As predicted, it wasn't a rave review in the end. Clarkson in car vs. the other two in trains for ~800 mi. to Italy.

The challenge was Clarkson needed to pick a car for no more than 35K pounds ($55K). He chose the Shelby. Hammond/May laugh at him for showing up in a common Mustang, pretending not to know what kind of Mustang it was.

From there, things started out fairly balanced. No, it doesn't corner like a 458 Italia, which is true. Acceleration and speed is astonishing and never gets tired. Then a pointless tirade about mileage (he was getting 12.8mpg), and the tiny tank size.

I won't spoil who won the soccer ticket, but they cut back to the studio and all 3 then completely trashed it as unrefined, noisy American junk. They didn't even take a lap time. Disappointing review in my opinion.

Head over to finalgear if you want to know more.

 

They slagged the refinement which is a true fault. I love my Boss 302, but it does feel old fashioned, unrefined and dare I say, cheap (as opposed to inexpensive) compared to my old BMWs or even a Mini or new Fusion/Focus for that matter. Here's hoping '15 changes all that.

 

"Unrefined" is a very subjective word that can easily start a

I once scheduled a test drive in a brand new (at the time) late 90's BMW M5. I sat in the car and didn't even start it. Got out and told the dealer "we're done here". He was shocked, but I thought I was sitting in the cheapest, tackiest piece of junk I'd ever been in. And I've been in an 80's IROC-Z.

Then I drove an XJS for a bit. I can't say it was unrefined, but it was so unreliable. Fancy trim doesn't make up for poor engineering.

I think the Olds Aurora was an incredibly refined vehicle for the money. Best rental I've ever driven.

Back to point, the only option Clarkson could have had in the price bracket were the Recaro's (which he had), which I opted out of for the same reasons he cited. I wouldn't want my back to do 800 mi. straight in those.

It's all about personal preference and subjectivity. On a car show I would have preferred something more objective.

 

Steve, your point is well taken. However, I cannot fully agree. For $36k new, I have a 2011 GT Premium (wife would not let me get a Boss, she wanted 'niceties'). Leather interior, steering wheel, and shifter, cruise, power windows, locks, & mirrors, ambient lighting, auto-dimming mirror, brushed aluminum dash with chrome accents, MyColor, lighted door sills, split fold down seats, generous trunk with good opening, 500 watt HD stereo with Sync, GPS system, 19 inch wheels, 6 speed, 400+hp (32 valve 302 motor with variable valve timing), car carries less than 9lbs per hp, 0-60 acceleration in 4.5 seconds, .94g on skidpad, 60-0 braking in 108 feet, plus so much more. All for $36k...really? Name a vehicle that can touch this. I feel it is an excellent value. Does not feel cheap to me at all.

 

It is excellent value. But panel gap is inconsistent, plastics cheap and hard, suspension outdated (although Kudos to Ford engineers for how far they've taken it) and aerodynamics backward. A fun car; yes. A legend; yes. A great buy; yes again. And a car with a great community; absolutely. But it's the defacto flagship for Ford and you can't expect better refinement in a Fusion or Focus which is what I find when I sit in them.

 

What a shocker! So sick of the same old rhetoric!!!! In the same breath they'll say how terrific, refined, and absolute quality the BMW 328 is? Pathetic, as usual....

 

Wow they didn't even hand it over to the Stig? Not even sure I want to watch it now

 

 

Maybe they were afraid it would embarrass their Euro cars. But if they did and it performed poorly at least they'd have more to trash.

 

I am sure thus will annoy most here but I think the opinion of Shelby and mustangs in particular are right on. I don't think that mustangs have as good an interior or ride as a BMW. I think it's these shortcomings that make it special. I like my car because its an every man's car that can keep up with "superior" machinery, if I do my part. I think it's very American to say yeah your gear is better but I will beat you anyway. I love watching top gear. It's my favorite show but I don't mistake entertainment for education.

 

They didnt do lap times because even with its solid rear axle, it could embarrass their aston martins and whatnot

 

I still love Top Gear like most others, but now I've given up hope that they will ever give American cars a fair shake.

Like Rich said, it's just entertainment, not a facts show. But sheesh

 

Its a muscle car, it is not meant to make you feel like you are floating on clouds. The car is brutish, raw, powerful and give plenty of feedback. It will bite you in the *** if you are not careful. The main issue is they over there refuse to even understand us over here. I am ok with the faults of the car, gives me things to mess with via aftermarket that make it my own. The interior is everything I need, Nav, some brushed aluminum, not too many fancy buttons. Just enough gadgets and luxury to satisify me. The seats are leather with alcantra suede. I am not looking to impress anyone with the fit and finish. The car is a sledgehammer and should be used as such.....If I wanted a refined car I would buy a AMG merc. The show is entertaining, nothing more. They always do hinky stuff to make a point but many times its wrong.

And yes, no way they would allow a cheap mustang to go around the track and embarrass some of those high end cars. Their egos cant handle it.....I love my ridiculous crappy 2013 shelby, which routinely ****s on more expensive refined cars

 

The last 5 yrs I have stopped looking and listening to automotive journalism.

These are broke a$$ reporters that had an inspiration to race, but never accomplished anything. Though I have some respect for top gear, the reality is , these reporters never compare apples to apples.

This is the lowest budget supercar on the market, made for the working MAN ! A guy buying a 458 Ferrari is very very rarely the same guy buying a new Shelby , unless he is a car guy and has a car collection, then again, car collection guys would never buy an over produced 458 italia anyway.

Which proves my point, the Shelby and 458 is not a comparison , especially when you can get 3-4 Shelby's for the one italia.

The Shelby is an awesome car , and made for the right crowd, people who respect it, love it, and enjoy it ! Men who worked to buy a piece of the dream , yet not to refined enough that someone have to pass the gray poo poo

The hell with top gear, bunch of poseurs ! The Shelby is a monster, when a car company can build something better for the same money, then they can flap there gums.

Until then, shut up !

 

The GT500 piece wasn't a track test or review. It was a tool for their car vs. public transportation race. They never do a Power Lap for those cars. You folks didn't get into a tizzy when they didn't hand the DB9 from the first car vs. TGV race over to the Stig. But all of the sudden it's personal.

I thought it was a fair assessment. The 2013 Shelby has world beating power, the gas tank is too small for how thirsty it is, the Recaros may not be the best choice for a long trip, the GT Premiums I've driven cannot hold a candle to interiors of the Lexuses I've daily driven over the last 10 years.

In short, the GT500 is metric **** ton of car for the money, but will never grand tour as well as a Ferrari 612 or a DB9, or even a 3 series coupe (which will sustain the exact same speeds that the GT500 had to average to contend with the TGV.) But it's not supposed to. I'd no sooner use a Raptor for rock crawling.

 

you guys get that top gear hosts are not infact reporters but hosts that are making jokes right?? They dont compare apples to apple to make this point clear to even the most simply minded. Its just for laughs and looking at nice things.

 

This. I've always seen top gear as a funny show that happens to have cars versus a car show trying to be funny.

 

 

I don't find it to be very funny honestly.

 

I watched the africa special part 1 last night. I liked it alot. They picked 3 wagons for this trip. May picked a old volvo R wagon.