Top Gear (series 5)
Encyclopedia
The fifth series of Top Gear
began in the United Kingdom
on October 24th and concluded on December 26th 2004. The series contained nine episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, which aired January 2nd, 2005, charting the best moments from Series 4 and 5.
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
began in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on October 24th and concluded on December 26th 2004. The series contained nine episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, which aired January 2nd, 2005, charting the best moments from Series 4 and 5.
| # | Episode | Airdate | Guest |
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| 40 | Series 5 Episode 1 | 2004 October 24 | Bill Bailey Bill Bailey Bill Bailey is an English comedian, musician and actor. As well as his extensive stand-up work, Bailey is well known for his appearances on Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI.Bailey was listed by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy in... and Antony Worrall Thompson Antony Worrall Thompson Henry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson is a British celebrity chef, television presenter and radio broadcaster.-Biography:... |
Review: Clarkson reviews the Porsche 997 Carrera S Porsche 997 The Porsche Type 997 , also simply called the 997 is the current version of the 911 family sports car built by German manufacturer Porsche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen... . He declares that it is the laziest design job ever. Which was proven when he accidentally drove the old one because of its similarities.However, he also says that this is a car for keen drivers; a 911 from the old school. The Stig sets a power lap time 1:28.9, on an extremely wet track. Restoration Rip-Off: May introduces James Dean James Dean James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark... 's Lotus Ten, one of only seven made. The News: Top Gear is up for a National Television Award National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... . They show the new Ferrari F430 Ferrari F430 The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show... . Clarkson has to eat his hair because of a bet he made that the new Vauxhall Astra Vauxhall Astra Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries... would not look like the concept. Chef Antony Worrall Thompson Antony Worrall Thompson Henry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson is a British celebrity chef, television presenter and radio broadcaster.-Biography:... begins fixing a hair omelette for Clarkson. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Bill Bailey Bill Bailey Bill Bailey is an English comedian, musician and actor. As well as his extensive stand-up work, Bailey is well known for his appearances on Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI.Bailey was listed by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy in... talks about being a communist, owning a 2CV Citroën 2CV The Citroën 2CV |tax horsepower]]”) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1948 and 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks, and deceptively simple Bauhaus inspired bodywork, that belied the sheer... , and his fondness for wrecking hire cars. He sets a time of 1:53.4 in the Liana, on a wet track. Challenge: An old ice cream van Ice cream van An ice cream van or ice cream truck is a commercial vehicle which serves as a travelling retail outlet for ice cream, usually during the summer. Ice cream vans are often seen parked at public events, or near parks, beaches, or other areas where people congregate... attempts to jump over four bouncy castles. The van manages to clear none of the castles. Review: May reviews the Vauxhall Monaro VXR Holden Monaro The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005... , and Clarkson reviews the Chrysler 300C. On face value, the two colonial cars are excellent, so they are met at Pendine Sands Pendine Sands Pendine Sands is a length of beach on the shores of Carmarthen Bay on the south coast of Wales. It stretches from Gilman Point in the west to Laugharne Sands in the east. The village of Pendine is situated near the western end of Pendine Sands.... with Hammond's Jaguar S-Type R Jaguar S-Type The Jaguar S-Type was a mid-size luxury/executive car that debuted at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show and went on sale in spring 1999. The name is a revival of a previous Jaguar model, the S-Type introduced in 1963.-Overview:... to decide which is the most fun to drive. The Chrysler is panned for money-saving features like poor brakes and a soggy suspension, coming very close to a successful sports saloon but failing. Clarkson and May agree that the Monaro is the best of the three, though Hammond still prefers the Jag. |
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| 41 | Series 5 Episode 2 | 2004 October 31 | Geri Halliwell Geri Halliwell Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic... |
