Top Gear is such a great show! I’m from the U.S. and I totally love the UK version, but some of my friends/family don’t quite get it. I think it would be awesome if they all did, and I know for a fact that in the UK even folks who aren’t into cars really enjoy the show. So, is it the same here in “the colonies” or would you say U.S. Top Gear fans are mostly car enthusiasts?
To be honest, I think it’s mainly car enthusiasts over here. Keep in mind that most Americans just don’t “understand” the types of cars tested on TG - the Peugeot’s, the Renaults, Alfa’s…they aren’t available over here, and our fuel is so cheap that everyone just thinks “1.2L petrol engine? why?“ I don’t know if the UK is just more car-minded, but most Americans are into muscle cars, because our roads are so damn straight and long. To me, it’s boring. But what can ya do. Plus, Clarkson seems to hate the US and generally gives it a bad rap, and the hardcore “USA or death” people won’t appreciate that.
If your friends don’t get it, send them back to SpikeTV or Speed Channel to their “Trucks” and “MuscleCar TV” shows. It’s just more TG for those who can appreciate it.
I kind of agree and disagree. Only a car enthusiast would tune in Top Gear for the first time, but if we introduced the show to our friends and forced them to sit through an episode, they’d probably love it too.
As for the US peeps not understanding the cars on Top Gear, I agree 100% with that. Most of the cars I hadn’t heard about at all until I started playing Grand Turismo on the Playstation way back…
I love all the cars they review, even the cheeky economy models. I guess I’m just burnt out on all the carbon copy models coming from the US’s big 3 that have no soul. However, there is nothing like sitting behind the wheel of a high compression, roller cam, open exhaust, big block muscle car to get the testosterone flowing. The way the whole car shakes, the smell of the race fuel, the lopping high rpm idle and the crackling sound of the exhaust in your ears….ohhhhhhhh and lets not forget the throw you back into the seat and HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE acceleration!!! GRUNT, GRUNT, GRUNT!!! But if I had a choice of NHRA, NASCAR or Formula 1, I’ll take Formula 1 thank you very much!!
My wife isn’t a car enthusiast but she appreciates them since our life revolves around them. She knows I am certifiably crazy about cars.
She has sat down with me and watched Top Gear UK and has enjoyed it. From her point of view they make the cars and driving more of a art form then just splashing cars and trucks all over the screen like some of the shows mentioned that are on Spike or Speed.
She also enjoys the humor in the show. Yes, even some of us Yanks enjoy British humor.
My wife isn’t a car enthusiast but she appreciates them since our life revolves around them. She knows I am certifiably crazy about cars.
She has sat down with me and watched Top Gear UK and has enjoyed it. From her point of view they make the cars and driving more of a art form then just splashing cars and trucks all over the screen like some of the shows mentioned that are on Spike or Speed.
She also enjoys the humor in the show. Yes, even some of us Yanks enjoy British humor.
I don’t doubt any of it. But it sounds like your wife likes cars just a little more than she did before she saw the show. I enjoy the humor as well, which is why I think an american version with adam corolla will bomb, if thats whats planned anyway.
My wife isn’t a car enthusiast but she appreciates them since our life revolves around them. She knows I am certifiably crazy about cars.
She has sat down with me and watched Top Gear UK and has enjoyed it. From her point of view they make the cars and driving more of a art form then just splashing cars and trucks all over the screen like some of the shows mentioned that are on Spike or Speed.
She also enjoys the humor in the show. Yes, even some of us Yanks enjoy British humor.
I don’t doubt any of it. But it sounds like your wife likes cars just a little more than she did before she saw the show. I enjoy the humor as well, which is why I think an american version with adam corolla will bomb, if thats whats planned anyway.
Oh absolutely she liked them a little more before the show but not on a level I would think most viewers are at. Maybe my perspective of her level of enthusiasm is skewed since I’m well over the edge.
I can easily get her to sit and watch Top Gear with me but any of the Spike TV shows and a vast majority of the Speed Channel shows she won’t even bother to watch because of the theme and style. She may sit threw Wind Tunnel on Sunday nights on Speed but won’t enjoy it as much.
I think she could easily trip into becoming the true enthusiast with Top Gear US if it is styled like Top Gear UK.
I’ve gotten my mother and wife into “Top Gear” and neither of them are into cars. They both love the humor, the challenges and the dramatic reviews. It is an easy show to get people into as long as you pick the first clip with care though but a good first exposure to the series is the bit where they try to destroy the Hilux.
I’m not that into cars(mind you, Mercs have been turning my head now because I recognize them from the show) and I LOVE, Top Gear! I got my mother into it with the ‘mothers’ episode. She thought it was fun! Top Gear is good family entertainment…when they’re not blowing RVs or drag racing RVs…or riding around trying to get killed in the Deep South…well, apart from that! Family Fun!
My wife loves the show even though she doesn’t care that much about cars. The few people I have introduced it to have enjoyed it but would probably never watch it unless they were with me. Other than that, not many people know too much, if anything, about the show
Similar story here, I’m a gear-head but my wife only notices a car’s color, to her they are all the same aside from that. But she loves watching Top Gear with me and laughs louder than I do sometimes. And, oh yeah, she’s learning a thing or two about cars in the process
It’s rare that I sit down and watch a show from beginning to end. I watch top gear for the cars and the hosts. I think it is a breath of fresh air to see a show that approaches everything from a different angle. Something you can only get from a Brits sense of humor.
