Official Top Gear US Season 2 Thread: Starts July 24th.

[Mr Miyagi]

Hey TwoLitreVW he said Emm Kay One again (GTI example). Expert. I only made the Cabby mistake once...

You did it again.

[NightTrain EX]

You did it again.

No I didn't...I was saying the mistake I made was only once.

PS Go Away. You are not Pat Morita. He was a great guy.

[Brandon@SoCalStanceShop]

I'm officially almost positive that The Stig is Tanner. I can't imagine a scenario that Ford would allow someone else to take the car out, on camera, and drive so hard... Oh, and also can't imagine someone else being nearly as comfortable as Tanner is in the seat.

[Lwize]

I'm officially almost positive that The Stig is Tanner. I can't imagine a scenario that Ford would allow someone else to take the car out, on camera, and drive so hard... Oh, and also can't imagine someone else being nearly as comfortable as Tanner is in the seat.

I ran the video back a couple of times with Tanner and Stig driving the Fiesta rally car. Stig seems to be about the same physical size as Tanner. The hand grip also looks similar. I wouldn't be surprised is they are the same person. I can tell you Stig is definitely not Rutledge -- he doesn't wear plaid.

[robr2]

I'm pretty convinced he is as well. The "Stig" really handled that GRC car with what seemed to be experience.

[Mr Miyagi]

I'm officially almost positive that The Stig is Tanner. I can't imagine a scenario that Ford would allow someone else to take the car out, on camera, and drive so hard... Oh, and also can't imagine someone else being nearly as comfortable as Tanner is in the seat.

Maybe its Ben Collins? :O

[motoo344]

I ran the video back a couple of times with Tanner and Stig driving the Fiesta rally car. Stig seems to be about the same physical size as Tanner. The hand grip also looks similar. I wouldn't be surprised is they are the same person. I can tell you Stig is definitely not Rutledge -- he doesn't wear plaid.

As soon as they put this on the track I had a feeling it was Tanner. That thing was fast.

[MCTB]

I'm officially almost positive that The Stig is Tanner. I can't imagine a scenario that Ford would allow someone else to take the car out, on camera, and drive so hard... Oh, and also can't imagine someone else being nearly as comfortable as Tanner is in the seat.

Why cant it have been him just that one time? Remember when Schumacher took the Stigs place to drive the FXX?

[BTM]

I didn't really follow the whole Ben Collins thing, but did he say he was the stig from day 1? I always suspected they just switched around, maybe certain manufacturers (cough Ferrari cough) want their own drivers in the seat, etc...I mean with the **** manufacturers pull with providing "hot" press cars, etc, how perfect/easy would it be to just swap drivers? Maybe even the reason his identity was designed as unknown in the first place...

Wouldn't be surprised if TGUSA does the same thing, with Tanner in the Fiesta

/conspiracy theory

[TetsuoShima]

Tanner is my #1 guy on the show. He actually knows what he's doing and is loosening up for the camera more and more with each passing episode.

His reviews on cars are a lot more valid with me than something from the UK Top Gear.

[Kylen721]

Tanner is my #1 guy on the show. He actually knows what he's doing and is loosening up for the camera more and more with each passing episode.

His reviews on cars are a lot more valid with me than something from the UK Top Gear.

I agree, although his constant drifting gets a little old but he showed that he could drive properly fast when need be.

Adam is the one that absolutely has to go for me to keep enjoying the show. Rutledge doesn't entertain me all that much but I would rather him stay than Adam.

[TetsuoShima]

I agree, although his constant drifting gets a little old but he showed that he could drive properly fast when need be.

Adam is the one that absolutely has to go for me to keep enjoying the show. Rutledge doesn't entertain me all that much but I would rather him stay than Adam.

I think I'm the only one who finds Rutledge hilarious.

"What does TCF stand for?" - Tanner
"Totally Cool Stuff" - Rutledge

Adam is the weakest link but I can tolerate him. They seem to have started to nestle in their own way and getting a new host this late might mess the dynamic up.

[BRealistic]

I missed the very beginning of the show- but did they actually say that was Gran Turismo 5 they were playing? Just curious.

[Lwize]

Adam is worthless, unless you tune in to learn about rusting 70's land yachts.
Rutledge I tolerate. It would be nice if he stopped cheating on challenges -- is he really that bad?
Tanner is good.

[VarianceVQ]

I missed the very beginning of the show- but did they actually say that was Gran Turismo 5 they were playing? Just curious.

Forza 4.

[BRealistic]

Forza 4.

Really?
Damn... I thought the colored arrows was a GT thing.
But I haven't played GT5 in a while.. so I may be wrong.

EDIT- just booted it up (and downloaded latest versions.. yawn..)
And yes- GT5 uses the dashes for driver line.
And I don't think it has auto brakes as an option.
Auto brakes?

[n0rdicalex.]

yeah, it's forza 4. turn10 debuted the sonoma track for forza 4 earlier last week too. easy mode in forza 3 was ridiculously easy, so i'm sure they just carried it over.

to me, this episode seemed like one of those episodes sitcoms do to reminisce and show bloopers; aka fluff.

oh well, still a much better season than season one, and it continues to get better each episode. even my feelings towards the hosts has increased this season. during the summer when nothing much is on, they are definitely tolerable for 45 minutes a week.

[MrRline]

Tonights episode was much better than most have been all season.

[Doogal]

Love the last episode. and yes, Tanner is definitely the Stig!

[A.Wilder]

I thought the "Stig" looked like he barely fit in Tanner's Fiesta I'm not seeing the similarity.

[Hammersmith]

I still maintain that it's Paul Tracy... they are the same height, he's in the area, SoCal / Vegas, he can drive and he's not doing a whole lot these days.....plus he and Tanner did that Supercar Challenge show on Speed together.

