Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Top Gear. Oh Dear.......

The third series of The Grand Tour is currently in production. The recent media (i.e. newspaper) frenzy was about nothing being signed for series 4, but that's not unusual.

As for Top Gear, I'm happy to leave it now in the knowledge that I am not part of the audience they are aiming for. Just as I did with Radio 1 in the 1990s.

~iw

I totally agree, I found myself shouting at the tele just like Victor Meldrew.
The tele version is just like the magazine which is formatted in the same add hoc way. I'm glad I got a free copy at the London Classic Car Show, that saved me making a big financial mistake.
I think I must accept that the programme and the magazine are now outside my interest area.

I've watched a few episodes of the new Top Gear and thought it was ok. Just ok. What's missing is the chemistry of the old three but I won't go back to them as they've not been forgiven for losing their ethical compass. But where is the thinking man's/woman's car show? A motoring equivalent of Hitch Hikers Guide which takes us on a journey, let's us loose, gets us lost, takes us to places physical and cerebral? We're at the end of whatever we've had for over a century of motoring. Can't a writer and a camera take us out of the dumb consumerism of Top Gear and others and place us on a road, in a car, with nowhere to go except everywhere our imagination takes us? There are journalists and writers who could do it; Simon Taylor, Martin Buckley? Suggestions welcome. Jenks could do it but he's long gone. We need a program that is not about cars and egos but about driving, motoring, travelling - exchanging here for there on a road that follows the earths's and the mind's contours. Aviation has had Antione de St. Exupery and still has Richard Bach. Where's the motoring St Ex? Or Bach?

Good question Auster

In its defence, it is supposedly the worlds most watched factual TV program (pinch of RT) and we are a bit nuts driving these Morgan’s and all.

No no this is fake reality. Our reality is totally normal.

I think the problem is that it first started in 1977 and it's growth in maturity has been in inverse proportion to ours so is no longer relevant. I am quite sure that is exactly how the producer sees us as well .

I can remember when the programs were of half an hour duration learning about real world cars and motoring issues, not tyre shredding egotistical louts trying to outdo one another.

The current line up is showing signs of cohesion but somehow Rory seems a little uneasy to me but full of himself at the same time which seems odd.

The BBC does make a motoring programme in the style you describe, I’ve mentioned it before and they even featured a Morgan or two.
Available on the BBC iplayer, go to channel Alba, Air an Rathad.
The downside is, it’s Gaelic with subtitles and done on a tiny budget, but they did managed to scrounge some nice cars.

So what about Fifth Gear?
I believe it is now finished but when it came to just cars it seemed to fit the bill....

The new series isn't working for me and I would like to enjoy it.