Top Gear/Season 1 Episode 5

Season 1 Episode 5
Season 1, Episode 5
Airdate	November 17, 2002
Written by
Directed by
← 1x04 Season 1 Episode 4	1x06 → Season 1 Episode 6
Top Gear — Season One

Episode Five of the first season of Top Gear, and is episode five overall.

Guest Stars: Jonathan Ross

Information

Mercedes-Benz S600

Jeremy Clarkson states that, to find out what kind of kit will be fitted to the cars of the future, all you have to do is look at a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Since 1972 the S-Class has been the world's most popular luxury car. 97% of the world's governments own an S-Class. It's world innovations included the first use of double glazing on a car and anti-lock brakes and airbags. The latest S-Class is the S 600.

The 85,000 GBP (about 156,600 USD) Mercedes-Benz S 600 has a massive 6.0 L V12 engine, but the interesting bits are the gadgets. It has a credit card-like device you can keep in your pocket which will automatically unlock the car when you near it. It also allows you to start the car without the use of a key; just press a button on the top of the gear lever. Clarkson states that the S 600 has around 140 motors and only one of which is the engine. A button on the dash allows you to roll up or down the rear window blind, another button allows you to adjust the ride height, another turns off the audible parking sensors, another turns on/off the sports suspension, and another button allows you to retract the rear seat head rests. If you take a hard turn in the car the seats will automatically bolster themselves to hold your body in place. The seats also have built-in massage functions. The S 600 has telephone functionality built into the car, as well as satellite navigation. The driver's seat position can be memorized for several different people and can be automatically adjusted by push of a button. If you crash, the seats automatically adjust themselves to better protect the passenger upon airbag deployment. You can even adjust how long the light illuminating the rear license plate remains on when you get out of the car. The telephone system in the car can be operated hands-free, but you have to teach it all the various numbers you want it to dial by name which can be tricky. The S 600 has radar-guided cruise control, allowing the car to automatically slow itself down when behind a slower moving vehicle and follow behind at 150 feet. Clarkson believes the Mercedes-Benz S 600's price tag is worth every penny.

Audi A8

Jeremy Clarkson reviews what Audi believes is the S 600's rival — the Audi A8. It's quite a bit cheaper at around 60,000 GBP (about 110,000 USD), but still very big, imposing, and German. It has the same number of gadgets and the same astonishing attention to detail. However, there are some subtle differences. Its V8 engine feels more muscular than the S 600's V12. It has four-wheel drive, making it feel more sure-footed in the corners. Clarkson believes the A8 is more of a driver's car than the S-Class. The A8's suspension can be adjusted on the fly, and it has paddle shifters to allow you some control over the automatic gearbox. But Clarkson doesn't think it's even close to being better than the S-Class. The A8 may be better to drive, but the S 600 is more refined and more comfortable.

Jaguar XJ

Richard Hammond takes a quick look at a mock-up model of the Jaguar XJ in the studio.

Peugeot 206

Jason Dawe looks at a currently hot second-hand car, the Peugeot 206. It's a nice car to drive and Dawe exclaims that, even though the design is four years old, it still looks great. After four years the only real complaints are little rattles and squeeks from the trim, and Dawe suggests that potential buyers make note of the sunroof for any problems. You should also make sure all the buttons work properly. If the electric mirror isn't working properly, it make in fact be the switch rather than its motor. Dawe also suggests you look at getting a 206 with a 1.4 L or 1.6 L engine than the 1.1 L. You should also look for a 206 with less than 50,000 miles on it. Dawe's perfect combination would be a Peugeot 206 with a 1.4 L engine, about 3 years old with around 30,000 miles on it, full service history, airconditioning, all for about 5,500 GBP (about 10,100 USD).

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

This week's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car is Jonathan Ross, a British television and radio presenter. Jonathan Ross races the Suzuki Liana around the test track in 1.57.0 in the wet.

Maybach 62

Richard Hammond reviews the mother of all limousines — the 281,380 GBP (about 518,400 USD) Maybach 62. Mercedes-Benz sell about 100,000 S-Class every year, but only 1,000 Maybach are produced each year. The wood trim is called "piano wood" by Maybach as it's made by Steinway. The wheel arches and other interior locations of the car are lined with micro-fiber tiles, creating what Hammond calls a "spooky" level of quietness. The rear of the cabin comes with a speedometer, alongside a clock and thermometer, allowing the rear passengers to see how fast he or she is travelling. In order to set a new standard in limousines, Mecedes-Benz revived the Maybach brand which used to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bugatti back in the 20's and 30's. The "62" in the Maybach 62 stands for 6.2 to meters long (about 20 feet), which is mostly used to accomadate the passengers in the rear. The rear cabin has a photoelectric sunroof, allowing the passengers to block the view with the touch of a button. The seats recline, you have remote DVD, two types of cup holders, built-in champagne holder to keep it cold, and much more. The trunk lid can close itself at the touch of a button. The Maybach is no slouch to drive either as it is powered by the world's most powerful production engine — a 5.5 L V12 producing 550 bhp — and can go from 0-60 in under 5.4 seconds. The Maybach can also be purchased with additional extras: a 20,000 GBP (about 36,800 USD) divider panel to separate you from the hired help in the front, an outdoor speaker system for 1,200 GBP (about 2,200 USD), and the photoelectric sunroof is 10,000 GBP (about 18,400 USD). But you do get standard a Personal Liaison Manager, a 24/7 personal attendant who helps the owner from the initial purchase to any and all follow-up service.

Insider Trading

Jason Dawe explains that the Rover 45, normally retailing for 11,650 GBP (about 21,500 USD), can be purchased for 9,903 GBP (about 18,200 USD). The MG ZT, normally retailing for 21,150 GBP (about 39,000 USD), can be bought for 18,284 (about 33,700 USD). Dawe also discovered that it was cheaper to get four new tires on a BMW from a BMW dealer rather than a quick fit place, so he suggests you shop around when looking for tires rather than assume a quick fit place is the cheapest. Dawe's deal of the week is the Vauxhall Omega. Normally retailing for 22,500 GBP (about 41,400 USD), a dealer in the UK is selling brand new ones for 16,000 GBP (about 29,500 USD).

Bentley Arnage T

Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Bentley Arnage T. It was built with Volkswagen money, but Clarkson emphasizes that it is still very much British. It has a powerful twin turbocharged engine, pushing the Arnage T to nearly 170 mph. With the traction control off, Clarkson likens driving the Arnage T to riding a T-rex bareback. It's a 3-ton car that can do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds; a stately home that can powerslide. Clarkson states that the Bentley Arnage T is his favorite of all the luxury barges seen in the show, even though there are a few problems with it. The Arnage T suffered total brake failure during the filming of its segment, David Beckham has an Arnage T, and it costs twice as much as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The Stig takes the Bentley Arnage T around the test track in 1.40.8 in the wet.

Budget Bond Car

Fielding viewer suggestions, the group have built a budget Bond car with only 300 GBP (about 550 USD) — it's a Rover 800. By pushing a red button by the handbrake, multi-colored balls you'd find in a children's ball pit are released from underneath the back of the car. When you're getting shot at, you can push another button and a "bullet-proof" tea tray is lifted up with the spoiler on the rear. Pulling on fuzzy dice hanging from the rear-view mirror operates paintball guns near the headlights. Another button (a doorbell ringer) operates the passenger side ejection seat, sending the occupant through the roof of the Rover. Finally, a rocket launcher is attached to the driver's door, although the rocket is operated via wind-proof lighter.

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