Top Gear/Season 8 Episode 7

Season 8 Episode 7
Season 8, Episode 7
Airdate	July 23, 2006
Written by
Directed by	Brian Klein
← 8x06 Season 8 Episode 6	8x08 → Season 8 Episode 8
Top Gear — Season Eight

Episode Seven of the eighth season of Top Gear, and is episode seventy-three overall.

Guest Stars: Steve Coogan

Information

Ford S-MAX, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Vauxhall Zafira VXR

Richard Hammond and James May take a look at people carriers that are supposedly sensible and fun to drive. First up is the Ford S-MAX. It's sporty and you can get one with the turbocharged engine out of a Ford Focus, so it's also fast. Next is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. May's model is the B200 Turbo version with, as it's aptly named, a turbocharged engined. And the last contender is the Vauxhall Zafira VXR. It has a 2.0 L turbocharged engine that develops 237 bhp, which makes it the world's fastest MPV. All three are people carriers, all three are turbocharged, and they all cost between 20,000 GBP and 23,000 GBP (about 36,800 USD and 43,300 USD).

So which one is the fastest? For that question they call in the Stig. The Stig first takes the Mercedes-Benz B-Class around a test track. At only 190 bhp it's the least powerful of the three MPVs, but it's also the smallest and lightest. The Stig takes the B-Class around in 1.36.06. The Stig then takes out the Ford S-MAX. It has 220 bhp, but it's also the biggest of the three. The Stig takes the S-MAX around in 1.37.03. Finally it's the Vauxhall Zafira VXR's turn. The Stig takes the Zafira VXR around in 1.36.44. Thus the B-Class is the fastest, followed by the Zafira VXR and the S-MAX.

In terms of styling, Hammond remarks that they all make an effort to look lively. However, he notes that the Zafira VXR tries a bit too hard with all its skirts and spoilers. The B-Class has big AMG wheels, but everything else is a bit too dark and dull. The S-MAX, however, is just right. The interior is up to date and the exterior is smooth and sleek.

Taking the MPVs for a spin, May remarks how the Zafira VXR torque steers horribly. Both he and Hammond remark how the ride is also a bit uncomfortable. Next up is the B-Class. It has a lot of options, but Hammond remarks how that means it costs a lot of money. The standard models costs 23,000 GBP (about 43,300 USD), but the model they're reviewing costs 31,000 GBP (about 57,000 USD). Last is the S-MAX. It sounds good and it has a turbo without the mad torque steer. The S-MAX handles its power better than the Zafira VXR.

Back in the studio, Jeremy Clarkson summarizes the review in that all three MPVs are fun to drive. The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is the fastest around a track, but it's the most expensive and you only get five seats in it, thus it's eliminated. Moving on to the Vauxhall Zafira VXR, Clarkson remarks how it has a brilliant seat arrangement in that the rear seats fold into the floor instead of having to remove the seats physically from the MPV. But he, and Hammond, and both unable to demonstrate this feature. A Zafira owner comes to their aide and she is able to get the seats up from the floor for them. With the seats up, Hammond shows how it's next to impossible to get to those seats and Clarkson points out how much trunk space you lose. Moving on to the Ford S-MAX, Hammond demonstrates how easy it is to get its fold-in rear seats up. In addition, Clarkson demonstrates how simple it is to get back into those seats. And even with those additional seats up you get a lot of trunk space, plus even more trunk space in a compartment under the trunk floor. Hammond then shows how much space you have by putting Top Gear Dog in the back of the S-MAX.

In conclusion, their pick is the Ford S-MAX.

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. Clarkson remarks how the Gallardo, the "baby" Lamborghini, never really measured up. It isn't quite as nice to drive as a Ferrari 430. The steering isn't as delicate, there isn't as much immediacy from the engine, and there isn't as much poise.

However, Lamborghini have now launched a 131,000 GBP (about 241,000 USD) convertible version of the Gallardo. There are a few problems with it: the steering wheel is covered in a material which Clarkson likens to a bathmat and the seat, if you have to move it all the way back, squeaks against the firewall. But Clarkson doesn't care. The Gallardo Spyder has a 5.0 L V10 engine that develops 512 bhp and makes a fantastic noise. What Clarkson really likes about the car is that Lamborghini painted it grey and fitted it with active exhausts which are supposed to make it quieter at low speeds. He says it's impossible to keep it quiet because, if you accidentally stray over 3,500 rpm, you get a sort of "bark" from the exhausts. The Gallardo Spyder has four-wheel drive resulting in lots of grip, and can go from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 195 mph. Clarkson's review model comes with a proper gearbox as the flappy paddle gearbox is a 5,000 GBP (about 9,200 USD) extra. In addition, since Lamborghini is owned by Audi you get some German commonsense: the noise can be raised up to go over speedbumps; the satellite navigation, airconditioning, dials and so on all come from an Audi A8 so they all actually work. Clark exclaims that, top up or down, the Gallardo Spyder is an incredibly pretty car. It's also the same length as a Ford Focus, so it's easy to drive around town and easy to park. It's not the best driver's car in the world, but it's a car you could use every day. He thinks it's absolutely tremendous.