Review: Hammond looks at the Ford Focus, comparing it to the Vauxhall Astra Vauxhall Astra Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries... , and the VW Golf. He decides that the Focus is still the best of the three, apart from the bland new styling. The News: May goes on a rant about Bill Bryson Bill Bryson William McGuire "Bill" Bryson, OBE, is a best-selling American author of humorous books on travel, as well as books on the English language and on science. Born an American, he was a resident of Britain for most of his adult life before moving back to the US in 1995... . Ferrari gives the Pope an F1 Car. They discuss the new BMW 3 Series BMW 3 Series The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the... . Restoration Rip-Off: May introduces the Adams Probe 16 Probe 16 The M-505 Adams Brothers Probe 16 was a car, designed by former Marcos cars designers Dennis and Peter Adams, in 1969 as 'an investigation into extremes of styling'. It was powered by a mid-mounted tuned Austin 1800 engine and stood a mere 86 centimeters in height. It has 10" wheels up front and... from A Clockwork Orange A Clockwork Orange (film) A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick... , one of only three made. Review: Clarkson reviews the Enzo Ferrari Enzo Ferrari (car) The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite... . He declares the Enzo to be a masterpiece. He muses that supercars today may be approaching engineering perfection, but the cars from fifteen years ago are more fun to drive. The Stig sets a lap time of 1:19.0. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Geri Halliwell Geri Halliwell Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic... talks about all the cars she has wrecked. She goes around the track, in the wet, in 1:55.4. Challenge: A world champion all-terrain skateboarder is pitted against a Group N Mitsubishi rally car. The car loses soundly. They then switch out the rally car with a Bowler Wildcat Bowler Wildcat The Bowler Wildcat is an off-road vehicle originally made by Bowler Offroad, it is an evolution of the Bowler Tomcat which is not based on the Land Rover Defender against common belief... , and the Wildcat wins by a considerable margin. The cars are driven by "professional racing driver Ben Collins" who was also acting as The Stig The Stig The Stig is a character in the British motoring television show Top Gear. The character plays on the anonymity of racing drivers' full-face helmets, with the running joke that nobody knows who, or indeed what, is inside the character's racing suit. The character was the creation of presenter Jeremy... at the time. The Cool Wall: The Vauxhall Monaro Holden Monaro The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005... is declared to be cool. The Porsche 997 Porsche 997 The Porsche Type 997 , also simply called the 997 is the current version of the 911 family sports car built by German manufacturer Porsche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen... is uncool. The Mercedes-Benz SLK, and the Enzo Ferrari are very uncool. Review: Clarkson compares two trios of supercars: three older supercars, the Jaguar XJ220 Jaguar XJ220 The Jaguar XJ220 is a mid-engined supercar produced by Jaguar in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing as Jaguar Sport between 1992 and 1994. It held the record for the highest top speed of a production car , until the arrival of the McLaren F1 in 1994... , the McLaren F1 McLaren F1 The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car... and the Ferrari F40 Ferrari F40 The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car produced by Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car... , and three newer supercars, the Pagani Zonda Pagani Zonda The Pagani Zonda is a sports car built by the Italian manufacturer Pagani. It debuted in 1999, and production ended in 2011. As of June 2009, 206 Zondas had been built, including test mules. Both 2-seat coupe and convertible versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon... , the Porsche Carrera GT Porsche Carrera GT The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig, Germany.- History :The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at... and the Enzo Ferrari Enzo Ferrari (car) The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite... , coming to the conclusion that the simplicity of some of the older cars makes them more fun, even if they are slower around a track. Clarkson is very critical of the attitude of current supercar makers, claiming that they "held back" with cars like the Porsche Carrera GT, but is also critical of the McLaren F1, saying that driving it resembled trying to ride a nuclear missile á la Dr. Strangelove. |
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| 42 | Series 5 Episode 3 | 2004 November 7 | Joanna Lumley Joanna Lumley Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive... |
