New series starts tonight, 9pm.
:y :y

cheers forgot about that!  :y

On BBC-HD :y :y :y :y

Also a reminder its in HD this year as well, same start time on BBC HD  :y

Martin Imber wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 15:30:

On BBC-HD :y :y :y :y

Good stuff  :y

And for those of us who can't afford a £50,000 car. On BBC3 there are 2 episodes of Two pints on at 9pm.

Guess what I will be watching  ;D

Mantahatch wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 15:56:

And for those of us who can't afford a £50,000 car. On BBC3 there are 2 episodes of Two pints on at 9pm. Guess what I will be watching  ;D

As we all know TG is about the enterainment of 3 blokes mucking around on TV, cars are an after thought really  ;D

And Sue can't watch nonentity until after TG

I'm genuinely that excited, I'm moist...  :o

Devious wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 17:22:

I'm genuinely that excited, I'm moist...  :o

I was moister first...... :y    ;D

Martin Imber wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 15:30:

On BBC-HD :y :y :y :y

Probably not worthwhile in the case of TG.  More storage space on my tiny (1Tb) disk.  Fortunately:

a) MCE is a bloody first class upscaler

b) I have a bigger disk on order ;D

chrisgixer wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 18:24:

Devious wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 17:22: I'm genuinely that excited, I'm moist...  :o I was moister first...... :y    ;D

EEEEWWWWW  [smiley=undecided.gif]

Media centre has a good memory so it won't forget to record it. ;D

Welung666 wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 19:59:

chrisgixer wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 18:24: Devious wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 17:22: I'm genuinely that excited, I'm moist...  :o I was moister first...... :y    ;D EEEEWWWWW  [smiley=undecided.gif]

He wasn't, he would've said it otherwise. I could wring my pants out lololol   ;)

Devious wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 20:00:

Welung666 wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 19:59: chrisgixer wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 18:24: Devious wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 17:22: I'm genuinely that excited, I'm moist...  :o I was moister first...... :y    ;D EEEEWWWWW  [smiley=undecided.gif] He wasn't, he would've said it otherwise. I could wring my pants out lololol   ;)

Jimny's in the winter eh? Leak like a collander.

TheBoy wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 19:57:

Martin Imber wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 15:30: On BBC-HD :y :y :y :y Probably not worthwhile in the case of TG.  More storage space on my tiny (1Tb) disk.  Fortunately: a) MCE is a bloody first class upscaler b) I have a bigger disk on order ;D

You cannot recreate missing information.

I have done some digging around and supposedly the PS3 is a good upscaler, so is my TV - anyway DVD and SDTV is noticably worse than BR and BBC-HD

Oh and my DVD player via top end RGB looks no different to PS3 upscaling, I did try component for DVD, looked slightly different - no better no worse.

Dam, I wish my Sky Box had 3 tuners.  :'(

Martin Imber wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 20:23:

TheBoy wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 19:57: Martin Imber wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 15:30: On BBC-HD :y :y :y :y Probably not worthwhile in the case of TG.  More storage space on my tiny (1Tb) disk.  Fortunately: a) MCE is a bloody first class upscaler b) I have a bigger disk on order ;D You cannot recreate missing information. I have done some digging around and supposedly the PS3 is a good upscaler, so is my TV - anyway DVD and SDTV is noticably worse than BR and BBC-HD Oh and my DVD player via top end RGB looks no different to PS3 upscaling, I did try component for DVD, looked slightly different - no better no worse.

You're right, no upscaler is perfect.  However, MCE is significantly better than PS3, which itself is (marginally) better than W Series Sony.

I have Casino Royale in normal DVD format, and (being a bond fan) have the BRD version.  The way MCE deals with it, you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart unless side-by-side.  I have set this test to a few people, and whilst everyone has got the test right, they were impressed with upscale ;)

Freesat-HD (and Sky-HD) is only 720P, and by time its heavily compressed, isn't massively better than normal DVD ;)

richardirv wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 20:23:

Dam, I wish my Sky Box had 3 tuners.  :'(

My MCE is down to 4 tuners, after one tuned itself - rather spectacularly - to channel smoke...

BBC HD is 1440x1080i same resolution in fact as HDV.

SDTV is quite acceptable, but HD is better, and BluRay (especially Pixar) is by far and away the best.

Only 720p material I tend to come across are games, and if you look you can see the slight loss of detail compared to 1080p.

Martin Imber wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 20:43:

BBC HD is 1440x1080i same resolution in fact as HDV. SDTV is quite acceptable, but HD is better, and BluRay (especially Pixar) is by far and away the best. Only 720p material I tend to come across are games, and if you look you can see the slight loss of detail compared to 1080p.

720p is arguably better.

Pixar type films are easy to upscale, like most animations.


