scoobberdoo

Absolutely, he annoy's the crap out of me with his exagerations and the way he changes his mind all the time. One day a particular car is the absolute greatest thing since sliced bread, then 6 months later he's taking the *iss out of it. How can anyone take this guy seriously?


Sorry for going off topic a bit!

stilover

Speaking to an Audi representitive back in 2007 after my old man & me were invited to look at the not on sale yet Audi R8. Clarkson offers to give rave review's to certain car's if the Manufacturer will "Lend" him one for 6 to 12 months. Or "Lend" his wife one etc.

Manufacturer says no.......... bad car review.

scoobberdoo

Heard something similar stilover, he just a greedy scumbag that doesn't want to pay for anything (thinks he too famous) and has actually owned lots of hairdressers car's in the past! So who's he to tell anyone about what car to buy.

RS Grant

Nobody takes Top Gear seriously anyway so if I could get away with that, I'd do it.


Cheers,
Grant

hodgy0_2

without wanting to carry on off topic (JC is worth is own thread surely) he is a total ***

when any of his ridiculous views are subject to testing i.e. his publishing his bank details to prove a point about how pathetic it was to go on about lost bank details, they fall very short -- especially when a genius cleared his bank account within 30 mins

skoobidude

I'm the OP and you have not offended me. I hadn't mentioned hot hatches, it was some other posters further down the thread.

Some good opinions in between the off-topic stuff though.


Nick

Hoppy

I don't believe that for a second.

Clarkson is a multi-millionaire, and it is well known that he buys his own cars - eg Merc and Ford GT. His credibility wouldn't last five minutes if he did what your're saying (and whether you like him or not, he does have credibility).

And apart from all that, there will be a clause in his BBC contract that forbids it.

Mark1983

iTrader: (2)

What about his work for the Sun, Times, Top Gear Magazine (Independant from BBC) etc. Plenty of the journalists run long termers.

pippyrips

top marks to Hoppy, they are indeed sessanta's were just too good to miss at £118.

I'm just coming ot the end of a set of F1 Assemetricals which were £130 per corner but the proce has sice shot up.

pippyrips

Trust me, i should know

I get around 20mpg round town then anywhere between 25-29 on motorways dependant on my mod


I've seen the instant mpg go to 8mpg whilst up at 8,200rpm but i don't spend all my time there - honest!

Servicing is expensive if you go to Audi however as always specialists can help with this.

Road tax - you've got me

Vtec-Abuser

Morning Mitchy, been a while..

The Golf that ran 12's has a fairly big list of mods (although not huge amount on engine) and has been a a diet too, but as you say it wouldn't have any bother with either M3 CSL or RS4, in fact it has the legs on E92 M3's (that should rattle a few cages).. Full build thread here..
Jonnyc's MK5 ED30 Build Thread..

Mine also has mods as you say, which basically consist of..
Revo software/remap
Second hand Miltek TBE
ITG Panel filter
Costing me in total = £900 (got Milltek at a steal ) and as a result gives the Golf 331bhp & 364lb/ft on last RR day.
I totally agree that a remapped ED30 isn't in the same league as a CSL and RS4 in all round ability and are in totally different markets. But for all the peeps out there who think that a £500 mod on a new age Hot Hatch won't get it anywhere near a M3 in a straight line need to wake up or be carefull next time they pick on one coming off a RA onto a DC..

stilover

Yes, he'll buy certain cars, just like the Ford GT.

However running around in an Audi RS4 for 1 year, will be curtesy of Audi. Remember (as said above) he works for several other publications apart from working on Top Gear. He also has his own Dvd's every year.

Giving him a car for 12 months, so he raves about it, will be worth far more to Audi/BMW etc than saying no and having him slate the car in the press/Top Gear/his Dvd.

Remember, people do listen to Clarkson. If he says a car is sh*te, it will effect some people's choice. Same as saying a car is Brilliant. Will make people think they would quite like to own one.