Review: Dodge Viper SRT10. Jeremy can only briefly knock the barn-door engineering because he loves it. Sets a time of 1:28.5 in the wet. The News: The £130,000 Bugatti Veyron wristwatch, which you need a butler Butler A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its... to put on. Challenge: Clarkson tries to drive a Land Rover Discovery up a mountain in Scotland. The summit he finally reaches is that of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain Cnoc an Fhreiceadain Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is a seaside mountain peak in northern Scotland. It is modest in height at 312 m , but both commands the township of Coldbackie and provides dramatic views across to Kyle of Tongue, to Orkney in the east, and Arkle in the West.Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is an Old Red Sandstone... (Watch Hill), above Coldbackie Coldbackie Coldbackie is a crofting township in Sutherland and is in the Scottish council area of Highland Scotland.-Geography:Coldbackie lies at the head of the Kyle of Tongue, two miles north east of Tongue. It sits under the Watch Hill, looking north over a spectacular beach to the Rabbit Islands... , and not Ben Tongue as widely reported at the time. Maddest Car: Hammond finds the world's maddest car, in Switzerland. It's the Rinspeed Rinspeed Rinspeed is a Swiss automobile manufacturer and tuning designer. Rinspeed specialise in restoring classic cars, and tuning and modifying modern cars... Splash, which becomes a hydrofoil Hydrofoil A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the... boat. Restoration Rip-Off: Keith Moon's 1938 Chrysler Wimbledon, which was originally a British staff car during World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... , but later driven into a duck pond. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Joanna Lumley Joanna Lumley Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive... talks to Jeremy about how poor British Leyland were with car consistency in The New Avengers and how she once stalked a car. Lap of 1:51.5 |
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| 43 | Series 5 Episode 4 | 2004 November 14 | Jimmy Carr Jimmy Carr James Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television.... and Steve Coogan Steve Coogan Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating... |
Review: Pagani Zonda Pagani Zonda The Pagani Zonda is a sports car built by the Italian manufacturer Pagani. It debuted in 1999, and production ended in 2011. As of June 2009, 206 Zondas had been built, including test mules. Both 2-seat coupe and convertible versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon... S Roadster, which Clarkson says Hammond fell in love with and that girls who came there showing their bare midriffs there were wasting their time Challenge: Hammond and May spend 24 hours in a Smart Forfour Smart Forfour The Smart Forfour was a supermini produced by Smart between April 2004 and June 2006. Unlike the other models of the marque, the Forfour was a more conventional five-door hatchback with a relatively roomy interior, available as a four-/five-seater.... to see if the brochure claim 'designed like a lounge' makes the experience tolerable. They find it handles well, it's styled nicely, and it turns heads well enough to get people to buy them food, but it's simply too expensive for what it is. Restoration Rip-Off: 1978 Range Rover Range Rover The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation... previously owned by Princess Diana. The Range Rover had just 58,000 kilometers but the engine needed complete repair. Skit: Hammond and May attempt to play conkers with 6 caravans, appearing to take great skill in their choice of caravans for the game. Hammond ends up as the winner of the game. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Jimmy Carr Jimmy Carr James Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television.... thinks motorways should be Autobahn at night and talks about owning a Rover 75 Rover 75 The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK... . The Stig described him as "the worst driver we've ever had and the luckiest man alive", but Carr beats Simon Cowell to the top of board with 1:46.9. Review: The Aston Martin Vanquish S, which Clarkson tests in a race against Steve Coogan Steve Coogan Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating... in a Ferrari 575M GTC. The Vanquish has been improved greatly, but it is still no match for the Ferrari on the track. However, as an all-rounder, with looks and comfort taken into consideration, Clarkson and Coogan would rather have the underdog Aston than the big-headed Ferrari. |
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| 44 | Series 5 Episode 5 | 2004 November 21 | Christian Slater Christian Slater Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean... |
