Top Gear US Season 2 Episode 2 "First Cars"

On this episode, the guys look back at their first cars, Adam and Tanner drive two modern supercars, and Pawn Stars ride the Suzuki.

Segment 1: First Cars

Honda CRX

Dodge Aries K

Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup

The guys meet up outside a high school in Los Angeles, bring with them their first cars when they were teenagers. Tanner arrives first with a 1985 Honda CRX. Adam arrives next with a 1987 Dodge Aries K. Rutledge arrives last in a 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Diesel. The guys would put their first cars up against each other in a series of challenges to see who had the best first car. The guys would have to drive 60 miles to get to their next destination. Tanner did a reverse donut in the CRX. Rutledge did donuts in his Rabbit while tray-sliding. Adam wanted to get in on the fun and tray-slid with his Aries and crashed into a tree. Minimal damage was done to the Aries. The guys discuss why their cars were the perfect first car for a teenager. The guys talked about their lives as teenagers and how they got their cars. The guys arrived at their first challenge. Adam and Tanner parked their cars so Rutledge could not get out of his Rabbit. Rutledge escapes through the window and dents Adam's hood.

Segment 2: Alley of Junk

The first challenge is for each guy to get his car up to 30 mph and let go of the steering wheel. The cars would then have to drive straight through the Alley of Junk. This test how straight the cars could drive without using the steering wheel. The car that hits the least amount of junk wins. Tanner went first and he knows that his car pulls to the left. The CRX went 30 feet before veering into the Alley of Junk.  The CRX lost part of the passenger panel right above the front right tire. Rutledge went next and drove with his knees. He cheated and went straight through the Alley of Junk without hitting anything. Adam went last and Tanner says that the Aries veered to the right. The Aries veered to the right and hit a bunch of junk. Adam hit more junk than Tanner and lost. Returning to outside the Top Gear US Hanger and Tanner says that Rutledge cheated. Rutledge says he was merely protecting his Rabbit. Adam tells Rutledge, "You disgust me!" Adam says he could not look at Rutledge and would rather look at a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. He says this car is the ultimate dream first car. Tanner says that the ultimate dream first car is a Ferrari, and he is standing next to a Ferrari 458 Italia.

Segment 3: Ultimate Dream First Car

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Ferrari 458 Italia

Adam says the Corvette ZR1 is the ultimate dream first car while Tanner says the Ferrari 458 Italia is the ultimate dream first car. The episode is outside a diner in the desert. Both guys arrive and Tanner tells Adam that he has brought a dull spoon to a gun fight. Adam says the Ferrari is a night at the opera while the Corvette is a bar fight. The Ferrari goes up to 202 mph and the Corvette goes up to 205 mph. The Corvette has chrome wheels, which Adam says is a little Jersey Shore-ish. They are Snooki wheels. Tanner says that the Ferrari has more technology in one wheel than the Corvette has. Adam proposes a drag race, which Tanner says he is not going to do a drag race in a Ferrari. Tanner says the Corvette as 100 more hp than the Ferrari. Adam says to repeat that statement, then Tanner agrees to have a drag race. Adam talks about the 60 year history of the Corvette. The Corvette has a supercharged 6.2L V8 pumping out 638 hp. It can go from 0 to 60 mph faster than a Lamborghini Gallardo and it is American made. Adam says that it is a supercar on paper, but he would not have one for everyday driving. Adam says you can't see the edges of the car. You have to go at an angle to get over speed bumps and the interior is subpar. Tanner is driving a 458 indoors and says it might possibly be the best supercar ever built. Tanner says that Ferrari put together the technology from 31 F1 titles into one positively flawless package. Tanner says the twin-clutch system on the Ferrari is very good. The 458 costs $250,000. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Tanner says that he cannot get enough of the 458 as it revs up to 9,000 rpm. The shifting is fast and smooth. After driving on a curvy road and insulting each others car, it was time for a drag race. First one to reach a sign wins. Adam has wheel spin of the line and it costs him. The Ferrari wins the drag race. Commercial Break. The show returns to the hanger as Adam admits that it was his fault, and not the Corvette's fault, that he lost to Tanner and the Ferrari. It is time for each car to do a lap with the Stig. The Stig makes a sky diving entrance, which is a cool way to get to the track. He gets in the Corvette first and goes around the track. The Stig also did a lap in the Ferrari, which was not shown, in 1:23.3. Tanner reveals the time for Corvette, which is 1:22.4, 0.4 seconds slower than the Viper ACR.