If its a live TV prog I really want to watch, I do so via MCE, as MCE is miles better at it than my (not exactly shabby) Samsung telly

Thoroughly enjoyed it tonight! :y :y

Mind you, the set-ups are getting a bit obvious (e.g the Dacia getting the reversing lorry treatment).  ;) ;)

Best thing on TV tonight

Doctor Who was pants - roll on the new writer & actor

missed it, when is the repeat any ideas ??????

would love to have that 760i Beemer,as long as I didnt have to look at it from the outside. :) ::)

ENFIELD_MV6 wrote on 15. Nov 2009 at 23:27:

missed it, when is the repeat any ideas ??????

Previous series have been repeated on tuesday evening iirc. Not sure on this series, presume same. Or i player.

and by the way, did anyone notice yet another mention of seemless dsg gear changes? By Hamster in the rarri!.....have i understood that correctly? Have they designed their own or pinched someone elses dsg?

              
Top Gear
Season 14 Episode 1 of 7
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May test-drive an Aston Martin DBS Convertible, a Ferrari California and a Lamborghini Gallardo Convertible in Romania, as they search for the fabled mountain highway built by the country's former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu - allegedly the best road to drive on in the world. Actor Eric Bana is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car
Category Motoring
Executive Producer Andy Wilman
BBC2 8:00pm-9:00pm (1 hour ) Wed 18 Nov
(Subtitles) (Repeat)

I liked the Aston, V12, with a proper manual gearbox  :D

damn, missed it.  :(

I thought it was 58 minutes of my life wasted, TBH. The 2 minutes at the end were interesting, though. That road looked perfect. [smiley=evil.gif]

Kevin

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 00:07:

and by the way, did anyone notice yet another mention of seemless dsg gear changes? By Hamster in the rarri!.....have i understood that correctly? Have they designed their own or pinched someone elses dsg?

Surprised they chose that setup as its very heavy (not good for that type of car) and the down shifts are slow.

Up-shifting should be quick as your next gear is always pre-engaged.....not so good if you do 2 quick up-shifts though.

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 09:42:

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 00:07: and by the way, did anyone notice yet another mention of seemless dsg gear changes? By Hamster in the rarri!.....have i understood that correctly? Have they designed their own or pinched someone elses dsg? Surprised they chose that setup as its very heavy (not good for that type of car) and the down shifts are slow. Up-shifting should be quick as your next gear is always pre-engaged.....not so good if you do 2 quick up-shifts though.

Suprised me too. Being fiat owned and all that. Must have designed their own? Maybe they have 3 clutches? Hope the warrantys up to it.  :-/

tunnie wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 08:54:

I liked the Aston, V12, with a proper manual gearbox  :D

Gotta say that after working with Ferrari and Aston's I am a huge Aston fan. You are just paying for the badge of the Ferrari as the build quality isn't what you'd expect from that brand.

chrisgixer wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 10:51:

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 09:42: chrisgixer wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 00:07: and by the way, did anyone notice yet another mention of seemless dsg gear changes? By Hamster in the rarri!.....have i understood that correctly? Have they designed their own or pinched someone elses dsg? Surprised they chose that setup as its very heavy (not good for that type of car) and the down shifts are slow. Up-shifting should be quick as your next gear is always pre-engaged.....not so good if you do 2 quick up-shifts though. Suprised me too. Being fiat owned and all that. Must have designed their own? Maybe they have 3 clutches? Hope the warrantys up to it.  :-/

No need to design thier own, jut buy a getrag unit (as VAG do, its not thier own) or ZF or any of the other large powertrain suppliers offerings.

A 3 clutch setup would be huge and require 3 gear sets.....trouble is, I always think Italy + Electonics = Headaches!  ;D :y

Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 09:25:

I thought it was 58 minutes of my life wasted, TBH. The 2 minutes at the end were interesting, though. That road looked perfect. [smiley=evil.gif] Kevin

Oh how refreshing, a like minded person! :y
it used to be mildly worth whatching but no longer

tunnie wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 08:54:

I liked the Aston, V12, with a proper manual gearbox  :D

Love the car but not as a rag top, didnt look half as tasty as the ferrari for me. 

A glance at the Aston from the side as a rag top I am not sure I would recognise it straight away, where as with the the other 2 I reckon I could.

It was not good. Running out of ideas.

wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:47:

It was not good. Running out of ideas.

My thoughts too. Exactly the same format. Pointless foreign trip following the usual plot, with the same overpriced cars but in a different country, as padding material to use up three quarters of the programme. Remaining quarter largely drivel. :(

I think they need some new ideas fast.

