Off-topic: Top Gear Patagonia Christmas special...

Tengocity · 01-01-2015, 02:28 PM

Just caught up with both episodes. The usual, fairly predicatable, but reasonably enjoyable stuff!

Patagonia looked like a quite stunning place.

The most amazing thing is that not a single thing went wrong with the Lotus!

The Porsche numberplate.... is it just too much to believe that it was pure coincidence?

Or if it was, should they have changed it before they went?

Clearly it is very scripted, but the most exciting bit was the genuine chase out of the country!

And what's the cheapest way I can get myself a V8?

jusdorange · 01-01-2015, 02:47 PM

It's demonstrable that the plate was on the car since 1991

EDIT: a runner, I assume under 30 probably did all the leg work of buying it

It wouldn't resonate with me, so I would just do the job

In any case, even if it was deliberate, it's just the date, nothing else

Do people need to be put in danger of their life for such?

zofinger · 01-01-2015, 03:22 PM

In my view the plate was deliberate. Simply too much of a coincidence. I think if they'd got away with it the script was ready to refer to it at the end of the trip but of course, they were rumbled. Imo.

MarkG_M5Comp · 01-01-2015, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zofinger

In my view the plate was deliberate. Simply too much of a coincidence. I think if they'd got away with it the script was ready to refer to it at the end of the trip but of course, they were rumbled. Imo.

The BBC was adamant that it was coincidental and that they couldn't simple change the 'plate.

However, what's to stop you changing over a 'plate when in a foreign country? I'm sure the DVLA wouldn't be overly concerned with the car being in South America!

Very suspect. Good show though.

Tengocity · 01-01-2015, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zofinger

In my view the plate was deliberate. Simply too much of a coincidence. I think if they'd got away with it the script was ready to refer to it at the end of the trip but of course, they were rumbled. Imo.

But what do you mean by "deliberate"?

I imagine that when they saw it that it was irresistible to choose that car over any other 928!

ukbeemerboy · 01-01-2015, 03:32 PM

I've done a HPI check on the car and it was registered in 1991 with that plate. It did lose it for a while as a cherished plate was put on but the original plate was put back on in 2001 when the car was sold on.

On that basis, it seems genuine.

zofinger · 01-01-2015, 03:37 PM

I mean they put the plate on the car and it was scripted to be part of the story. I don't believe they happened upon a 928 with that plate and decided to leave it. In the first epsisode Clarkson said the plate was pointed out to them but it was too late to change it (I.e they didn't know before arriving in Argentina).

I like the program. As already said - very scripted (except the bit where Captain slow is thrown from the horse) - but good entertainment.

ukbeemerboy · 01-01-2015, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zofinger

I mean they put the plate on the car and it was scripted to be part of the story. I don't believe they happened upon a 928 with that plate and decided to leave it. In the first epsisode Clarkson said the plate was pointed out to them but it was too late to change it (I.e they didn't know before arriving in Argentina).

I like the program. As already said - very scripted (except the bit where Captain slow is thrown from the horse) - but good entertainment.

Well they put it on in 1991 one then

zofinger · 01-01-2015, 03:43 PM

Great planning! Or genuine. Amazing coincidence I'm sure we'll all agree. Love it.

Lorcan · 01-01-2015, 03:59 PM

I suspect one of the production team or researchers stumbled upon the car and thought it would be a laugh to take it to Argentina with that plate on. Like when they painted gay and lefty slogans on the cars in the US to deliberately wind up the locals in Texas. Just my hunch.

davyk31 · 01-01-2015, 04:10 PM

I would imagine that the car was sourced then they decided on the location. Of course they knew all about it and Clarkson trying to sound sincere and innocent was poorly acted.

Good entertainment for sure and good viewing if overly scripted. I have forked out over 400 quid to take the family to Top Gear live in May so I'm a fan.

Pablo68 · 01-01-2015, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorcan

I suspect one of the production team or researchers stumbled upon the car and thought it would be a laugh to take it to Argentina with that plate on. Like when they painted gay and lefty slogans on the cars in the US to deliberately wind up the locals in Texas. Just my hunch.

Louisiana

SkyJawa · 01-01-2015, 05:09 PM

Let them them Argie tw4ts try the same thing on over here with a plate ending MRD and see where that gets them!

73henny · 01-01-2015, 05:15 PM

Coincidence or not, the reaction was pathetic.