Segment 4: Easy Drive Challenge

The show returns to the first car challenge. The guys receive their next challenge. To prove which car is the easiest to drive, each host would have to teach a young teenage boy without a drivers license how to drive their cars. The teenagers look just like the host would look like if they were in high school. The teenagers would have to navigate through a course. First guy to finish wins. The hosts break the ice by talking about girls. Two of the cars are manual, and the teenagers have never driven a manual. The Aries has the advantage for being an automatic. The CRX and Aries have no problems of the starting line. The Rabbit stalls of the line.  The CRX parks in the box. Mini Tanner slams the brakes as Tanner's head hits the windshield. The Aries is the first to finish the course, followed by the CRX. Mini Rutledge has problems with Rabbit and Rutledge has him run over cones.


Segment 5: Pawn Stars in a Little Car

Rick Harrison

Austin "Chumlee" Russell

The episode return to the test track as Rutledge is introducing the Big Star Little Car segment of the show. Rick and Chumlee from Pawn Stars are this week's guests. Both guys say they are the better driver. Rick goes first in the Suzuki. Rick is trash talking. Chumlee went next and struggles with his lap. He is swearing as he messes up. The guys walk up to the stage and are interviewed by Rutledge. Rutledge asks if any weird cars have been brought in to the pawn shop. Rick says that someone has brought in a 1931 Lincoln LeBaron. Rutledge is not familiar with the car. Rick kept a 1940s coupe that someone brought to the shop. Rick says he bought the car for $4,000 and spent $100,000 fixing it up. Chumlee says he kept a Buick Regal that someone brought to the shop. Chumlee confesses that he put hydraulics on the Regal. Rick's first car is a 1973 Volkswagen Thing. Chumlee's first car was a 1993 Geo Metro. He left it on the side of the road three months later. Chumlee now drives a Maserati Gran Turismo and a Range Rover. Rick now drives a Porsche Panamera S. The lap times were revealed. Rick went around the track in 1:48.1 and Chumlee went around the track in 1:51.5.

Segment 6: Safety Test

The final challenge is to see how safe the cars are. The cars are strapped to a cord and are pulled towards each other at 25 mph for a combined crash speed of 50 mph. The winner will be the one that drives away. The guys are talking trash. The show goes to commercial as the cars are pulled in. The CRX took the most damage, with three wheels on the ground. The fourth wheel is on its side. Tanner says that if the CRX is that safe, he would not want his kid to drive it. The Aries and Rabbit took minimal damage. The rear window of the Rabbit was destroyed though. The Aries suffered the least amount of damage. Tanner was somehow able to drive away in the CRX, but he says he is going to leave his car at the track. The Aries and Rabbit could run and circled around the CRX. Tanner was left at the track with his destroyed CRX and Adam and Rutledge drove off. Back at the hanger, Tanner says the only the CRX lost was because it was too fast. Adam and Rutledge argue about who won.


Overall, This was a good episode by Top Gear US standards. The result of the drag race was not what I expected. I expected the Corvette to win the drag race and the Ferrari to have the faster lap time. On Top Gear UK, the Ferrari 458 Italia was over a second faster around the track than the Corvette. On Top Gear US, the Corvette was almost a second faster around the track than the 458. The jokes were ok, but not funny. The funniest bit was the Big Star Little Car segment. Chumlee and Rick were very funny, but Rutledge seemed like he was just reading of the card. Compared to the previous episode, the interaction among the hosts as not that strong. The coolest part was the Stig's entrance. I don't remember UK Stig ever jumped out of a plane. I know that the UK Stig has been transported on a trolley, a box, and has gone through baggage claim. And we get to learn a little bit about the hosts by their first cars. Rutledge is a good old Southern boy. Tanner is a boy racer. Adam likes cars driven by old people.


Final Verdict: 7 Stigs out of 10. The Stig's entrance was awesome. The drag race was interesting. The Pawn Stars guys were entertaining. The challenge was decent. Rutledge is a cheater. Adam cannot do drag races. The interaction among the hosts is what prevented this episode from becoming a great episodes.

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 2 Episode 1 "Texas"

Update: I know there was a 10th episode of Top Gear US Season 1, but it is a recap of the first season. I do not plan on reviewing any clip show.