Plus, this info came from a guy quite high up in Audi uk. Had worked on the R8, plus he used to work for Prodrive and was involved in the development work in the Focus RS MK1, and also help with the Prodrive Performance Packs. Really wish I could remember his name. But why would he lie?

Hoppy

Why would he lie! I can think of several very good reasons. Hint: maybe Clarkson did not rave about the R8 in quite the way Audi would have liked him to? Just a wild stab in the dark

I know what Clarkson does, and I also know how automotive journalism functions because I have worked on some of Britain's biggest motoring magazines, one of which Clarkson used to write for.

If Clarkson raves about a car, it is because he likes it, not because he was lent it for a year. The guy can have any car he wants, any time. What you describe is entirely normal practise, and is good for the magazine, for readers and for manufacturers, provided everyone is up-front about it.

Where you have gone dangerously wrong is to imply that Clarkson would demand certain cars, and then slate them if he was declined. That is actually libellous, if Clarkson could be bothered with such small minded views, and it would be your obligation to prove it was true, not Clarkson's to prove it was not. But this will be water off a duck's back to him.

Let's be clear. Someone like Clarkson has his pick of any car he wants. It would not be Audi turning him down, it would be him declining them. And given his very substantial personal wealth (he's worth a few mill now), which means he can buy himself a top end Merc or Ford GT with his own money any time, he's not likely to be troubling Audi for an R8. (BTW, didn't he subsequently go on to slate both the Merc and GT on reliability issues? This doesn't sit square with your conspiracy theory either.)

Search your brain for the name of the guy who is "quite high up in Audi" who told you that rubbish and I will contact him now to hear his side of the story. He has nothing to fear, as truth is an absolute defense against libel, and I'm sure a lot of people would like to see some egg on Clarkson's face.

On the other hand, you might advise him to keep his mouth shut and his fanciful tenth-hand gossip to himself and stick to the facts, unless of course he is party to first-hand facts that most people in the automotive world would be rather interested in hearing.

<rant off >

stilover

This was all before the R8 was anywhere near for sale. Press hadn't even driven one yet. So your comments above mean nothing.

As for libellous? Mr. Clarkson can take me to court anytime he wants. I wouldn't even waste my time reading any letter from his Solicitor. Out of letter box, straight into bin.

Guess this guy just lied.

stilover

So you were the tea boy at some motoring magazine? So what. maybe just because you worked for a mag, doesn't mean you know everything that goes on. Are you present when the Manufacturer's PR team are in talks with Clarkson? No.
Do you know what goes on all the time? No.
Did you once have to make Clarkson a cup of Tea everyday? Probably


I'll bet £100 this bloke knows more about how the industry works behind the sceens than some Tea boy who used to make Clarkson a cuppa everyday.

Andy M3

Ok, I would go for the RS4 or the new S6??

Hoppy

I'm not above making tea, even though I was Managing Director of a multi-million international publishing company. Offices in Peterborough. So yes, I do think I know what goes on.

Edit: I've just realised you owe me £100

stilover

That made me laugh. Come on then MD of a Multi-million pound company (used to be) what was the name? What is your real name?

Guess you just decided to give it all up eh?

What do you do now? Run Corus? BP? BT? Microsoft?

Ya having a laugh aren't ya? MD of Multi-million pound company (used to be) spends time posting on a Subaru Forum?

Hoppy

Not having a laugh, just trying to explain why I do know how the media works with manufacturers. What is less funny is the foolish and scurillous accusation of grossly improper professional behaviour you have made against Clarkson. It is damaging, and some people might actually believe you, and if he chose to pursue it (most unlikely, this kind of crap goes with the territory, but I do hope he doesn't hear of it) both you and your fourth-hand friend would know all about it. In Clarkson's absence from this debate, I am trying to explain how daft you are being.

I am semi-retired now, but until recently I was MD and a Director of various Emap companies (now Bauer Media) and have worked on CAR, and Performance Car when Clarkson was a columnist (before it became Evo), Max Power, Classic Cars, Motor Cycle News, Bike, Performance Bikes, Ride. And more than a few others. You will find my full name in the current edition of CAR magazine