Top Gear/Season 1 Episode 6

Season 1 Episode 6
Season 1, Episode 6
Airdate	November 24, 2002
Written by
Directed by
← 1x05 Season 1 Episode 5	1x07 → Season 1 Episode 7
Top Gear — Season One

Episode Six of the first season of Top Gear, and is episode six overall.

Guest Stars: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson

Information

Honda NSX Type R

Richard Hammond takes a look at the Honda NSX Type R in the studio. He claims the NSX wasn't much of a success story, selling only eight models the previous year, but Honda has created a Type R version that is lighter, stiffer, and features slightly different styling for the headlights. Honda sent them a Honda NSX Type R from Japan so the Stig can have a go in it around the test track.

The Stig takes the Honda NSX Type R around the test track in 1.33.2 in very wet conditions. To illustrate just how wet the track was, the boys show a clip of the Stig losing control of the NSX Type R and sliding it off the tarmac and onto the grass.

Renault Velsatis

Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Renault Velsatis. He says the Velsatis' styling is very weird, but thinks it's quite cool. It's a five seater rival for the BMW 5 Series, and prices start around 20,000 GBP (about 36,800 USD) for the 2.0 L version. While riding in it, Clarkson remarks that it's very quiet, comfortable, and solid. His test model has a 3.5 L V6 engine that pushes the Velsatis up to 137 mph. The Velsatis' soft ride is almost able to put him to sleep, but Clarkson says there's an almighty thud whenever the car runs over a pothole in the road. It's capable of going fast but it just doesn't seem to like it. Clarkson says the Velsatis, as a car, isn't very good.

Renault Megane, Renault Avantime

Continuing on the issue of Renault's mad styling of their cars, such as the Velsatis, Richard Hammond takes a quick look at the Renault Megane and Jason Dawe looks at the Renault Avantime.

Granny Handbrake Parking Challenge

Jason Dawe sees if grannies can do handbrake parking. Handbrake parking consists of using the handbrake to spin the car — a MINI Cooper — 180 degrees and parallel parking it between two cars — represented by two inflatable objects. Turns out they can.

BMW Z4

Richard Hammond takes a BMW Z4 for a test drive in Portugal. He says the Z3 was a terrible car and it appears that BMW thought so also as the car isn't a new Z3 but rather a "Z4." Even though the Z3 was terrible it sold very well, and the Z4 is also selling well — starting at 30,000 GBP (about 55,300 USD) — even though it hasn't been released yet. You can get the Z4 in a 2.5 L or 3.0 L inline-6 engine with a 5-speed or 6-speed manual gearbox. Hammond says the Z4 has plenty of grip, almost too much. He thinks BMW has cracked it and created a good roadster.

Cool Wall

Jeremy Clarkson shows off his "Cool Wall." It's divided into four sections: "Seriously Uncool," where the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Volkswagen Beetle reside; "Uncool," where various Vauxhall and Ford cars reside; "Cool," where the Range Rover and Citröen C3 reside; and "Sub-Zero," where the Aston Martin Vanquish resides. The Cool Wall has nothing to do with how a car looks like or drives, but rather how "cool" the car is.

Richard Hammond points out the Hyundai Coupe that's a very good car, but it's Uncool because it's a Hyundai.

The Honda Civic Type R is a great car, but it's Uncool.

Clarkson exclaims that the Audi A2 is an absolutely dreadful car, but it's still somehow Cool.

Clarkson claims that all BMW's are Uncool, but Hammond believes the Z4 is a Cool car.

Clarkson and Hammond point out that the Fiat Multipla is hideous but the car is still Cool, much to the audience's displeasure.

Clarkson tries to put the Lexus IS200 up in the Cool section, but it falls off. He then tries to stick it on the Seriously Uncool section and it sticks, so he leaves it there.

Clarkson places the Renault Avantime on the very edge of the Sub-Zero section.

Clarkson takes on the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. He places the Mercedes-Benz 300SL in the Sub-Zero section, but relegates the 280SL to the Uncool section. Finally, the SL300 is placed in the Seriously Uncool section.

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

This week's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car is Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a British "It girl" (a young woman famed for her good looks, charm and sexual magnetism). Tara Palmer-Tomkinson races the Suzuki Liana around the test track in 1.54.0 in the wet.

Insider Trading

Jason Dawe explains that he got an email from a Suzuki dealer stating that the Suzuki Liana, originally priced at a reasonable 9,995 GBP (about 18,400 USD), can be bought for 8,995 GBP (about 16,600 USD). Then he got two more emails from Suzuki dealers that a Liana could be had for only 7,995 GBP (about 14,700 USD). Dawe then reveals a few tips about getting a good deal for large used car dealers near the end of the year and about financing.

Volkswagen Golf

Jason Dawe takes a look at the Volkswagen Golf series. The Golf was launched in 1974 and defined what the small hatchback was all about. The Golf Mk. II, released in the 80's, secured the Golf as a style icon. In the 90's, the Golf Mk. III sold itself as safe and environmentally friendly, even though it was heavy and dull compared to its predecessors. Launched in 1998, the VW Golf Mk. IV is as safe and reliable as the Mk. III. Dawe explains that you can pick up a used Mk. III for about 4,000 GBP (about 7,400 USD), and a Mk. IV with reasonable mileage for only 6,500 USD (about 12,000 USD). He claims the Golf series hold their value so well because of their conservative styling. You can put a Mk. III in your driveway and your neighbors will never know how well you are or are not doing financially; they'll never think you're a cheapskate. You can get a 1.4 L, 1.6 L or 2.0 L engine, but the 1.4 L is too slow and the 1.6 L is only 15 bhp less than what you get in the 2.0 L, so Dawe suggests going with the 1.6 L. His recommendation for a second-hand VW Golf with real performance is to go with a diesel. You can get a Golf Diesel with 110 bhp, 130 bhp or 150 bhp, but you combine that with the torque from the diesel engine and you can embarrass any of the petrol versions. Dawe suggests staying away from the automatic models, since you only get a four speed in all but the latest models and it hurts peformance and economy. Air conditioning isn't standard on most models, but it's worth hunting down a model that has it.

Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Jeremy Clarkson briefly looks at the 67,000 GBP (about 123,500 USD) Mercedes-Benz SL500. He wonders if you can buy one and drive around in it without people openly laughing at you. He doesn't think so. However, the SL500 has a big brother — the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG.

The AMG-tuned SL55 is the fastest automatic car in the world. It has a supercharged 5.5 L V8 engine that develops nearly 500 bhp and pushes the SL55, with the restrictor turned off, to nearly 200 mph. However, the SL55 AMG he's reviewing is only going around the track at an extremely leisurely pace. Normally they get a car from a faceless corporation for a week and then return it with the tires worn completely out, but this SL55 AMG is already purchased and owned — by Jeremy Clarkson. He explains that he sold his Ferrari F355 to purchase the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG. The SL55 AMG has all the same toys seen in the previous week's S-Class, such as the airconditioned seats with massage function, TV, CD, telephone, radar-guided cruise control, and voice activation. In addition, you can push a button and in just 16 seconds the roof automatically folds down. Even though the metal roof and rear glass window have been stowed away in the trunk, there is still plenty of space for your luggage. A version of the SL55 is used as a safety car in Formula One grand prix races. The Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG is a top-down funster, a long-distance cruiser, a muscle car, and a Messerschmitt Me 109.

Because Clarkson wouldn't let anyone drive his car, the boys stole his keys and let the Stig have a go. The Stig takes the Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG around the test track in 1.33.0 in the wet.

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