Vettel will be on Top Gear this Sunday

razta · Post by **razta** » 06 Jul 2011, 14:41

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2636 ... is-sunday/

Vettel to appear on Top Gear this Sunday
6 July 2011

World Champion Sebastian Vettel will appear on this Sunday’s episode of Top Gear, the BBC has confirmed to GPUpdate.net. On Wednesday, the German is visiting the test track in order to attempt his shot at being the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’.

Ahead of last year’s British Grand Prix, it was Williams’ Rubens Barrichello who proudly ‘Beat the Stig’ – later handing out several t-shirts to confirm it. For the F1 drivers’ challenge Vettel will take to the wheel of a Suzuki Liana and, prior to watching his best lap back, chat with host Jeremy Clarkson.

Current Top Gear F1 leaderboard:
1 Rubens Barrichello - 1:44.3
2 The Stig (2) – 1:44.4
3 Nigel Mansell – 1:44.6
4 Jenson Button (2) – 1:44.7
5 Lewis Hamilton – 1:44.7 (Wet & Oily)
6 Jenson Button (1) – 1:44.9 (Wet
7 The Stig (1) – 1:46.0
8 Damon Hill – 1:46.3
9 Mark Webber – 1:47.1 (Very Wet)
10 Michael Schumacher – no time

Episode 3 of the current Top Gear series will air at 8pm BST on Sunday.

Shadaza · Post by **Shadaza** » 06 Jul 2011, 15:10

It would be salt in the wounds to see him Win the British Grand Prix AND then top the top gear leaderboard! If that does happen he might as well use the "other" finger.

razta · Post by **razta** » 06 Jul 2011, 15:13

Shadaza wrote:It would be salt in the wounds to see him Win the British Grand Prix AND then top the top gear leaderboard! If that does happen he might as well use the "other" finger.

yeah.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 06 Jul 2011, 15:43

Pity I genuinely can't stand to watch Top Gear any more.

Thunderer · Post by **Thunderer** » 06 Jul 2011, 15:47

Why do I have a feeling Clarkson will be unleashing a load of finger-related jokes? :lol:

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 06 Jul 2011, 18:12

BUUUUTT.... the Leana doesn't have flexy wings

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 06 Jul 2011, 21:33

Yawn! I'd prefer to have Deletraz on Top Gear.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 06 Jul 2011, 21:48

redbulljack14 wrote:Yawn! I'd prefer to have Deletraz on Top Gear.

Or HWNSNBM, destroying the lap record!

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 07 Jul 2011, 00:01

Deletraz on Top Gear! Someone tip them about that!

"And now, with Murray Walker present, we will all find out about what Deletraz is doing!"

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 09 Jul 2011, 12:25

id like to see kobayashi......

MansellsEyebrows · Post by **MansellsEyebrows** » 09 Jul 2011, 13:14

shinji wrote:Pity I genuinely can't stand to watch Top Gear any more.

interestingly, this new season of top gear has been far better than recent years so far, with it being much more natural and genuinly funny like it used to be over the 'do anything delibrately for laughs'-fest it has been recently.

GroupLotusRenault · Post by **GroupLotusRenault** » 10 Jul 2011, 05:04

MansellsEyebrows wrote:
shinji wrote:Pity I genuinely can't stand to watch Top Gear any more.

interestingly, this new season of top gear has been far better than recent years so far, with it being much more natural and genuinly funny like it used to be over the 'do anything delibrately for laughs'-fest it has been recently.

I think its time to end Top Gear. Its had its time and its become boring. Top Gear Australia is ultra boring.

Post by **mario** » 10 Jul 2011, 08:20

GroupLotusRenault wrote:
MansellsEyebrows wrote:
shinji wrote:Pity I genuinely can't stand to watch Top Gear any more.

interestingly, this new season of top gear has been far better than recent years so far, with it being much more natural and genuinly funny like it used to be over the 'do anything delibrately for laughs'-fest it has been recently.

I think its time to end Top Gear. Its had its time and its become boring. Top Gear Australia is ultra boring.

Personally, I'll agree that, at times, the current show has almost become a parody of its former self, with the stunts being increasingly over the top, much of the show feeling staged, instead of flowing naturally, and generally being designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. There have also been times where it feels like the Top Gear presenters, particularly Clarkson, were spending more effort deliberately courting controversy in an attempt to keep ratings high and their show in the headlines than actually making the show better.