73henny · 01-01-2015, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

Let them them Argie tw4ts try the same thing on over here with a plate ending MRD and see where that gets them!

zofinger · 01-01-2015, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73henny

Coincidence or not, the reaction was pathetic.

+ a lot

dopper99 · 01-01-2015, 05:38 PM

What they didn't mention in the programme and I read the other day was that the 3 of them scarpered out of a side door in the hotel in Ushuaia and got a plane from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires. So they were never really in danger (as far as I've read).

It was of course the crew that were in the real danger as they needed to take the kit cross country to Chile. Why they couldn't get on planes at Ushuaia with other 3 - I don't know. Although watching it again they stated they needed 24 hours to prepare to leave - but were told they only had 3.

Tengocity · 01-01-2015, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopper99

What they didn't mention in the programme and I read the other day was that the 3 of them scarpered out of a side door in the hotel in Ushuaia and got a plane from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires. So they were never really in danger (as far as I've read).

It was of course the crew that were in the real danger as they needed to take the kit cross country to Chile. Why they couldn't get on planes at Ushuaia with other 3 - I don't know. Although watching it again they stated they needed 24 hours to prepare to leave - but were told they only had 3.

I think it was all the cameras and kit- there were 31 crew, trucks, camera kit, multiple land rovers and other support vehicles... Not easy to evacuate in a hurry from the arse end of nowhere in a hurry.

I wonder what the total budget was?!

dopper99 · 01-01-2015, 06:35 PM

It cracks me up wherever and whenever they break down with component failures they ALWAYS manage the get the cars up and running again. So as you say god knows what they have to carry in that convoy of 30 odd vehicles. Spare parts? A dozen mechanics? !!

Must be a massive budget for these kind of Top Gear specials - sending stuff over on boats etc.... Even more so for this one having to fix broken convey vehicles at the end.

G82Dude · 01-01-2015, 06:46 PM

Ugh - couldn't be arsed to watch the Clarkson mouth/ego/look at me show. What a complete waste of time and licence payers' money.

Bunch of overpaid, pretty talentless old men behaving like kids.

jusdorange · 01-01-2015, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopper99

It cracks me up wherever and whenever they break down with component failures they ALWAYS manage the get the cars up and running again. So as you say god knows what they have to carry in that convoy of 30 odd vehicles. Spare parts? A dozen mechanics? !!

Must be a massive budget for these kind of Top Gear specials - sending stuff over on boats etc.... Even more so for this one having to fix broken convey vehicles at the end.

The soldering iron killed me

Ok in terms of hilarity etc wasn't up there

But the stunning scenery, that was amazing

Chris Peacock · 01-02-2015, 01:41 AM

We'll I enjoyed it, nice easy watching over Christmas

Not sure what everyone expects anymore of Top Gear as it has been in this format for years....