...and journalists have driven things you wouldn't think they'd be allowed to touch before, F1 cars, Moto GP bikes you name it. Not too shocked they let the Stig drive the Fiesta, besides, what's he going to do to it on that track? Go off in the grass....I'm sure it's seen worse.

[bzcat]

I ran the video back a couple of times with Tanner and Stig driving the Fiesta rally car. Stig seems to be about the same physical size as Tanner. The hand grip also looks similar. I wouldn't be surprised is they are the same person. I can tell you Stig is definitely not Rutledge -- he doesn't wear plaid.

Most race car drivers are about the same size: midget plus

They are like jockeys... short, skinny, and weight 110 lbs for obvious reasons. I'm not convinced Stig and Tanner are the same person in every episode, but it is likely that they were the same in this episode. Just because of the fact that Stig is clearly very familiar with Tanner's Fiesta and Ford probably would not have allowed anyone besides Tanner to drive it on the track.

[Lwize]

Most race car drivers are about the same size: midget plus

They are like jockeys... short, skinny, and weight 110 lbs for obvious reasons. I'm not convinced Stig and Tanner are the same person in every episode, but it is likely that they were the same in this episode. Just because of the fact that Stig is clearly very familiar with Tanner's Fiesta and Ford probably would not have allowed anyone besides Tanner to drive it on the track.

Don't attempt to apply logic here.

[RacingManiac]

His Rallycross Fiesta is not really that American I think....pretty sure its built in Sweden...

http://www.worldrallysport.com/node/6955

[Brandon@SoCalStanceShop]

Car Lounge is ON FIRE with "how dare he call it an Em-Kay one" LOL
- With reserved admiration, Salmon Shirt Guy ♥

Haha. Remind them that no one else knows...and I've had two,and don't care maybe that's why other people think dubbers are elitists? Cause sometimes they go bananas tell them I'm sorry...but I'm probably going to keep saying it like that cause that's what I've always done...em Kay! Haha thanks man!

You're welcome, TCL.

[McBanagon]

I wonder how Adam is going to destroy his old tough Ford this time?

Just watched this espisode last night, since the Hurricane Irene took the original airing away from me.

I'm disappointed that Adam didn't make a "Crowned Victorious" reference after he won. He's the comedian, right?

[RaDeN]

Haha. Remind them that no one else knows...and I've had two,and don't care maybe that's why other people think dubbers are elitists? Cause sometimes they go bananas tell them I'm sorry...but I'm probably going to keep saying it like that cause that's what I've always done...em Kay! Haha thanks man!

Haha, I got used to saying it em kay, also. I don't see the big deal. It just sticks from always reading it MK before even knowing what it meant, my mind wants to spell it out instead of saying "mark".

[r_fostoria]

Yeah, the show started out just ok, but now it's genuinely entertaining. And I mean even when compared to Top Gear UK.

[A.Wilder]

Haha, I got used to saying it em kay, also. I don't see the big deal. It just sticks from always reading it MK before even knowing what it meant, my mind wants to spell it out instead of saying "mark".

i can understand people being annoyed by it, because logically, MK is short for "Mark" and if you are using MK for brevity's sake it is shorter to say "Mark" than it is to say "EMMM KAYYY". But it isn't worth ranting and calling for heads to roll

It's very similar to Porsche, the correct annunciation as i understand it is "Poor-sha" but 99% of Americans say "Poorsh"

[BTM]

His Rallycross Fiesta is not really that American I think....pretty sure its built in Sweden...

http://www.worldrallysport.com/node/6955

True, but this is how every car works these days. The automotive industry has been global for a while, and the whole "buy American (cars built in Canada/Mexico)" or "screw Japanese/German (cars built in the USA)" used to irk me because that's not really the point. On TGUSA at least, I took it as just a bit of convenient pandering to the demographics, and wasn't done with any sincerity or presented anything beyond that Ford, though an extremely large & global entity, is widely recognized as an American company, at least within the USA. No real agenda attached, no harm done. If anything, those interested in the car will be exposed to a more international picture of Ford's racing endeavors.

[Short Bus]

After reading this...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...-the-panamera/

...and this...

http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=5141

...I've gained a new appreciation for even the US Top Gear, but the UK Top Gear even more-so. It's a shame that auto journalism is so unreliable. I guess I should just stick to TTAC and Edmunds, and never purchase any brand new Porsche product.

[KahviVW]

Haha. Remind them that no one else knows...and I've had two,and don't care maybe that's why other people think dubbers are elitists? Cause sometimes they go bananas tell them I'm sorry...but I'm probably going to keep saying it like that cause that's what I've always done...em Kay! Haha thanks man!

You're welcome, TCL.

That's awesome! I am liking Rutledge more and more, great car selections with the Caddy, Fiesta, etc. Tanner is great. Adam is still searching for his role, he seems to be the least knowledgeable, I hope he doesn't just become 70's detroit guy.

I'm waiting for any of the presenters to start bashing a car in their reviews. Perhaps they are too time-constrained to really get into it, but I agree with the earlier posts, the actual car reviews are "meh". E.g. If the LFA is a good car tell us why, with specifics. I don't think TopGearUS will ever give a car a bad review.

[VadGTI]

You're welcome, TCL.

I'm not on Facebook so can you tell him that Vad demands that he join TCL and remind him that he promised me, damn it!

[team_v]

It still isn't on final gear as of this morning :|



On the up side, Top Gear Australia has been canned forever becasue it was so terrible.

[Mr Miyagi]

Last episode I saw I loved. It was the taxi cab one.


Rut started out my 2nd favorite, with Tanner in 1st, and that NY guy in 3rd.


Now they are all about even, and on the "good" side of the meter in my eyes.


Really happy to see how much this show has progressed this season.