For Season 2 of Top Gear US, there is a new opening theme and intro. For Top Gear Season 1 and Top Gear UK, the opening theme is a remix version "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers Band. For Season 2 of Top Gear US, Jessica has been taken out. Instead of giving a preview of the show during the intro song, it is the opening credits. I would like Top Gear US to use "Jessica" and use the Top Gear UK style for the intro. I am just nitpicking because I really enjoy Top Gear UK.

On this episode, the boys are in Texas to find an alternative to the pickup truck.


Segment 1: Guys arrive in Texas with their cars.

Ford Maverick

BMW 325e

Mazda Miata

The Show immediately goes to Texas. The show does not start from the Top Gear US studio. The show starts with "Tush" by ZZ Top, a rock band from Houston, Tx. Adam is doing narration, explaining how Texans buy so many trucks and with high gas prices, it has become more expensive to own trucks. Top Gear guys had $2000 to find a replacement for a truck. Adam arrives first with a 1975 Ford Maverick. Adam goes on to explain why he picked the Maverick. He says the platform used for the Maverick was also used for the Ford Ranchero, a half car/half truck. Tanner arrives next in a BMW 325e. Tanner comments how Adam keeps going with American cars from the 1970's in the cheap car challenges. Adam's rebuttal is that Tanner's BMW is very effeminate. Rutledge arrives in a 1991 Mazda Miata with a the rear window missing. Rutledge explains why the Miata is similar to a truck. The guys are given their first task. They must travel 250 mile starting in Lubbock to get their first place. Tanner throws a cow pattie through the open hole of the Miata. They guys then head off. On the trip, the guys encounter cattle. Rutledge has screws falling off and says it is snug and very bumpy in the Miata. Tanner is enjoying his BMW. He is drifting and kicking up dirt that damages Adam's windshield. Rutledge went with the Miata because it gets good gas mileage, it is peppy, and it can haul a lot of stuff. He sees the hole as a loading point. Rutledge says his car has a girly reputation, but the girl car is the BMW. Tanner says the BMW is overengineered. It can take a beating. Adam says the Maverick is comfortable, rear-wheel drive, good ground clearance, and has a V8 under the hood. Adam has to pull over because his car is missing a belt to drive the water pump. Rutledge says the cars are good labels for the hosts. The Maverick is old and out-of-style like Adam. The BMW is pretentious and not that fast like Tanner. The Miata is sporty and affordable like Rutledge. The guys make it to Running-R Ranch.


Segment 2: Cattle Drive in Coupes

The guys must herd 100 cattle 20 miles in their cars. The guys had to keep the cattle in the pack and could not scare the cattle. Each cow and bull cost $500-$600, and need to be fat. The guys need to walk the cow, not run them. The cattle hate cars. The guys get advice from experts, who recommend using a V formation. The guys try to to reason with the cattle, but it went to deaf ears. The cattle follow the Maverick. Tanner got bored and turned herding into a race. Tanner drifts the BMW to get the cows moving. The cattle swarm past the Miata, scaring Rutledge. Rutledge tries to chase Tanner, but gets stuck in the mud. Commercial break. The show returns as the guys are outside the hanger where the Top Gear US studio is. Adam says he is enjoying Texas and says he knew they would see some cool things. Adam says the coolest thing he saw was a giant man stuck in a hole driving a tiny Miata. Rutledge says it was not his fault because he was chasing Tanner to stop Tanner from creating a stampede. Tanner says that the cattle were jogging and Rutledge did not have to follow him. Returning to Texas, Tanner and Adam try to flip Rutledge over. Tanner rips the back of the convertible top off the Miata. Eventually Tanner pulls Rutledge out of the mud. It was getting late, and the cattle escaped to the trees. The guys wrangle up the cattle. Tanner runs over rocks and cuts a gas line. Tanner mends the fuel line with tape. The guys traveled 10 miles before setting up camp. Adam tries to weasel his way out off the sleeping outside. The guys needed to stay with the cattle. The guys had whiskey and dip. I am surprised that Rutledge could not handle chewing tobacco, since he is from the South. Rutledge throws up from the tobacco. The guys eventually get the cattle into the pin. The guys think they got all the cattle in the pin, but one of the experts says he does not see 100 cattle. The guys drive off before the expert could count all the cattle. The guys then drive to a location 50 miles east of San Antonio.


