite awhile back).
For those that think the tests or reviews were "stupid" ~ are you new to Top Gear? Aside from timed laps on their test track, none of their "tests" are meant to be serious or functional in any way. It's called entertainment.
I have not yet seen the episode (it wasn't online last night when I checked)... but I'm looking forward to seeing & enjoying it!
PS: If you want to keep up with Top Gear (US, UK, AUS, etc - even 5th Gear UK) - check out www.finalgear.com
I do want to add that I'm actually pretty disappointed at some of the negativity of the other posts. I totally agree that you can't simply fabricate the Chemistry that some of us are used to seeing in Top Gear UK (I've been following the show on & off since 1997), but sheesh... give 'em a chance.
They DO need to start using their own material. I recall thinking specifically during the 1st episode that Tanner was simply being fed "Jeremy" style lines... and that DOESN'T work.
As to "incorrect facts" etc... it's an show about entertainment... not about facts. Want facts on 1980's cars? Fiero Store stocks DVDs of the old AutoWeek shows!
I recorded/watched it, but I did not enjoy it. I liked the overall impression the non-Fieroist would get from it, but of course I did not like how they treated the Fiero or how the guys behaved in general. It was silly. I don't know why serious car-guys would watch that show. I certainly won't be watching again.
@Chuck... why must we always be so serious? Both about Fieros (come on... they were & are flawed, but we still love tem) and about automotive journalism in general?
BTW - anyone expecting to tune into another crappy Autoweek extolling the virtues of the next Prius will be gravely disappointed.
Really though, when someone with a resume like Tanner Foust speaks even semi-positively about a car like the Fiero, that's a good thing!
I also wanted to add (would've edited my previous reply, but I'm on my phone): FOr those familiar with TopGear UK... did you know it began (in '79?) as a "serious" show? And that it was on the verge of dying until Clarkson came in a they did a total revamp?
Heck, can you even imagine how horribly Clarkson would simply bash a Fiero? It would be the next Robin, but on fire!
One other thing we've noticed is a distinct lack of music, especially when transitioning to/from commercials. Makes it feel a bit flat.
So... why do people think Rutledge isn't a "car guy"? You do know he came straight from being a broadcast personality at Speed Channel, right? What exactly makes a "car guy" then?
And finally (for now) - those that criticize it for being too much of a copy of the original BBC progam... have you watched the credits? It's still a BBC production. Of course they're going to recycle bits!
I just want to say I wasn't apposed to the destruction of A fiero just THAT fiero, it was a shame but at least I think some good came from it...I rather have had the brits guys blow it up though...at least then it would have been good tv.
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12:58 AM
87antuzzi Member
Posts: 11151 From: Surrounded by corn. Registered: Feb 2009
I watched the show tonight with the Fiero. Had it on the DVR. Kinda sad what they did to the car, but they were pretty complimentary to the Fiero (even though they did throw in some of the "catch on fire' stuff).
What is even cooler to me though is that I realized I had that now famous but waterlogged Fiero at my Coast Run back in 2003. Kinda cool!
We even used it in our group photo that year. It's show biz career was already starting way back then! haha
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03:59 AM
Hockaday Member
Posts: 2165 From: Clifton Park, New York, The States. Registered: Sep 2009
That is an old original Corson kit. It is a replica Ferrari BB512. It is also the basis for the Aldino kit that is currently available. http://aldinokit.com/
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04:22 AM
PFF
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Cliff Pennock Administrator
Posts: 11799 From: Zandvoort, The Netherlands Registered: Jan 99
I saw a few bits of the Fiero segment yesterday and I thought Tanner was pretty positive about the Fiero!
That said, I also thought the conversations were a bit canned and scripted. But I guess that's something that needs to grow. I'm pretty sure the first episodes of Top Gear UK were a long way from what they are now too.
Out of the three the power wagon was the only one I didn't care about. They set the tone of the show and I don't like it so I wont be watching it. But had it been an other collectible car I would have been mad about it. Why not trash an old C4, Hot Rod did and it got them bad press as well. Or how about they find an old Gremlin that someone has spent a considerable amount of their life fixing and keeping on the road? That would piss me off as well. Face it these cars are getting old, the only road worthy old car is one someone has put a lot of time into keeping on the road. Sure there are the odd beaters you see running around but they probably were taken care of some time in their life or they would be in the scrap yard by now.
PS: Old Pinto, still pissed. They need to stop destroying old cars, there are plenty of ugly shoe boxes on wheels that they can destroy.
I'm one of those who thought the show was stupid and it really didn't have anything to do with the fiero. So they load up the fiero with 30 cups of coffee or water and the object is not to spill any.....and the guy punches it and it all goes everywhere! Tell me how is that entertainment?
He jumps out of the fiero rolling backwards and it crashes into the other car....am I supposed to laugh at that?
Thanks but we already have a show with staged "cute" video. It's called America's funniest home videos.
brian
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06:56 AM
86FieroSEv6 Member
Posts: 438 From: Navarre, Florida, USA Registered: Nov 2010
I'm pretty sure the first episodes of Top Gear UK were a long way from what they are now too.
They definitely were. At the beginning, they didn't have James May, either. I think he came on in season three. The difference is, they didn't act like they had been pals the past 20 years. The US guys don't look natural in their conversations with each other (IMHO)
i just wish i knew the show was comming to MI.....i live 44.75 miles from the Eaton Proving Grounds. Crap, it was such a nice day when they filmed, too. i wanted to ask Tanner if he would think about a race with some fast Fieros. for the show maybe even. FieroX. and DarkHorizon, JustinBart.....live not that far either. Dam almost. just missed that one. i can be quoted here on the PFF making such boasts.....i would have done it myself, but the MI economy tanking is making it not so.....F*U*D*G*E*.... "only he didnt say fudge....he said the queen mother of......"
HAPPY HOLIDAZE!!! Daniel- Mera X
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-21-2010).]
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08:30 AM
topcat Member
Posts: 5486 From: Charleston SC Registered: Dec 2001
I am a Fiero guy, but I like cars in general. I was upset that they trashed ALL of the cars. It did not matter that one was a Fiero.
For those upset that they trashed the cars... do you have any idea how many vehicles (old & new) Hollywood trashes each year in the name of entertainment?
Heck - they demolished one re-bodied Fiero for "The Rock", but you don't hear people bitching about that. I believe they trashed another for "Glass House". Or how about the rebodied Ferrari in Ferris Beuller's day off. Heck, they trashed a REAL Lambo for the last Batman movie ~ where's the uproar there?
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10:21 AM
phonedawgz Member
Posts: 17091 From: Green Bay, WI USA Registered: Dec 2009
It was the first one I had owned, but had passed through a few hands past then.
I didn't fill it with water, but if it would get a big reaction, I'll lie and say I filled it with water. It's kind of fun when you can do something little and meanless and get a big reaction out of people.
I'd NEVER 'save' a Fiero for the sake of saving a Fiero.
I'd restore one for me to use. I'd restore one to profit from it. I'd restore one perhaps to benifit someone else. Perhaps.
I'd never 'save' one for the sake of saving one, like it was saving some sick puppy. It's just a car.