01-01-2015, 02:28 PM	#1
Tengocity General 8569 Rep 19,982 Posts Drives: 911, Cayenne Turbo, Disco 4 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Off-topic: Top Gear Patagonia Christmas special... Just caught up with both episodes. The usual, fairly predicatable, but reasonably enjoyable stuff! Patagonia looked like a quite stunning place. The most amazing thing is that not a single thing went wrong with the Lotus! The Porsche numberplate.... is it just too much to believe that it was pure coincidence? Or if it was, should they have changed it before they went? Clearly it is very scripted, but the most exciting bit was the genuine chase out of the country! And what's the cheapest way I can get myself a V8? __________________ Current: Porsche 911 991 C4S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Land Rover Discovery 4. Gone...G01 X3 M40i, Cayman S 987, F31 340i, Cayman GT4, F82 M4 CP, Lotus Exige V6, G20 330e, F30 330e, Boxster S 987, F31 335d, Mini Cooper SD, E89 Z4, E90 330d 320d, E60 520d, E46 330d 320d, MX5s, E30 325i
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01-01-2015, 02:47 PM	#2
jusdorange YOLO 440 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: #mw Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monaco iTrader: (0)	It's demonstrable that the plate was on the car since 1991 EDIT: a runner, I assume under 30 probably did all the leg work of buying it It wouldn't resonate with me, so I would just do the job In any case, even if it was deliberate, it's just the date, nothing else Do people need to be put in danger of their life for such? Last edited by jusdorange; 01-01-2015 at 02:54 PM..
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01-01-2015, 03:22 PM	#3
zofinger Major 319 Rep 1,091 Posts Drives: F30 335d MSport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	In my view the plate was deliberate. Simply too much of a coincidence. I think if they'd got away with it the script was ready to refer to it at the end of the trip but of course, they were rumbled. Imo.
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01-01-2015, 03:32 PM	#6
ukbeemerboy Beemer Heaven 462 Rep 2,941 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Competition Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Somerset UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW F82 M4 Comp [0.00] 2017 BMW F30 330d M ... [0.00] 2014 BMW F30 330d M ... [0.00] 2009 BMW E90 330d M ... [0.00] 2006 BMW E90 330d M ... [0.00] 2002 BMW E46 325i S ... [0.00]	I've done a HPI check on the car and it was registered in 1991 with that plate. It did lose it for a while as a cherished plate was put on but the original plate was put back on in 2001 when the car was sold on. On that basis, it seems genuine. __________________ Scott 2018 BMW M4 Competition 2019 Mini Countryman Cooper S : 2008 Mini Cooper
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01-01-2015, 03:37 PM	#7
zofinger Major 319 Rep 1,091 Posts Drives: F30 335d MSport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I mean they put the plate on the car and it was scripted to be part of the story. I don't believe they happened upon a 928 with that plate and decided to leave it. In the first epsisode Clarkson said the plate was pointed out to them but it was too late to change it (I.e they didn't know before arriving in Argentina). I like the program. As already said - very scripted (except the bit where Captain slow is thrown from the horse) - but good entertainment.
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01-01-2015, 03:43 PM	#9
zofinger Major 319 Rep 1,091 Posts Drives: F30 335d MSport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Great planning! Or genuine. Amazing coincidence I'm sure we'll all agree. Love it.
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01-01-2015, 03:59 PM	#10
Lorcan The artist formerly known as AC Schnitzer UK 3609 Rep 4,518 Posts Drives: The Yellow Peril Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	I suspect one of the production team or researchers stumbled upon the car and thought it would be a laugh to take it to Argentina with that plate on. Like when they painted gay and lefty slogans on the cars in the US to deliberately wind up the locals in Texas. Just my hunch.
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01-01-2015, 04:10 PM	#11
davyk31 Major General 1045 Rep 6,947 Posts Drives: Macan GTS :-) & F40 M135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland iTrader: (0)	I would imagine that the car was sourced then they decided on the location. Of course they knew all about it and Clarkson trying to sound sincere and innocent was poorly acted. Good entertainment for sure and good viewing if overly scripted. I have forked out over 400 quid to take the family to Top Gear live in May so I'm a fan.
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01-01-2015, 05:09 PM	#13
SkyJawa Major General 3719 Rep 8,636 Posts Drives: F10 530d Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (1)	Let them them Argie tw4ts try the same thing on over here with a plate ending MRD and see where that gets them!
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01-01-2015, 05:15 PM	#14
73henny Lieutenant Colonel 501 Rep 1,580 Posts Drives: a lovely new G20 320dx Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Coincidence or not, the reaction was pathetic.
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01-01-2015, 05:38 PM	#17
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3533 Rep 11,292 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	What they didn't mention in the programme and I read the other day was that the 3 of them scarpered out of a side door in the hotel in Ushuaia and got a plane from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires. So they were never really in danger (as far as I've read). It was of course the crew that were in the real danger as they needed to take the kit cross country to Chile. Why they couldn't get on planes at Ushuaia with other 3 - I don't know. Although watching it again they stated they needed 24 hours to prepare to leave - but were told they only had 3. __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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01-01-2015, 06:35 PM	#19
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3533 Rep 11,292 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	It cracks me up wherever and whenever they break down with component failures they ALWAYS manage the get the cars up and running again. So as you say god knows what they have to carry in that convoy of 30 odd vehicles. Spare parts? A dozen mechanics? !! Must be a massive budget for these kind of Top Gear specials - sending stuff over on boats etc.... Even more so for this one having to fix broken convey vehicles at the end. __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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01-01-2015, 06:46 PM	#20
G82Dude - 290 Rep 2,599 Posts Drives: M4CMxD Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Ugh - couldn't be arsed to watch the Clarkson mouth/ego/look at me show. What a complete waste of time and licence payers' money. Bunch of overpaid, pretty talentless old men behaving like kids.
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01-02-2015, 01:41 AM	#22
Chris Peacock Captain 167 Rep 795 Posts Drives: 2020 330e M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Everywhere. iTrader: (0)	We'll I enjoyed it, nice easy watching over Christmas Not sure what everyone expects anymore of Top Gear as it has been in this format for years....
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