Segment 3: Crop Food Challenge

The guys have to carry as much crop food as they can in their cars. The crop food is manure. Hot, steamy manure. The guys then have to drive 10 miles to a depot. The guys modify their cars. Tanner puts buckets on the outside of his car to carry the manure. Adam cut out the back of his Maverick for more storage space. Rutledge cuts out the convertible top. He put cardboard as an attempt to keep manure off him. To test the payload capacity of the cars, each car would be filled with 2000 pounds of manure. Adam was first. Adam gets two wheel loader scoops of manure. Since there is nothing separating Adam from the manure, he gets some manure on him. Tanner was next. He was putting on chapstick while the buckets were being loaded with manure. A couple of the buckets failed to hold any manure and were dangling off the car. Rutledge came up with a sign system. Thumbs up was good. X was bad. The show goes to commercial while the Miata was being loaded with manure. The show returns to outside the hanger. Rutledge says he did not care for the manure challenge. Rutledge says fun is not throwing up. Back to Texas. Rutledge's Miata is being filled with manure, and some gets on Rutledge. He puts up the X sign to signal stop, but the manure just kept coming. Rutledge tells the manure dumper to load it up again. Half of Rutledge's windshield is covered with manure. He runs into Adam, who then kicks manure off Rutledge's windshield. The guys hit the road with manure. On the highway, Tanner swerves to get more manure on Rutledge. The guys make girl jokes at Tanner because he has no manure inside his car. The guys take a shortcut through downtown San Antonio. Adam breaks down in front of the Alamo. His Maverick overheated again. The breakdown halted traffic. Adam throws manure at Rutledge and the guys were off. Tanner backs into Rutledge. Tanner's driving style was making it miserable for everyone else. Karma caught up to Tanner as he lost a bucket full of manure. Commercial break. The show returns to the hanger. Tanner does a recap. They lost cattle, slept with scorpions, and had to haul around crap. Tanner says it was one of the toughest challenges yet. Rutledge says Tanner was driving in an air conditioned car, putting on makeup. Tanner says he was putting on chapstick. Back to Texas. The guys are getting one of Tanner's buckets out from under the Miata. The guys get the bucket loose. There is still manure in it until Adam pours the rest out of the bucket. Tanner tries to get as much of the manure back as he can. The guys make it to the weigh station. Adam went first and had 1,420 lbs of manure in his Maverick. Tanner went next and had 270 lbs of manure in his buckets. Adams says that the manure weighed less than Rutledge. Rutledge went last and had 570 lbs of manure. Adam won this challenge.


Segment 4: Monster Truck Race

The guys had 12 hours to prepare their cars for monster truck racing. The last car standing wins. Tanner says the winner gets double points. Tanner backs into the Miata before driving off. Rutledge is seen shoveling manure out of his car. The next day, the guys reveal their modifications to their cars. The guys would race 6 laps around the track. Adam took an early lead. He led the first two laps until the Maverick overheated and the engine caught fire. Commercial Break. The show returns to Texas. Adam says his car was the best until it caught fire during the monster truck race. As a consequence for breaking down, the Maverick was added to the track. Rutledge and Tanner restart the race. The race was back and forth until Rutledge loses a wheel. Tanner wins the wheel. He did not crush the Maverick. The show cuts to the hanger, where Tanner has his BMW with him. Adam says that Tanner did not win because Adam says he won the hauling competition and claims victory over the cattle drive. Tanner says that Maverick caught fire and could not have won. Rutledge goes through Adam's history. Adam's Maverick caught fire. Adam bent his Cadillac in half, in which Adam defended himself saying he drove it like a man. Adam broke the driveshaft on his Ford F-250, which Adam blames gravity for that. Tanner says Rutledge drove on three wheels, which Rutledge says was pretty awesome. Tanner says his car was the only one still running so he claims victory. The other two protest. The show ends.


Overall, this was an entertaining season premiere. The pilot episode was boring. The guys were in my home state of Texas. They drove through my college town carrying crap. The chemistry has vastly improved since season 1. I have issues with Rutledge. His laugh is annoying and he complains too much. The jokes were good and the timing of the jokes was spot on.


Final Verdict: 8 Stigs out of 10. Too much complaining from Rutledge. It would have been nice to see a fastest lap challenge for the cars in which the Stig would drive each car around a track carrying 500 lbs of some item. Still, it was an entertaining episode.

