New Top Gear Season 2 vs The Grand Tour

[Free Ranj Egg]

Morning all,

Watched the new Top Gear last night. Its a whole lot better than last seasons one, Chris Evans really ruined it in my opinion.

As good as it was I think it isn't as good as the Grand Tour. Clarkson, May and Hammond really make that show.

What the general consensus out there - which is better?

Ranj

[wurlycorner]

Not seen Grand Tour. I'm not paying Amazon just to watch that (and they have nothing else that would convince me to sign up to continuing to pay them a subscription).

The new studio for TG was nice. It was a nice change having the guest on for longer, too, spread throughout a couple of segments. It felt a lot more like they 'owned/had taken charge of the programme now, rather than doing a pastiche of what had gone before. The challenge was a good one, they just need a bit more time to gel as mates.

Some bits of the studio stuff felt very scripted and Chris wasn't a natural at it (looked obvious that he was reading autocue). And none of them are at home interviewing someone, but again, that will come with time. If you watch back an early Top Gear now, Hammond and May were just the same with sounding/looking scripted.

Getting the fxxr shows that TG still have the clout

Personally I think they need Tim Shaw in there as well.

[RattyMcClelland]

What has everyone got against Chris Evans? I really can't understand it. I thought the bloke was excellent. A real car enthusiast. Shame he's gone imo.

Grand tour is a much better entertainment show.

[NafemanNathan]

I didn't realise a new series was starting until last night, but by that time I'd already promised Stace could watch Call the midwife.

[damon]

Nath, if this weekend away is going to happen then your going to play the role of the bitch.
I didn't really like the topgear last night. Grand tour is much better show.

[Merlin]

Call the midwife.

The features were OK. TBH I always fast forward over the interviews. I think they have done the right thing by streamlining the presenters. Last year I don't think they really knew what they wanted to do. Last nights interaction was better but early "new" Top Gear was not great either. It will become polished with time. Chris Harris (I am a big fan) was pulling the odd strange face ( ) in the studio but once he is in a car I like his style more than Clarkson or the other two.

RE: Chris Evans. Just a bit too in your face for Top Gear IMO.

[NafemanNathan]

Oh I can be the bitch if you want!...

[wurlycorner]

I didnt have anything against Evans either. He was a big enough personality for the show and was good at interviewing (both of which being reasons why I'm saying I think they need Tim Shaw) but saying that, he wasn't ladish or mischievous enough for the challenges (another thing Shaw would be good for!). He also didn't actually 'own' the show, it felt like a pastiche really.

They were spot on hiring Le Blanc btw. He is great.

[tom023]

I watched the both shows previous season and I'm probably going to be stoned now for saying that I didn't really enjoy The Grand Tour. It was okay I guess, but it seems more general entertainment than an actual car show for petrol heads.
In regards to the last Top Gear season, I enjoyed Chris Harris's and Roy Reid's segments (I preferred Harris's Vulcan review to Clarksons) and Matt Leblanc had a few comical moments.
Chris Evans was a bit shouty like a hyperactive child for me and I wasn't really feeling it.
Thanks for bringing this up as I now know what I'll be watching tonight!

Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

[Donald]

Comparing 2nd gen (I guess) with facelift in an unbiased way is tuff.