It's a shame in a way, because the shows do have moments of inspiration - the film that Clarkson did on the E-Type Jaguar was probably one of their best pieces in a long time, and their film on Senna in the previous series was similarly emotive. If they had a few more films like that per season, say, on legendary and unsung motorsport heroes, or revolutionary moments in the automotive world, and fewer staged stunts, then I think that the show could be much better.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 10 Jul 2011, 11:06

That's the thing though - it's not a car programme as such anymore, it's a family entertainment show.

Post by **tommykl** » 10 Jul 2011, 16:53

I'll be taping the show, just to hope that he won't beat Rubens' time.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 10 Jul 2011, 19:43

Not a good brummie accent from Vettel, we don't sound like that.

Well, I don't anyway.

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 10 Jul 2011, 23:45

Well, if the car prices is England, really are that low... I'm moving next year!

I mean, with my spare money, I can buy, several V12 CL 600's, but here in Norway, I don't even have half the money for a tired 93 model CL 600...

Post by **tommykl** » 11 Jul 2011, 16:34

Myrvold wrote:Well, if the car prices is England, really are that low... I'm moving next year!

I mean, with my spare money, I can buy, several V12 CL 600's, but here in Norway, I don't even have half the money for a tired 93 model CL 600...

You'd go for the CL 600? I prefer the BMW, I mean, IT'S GOT FLIPPING HEADLIGHTS!!!!!!!!!

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 11 Jul 2011, 16:36

So Vettel did beat Barrichello time in Top Gear's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' challenge. By 3 tenths. Not bad, but I might add that Hamilton's time in the wet was even more impressive...

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 11 Jul 2011, 17:55

WeirdKerr wrote:id like to see kobayashi......

I second that.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 11 Jul 2011, 20:40

I would LIKE to see Kobayashi, but I would LOVE to see Yuji Ide try...

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 11 Jul 2011, 21:05

tommykl wrote:
Myrvold wrote:Well, if the car prices is England, really are that low... I'm moving next year!

I mean, with my spare money, I can buy, several V12 CL 600's, but here in Norway, I don't even have half the money for a tired 93 model CL 600...

You'd go for the CL 600? I prefer the BMW, I mean, IT'S GOT FLIPPING HEADLIGHTS!!!!!!!!!

Well, ye

But the money... jeez

DOSBoot · Post by **DOSBoot** » 11 Jul 2011, 21:46

DanielPT wrote:So Vettel did beat Barrichello time in Top Gear's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' challenge.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 11 Jul 2011, 22:30

Just saw the whole thing on Youtube.
He's a funny guy. I loved the parts about Schumacher and Patrick Head.
And see? It's not just the car

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 11 Jul 2011, 23:16

shinji wrote:That's the thing though - it's not a car programme as such anymore, it's a family entertainment show.

This just past episode disagrees with you. They're at long last a car show again.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 12 Jul 2011, 00:35

Peter wrote:
shinji wrote:That's the thing though - it's not a car programme as such anymore, it's a family entertainment show.

This just past episode disagrees with you. They're at long last a car show again.

But Clarkson said the next episode will be business as usual :lol:

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 12 Jul 2011, 01:29

DOSBoot wrote:
DanielPT wrote:So Vettel did beat Barrichello time in Top Gear's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' challenge.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Clarkson said it all the time, in wet conditions, you gain about 3-5 seconds a lap. So, technically, Lewis and Webber are faster

DOSBoot · Post by **DOSBoot** » 12 Jul 2011, 03:39

Peter wrote:
DOSBoot wrote:
DanielPT wrote:So Vettel did beat Barrichello time in Top Gear's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' challenge.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Clarkson said it all the time, in wet conditions, you gain about 3-5 seconds a lap. So, technically, Lewis and Webber are faster

But not officially, so my opinion stands.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 12 Jul 2011, 07:07

Button's second effort had ice in places, does that make him technically fastest?