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 1 Episode 9 "Alaska Special-America's Toughest Truck"

On Episode 9, the guys travel through Alaska to find America's toughest truck.

Warning: Spoilers are in the review


Segment 1: The guys pick their trucks

1997 Dodge Ram

Chevrolet C/K 10 Stepside

Ford F-250

Toyota Hilux

The guys had to blindly buy a truck that had over 150,000 miles and cost $3000. The guys meet up in a forest just north of Anchorage, Alaska. Adam is a can of bear mace and several bear bells. I think someone is afraid of bears. The guys then see their trucks for the first time. Rutledge bought a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 for $3000. Rutledge could fit his head between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender. The guys joke that Rutledge's head is a unit of measurement. Tanner's truck is revealed as a 1983 Chevrolet C/K 10 Stepside. Tanner thought he had a diesel engine, but he opened the hood only to see a small block Chevy 350 cubic inch engine. Adam bought a 1976 Ford F-250. Adam's truck was in the worst shape. The guys were told that if their trucks broke down, they would be riding in a 1993 Toyota Hilux.


Segment 2: Breaking Test Challenge and Fairbank

 The first challenge is a breaking test. Each host would get his truck up to 30 mph and slam on the breaks when the truck reached a marker that was 30 feet from the lake. The goal was not to get the truck into the lake. Adam stopped 5 feet from the lake. Tanner stopped 2 feet from the water. It was Rutledge's turn. Adam and Tanner moved the marker closer to the lake. Rutledge ended up in the lake. The guys were given an envelope and were told to drive 100 miles to Fairbank while driving the toughest terrain in America. The guys talk about their trucks while driving to Fairbank. The guys get to a truck stop and Tanner comments that Rutledge's truck was too new. Tanner and Adam ram into Rutledge. The guys were told that they would be spending their last night in a hotel near Fairbank. The guys would have to spend the rest of the episode in the wilderness. So, they went to a workshop and modified their trucks into bush-ready campers in one night.


Segment 3: Wilderness Truck Modification

Bear Proof Ford F-250

Dodge Ram with Cottage

Chevrolet C/K 10 with Spoiler Camper

Tanner was the first to reveal his modification. He built his camper in the shape of a spoiler. Tanner had a bed, coffee, and few other things in his spoiler camper. Rutledge reveals his camper. He added a log cabin on the truck bed with a slot that opens for his feet when he is asleep. It also had a porch ,a welcome mat and a stoll for someone to sit on the porch. Rutledge has a minibar, a stove, a Daniel Boone hat, and a few other items. Rutledge's cabin is not secure to the truck and it is not rigid. Adam revealed his truck camper. He went with a no-bear theme. His camper is a cage welded to the back of his truck. Adam got a picture of a lion to scare off bears. He even has a speaker that makes lion noises. He even has an escape hatch. Adam and Rutledge did not prepare for rain. The guys are driving and realize their modifications have affected the aerodynamics of their trucks.


Segment 4: Fish Creek

The guys arrive at Fish Creek, a 20 mile proving ground created by nature. The must cross water to get there. Adam got stuck in the water, and the Hilux reared its head. Rutledge crosses the water. Rutledge pulls Adam out of the water. Adam gets his truck running again. The guys must climb up a mountain. The guys reach an Alaskan skid pad. The skid pad was mud and water. Rutledge got stuck in the mud. Tanner tried to get around Rutledge and got stuck. Adam got Rutledge out of trouble. Rutledge tried to talk Adam out of helping Tanner. Adam gets Tanner out of the mud. The guys make it to the top of Fish Creek. The guys set up camp and talk trucks. The all go to bed.


