I think it could have been funny if they played to what most people think of the Fiero, such as having it catch fire randomly in every other scene. The Reliant Robin was hilarious because they were deliberately playing towards a weakness in that specific car and not just random pointless tests.

Maybe a carwash test ripping body panels off the car or something. If the tests are going to be utterly pointless, at least try and make them funny to watch. The presenters do have a huge impact on how I perceive the show too though, it might be awhile before they really mesh and are fun to watch.

quote Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: 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.

Have a look http://www.streetfire.net/v...l-episode_380787.htm

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: Have a look http://www.streetfire.net/v...l-episode_380787.htm

Exactly. Top Gear UK didn't just show up being the awesome show it is now, it grew into it.

as for May being the only one in TG UK knowing anything about cars... I doubt it. seems more like he's being fed those lines simply because that's the kind of character he's supposed to be in the show. The other two are definitely car guys, and I would say May is as well. A lot of engineers who know exactly how a car works, are not car guys. They're too occupied with the mechanics to let a stupid car get in their way.

No Chop Tops were harmed in the making of this silly episode. Just a stock Fiero.

------------------



"Friends don't let their friends drive stock."

quote Originally posted by LT188GT: The Three Stooges on the show can not come up with an idea that was not on the UK version?

The talent (the Three Stooges) don't come up with the ideas, the producers do. The talent only does what they are told. I'm certain if it was up to the talent they would have stacked the soda glasses on the floor as a group and they would have supported each other and fallen over as easily. And if they had accelerate more slowly the sodas would not have spilled so much. At least I believe Tanner would have. I'm sure the producers told them to gun it and spill the soda for laughs (from my 35 years experience in television production).

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Jim Martin
White '86 GT
California

quote Originally posted by PerKr: as for May being the only one in TG UK knowing anything about cars... I doubt it. seems more like he's being fed those lines simply because that's the kind of character he's supposed to be in the show. The other two are definitely car guys, and I would say May is as well. A lot of engineers who know exactly how a car works, are not car guys. They're too occupied with the mechanics to let a stupid car get in their way.

MAybe... I don't know. I know all three are "car guys" but sometimes I wish Clarkson wasn't SOOO incompetent. It just drags sometimes. As for TG USA... Adam and Fatty REALLY don't seem to know jack about cars. I know Fatty was a Speed presenter, but he still seems clueless. I mean, I've known plenty of girls that see a 70 Chevelle and cream their pants, but they are still totally ignorant about cars and what not...

quote Originally posted by Celthora87GT: 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

The only reason the Roadmaster won is because it would run while full of water. However, it they were to bring it back it would need a computer inside and would also fail the water test, so that is a bogus win.

I thought the Fiero should have won too, until the dialog at the end explaining why the Roadmaster won. That made sense. As a two-seater our favorite little car is not really a family car, has a very limited following, and is not as versatile as the Roadmaster . . . but so much more fun. unfortunately, I don't think It would not have enough buyers to save GM.

------------------
Jim Martin
White '86 GT
California

quote Originally posted by 85LAMB: For those who have not seen it, you can see it here for this week only, then they put up the next weeks show http://www.history.com/show...ear-beater-boot-camp

That was great. Thanks.

Larry

------------------

"Life is short.
Drink the good wine first"

quote Originally posted by Jim_Martin29: The only reason the Roadmaster won is because it would run while full of water. However, it they were to bring it back it would need a computer inside and would also fail the water test, so that is a bogus win. I thought the Fiero should have won too, until the dialog at the end explaining why the Roadmaster won. That made sense. As a two-seater our favorite little car is not really a family car, has a very limited following, and is not as versatile as the Roadmaster . . . but so much more fun. unfortunately, I don't think It would not have enough buyers to save GM.

nah, the roadmaster would just drag GM further into a sh*****e. Large, thirsty cars had their time. Then again, a sportscar doesn't save them completely either. But at least the Fiero could be made as an economic but still entertaining sportscar, an image-booster

quote Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: 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?

Yes I do and I get very upset about it. Its not entertaining to see one of your dream cars get smashed up for a movie. Especially when a **** box could have been put in the movie just as easy. Having had a couple of hotrods taken away by stupid circumstances I don't like seeing them destroyed on purpose. Cut me and would probably bleed motor oil.

Was that a real Audi R8 in Datenight? My wife had to leave the room because I got so upset about it.

Yep, this just reaffirms my original statement - this show (the USA version) is a complete waste of time.

I am a huge car buff and have always watched Top Gear (UK version).
That clip just shows not only how stupid the writing and production is, but does no favors for Americans, in general.
No wonder the UK thinks we're all a bunch of morons. Material like this certainly doesn't help.

