(G) Top Gear review the 500 - Sun 9th Dec

James May will be driving the 500 in Budapest next week.

Sweet!

He's the only one of those clowns I'd trust to give it anything like a fair review. Of course, you know he won't like it as much as his Panda, especially if it's in Multijet guise...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...24/mrmay24.xml

Can't wait for this, I'm looking forwards to it almost as much as I did the last episode.

from his comments on the website i don't think he likes it much, especially compared to the panda...

I wouldn't take too much notice of the egocentric threesome. In his column in the Mirror Hammond has been quite complimentary about the latest 500. But like most Panda owners I fully expect May to have a downer on the 500.

I enjoy the show for what it is but when it comes to car reviews I rather rely on the written established motoring press.

you watch the show just because its funny and witty and good entertainment.

its more about them then cars

they dont really show that many 'down to earth' cars either

look at there magazine as well.

i get top gear and its more articles on them roadtesting the ferrari, or having a spout about something. i get whatcar and they at least roadtest real propoer affordable cars back to back and compare them truthfully

Yes, 'Top Gear is theatre' but please, please, please don't say 'rely' when talking of the 'established motoring press'! Whatcar? with their depreciation and switchgear obsessions? Autocar with their BMW obsession? Take note of their comments yes but then apply them to your own test experiences. They're just a school of jumped-up snotty journos who can't tell you what car you can or cannot connect with, anymore than any fool like me on this forum! I'm sure you're too sensible for that anyway.

There still rubbish IMO. Its still written by highly paid journalists that cruise around in luxury cars so anything less than what they drive get negative comments. The best thing to do is go test drive every car that takes your fancy / fits into your budget and needs and come to your own conclusion.

The general impression is however that the Top Gear presenters raison d'etre is to entertain and above all self promote. The written press may be wrong in their judgement on occasion but in the majority of cases it is their honest opinion.

The best read by far in my opinion is Car magazine

Ah, you're only saying that because they made the 500 their COTY... Beware, they'll turn on you like the rabid dogs they are!

I guess if we listened to most of the car magazines none of us would be driving FIATs, we'd all be driving VWs Thank goodness some of us have better taste than that...

still a good read though

when i was looking at the stilo i test drove a VRS (to much to insure), Focus TDCi (bit bland), and Astra 1.7CDTi Club (crap dealer - a bit slow).

So i settled on the Stilo

Since having the Stilo i have test driven the new Bravo and the new Corsa (without intention to purchase )

I still wouldn't drive a VW even if I did listen to the press.

A. There too Expensive
B. Expensive to insure for what they are (god knows why? who'd want to nick a golf unless it was a R32)
C. There so so boring and have no soul.
D. VW make just as many sheds as fiat but they keep it well hidden.

Saying that I decided to try the Fabia vRS and it lasted 4 months .

Wonder if they could get James May in the front seat and Hammond squashed in behind him?

That would be a real "Top Gear Challenge".

I do a lot of Motorway miles locally in the SW and the main cars you see broken down at the side or up on a breakdown truck are VWs and Audis and Beamers and Mercs, followed closely by Range/Land Rovers and anything French. In just a 50 m round trip today there were 4 in total, 2 Audis and 2 Golfs. In 40+ years of motoring, remarkably I don't think I've ever seen a Fiat broken down on the hard shoulder, albeit there are fewer of them than the common herd. Judging by mine they probably usually manage to limp home somehow, as most of their faults are just minor (if annoying) electrical. As I've said before, Magnetti Marelli should have stuck to making ice cream, but they are definitely getting better and will soon be up with the Japs for build quality and reliability in my view and, of course, are already way more interesting.