I did see the interview and it was very good indeed, he gained some points back from me as he showed his natural side and penchant for good comedy. His brummie accent was poor, but can forgive that. Be interesting to see some of the other drivers, eyebrow man would be interesting, as I can't see his interview being as esy going lol

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 12 Jul 2011, 10:03

sswishbone wrote:Button's second effort had ice in places, does that make him technically fastest? I did see the interview and it was very good indeed, he gained some points back from me as he showed his natural side and penchant for good comedy. His brummie accent was poor, but can forgive that. Be interesting to see some of the other drivers, eyebrow man would be interesting, as I can't see his interview being as esy going lol

Señor Eyebrows would probably wreck the entire studio if he doesn't go fastest, so it is a risk for BBC

. Besides, given the stick he took from the British press when was at McLaren and the fact that he probably is the most hated F1 driver in the history of UK, I can't really see an invitation from BBC or Alonso accepting one in case it comes along.

patrick · Post by **patrick** » 12 Jul 2011, 15:54

Myrvold wrote:
tommykl wrote:
Myrvold wrote:Well, if the car prices is England, really are that low... I'm moving next year!

I mean, with my spare money, I can buy, several V12 CL 600's, but here in Norway, I don't even have half the money for a tired 93 model CL 600...

You'd go for the CL 600? I prefer the BMW, I mean, IT'S GOT FLIPPING HEADLIGHTS!!!!!!!!!

Well, ye But the money... jeez

It was a good segment, but as usual, top gear avoided the reality and they didn't mention the undoubtedly horrifying costs of maintenance, fuel consumption, spares etc. Both of those cars, especially being automatics, are very rare here and you'd be paying through the teeth just to look at the thing in your driveway. Used cars are cheap here, but always have plenty of strings attatched!

I thought vettel's interview was pretty good, him being top of the board was a given though

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 12 Jul 2011, 16:25

Myrvold wrote:Well, if the car prices is England, really are that low... I'm moving next year!

I mean, with my spare money, I can buy, several V12 CL 600's, but here in Norway, I don't even have half the money for a tired 93 model CL 600...

Yes, can someone explain this to me? In America if I went to buy a Mercedes like that (I searched and found the same model in comparable condition), I would end up paying about $5000 more (I did the conversion to find this number, so thats $16000 vs. the $11000 they spent.) Roughly the same is true for an 850i in similar condition.

There must be a catch (beyond the fact that the cars are just waiting to spring problems), like how much you're going to pay to insure it.

Post by **mario** » 12 Jul 2011, 18:11

F1000X wrote:
Myrvold wrote:Well, if the car prices is England, really are that low... I'm moving next year!

I mean, with my spare money, I can buy, several V12 CL 600's, but here in Norway, I don't even have half the money for a tired 93 model CL 600...

Yes, can someone explain this to me? In America if I went to buy a Mercedes like that (I searched and found the same model in comparable condition), I would end up paying about $5000 more (I did the conversion to find this number, so thats $16000 vs. the $11000 they spent.) Roughly the same is true for an 850i in similar condition.

There must be a catch (beyond the fact that the cars are just waiting to spring problems), like how much you're going to pay to insure it.

I would say that patrick has touched on the major issues with the cars that the presenters bought:

patrick wrote:It was a good segment, but as usual, top gear avoided the reality and they didn't mention the undoubtedly horrifying costs of maintenance, fuel consumption, spares etc. Both of those cars, especially being automatics, are very rare here and you'd be paying through the teeth just to look at the thing in your driveway. Used cars are cheap here, but always have plenty of strings attatched!

I thought vettel's interview was pretty good, him being top of the board was a given though

Hammond, admittedly, did hint that the Bentley he was driving around in at the start of that clip would be colossally expensive to run - remember that James May used to have an old Bentley in one of the earlier series? He eventually got rid of the car, joking that his mechanics must have been the only mechanic in the country who could afford designer overalls due to the cost of servicing the cars - and that was before he actually drove it anywhere.
After all, having taken a look on Autotrader, there are CL600's for sale that have a similar specification to Clarkson's car on the show, and for a similar price - but, when the fuel consumption is under 17mpg on the combined cycle (barely over 11mpg in urban environments), and petrol prices are in the £1.35-1.40 range, you can see how cars like that would chew through money quite easily.