Hopefully it will be off the air before it does more damage.

quote Originally posted by Ayrow: Yep, this just reaffirms my original statement - this show (the USA version) is a complete waste of time. I am a huge car buff and have always watched Top Gear (UK version). That clip just shows not only how stupid the writing and production is, but does no favors for Americans, in general. No wonder the UK thinks we're all a bunch of morons. Material like this certainly doesn't help. Hopefully it will be off the air before it does more damage.

Um... You DO realize that
A) This SAME skit with these same challenges was on TG UK first
B) These SAME writers and producers write and produce TG UK...
This is the same material that TG UK uses, they just change the cars to be more relevant to the audience. If they think we are a bunch of morons for enjoying the same kind of TV they enjoy, then they have some deep seated self loathing issues...

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: Really? Wow... Sounds like you need to get that under control... Really, I understand not liking the idea of cars being ruined needlessly, but dragging your wife out of a movie because you saw an modern mass-produced car get wrecked? Come now...

You should come over when the President is on the TV

It was a DVD and she just walked into the kitchen to get a drink.

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 12-21-2010).]

"there he goes again...Where's my vodka?"


Whenever my grandpa is in town he spends the whole time yelling at Fox News...

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: Exactly. Top Gear UK didn't just show up being the awesome show it is now, it grew into it.

Yes that is true but they did it with out copying poorly what someone else has already done better.

This show works mostly for the English Humor and the timing of the staff. They push the limits of PC and that is what works with the hearts of the car fans. I fear the US version will never push the limits of PC much. Kid Rock trashing the Prius may be as close as we get.

As far as I am concerned untill they get to the point of doing good original material they will never make it.
To copy the Brits is like trying to remake Smokey and the Bandit. It would never hold up to the original show. They need to step it up and do their own stuff.

As for their contest as we saw with the Fiero. They are pure entertainment and nothing more. There really are no winners or losers. It is just for fun.
At least they did not make a point of trashing a Fiero as the Brits have with several of their own whipping boys like the Robin.

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: "there he goes again...Where's my vodka?" Whenever my grandpa is in town he spends the whole time yelling at Fox News...

LOL

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: Um... You DO realize that A) This SAME skit with these same challenges was on TG UK first B) These SAME writers and producers write and produce TG UK... This is the same material that TG UK uses, they just change the cars to be more relevant to the audience. If they think we are a bunch of morons for enjoying the same kind of TV they enjoy, then they have some deep seated self loathing issues...

You're partially correct.
The skits are similar, not the same.
And as has been mentioned many times, those "skits" are based on British humor.
The fact that the writers think that the same humor works Stateside just shows how out-of-touch they are.

Doesn't matter. I'm not going to watch it and I would imagine most of the population (with the exception of 12 year-olds) feels the same.

One thing I was impressed by was the 7 second 0-60 time. A 328 GTS of the same era was right at 6 seconds... Not too shabby for a 25 year old used Pontiac.

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: Whenever my grandpa is in town he spends the whole time yelling at Fox News...

Then why does he watch it?

Oh, I get it. It gives him someone to yell at that won't care.

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Jim Martin
White '86 GT
California

quote Originally posted by Jim_Martin29: Then why does he watch it? Oh, I get it. It gives him someone to yell at that won't care.

"DAMMIT! OF COURSE HE'S A CROOK! WE KNEW THAT YEARS AGO!"

That kind of stuff

He gets pretty worked up, then he gets loud even when he agrees with you.

"I AGREE WITH YOU SOOO HARD! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW HARD I AGREE WITH YOU!! AHHH!!!"

I used to get bored when he would watch the news when I was younger, but now its a whole new form of entertainment..

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: "there he goes again...Where's my vodka?" Whenever my grandpa is in town he spends the whole time yelling at Fox News...

Too funny.

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: 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.

^^^^^^^^^^^What he said. I have actually owned all three cars at one time or another in my life. Granted, the Olds on the show wasn't as rare as a 442, but it was still in great shape and woulndn't have taken alot to make it show car status. Really, when was the last time you have seen one of those around, except for maybe seeing one rolling around on 22"s painted in some crazy large chunk metalflake paintjob. Then I could see putting it out of it's misery . But seriously, I realize that it is entertainment, but there is enough bondo-buggies out there living with three tires in the junkyard to begin with that they could have thrown a macco $99 special on to look good for the cameras, and helped them ease into the great recycler in the sky with there tv antics. By the way, did anyone notice how nice the interior was on that fiero? Look like it had Mr. Mikes leather seats and it had all the power goodies as well. Oh well, what is done is done, just makes me sad to see another small chunk of automotive DNA go to the crusher.

