http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/t...pisode-season/

While it still hasn't earned the cult-like following of the original Top Gear (currently aired on the BBC), our own Top Gear USA is getting better and better with each subsequent episode. Rutledge Wood, Adam Ferrara and Tanner Foust are developing much-needed chemistry and the show is entertaining (even if you aren't a car guy).

That said, Top Gear USA has earned enough kudos (aka advertising dollars) to warrant a third season, complete with sixteen new episodes (six will be aired before the holiday break, followed by another ten early next year). Add those to the 26 episodes already shot during the first two seasons, and trio have hosted enough shows for a solid DVD collection. Catch the trio near the end of summer, as the first episode is scheduled to air on August 14 on the History Channel.

 

I just wish they would do some decent challenges and show us some cars we really want to see. The episode about the three pony cars was one of the best (except Adam can't drive to save his life and the mustang lost...). And I liked the other two about the toughest truck and the best off road vehicle. Other than that nothing has really stuck out to me. They are really funny, I'll give them that, but I want to see awesome cars I actually care about

 

I don't think their budget is large enough to have similar cars like those on Top Gear UK.

 

Mmm could be. But really... Turning minivans into offload cars... There have been some cool ones now that I think about it though. The raptor and the Evo and a few others

 

I always wanted to see the American version of Jeremy Clarkson's "The Good The Bad & The Ugly", where he tested European best vs the USA "best". But this time I wanna see real comparison, not "this is a 300 hp V8 Mustang" (when in fact it's a 210 hp V6 Mustang), or Ariel Atom vs Dodge Ram or Range Rover vs Cadillac Escalade ...

I wanna see Wrangler vs Defender, CTS-V vs M5, Boss 302 vs M3 ...

 

I'm loving TG USA (and so do quite a few of my UK based, Mustang owning friends).

The 3 presenters are gelling nicely and have a great rapport.

The Muscle Car episode was only shown over here last Friday, but the scene with Tanner driting the Boss 302 down the canyon road was pure perfection. I could watch that scene over and over again.

3 things that really appeal over our UK version. Firstly, the locations. Said piece with the Boss and Roush in Utah. Stunning, stunning scenary. The sort of roads we can only dream of. Secondly, the cars. A bit obvious, but many of the cars are seldom seen outside the US, so it's a bit of a novelty for us. Thirdly, the humour is a bit less forced......more genuine (despite, just like the UK version the whole thing is scripted) I often fear our version is written to appeal to 9 year old schoolboys.....whereas the US version is targeted to car enthusiasts.

Both, in my opinion, would be better without Stig laps and "stars in cheap cars".


Stand out episodes so far:

The muscle car one, obviously.
Toughest truck in America (the duellies)
Best off road vehicle (Jeep v Ford v Chevy)
$500 challenge (I wanted that Crown Vic!)

 

Oh, and I'm really hoping for a '13 GT500 v '13 ZL1 test

 

+1!!!!

 

 

I rather like TG USA. The last season was really clicking along at times, and they've had some gems from the beginning (like the three of them getting hammered on moonshine: pure gold). Hopefully they keep moving in the right direction.

As May points out in that video, early TG UK wasm't great. In fact I think the premiere of Series 4, when they did the DB9 vs trains and launched the race series, is the point at which UK really had the formula down.

 

its burbon to me.. and this is how I feel.. start at 1:30

 

Hopefully they spend more time testing and comparing cars rather than spending 80% of the programs with spoofs that try to be like the original Top Gear, but somehow end up not being quite as good.
I like the skits and "challenges" but think if they actually spend a bit more time with the testing and comparing of cars and not worrying so much about trying to be the back up 3 stooges the program will do a bit better.

 

Interview with Tanner Foust.

http://wot.motortrend.com/talking-to...st-244975.html