Review: Morgan Aero 8 GTN Morgan Aero 8 The Morgan Aero 8 is a sports car designed and built by Morgan Motor Company at its factory in Malvern Link, England .Notable owners have included Richard Hammond of BBC's Top Gear.... . Jeremy and James constantly mock it because of its aesthetics. Lap time: 1:25.9, although it did cross the line sideways. The News: Hammond finally gets a Dodge Charger, more precisely, a 1969 model. Restoration Rip-Off: The Fender Stratocaster Fender Stratocaster The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top... guitar and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Mercedes-Benz 300SL The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster... both celebrate their 50th birthdays this year, so as a result, instead of talking about a restored car, May talks about the reasons why the Gullwing is the first supercar Supercar Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"... , with songs performed with the Stratocaster playing in the background including Voodoo Child (Slight Return) Voodoo Child (Slight Return) "Voodoo Child " is the closing track on Electric Ladyland, the third and final album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song is known for its wah-wah-heavy guitar work. It is #101 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs of all time.... , Sultans of Swing Sultans of Swing "Sultans of Swing" was the first single release of the British rock band Dire Straits. First released in 1978, its 1979 re-release caused it to become a hit in both the UK and USA.... , China Girl China Girl (song) "China Girl" is a song co-written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop during their years in Berlin, first appearing on Pop's album The Idiot... , Layla Layla "Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by their blues-rock band, Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs... , and Get It On Get It On (T. Rex song) "Get It On" was covered by the Power Station in 1985. Their version – titled "Get It On " – was released as their second single from their debut album. The track was a hit in both the UK, reaching number 22 on the UK Singles Chart, and the U.S., where the song peaked at number nine on the... . Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Actor Christian Slater Christian Slater Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean... talks about being in a real police chase and driving a Hybrid Hybrid electric vehicle A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional... , he takes the Liana around with a lap time of 1:51.4. Down To Earth Board: The presenters show the excellent characteristics of the Subaru Legacy Subaru Legacy The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in... . Challenge: Hammond starts a people carrier Minivan Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon.... race series, with the inaugural race featuring two Renault Espace Renault Espace The Renault Espace is a large MPV from French car-maker Renault. Generations 1-3 were sold under the Renault brand but manufactured by Matra. The current fourth generation model, which seats seven passengers, is an all-Renault product; the Renault Grand Espace is a long-wheelbase version with... s, a Toyota Previa Toyota Previa The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima in Japan and the Toyota Tarago in Australia, is an MPV or multi-purpose vehicle produced by Toyota Motor Corporation since 1990... , a Toyota Spacecruiser Toyota Van The Toyota MasterAce is a vehicle that was produced by Toyota and distributed worldwide under several names, with "MasterAce" being the name used in Japan. North American markets received the MasterAce as the Toyota Van... , a Mitsubishi Space Wagon, and a Nissan Serena Nissan Serena The Nissan Serena started life as a very small people carrier, but grew larger with each generation over the years. Earlier versions were FR layout with a live axle mounted on leaf springs. Later versions had a multilink independent rear suspension, and were FF layout or 4WD... . Hammond in the Espace wins the race easily, because of his more powerful engine. Challenge: After much practice, Clarkson took a diesel Jaguar S-Type Jaguar S-Type The Jaguar S-Type was a mid-size luxury/executive car that debuted at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show and went on sale in spring 1999. The name is a revival of a previous Jaguar model, the S-Type introduced in 1963.-Overview:... around the Nürburgring Nürburgring The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about... at 9:59, just under ten minutes. His instructor, Sabine Schmitz Sabine Schmitz Sabine Schmitz , is a German former professional motor racing driver for BMW, now known for driving the BMW "Ring taxi" around the Nürburgring race track as well as being a television personality... , exclaimed "I could do that in a van". She then took the Jaguar out and recorded a lap time much quicker on her first try, at 9:12. |
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| 45 | Series 5 Episode 6 | 2004 December 5 | Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... and Billy Baxter |
Review: Volkswagen Golf V GTI. Clarkson compares it to the previous hot versions and especially to the fabled Mark I, claiming that the Mark V is a return to "the true spirit of the GTI." Though it is down on power compared to the Honda Civic Type R Honda Civic Type R The first Civic to receive the 'Type R' name was based on the 6th generation 'EK' Civic. The contributing base model was the JDM Civic 3 door hatchback called SiR, code named EK4... and many other hot hatches, Jeremy finds it as the best because it's "all things to all men."
Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... gives an excited Stig The Stig The Stig is a character in the British motoring television show Top Gear. The character plays on the anonymity of racing drivers' full-face helmets, with the running joke that nobody knows who, or indeed what, is inside the character's racing suit. The character was the creation of presenter Jeremy... a track (aptly named "What Car") off his new album and tells what it's like having poorly-functioning monogrammed gates. Achieved a time of 1:50 Restoration Rip-Off: A racing Mini Cooper previously owned by Paddy Hopkirk Paddy Hopkirk Patrick Barron "Paddy" Hopkirk is a former rally driver from Northern Ireland.He was born in Belfast and educated at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare from 1945 – 1949 before attending Trinity College, Dublin until 1953. He started his winning career in professional racing and rally driving... . This car is the last contestant to be introduced. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car (Take 2): Army veteran and blind land speed record holder Billy Baxter. Clarkson orally guided him around the track and he came in at 2:02, faster than Terry Wogan Terry Wogan Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career... and Richard Whitely who both have sight. His name on the board is written as "Blind Man". Challenge: How much Porsche can you get for £1500? The presenters each have to buy a Porsche for less than £1500 and put it through a series of tests. Hammond buys a Volkswagen Volkswagen Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is... van-engined 924 Porsche 924 The Porsche 924 is an automobile produced by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988. A two-door, 2+2 coupé, the 924 replaced the 914 as the company's entry-level model, and was the model that finally retired the 912. In production terms, the 924 was the first Porsche model powered by a... , May buys a 2.5 litre 4-cylinder 944 Porsche 944 The Porsche 944 is a sports car built by Porsche from 1982 to 1991. It was built on the same platform as the 924, although 924 production continued through 1988. The 944 was intended to last into the 1990s, but major revisions planned for a 944 S3 model were eventually rolled into the 968 instead,... , and Clarkson buys a broken-down 928 Porsche 928 The Porsche 928 was a sports-GT car sold by Porsche AG of Germany from 1978 to 1995. Originally intended to replace the company's iconic 911, the 928 attempted to combine the power, poise, and handling of a sports car with the refinement, comfort, and equipment of a luxury sedan to create what some... . Clarkson wins in the end by selling his car as spare parts and as "furniture", although the better car, it seems, was Hammond's 924. |
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| 46 | Series 5 Episode 7 | 2004 December 12 | Roger Daltrey Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also... |
Review: The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ400 takes on the Lamborghini Murciélago Lamborghini Murciélago The Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car... . The Evo was driven by Clarkson whilst the Lambo was driven by James Kaye James Kaye James Kaye is a British auto racing driver. He has been a stalwart competitor of Hondas in various championships since 1995, and has had 2 lengthy spells in the BTCC... , the British touring car champion. It was shown that the Lambo could not shake off the Evo after several laps. It came down to the final lap where the Lambo spun out. Afterwards, the Stig posted a time of 1.24.8 for the Evo. Clarkson, however, prefers the old Evo FQ340 because the more powerful FQ400 has a bone-shattering ride, a hopeless clutch, ridiculously poor fuel economy, a tendency to fall apart at high speed and massive turbo lag. Challenge: The long age answer of 'which boxster is the best' is answered. The Porsche Boxster Porsche Boxster The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder.... or the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class The SLK is a compact roadster manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in three generations; R170 launched in 1996, the R171 in 2004 and R172 in 2011.... ? In the end, the Boxster won by a large margin. Restoration Rip-Off: James May in a quick summary reports about the Restoration Rip-Off Project. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Roger Daltrey Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also... , lead singer of The Who The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction... tells about famous myths about the Who, especially if Keith Moon Keith Moon Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon... drove a car into a swimming pool Swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool... , Daltrey's was the fastest mildly moist lap ever of 1:49.7. Review: Clarkson reviews the Toyota Prius Toyota Prius The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation... , skewering the green machine. He found the interior quality poor, the slow pace intolerable, and the low-grip eco-friendly tires to be dangerous. He recommends buying a diesel Volkswagen Lupo Volkswagen Lupo The Lupo is a city car manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen from 1998 to 2005.