So was the moon shining episode from the UK version too?

The US version could be the best *beep'n* show in the world and some people would hate it because they don't have British accents. I sat watching the Fiero episode with a huge grin on my face the entire time and laughed pretty good during most of it. (Come on, no one else thought it was hilarious to see him go WOT up the 60% grade in a Buick Roadmaster?!)

The only thing that really bothers me the show is most everyone is so negative, I can't have a normal conversation with anyone about it.

Looks a little more than "similar" to me...



~Tyler

Edit to add the obligatory "Top Gear US is horrible!" Get some hosts that can actually act and it might be ok.

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quote Is it solipsistic in here, or is it just me?

[This message has been edited by GT-X (edited 12-22-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Fosgatecavy98: So was the moon shining episode from the UK version too? The US version could be the best *beep'n* show in the world and some people would hate it because they don't have British accents. I sat watching the Fiero episode with a huge grin on my face the entire time and laughed pretty good during most of it. (Come on, no one else thought it was hilarious to see him go WOT up the 60% grade in a Buick Roadmaster?!) The only thing that really bothers me the show is most everyone is so negative, I can't have a normal conversation with anyone about it.

^^totally^^......i liked the show. still have it on my DVR. i have been trying to tell WHEN it was filmed.
that corn is pretty tall.
seems way closer to fall than i would have thought. wish i could have been there.

i think its cool that only after having my 87 SE for a year and a half....Fieros are making PrimeTime Tele. i have never seem more Fieros till i owned one. now i have 15 or so within 10 miles of my house and now they are on shows like T.G. and Mythbusters....COOL!
the guys at work eat their words when they see a Fiero on a modern TV show. they most all trash my car at work, then the Fiero shows real good on a TV show. its cool i think.

Tanner did justice to the Fiero as i knew he would.....and i think he would be open to more suggestions to keep the Fiero in a good light. i want to talk to Tanner about some show ideas.....(almost got my chance too, missed it by 44.75 miles) and now i see they have a "Show Suggestion" section on the history Channel website

i gotta check in to this......we also need some fast Fieros that want to play too......anybody?

Daniel

[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-22-2010).]

Just watched the 4th episode last night. Eh, it's not a bad show, but it's not great.
It's VERY much like the UK show, right down to style, exposition, etc. I think that's the problem - it's too much like the UK show and the presenters AREN'T. They need to find their own identity. Right now it's like the uncanny valley - it gets better and better until it's so close, but not quite there - and that makes it more obvious than if it was very different from the UK show.

I like Tanner Foust. He clearly has an enthusiasm for the vehicles, and that makes his parts of the show fun to watch. - He's playing the Clarkson character.
I can't stand Adam Ferrara. He's too much of a NY goombah. -That put's him in Hammond's role of the show's pikey. (although Hamster isn't annoying)
Rutledge Wood is just there. I haven't really formed an opninion of him one way or the other. -Yeah, brining up the rear is Capt'n Slow's counterpart.

They've tried way too hard to clone TGUK exactly.

It was a really nice example of a Fiero. What they did to it, bothered me in that regard.

------------------
-Chris -
Custom Gun Metal 86 GT 4.9 V8 5spd

Build up tread or MODS w/ Pics

2005 SRT-4

I wonder what they did with what was left of the Fiero, Lots of good parts left on it

Yeah, I cringed when they messed up the car. But that said, after the show, the car was still intact, and still in some decent shape, so I would be willing to bet it ends up on another episode in the future, or someone ends up with it and fixes it.

I think it gave great publicity to the car... although I REALLY would have wished the headlights were working! Those Mr.Mikes seats looked nice too.

I TOTALLY knew though, when I saw them dumping the water in there... I thought to myself... how in the world is the car going to run when that ECM gets flooded?! I knew it wasn't going to start when I heard the plan.

quote Originally posted by TommyRocker: Whenever my grandpa is in town he spends the whole time yelling at Fox News...

Damn, I would totally hang out with your grandfather.

------------------
Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2
2002 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x2
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

hopefully they'll find a good use for the fiero.

regarding the show. the format is good. the hosts, I'm not so sure. I thought Tanner (he's the fiero guy, right?) seemed to be in the Hammond role and the I-drive-a-large-green-mans-car guy seemed to be more along the lines of clarkson. Either way, that doesn't matter. As long as they avoid being stereotypical american show hosts (terribly sorry for saying something like that, but I don't think I've seen an american show where anything ordinary wasn't described as being extra-ordinary just to make it more dramatic). They need to find something that works and feels natural while staying within the format and avoiding boring cars (TG isn't about facts).

