Hi all,
not sure when this episode will make it to your shores, as was only screened
here on sunday. Anyway, the three boys plan to do a fly drive holiday to the States, figuring they could buy a car once they landed, for cheaper than renting one. their budget was $1000, and as in previous similar japes, they were set a number of challenges. They started in Miami, final destination New Orleans, where Clarkson bought a Camaro, Hamster a Dodge Ram, and Captain Slow got himself a Caddy Brougham, all for under budget.
One of the tests was to have a US cousin of the Stig drive their cars round a track somewhere in south Florida, cant remember the name of the track, sorry.
Another was to test the acceleration and braking abilities of the cars, the incentive to stop was that at the end of the track was an alligator infested river.
Now this part might have been somewhat contrived for the cameras, but each of the guys had to adorn the others with slogans, which would get the owner of that car at least shot at, at best, killed. They drove thru' some hick towns with "Man Love Rules OK", "Hilary for President" and Nascar Sucks" daubed on their motors. Pulling into a gas station, they were chased by some good ole boys, and had rocks hurled at them. Like i say, maybe a little staged for the show, but hilarious none the less.
They were genuinely upset on arriving in NO, and seeing first hand the aftermath of Katerina, a more reflective moment in the show for once.

How current are the episodes of TG that you get to see in Americaland?

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'82 W123 280E

Here's the clip:
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/10072/8b410e0e/index.html

The New Orleans part was shocking: more than a year onwards and it looked as if the hurricane had happened yesterday: no re-building, not even a clean up (no, I won't mention Iraq). Could be selective filming, of course, maybe the rest of NOLA is fine again.

Best part of this episode was the running gag where Clarkson and Hammond kept accidentily bumping into May's Cadillac. Very subtle humour.

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2011 Prius

Discovery Channel used to run the Top Gear episodes, but I haven't seen them run one in about a year. Love that show and I wish they'd bring it back.

As for New Orleans, no one went back. It was dump before the hurricane, and it's a dump now. Why go back?

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Ah goede dag Vronsky, my Dutch friend, how are you?

Yep, i enjoyed the bumping of the Caddy, well you would have to do it wouldnt you?

POS, i cant say anything for or against NO as i havent been there. What struck the TG guys was that here is a huge tract of urban area that seems to have been ignored by the powers that be. Im not in a situation to know of the policies or politics of the region before you shoot me down. Just seems like Uncle Sam dont care my 2c

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'82 W123 280E

It's all true! For God's sake, stay out of the southern United States!

Concerning NOLA, the federal dollars are available for spending. The hold-up is at the state and city levels. There is a problem with documentation and accounting, resulting in extremely slow disbursement of funds. There were calls for congressional inquiries but those seem to have mysteriously subsided recently.

B

Nah we usualy don't get good shows like that over here. Looks pretty funny, definitly staged but still funny!

NO was pretty crappy before the storm, nothings changed really just less people live there.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Can understand it takes time to rebuild everything, but why not clear the rubble and clean up. No offense, but that situation is an utter disgrace for the richest and most powerful nation on earth Looks to me some have their priorities wrong.

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2011 Prius

...stumbled into this episode while zapping the tv last Sunday. Hammond's version of Brokeback Mountain was great, wish he had ended up in the aligator pond Scene at the petrolstation looked staged indeed.

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2011 Prius

It's LA's fualt for screwing it up, not my problem its not in my state. They have the money, but are in the process of wasting it so they can scream they need more.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200