-Model history:The Lupo was introduced in 1998 to fill a gap at the bottom of the VW model range caused by the increasing size and weight of the VW Polo. Rivals included the Ford Ka, the Opel/Vauxhall Agila and... if you want to save the world. The only upside of the Prius is quietness at low speed. Review: Hammond reviews the Ford Mustang Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A... . Some of the uncouth details bother him, but appearances and character rescue the American icon in his opinion. They put it on the Cool Wall as nearly a sub-zero car. He tested the Mustang by driving the length of the A1. Top Gear Awards 2004:
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| 47 | Series 5 Episode 8 | 2004 December 19 | Eddie Izzard Eddie Izzard Edward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime... |
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Challenge: Hammond and May, using a plane, raced Clarkson who drove a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Ferrari 612 Scaglietti The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a grand tourer produced by Ferrari between 2004 and 2010. It is a large two door fastback coupé. The 612 Scaglietti was designed to replace the smaller 456 M; its larger size makes it a true 4 seater with adequate space in the rear seats for adults.The design,... from London to Verbier Verbier Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world... in Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... . Clarkson won again but this time only by minutes, overtaking the others on the road of their destination. It looked good for Hammond and May when they arrived at Geneva miles ahead of Jeremy who was still in France. Clarkson had to stop a few times because his car developed a buzzing noise and he was stopped by the police. Despite this he made up time while the others were waiting for trains and buses. The News: Richard Brunstrum, the Chief Constable of North Wales, wants to review every speed limit in the country and reset them at reasonable limits. The results of restoration ripoff are as 5) James Deans’ Lotus, 4) Clockwork Orange Probe, 3) Princess Diana’s Range Rover, 2) Keith Moon’s Chrysler, and 1) Patty Hopcart’s Mini. The intent is that the Mini will be restored between series 5 and 6. New cars include the BMW M6 (which all three want), a 6 litre V8 engine version of the Vauxhall Monaro for only £37,000 (they all want that), and the Peugeot 607 – which they don’t want. As Clarkson remarks, “That is an appaling car. AVOID it!” As it is the holiday season, they showcase a few gift ideas: a cell phone holder, drink coasters, a Michael Shumacher clock, an air freshner, a Porsche spade & bucket, an inflatable Porsche, a petrol pump refrigerator, and a Ferrari bathrobe. Challenge: Can a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Lancer Evo or Evo, is a high-performance sedan manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. There have been ten official versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a roman numeral... Rally car beat a bobsleigh Bobsleigh Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score.... ? May was in the car, driven by rally expert Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... , with Hammond and a professional team in the bobsled. The bobsled won with 59.68 seconds whilst the Evo came in under 1.02.24. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Comedian Eddie Izzard Eddie Izzard Edward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime... , tells how he could fly a Spitfire and suggests that satellite navigation should swear at drivers to get their attention. Lap of 1:52. Challenge: Are today's showroom cars faster than race cars from "not that long ago"? Three pairs made up of one classic racer and one showroom car race against the clock in the Stig's hands:
Challenge: Can a Formula 1 car (specifically Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari.... 's Renault R24 Renault R24 The Renault R24 is a Formula One car that competed in the 2004 Formula One season. It was clearly one of the fastest, most-reliable cars of the season, managing to outpace both the Williams and McLaren, as well as proving to be a consistent challenger to the equally-fast BAR Hondas of Jenson Button... ) get around the track in under a minute? Alonso wasn't on hand to drive, so the Top Gear team gave it to The Stig to drive. He drove it around the track in exactly 59 seconds. Restoration Rip-Off: Phone voters elect Paddy Hopkirk Paddy Hopkirk Patrick Barron "Paddy" Hopkirk is a former rally driver from Northern Ireland.He was born in Belfast and educated at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare from 1945 – 1949 before attending Trinity College, Dublin until 1953. He started his winning career in professional racing and rally driving... 's Mini Cooper as the winner of the Restoration Rip-Off Project. Money for the restoration was raised by the phone calls from voters. |