At least it's not as bad as what we have in sweden. I watch a show called "Gran Turismo" every monday and I'm always sitting there shouting at the TV because the main host is such an annoying bastard who'd be better suited for a show discussing the properties of various wines... Plus they don't really have any interesting cars on the show...

quote Originally posted by GT-X: Looks a little more than "similar" to me... ~Tyler Edit to add the obligatory "Top Gear US is horrible!" Get some hosts that can actually act and it might be ok.

Good example. Same joke but much better in how it was told.

This was a good show. Anyone who never saw it watch for it on reruns. You will understand why so many are negitive on the US show.

This is also why the US show needs to be original. They will never win rehashing the same material the Brits have done. As long as we have someone copying something that has already been done than they will be up for comparison. It will remain a losing battle as long as we see the same thing twice. We can not compare original material and it will make it easier on the US guys.

Gallager with the original Sledgeomatic is much funnier than Galliger II.


Watch Tanner and Paul Tracy on Super Car Showdown on Speed. It is a little better and you can see what Tanner can do with someone he can really bash on. I think Paul would make a great replacment for fat boy. I have wondered if Paul was the American Stig.

[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 12-22-2010).]

quote Originally posted by madcurl: No Chop Tops were harmed in the making of this silly episode. Just a stock Fiero.

Indeed, good point! Did ya see that reply that said the Fiero is just a car, OMG. Is a guppy just a fish?

To people that never seen top gear.. Well they cant compare it to the uk version.. But come on now. I say giv em a chance. Or do you people just think jersey shore is better entertainment haha

------------------
Ballistik fieroo

quote Originally posted by Songman: 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

Whoopie! I got my DSL line back. We've had non-stop rain for 2 weeks now and for the past week DSL has been very sketchy. I've wanted to chime in here since the Top Gun airing Sunday of the destruction of my little gold SE. I know allot of you probably think it's time for this thread to die but I've got allot to say. Songman. That was a great run. That year Sandra and I brought 2 Fieros! My brand new gold SE and Sandra's black 86 T-top SE posing in the photos you've posted. My good friend Boogie rode with me and his wife Donna rode shotgun with Sandra in her T-top. The TG episode was not the first time a coke was spilled in that Gold Fiero. That happened on this Coast Run. Boogie instisted on having a Big Gulp with him on the drive up Highway 1 and was shocked to find there was no cup holder. He spilled a full cup all over my brand new orginal mat. After that spill I ordered a set of very nice Fierostore mats. I put the originals away with only 4k miles on them. (I still have those original mats). And those original mats are going into my brand new, never been registered, Gold 86 SE with only 80 miles in it. Yup! I bought this one! https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/083787.html It looks like those original mats I held back are going to come in handy. I bought Chesters Gold 86 SE for may 60th birthday and drove it coast-to-coast. I've bought this one 7 years later for my retirement in a few months. And yes, I'll be driving it coast to coast. I'll check back in on this thread after Christmas. Merry Christmas and Peace to All!
inydriver drying out in L.A. (aka Dick and Sandra)

Watching that video was pretty sad for me because my Fiero is nearly exactly the same, or at least it was when i bought it, when the exception of being an Automatic. It only had 49K miles on (now has 55k).


That indeed was a nice Fiero. That's just too bad. I hate seeing Fiero's trashed like that..they don't make Fiero's anymore you know, and they aren't making anymore. I would like some Fiero's around 30+ years from now.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 12-23-2010).]

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Watching that video was pretty sad for me because my Fiero is nearly exactly the same, or at least it was when i bought it, when the exception of being an Automatic. It only had 49K miles on (now has 55k). That indeed was a nice Fiero. That's just too bad. I hate seeing Fiero's trashed like that..they don't make Fiero's anymore you know, and they aren't making anymore. I would like some Fiero's around 30+ years from now.

mattwa,
That is indeed a nice looking Fiero. Gold Fieros are their own subgroup. Probably because they are the only ones with the color-matched wheels. Unless you count black Formulas with the black GT wheels. Not to say that one is better than the other. Each is just uniquely different. I see you have the original Goodyear GT's on her. That's allot of miles for tires. Be careful.

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Watching that video was pretty sad for me because my Fiero is nearly exactly the same, or at least it was when i bought it, when the exception of being an Automatic. It only had 49K miles on (now has 55k). That indeed was a nice Fiero. That's just too bad. I hate seeing Fiero's trashed like that..they don't make Fiero's anymore you know, and they aren't making anymore. I would like some Fiero's around 30+ years from now.

Please do not fear as too many Fiero's will still be here in 30 years to help with their value.