The Stig takes the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder around the test track in 1.25.7.

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

This week's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car is Steve Coogan, a British actor, impressionist, and comedian. Steve Coogan races the Chevrolet Lacetti around the test track in 1.50.9. For the first time ever, Clarkson gives the lap time an "(H)" to denote the hot weather on the lap.

Peugeot 207 vs. Parkour

James May reviews the Peugeot 207, which he remarks is a very pretty car. Inside it has an iPod connection, satellite navigation and radio, and a large glass sunroof. However, it has a built-in air freshner. You get more space and more toys, but you part with more money. May's review model is a 1.6 L diesel version that costs nearly 15,000 GBP (about 27,600 USD), which is a lot of money for a small car. To see if it's worth it, May is going to test the 207 on the streets of Liverpool by having a race against two young men who practice parkour (also known as "free running"). Parkour is a French invention in which one takes the most direct route past an obstacle, such as jumping or climbing over it. The race will take them from the edge of Liverpool to the Royal Liver Building, which will take May about six miles to finish whereas the young men take a more direct route. May remarks that the 207 has a nice driving position, the steering is nice and weighty, the seat is excellent, and it has more power than the older model. However, with all the gizmos and whatnot in the new 207, it's almost 300 lbs heavier than the older model. The 1.6 L diesel is the best of the current range, but May remarks that it's still sluggish. Back to the race, May gets lost but eventually catches up to the young men — until he gets caught in traffic. He eventually makes it to the Royal Liver Building, but discovers the young men beat him there.

Back in the studio, May explains that the Peugeot 207 is too heavy, too big, and too expensive.

The Boys vs. The Stig

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May have a race against the Stig. But it's not just any race. At precisely 9:00AM, the Stig is to leave the Caterham factory in Caterham, Surrey, England in a Caterham Roadsport SV kit car and drive 465 miles to the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Knockhill, Fife, Scotland. Meanwhile at Knockhill, the boys have to build their kit car before the Stig arrives.

At the pit garage where their kit car lays in pieces, Hammond shows off the satellite tracking system which will show precisely where the Stig is on his journey. Clarkson lists off all the kit car pieces: the engine, the gearbox, the driveshaft, the bodywork, the major suspension components, radiator, interior trim, and wiring. He also points out how well-qualified they are to build the kit car as he trained to be newspaper report, Hammond trained to be a radio DJ, and May trained to be a pianist. At the Caterham factory, the clock hits 9:00AM and the Stig takes off. He refuses to go around London, but instead plunges head on and straight into rush hour traffic. Back at the garage, Clarkson remarks how you can buy the Caterham kit car in pieces for 15,000 GBP (about 27,600 USD), but it only costs 2,500 GBP (about 4,600 USD) more to get one pre-built.

After 90 minutes, the Stig clears through South London while the boys finished putting the rear suspension on, the driveshaft, rear brakes, and some work on the front. Hammond and May tackle the steering rack while Clarkson works on the seats, managing to put one in backwards. However, the Stig is still 400 miles away and makes a stop at a service area in Oxford to use the bathroom. At the same time, the boys busy themselves by figuring out how to place the engine in the Caterham — and Clarkson knocks the Caterham body of its stands and it lands on its brake discs. They get the Caterham back up on its stands and finally shoehorn the engine in. With the Stig only 299 miles away, all that's left is to connect all the brakes, battery, throttle linkage, clutch linkage, gear linkage, and quite a bit else to do.

Covering 220 miles, the Stig has to stop for more fuel. Hammond wonders if the Stig has ever stopped for fuel before and Clarkson wonders just how the Stig is going to pay for it. Back at the gas station, the Stig pulls out his "Bank of Money" card and stares down the gas station attendant. At the garage, Clarkson puts the seats back in and then May points out that the harness has to be put in before the seats. The Stig makes his way into Scotland while the boys still have the brakes, bodywork, and wiring to finish up. Away from May, Clarkson shows Hammond all the washers and bolts he didn't put onto the kit car in order to save time.

With the Stig less than 20 miles away, the boys start the engine but it dies. With the Stig only 5 miles away, the boys continue to fiddle with the engine and finally get it to start. To figure out who drives the kit car, the boys use a quick game of Paper, Rock, Scissors, and Clarkson wins. Clarkson drives the Caterham out of the pit garage, to the start/finish line of the Knockhill Racing Circuit, and crosses the line for the win. The boys wonder just where the Stig is, since he was right on top of them. Back with the Stig, he's been pulled over by Scottish police, refuses to answer any of their questions, and is taken away.

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