The Grand Tour.....what did you think?

Coralkong

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Clarkson, May and Hammond's new Amazon show came out yesterday.

Being a huge Top Gear fan, I was really looking forward to it.

I liked it, overall.

Thought the opening sequence with Clarkson looking forlorn and leaving the BBC was pretty funny.

The desert scene in California to open the show was ridiculous, imo, but kind of cute. Definitely over the top.

If you like "car porn", the show is full of it. Sort of "Top Gear" on steroids.

The dialog and setup seemed a little bit forced, but I imagine that will settle out a bit in future episodes. IMO, they were trying a little too hard, and it showed, but it is understandable, being the first episode.

A few segments ran a little long, but overall I enjoyed it.

Really, a LaFerrari vs a Porsche 918 vs a McLaren P1? They could just show those 3 cars the entire show and it would have been worth it, though I would have liked to see more of the interior of the vehicles than just gratuitous outside glamour shots and smoking tires/drifing shots. Wonder how many tens of thousands of dollars in tires they went through? I would guess several.

I'd give it 4/5 stars.
 
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I loved it. I've been looking forward to them running those three Hyper cars since those cars came out.

The celebrity portion was great. Jeremy Rener is awesome.

I don't know if I care for their tame racing driver, but the track is pretty cool.

Looking forward to the next 11 episodes. :baimun:
 
Loved it. My son almost pissed himself laughing. It wasn't perfect, but you can instantly see how much effort is being put into making it so. With Andy Timmons producing it (as he did Top Gear), they have most of the continuity they could need in order to hit the ground running, which I think they did. I sensed a great deal of nervousness among the hosts, it was palpable. I'm sure that will fade once they get used to their new school.
 
Loved it. My son almost pissed himself laughing. It wasn't perfect, but you can instantly see how much effort is being put into making it so. With Andy Timmons producing it (as he did Top Gear), they have most of the continuity they could need in order to hit the ground running, which I think they did. I sensed a great deal of nervousness among the hosts, it was palpable. I'm sure that will fade once they get used to their new school.

I'll stop short of saying "I loved it", but only because I expect great things.......they did not disappoint, per sec.....but it was, as you pointed out, 'it was palpable'.

I am sure they will settle down into a groove.

I will admit, the opening scene where Jeremy looks over and Hammond and May were there almost brought tears to my eye. These guys mean business, and this first episode showed it.

Looking forward to week 2, them settling down into their "tent" surroundings, and everyone just sort of getting into a groove!

"The American" driver was lousy. Didn't work over here, maybe that's funny in the UK? Don't really know.....they could have spent MUCH more time on the US vs UK differences on car part references, but I guess that cut.........dunno. Bonnet? Boot? Petrol vs fuel? etc...etc...hell, that could have gone on for a good 10 minutes, but they chose not to pursue it.
The RAF references that were meant to be funny, well...........weren't.
Again, maybe that will bring fans to tears laughing in the UK, I dunno.

I thought the "fight scene" could have been done better, to be honest.

These are all minor gripes though, the car porn was OUTSTANDING.

Overall, I thought it was a bit dis-jointed, but again, it was the first show.

They've shown they're still relevant, and still champions to be beaten. I doubt it will happen. These guys are good.
VERY good.
 
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This dude really liked the new tame racing driver...

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Finally got to watch it this morning...LOVED IT!

I've always enjoyed Top Gear more for the interplay between the 3 guys, which is why none of the other iterations of the show work, they lack the chemistry between Jezza, Hamster, and Captain Slow...The Grand Tour is all about that chemistry, and the smiles shared between the 3 were real...

Format-wise it's fine...I was hoping to see Ben Collins as the game racing driver, and I know he pops up at some point in the season...Mike Skinner was never an elite level NASCAR racer and does NOT work on this show, hopefully they keep his exposure to a minimum...

I cannot wait for the next episode...
 
Thought the show was great and it delivered all the elements that made TG great. Really looking forward to the rest of the season.
I don't really get the criticism of Skinner...He's got skills and can hustle the cars around the track consistently. At worst it's another chance for them to poke fun at American stereotypes, especially NASCAR, which they love to do. The Stig was a great gimmick and pretty hard to equal with just dropping some random ex-racer in the car. Collins would have been an interesting way to throw some more shade at TG but rumors (from Clarkson's comment) were that Amazon wanted an American driver.
 
I don't really get the criticism of Skinner....

I didn't care for the way he was discounting and disregarding the car the entire time. Most people who are watching are car geeks and would rather be driving the slowest BMW M car than a Toyota Prius any day of the week. To hear him piss and moan all the way around the track because it's not a V8 powered Nascar is offputting to say the least.

I loved the point where Clarkson and Hammond switched cars and were genuinely impressed with the opposite one, even though they get out of the car and then say "Oh no no no..." :grin:
 
I didn't care for the way he was discounting and disregarding the car the entire time. Most people who are watching are car geeks and would rather be driving the slowest BMW M car than a Toyota Prius any day of the week. To hear him piss and moan all the way around the track because it's not a V8 powered Nascar is offputting to say the least.

That's 100% the fat lazy Bud swilling Nascar shtick that they've been doing forever. Guaranteed that was all scripted or prompted.
 
I didn't care for the way he was discounting and disregarding the car the entire time. Most people who are watching are car geeks and would rather be driving the slowest BMW M car than a Toyota Prius any day of the week. To hear him piss and moan all the way around the track because it's not a V8 powered Nascar is offputting to say the least.

I loved the point where Clarkson and Hammond switched cars and were genuinely impressed with the opposite one, even though they get out of the car and then say "Oh no no no..." :grin:
After that piece I'm scared to be in the same vicinity as a Mclaren P.1
 
Hahaha, nothing like a car that seems to be actively trying to kill you.

The 650s is my only reference point w/ McLaren and that's like being in a UFO that's skimming the ground. The P1 kicks that up a notch so I can only imagine what that experience must be like.
 
The 650s is my only reference point w/ McLaren and that's like being in a UFO that's skimming the ground. The P1 kicks that up a notch so I can only imagine what that experience must be like.


I've never seen a Mclaren road car in person.
 
I've never seen a Mclaren road car in person.

Back in the philly metro there is a mclaren dealer so you see a few here and there.
The guy who owns the 650s has an incredible stable of cars...Lambos, R8, Aston Martins, 458, Continental GT, etc. The 650 is definitely one of the more capable of the bunch but probably his least favorite to drive because its response is so 'engineered'

...talk about first world problems. :wink:
 
I have seen a McLaren twice in my life.

Once at a car show, and the other time heading South on the NJ Turnpike. Well, I think it was a McLaren. All I saw was a blur and tail-lights disappearing into the distance, lol. License plate made some reference to the Eagles, so I assume it was a player going home.

At the car show, I wasn't real impressed by the interior. Kind of sparse. On the NJ Turnpike, HOLY SHIT! Seee Ya.........I was going 85 or so, and this guy passed my like I was standing still. Had to be going 150mph, at least. AT LEAST. The wind/black-blow from his car actually rocked the car I was in, which was a rather sizable 1999 v8 Mercury Gand Marquis.
 
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