Kevin

Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:58:

wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:47: It was not good. Running out of ideas. My thoughts too. Exactly the same format. Pointless foreign trip following the usual plot, with the same overpriced cars but in a different country, as padding material to use up three quarters of the programme. Remaining quarter largely drivel. :( I think they need some new ideas fast. Kevin

The kind of format that TG have adopted over the last few years has become a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it - all down to personal taste Kev. I think it needs to be taken in the context that it's now an entertaiment programme despite being classified as factual.
Personally I'm a big fan but I can see why some people can be put off. ;)

bobdent wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 15:28:

Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:58: wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:47: It was not good. Running out of ideas. My thoughts too. Exactly the same format. Pointless foreign trip following the usual plot, with the same overpriced cars but in a different country, as padding material to use up three quarters of the programme. Remaining quarter largely drivel. :( I think they need some new ideas fast. Kevin The kind of format that TG have adopted over the last few years has become a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it - all down to personal taste Kev. I think it needs to be taken in the context that it's now an entertaiment programme despite being classified as factual. Personally I'm a big fan but I can see why some people can be put off. ;)

Agreed, its all staged, like Clarkson trying to see on the cardboard bog  ;D

It can't be taken too seriously, i always look forward to a new series. Compared to what else is on? Its about the best thing!

tunnie wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 15:32:

bobdent wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 15:28: Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:58: wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:47: It was not good. Running out of ideas. My thoughts too. Exactly the same format. Pointless foreign trip following the usual plot, with the same overpriced cars but in a different country, as padding material to use up three quarters of the programme. Remaining quarter largely drivel. :( I think they need some new ideas fast. Kevin The kind of format that TG have adopted over the last few years has become a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it - all down to personal taste Kev. I think it needs to be taken in the context that it's now an entertaiment programme despite being classified as factual. Personally I'm a big fan but I can see why some people can be put off. ;) Agreed, its all staged, like Clarkson trying to see on the cardboard bog  ;D It can't be taken too seriously, i always look forward to a new series. Compared to what else is on? Its about the best thing!

Oh, I appreciate it's not going to deliver serious motoring journalism, but even as pure entertainment I think it's run its' course.

It feels a bit like Little Britain - the same material regurgitated with minor changes. I sit there and think "oh, this'll be the "computer says no!" sketch, then!".

Then again, loads of people liked Little Britain when I thought it was complete tripe. Perhaps it's just me. :-[

Kevin

Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 16:15:

tunnie wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 15:32: bobdent wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 15:28: Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:58: wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 14:47: It was not good. Running out of ideas. My thoughts too. Exactly the same format. Pointless foreign trip following the usual plot, with the same overpriced cars but in a different country, as padding material to use up three quarters of the programme. Remaining quarter largely drivel. :( I think they need some new ideas fast. Kevin The kind of format that TG have adopted over the last few years has become a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it - all down to personal taste Kev. I think it needs to be taken in the context that it's now an entertaiment programme despite being classified as factual. Personally I'm a big fan but I can see why some people can be put off. ;) Agreed, its all staged, like Clarkson trying to see on the cardboard bog  ;D It can't be taken too seriously, i always look forward to a new series. Compared to what else is on? Its about the best thing! Oh, I appreciate it's not going to deliver serious motoring journalism, but even as pure entertainment I think it's run its' course. It feels a bit like Little Britain - the same material regurgitated with minor changes. I sit there and think "oh, this'll be the "computer says no!" sketch, then!". Then again, loads of people liked Little Britain when I thought it was complete tripe. Perhaps it's just me. :-[ Kevin

Got my agreement there! I have sat and watched a few episodes start to finish, i was just sat there thinking wtf?

BLASPHEMY!

So what do you all think they should do to improve the show then.

They have played in shopping malls#
Played on deserted beaches.
Tested cars on Manchester airport.
Broken reckords in getting vechicles to the North Pole.
Done the country a favour and rid of some marina's
Filled cars with water to see how far they would go.
Conted cars and tried to sail them to france and in one case succeeded.
Taught a Reliant Robin how to fly.
Landed a guy with a parachute in a convertable whilst in motion.
Not to mention thier holiday /camping escapades where they set a caravan on fire.
Plus some entertaining cross continent races.



So lets all email the show and demand they turn it into a proper car show a report all the new FWD japanese and foreign crap that hits our shores that we all truly hate and would never consider buying.


Then after a few weeks we can all sit on here and complain about what we miss about top geareven though we mostly agree it was all totally OTT, as lets face it, who in thier right might would test a Toyata Hi-Lux to destrcuction just for the fun of it and plant a field full of seed to to refine thier own fuel.

MV6Matt wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 13:33:

Kevin Wood wrote on 16. Nov 2009 at 09:25: I thought it was 58 minutes of my life wasted, TBH. The 2 minutes at the end were interesting, though. That road looked perfect. [smiley=evil.gif] Kevin Oh how refreshing, a like minded person! :y it used to be mildly worth whatching but no longer

Thirded, ended up surfing on OOF halfway through....