Segment 5: Trek to a Glacier

The guys would have to travel from Fish Creek through a river valley and reach a glacier. Whoever got to the glacier first while his truck was still running won and his truck would be named America's toughest truck. While Rutledge is using the toilet, Adam and Tanner make animal noises through the walkie talkie. Tanner and Adam drive by while Rutledge is still using the toilet. The guys hit up a steep vertical climb. Adam snapped his driveshaft on the rocky terrain. His Ford had died and he was forced to drive the Toyota. The Dodge and Chevy still remained. While driving uphill, Rutledge's cabin fell off the truck bed and Tanner ran over it. The guys set up camp and use the wood from Rutledge's cabin as firewood for the campfire. The guys leave camp and continued their trek to the glacier. The guys did not have a trail to follow and had to create their own path. The guys drive through muddy water. Rutledge's driver window did not roll up all the way and he got muddy water on him. Tanner's hood would not stay down. The guys were speeding towards the glacier. The speed caused Rutledge's battery to become loose and the Dodge stalled. Rutledge fixed the problem and got the Dodge to start again. The guys has to cross a river, and the Dodge stalled in the water a few times. Rutledge got it to run until it finally died. Tanner was the only one who had a working American truck. Rutledge said his final words to his truck, which he named Chuck Norris. Since Rutledge's Dodge died, he had to join Adam in the Toyota. Since Rutledge just lost his truck, he was the one to drive the Toyota. Tanner had to touch the glacier with his truck. He realized he was not just representing Chevy, but he was representing every truck that came out of America. If Tanner failed, the Toyota would be crowned America's toughest truck. Tanner made it to the glacier area, but he still needed to touch the glacier with his Chevy. Tanner backed his truck into an iceberg from the glacier, claiming victory. The guys proved that Chevrolet made America's toughest truck.


Overall, this was an above average special. The jokes were either hit or miss. The challenge was tough and I was surprised that any of the trucks made it to the glacier. But the Top Gear UK road trips were funnier, and the British hosts have better chemistry than the American hosts. Top moments are Tanner reaching the glacier and Tanner running over Rutledge's cabin. The chemistry between Adam, Tanner, and Rutledge improved over the season. On Top Gear UK, only once did a host have his car die during a road trip. In Alaska, two trucks died on the trip.


Final Verdict: 6 Stigs out of 10. This Episode is available at www.history.com

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 1 Episode 8 "Car vs. Plane"

On Episode 8, Rutledge reviews a four-door Porsche, Tanner and Rutledge try to find the quickest mode of transportation from Hollywood to Las Vegas, Bret Michaels rocks the Suzuki, and Tanner reviews the BWM X6M.

Warning: Spoilers are in the review


Segment 1: Rutledge reviews the Four-Door Porsche

Porsche Panamera

Rutledge starts out by showing the front half of a Porsche revealing the front door. He then opens a sliding gate to reveal the rear of a Porsche with a rear door. He reviews the Porsche Panamera Turbo. He says the four-door Porsche has supercar speed. The Panamera is the first sedan made by Porsche and Rutledge says, "Pretty it is not." Rutledge is also confused by all the buttons inside the car. He also is confused by the name "Panamera." Rutledge does say that the rear seats are comfortable and has plenty of leg space and head room. Rutledge says the car drives like a sports car. The car feels amazing to drive. The Panamera Turbo is powered by a twin turbo 4.8L V8 that produces 500 hp and weighs over 4300 lbs. It goes from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds, which is just fast for any car. The car has all-wheel drive and has a retractable wing. The Panamera has a stop/start system to save gas when the car is at a complete stop and has launch control. Rutledge gets the sedan up to 167 mph before running out of runway. This car review is the first to be done on a runway and is reminiscent of the way Top Gear UK reviews cars. The show returns to the studio with the guys standing in front of the Panamera. Panameras start at $74,000 for the base model and the Panamera Turbo starts at $134,000. Rutledge says the $74,000 price for the basic Panamera is a pretty good deal. However, Rutledge says he would not buy one. The Panamera is then given to the Stig who drives the car around the test track in 1:25.3.


Segment 2: Car vs. Plane

Ferrari California

Tanner and Rutledge are given the age old question "What is the faster way to get from Hollywood to Las Vegas, flying or driving?" The guys will be travelling 500 miles. They meet outside the Grauman's Chinese Theater and are given two envelopes. One has keys and the other has a flight ticket. Tanner would drive and Rutledge would fly. Tanner opens the envelope to reveal a Ferrari key and parking ticket for the garage where the car is. Rutledge would have to travel 12 miles to get to LAX, then fly to Las Vegas and get to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Tanner gets to the parking garage to find out he will be driving a Ferrari California. He then hits the highway. After waiting 10 minutes, Rutledge finally gets a taxi. Tanner, having been distracted by the transmission of the Ferrari, missed his exit. Rutledge, meanwhile, is stuck in traffic. After 45 minutes in traffic, Rutledge finally gets to LAX. