Top Gear Thought

[Steve1968LS2]

I think I would split the $$ to ship penny over there to see the Stig run the course.. that would be too cool.

[LowchevyII]

lets start a donation to ship penny over there. i would love to see the stig drive that beast

[Steve1968LS2]

Originally Posted by skooli

I would love to see pro-touring style muscle cars on Top Gear just to see how Jeremy Clarkson reacts to their performance. He has called American made cars "rubbish" because they don't handle as well as Ferraris or other over priced "super cars". But what he'll see is that we can build and modify our relatively in-expensive cars in our own garages for a fraction of what it costs to buy an over built European sports car. He'll still probably call them rubbish. Somebody needs to send Rupp and Bad Penny to England to kick some Porsche/BMW/ Ferrari a$$.

And yet he owns a Ford GT...

[Greg from Aus]

Don't get to upset about not having a Knock of version of the show, we have one over here in Aus and it is CRAPPPP. As has been said it's the quirkiness of the presenters that works, not that easy to duplicate. Our ones just come across as try hards.

Greg

[Jr]

Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2

And yet he owns a Ford GT...

I think he sold the Ford GT.

Clarkson did love the zr1 corvette.

[Matt@BOS]

Ok, I had a scary realization when I went to the Aston Martin dealership to get the paint code for our car. I was walking past a line of v8 vantages and realized my dad and I could have split one and been on the road for roughly the same amount as we have into our Camaro, which isn't quite finished. When its done, it could probably hang with the little Aston, provided we're not driving Still, the point I'm trying to make is that when you add up all the time time invested, into a price that accurately reflects the hours, by and large, pro-touring cars aren't necessarily cheaper. I'm guessing Jackass cost a bit more that a ZR1, and isn't quite as fast around a track. I'd love to see those two cars run though.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make in regard to the over-priced, over-engineered Euro car comment is that, while expensive, if you were to build a car that was just as well engineered it would probably cost more. BTW when I say build I'm assuming that a majority of the build will be done by a shop.

I think we need SW's opinion here.

BTW, I'll contribute to the Bad Penny shipping fund just because I'm a bit of a topgear geek.

Matt

[skooli]

Originally Posted by 69MSA

...I suppose the point I'm trying to make in regard to the over-priced, over-engineered Euro car comment is that, while expensive, if you were to build a car that was just as well engineered it would probably cost more. BTW when I say build I'm assuming that a majority of the build will be done by a shop...

Matt

This example is a bit extreme, but this Mustang kind of supports my point that classic American Muscle is a little more fun because we can modify and work on our own cars.

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38420

And how about Liz Miles' Camaro? I bet she hasn't spent the price of a high end European sports car to make her car a fun corner carver.

[Steve1968LS2]

Originally Posted by 69MSA

Ok, I had a scary realization when I went to the Aston Martin dealership to get the paint code for our car. I was walking past a line of v8 vantages and realized my dad and I could have split one and been on the road for roughly the same amount as we have into our Camaro, which isn't quite finished. When its done, it could probably hang with the little Aston, provided we're not driving Still, the point I'm trying to make is that when you add up all the time time invested, into a price that accurately reflects the hours, by and large, pro-touring cars aren't necessarily cheaper. I'm guessing Jackass cost a bit more that a ZR1, and isn't quite as fast around a track. I'd love to see those two cars run though.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make in regard to the over-priced, over-engineered Euro car comment is that, while expensive, if you were to build a car that was just as well engineered it would probably cost more. BTW when I say build I'm assuming that a majority of the build will be done by a shop.

I think we need SW's opinion here.

BTW, I'll contribute to the Bad Penny shipping fund just because I'm a bit of a topgear geek.

Matt

But having the car isn't the point.. it's the journey.

It's also the challenge. I could have bought a ZR1 but how tough is that? Making a 40 year old hunk of metal get down isn't easy and that's what makes it fun. Easy is over rated.

[Matt@BOS]

I was trying to play a little bit of the devil's advocate there. I mean I've got relatives that just don't understand the hobby at all (don't we all?), and their typical response is, why didn't you just go out and get a vette, or a porsche?

Now, I totally agree with what both of you guys are saying. I think I even alluded to that in my last post. I wouldn't be doing what I am otherwise. I don't think idea of buying an exotic car ever crossed my mind, or ever will cross my mind. I've never been a fan of just throwing money down and driving off. In fact, come next year when our project is done, I know both my dad and I will greatly miss the whole process of the build, might even have to get something else in a couple years...

and Skooli, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at in relation to what I said. Maybe because I should have explained things a bit better myself. When I was writing that, I had cars like the G-Force 'Cuda, Roadster shop's 'Vette or, well... all of the Ring Brothers work in mind. The top Gear guys criticize American cars not only for poor handling, but lack of "refinement," and in my mind the cars they would compare that stack up against exotics, through and through, probably cost more than a comparable factory produced car.

I do agree that it's possible to build something as fast or faster for much less though. I think Ron's Mustang definitely proves that.

[Vegas69]

Two completely different trips. When your pro touring car is done, you have a one off. That's why it costs so much. Building them is one thing, making them perform and reliable is a whole new ballgame once the build is through. You really need both in my opinion.