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| 48 | Series 5 Episode 9 | 2004 December 26 | Trinny Woodall Trinny Woodall Trinny Woodall is an English fashion advisor and designer, television presenter and author. She was raised in a wealthy family and was privately educated... and Susannah Constantine Susannah Constantine Susannah Caroline Constantine is an English fashion journalist, advisor, television presenter, author and designer. Her second book, entitled What Not to Wear, has won her a prestigious British Book Award and sold 670,000 copies.... |
Review: Ariel Atom Ariel Atom The Ariel Atom is a high performance sports car made by the Ariel Motor Company based in Somerset, England and under licence in North America by TMI Autotech, Inc. at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.... , from a company in Somerset. Clarkson describes it as being not only the next best thing to a superbike, for overweight middle aged men who would look ridiculous on two wheels and inevitably end up as organ donors - but actually better. He praises the "exoskeleton" design, plus the speed and handling, demonstrating both by racing and beating a 600cc motorcycle around the test track. He also points out that it is more thrilling than a superbike despite being safer - as it is legally a car and has a full roll cage and seatbelts, you don't even need to wear leathers or a crash helmet, the latter famously leading to the car "destroying his whole face" with wind power and G-forces. The Stig takes it around the track in 1:19.5, well into Supercar territory. Review: Hammond tests the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG Mercedes-Benz G-Class The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short... . It is not as good offroad as its competitors, but in the urban scene it looks fantastic and has a more civilized demeanor. A supercharged V8 produces 476 bhp (355 kW), good for immense straight-line speed. Hammond calls it "the coolest car in the world". Review: May tests the new BMW 1-series, and is pleased with the rear-drive but finds it too expensive, slow, and poorly-made to buy. Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Trinny (1:54.1) who explains the importance of shoes to an outfit and Susannah (in 1:55.6) who shows how dressing is important to cars. Both in the wet. They fail to understand the importance of a good car to complement a good look. Comparison: May and Clarkson go out to review a collection of cars from the Pacific Rim: Cars from Malaysia and Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... . Among these are the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent, in a 3-cylinder diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... version. They conclude that none of them are worth buying, due to being "built like white goods." This is followed by a demonstration of a custom vehicle constructed from used home appliances. |
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| The Best Of Top Gear 2004 #2 | 2005 January 2 | Sir Ranulph Fiennes Ranulph Fiennes Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while... & Joanna Lumley Joanna Lumley Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive... |
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Review: Porsche Carrera GT Porsche Carrera GT The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig, Germany.- History :The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at... (From Series 4, Episode 4) Challenge: The Minicabbing Challenge (From Series 4, Episode 6) Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Sir Ranulph Fiennes (From Series 4, Episode 9) Challenge: Parachute Into A Moving Car (From Series 4, Episode 9) Star In A Reasonably Priced Car: Joanna Lumley Joanna Lumley Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive... (From Series 5, Episode 3) Feature: Vauxhall Monaro Holden Monaro The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005... , Chrysler 300C, and Jaguar S-Type R Jaguar S-Type The Jaguar S-Type was a mid-size luxury/executive car that debuted at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show and went on sale in spring 1999. The name is a revival of a previous Jaguar model, the S-Type introduced in 1963.-Overview:... on the Pendine Sands (From Series 5, Episode 1) |
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