Don't know if I dare comment now...

Last night's 'Xmas Special' was better than I feared, but not as good as I'd hoped. Still the same old tired formula (toilet seats, car 'conversions', etc), but at least the African scenery helped make up for it. But how much better would it have been if they'd been driving, say, an FL2, an X-trail and a Forester over a more challenging route? Not bad, but could do better.

i really enjoyed last nights road trip, The layout was always going to be the same, with conversions, sabotage and borrowing pieces of car door

the scenery was great, but when there was 10 minutes to go and 600+ miles to drive then I hoped they would do a second episode and they did as skipping over 600+ miles wouldnt have worked Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Must admit to watching it last night it was Africa and the Nile that forced me to switch channels, can't wait for next week

And the same could be said for everyone, if you don't like my comments, tough. You're the one advocating censorship by suggesting I don't read any comments and responding to them. Until a moderator says my comments are inappropriate, i'll respond how I like. That's what supposedly makes this a democratic country. Rant over

hopefully you have both said your piece and will move on, everyone has different opinions  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

OK, let's get this back on track...

The best bit for me was watching Hammond confirm what I've always known (having run a non-turbo version for 120,000 miles) - the Impreza is the original crossover, and is far more competent off road that you'd ever imagine unless you'd driven one! The ease with which it recovered the much heavier BMW and Volvo was truly impressive, as was the way it dealt with the mud and ruts. It really is a great car.

Or, rather, was. My only experience of the new-look version is driving a 1.5 loan car when my Forester was in for service. Based on that, though, the current version isn't as good. And the 1.5 engine is completely gutless and ruins the car altogether. Even worse, there's a new Impreza due, and it's not even coming to the UK I rather fear Subaru are about to hit a rough patch!

So yes, I watched it. And yes, I enjoyed it. But that's not to say it wouldn't have been better with a bit less clowning around and some better cars. The show needs an injection of new ideas - they seem to be stagnating and just re-hashing the same old formula over and over again, and it's looking very tired now. Ultimately it was only Africa which made this watchable.

i was really impressed on how the subaru coped with those muddy roads, i know they don't show everything, and i bet they had a few 4x4 support vehicles towing them too, but the BMW/Volvo did well on them too

But imagine how much fun it would be in a Land Rover  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I'm finished. Can't answer for others. Haven't seen last nights episode so avoiding reading the comments to deeply. On last weeks, the paint job was superb, and i'm currently working out if i could use an emulsion(can't decide whether silk or matt) to change the colour of the car as much as my wife changes her hair colour. And they tested cars that a lot of people could afford. I'd like to see a serious Freelander 2 review (can't remember if they've ever done one, somebody will advise I'm sure), but they'll probably turn it into a tank submarine or something (Hmm, another good idea, khaki emulsion).

npinks wrote:

i was really impressed on how the subaru coped with those muddy roads...

...

with... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/top-ge...eview.html

... spot on... ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

All the conversions were done per leaving the uk. Unless they have a machine mart in Africa somewhere?!

Was very funny tho

Anyone hear pop master on radio 2 this morning? First contestant said he owned the BMW. Said he had just put a new door on it that had the section cut out of it. Also said he had sold it last march. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

I'm waiting for a real life show where Clarkson gets a reasonably priced car and has to lap the Isle of Man mountain circuit within 20 % of the lap time of John McGuiness riding a showroom fresh reasonably priced Honda 'blade , if he fails he has to resign from TV and never be seen again ........... Now why don't I think the TG mob would not consider that without rigging it (Like the last time they arranged for the Top spec hundred grand Aeriel Atom to beat the BMW rr1000  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Martyn. Can't believe you'd even think that a blade would come even close to beating a reasonably priced car on that circuit. It's only got 2 wheels, a car has 4, so a car must be twice as fast. I despair

Been able to take or leave TG for the last few years but the hotel 'Economic Lodge Extension' made me laugh along with the fact they couldn't buy anything at the 'Christ The King' corner shop because the owner hadn't risen yet'  
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.