As for the other cars they highlighted - for example, the Mazda MX-8, Honda S2000 etc. that were all below about £6,700, that is perhaps a little less surprising - those cars, whilst in immaculate condition, are relatively commonplace, so you would expect them to depreciate quite quickly (after all, most mass market cars are only worth about 60% of their list price after one year of use, let alone three or more years).

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 12 Jul 2011, 19:17

Of course, but I mean, the same cars in Norway, does cost from 45-60'000 GBP... That is 8-10 times as much! It is the same darn cars, and in Norway, the fuel costs 1.7 GBP for a litre of petrol (or 0.25 gallons)...

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 12 Jul 2011, 21:49

Myrvold, 1 litre = 0.220 UK gallons or 0.264 US gallons.

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 12 Jul 2011, 22:04

Oh, difference between gallons as well

Not easy to keep track of!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 12 Jul 2011, 22:16

Myrvold wrote:Oh, difference between gallons as well Not easy to keep track of!

Now try to compare US$/USgallon vs. UK£/UKgallon - good maths practice! None of this far-too-easily-divisible-by-10 rubbish for us Anglo-Saxons!

RAK · Post by **RAK** » 12 Jul 2011, 22:40

mario wrote:Hammond, admittedly, did hint that the Bentley he was driving around in at the start of that clip would be colossally expensive to run - remember that James May used to have an old Bentley in one of the earlier series? He eventually got rid of the car, joking that his mechanics must have been the only mechanic in the country who could afford designer overalls due to the cost of servicing the cars - and that was before he actually drove it anywhere.
After all, having taken a look on Autotrader, there are CL600's for sale that have a similar specification to Clarkson's car on the show, and for a similar price - but, when the fuel consumption is under 17mpg on the combined cycle (barely over 11mpg in urban environments), and petrol prices are in the £1.35-1.40 range, you can see how cars like that would chew through money quite easily.

As for the other cars they highlighted - for example, the Mazda MX-8, Honda S2000 etc. that were all below about £6,700, that is perhaps a little less surprising - those cars, whilst in immaculate condition, are relatively commonplace, so you would expect them to depreciate quite quickly (after all, most mass market cars are only worth about 60% of their list price after one year of use, let alone three or more years).

I think there still is a good point to be made that there are some exceptional bargains within the car market in Britain, especially if you look for moderately well-equipped Japanese or European hatchbacks, which easily beat the dullness of a car like the Pixo, a car built to Indian standards, with hardly any kit as standard, let alone turds of automobiles like some of the Daewoo-made, Chevrolet-badged econoboxes or the entire Ssangyong range. I mean, the Pixo doesn't even come with a rev counter. My thirteen-year-old Volkswagen Golf Mk3 comes with more than one dial, even as an entry-level CL model. The Pixo was the sort of car which CAR magazine's two-star rating was made for.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 13 Jul 2011, 06:23

May did say they'd been idiotic and that they'd be a nightmare after run anywhere, to which Hammond and Jezza stated they were keeping them, running them and then reporting back on the issues. As a claims handler the things I can see being the problem with these cars: -

a) Expensive fuel run
b) Expensive insurance
c) Reliability issues
d) Probable write off if an accident involves replacing of two or more panels of the car
e) You either have the cash saved, or it'll be a bank loan job to pay, can't get it on finance

But what the show really highlighted, especially with the crowd in the town square, is how a lot of people have no idea what a car is worth. I remember a conversation I had in my job where I told a policyholder their car was probably a write off, as it was a 1997 Ford Mondeo,to which the guy replied 'my car is worth at least £1500!' Delusional!

For me, right now the best car you can buy on the market is probably a 2002 - 2003 Ford Focus/Mondeo, but that's a whole other topic :lol:

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 15 Jul 2011, 16:52

RAK wrote:My thirteen-year-old Volkswagen Golf Mk3 comes with more than one dial, even as an entry-level CL model.

I had a 1995 Golf GL, and was always quite surprised that the speedo was only marked to 120 mph, whereas the CL was marked to 140 mph. And this was irrespective of what fuel they used. What were VW doing there?

RAK wrote:The Pixo was the sort of car which CAR magazine's two-star rating was made for.

I dread to think what would get a one-star rating, then. Will the old FSO factory stop making Daewoos and bring back the Polonez? Or what about toy cars like the G-Wiz and those Aixam hairdryers, will they be rated that low?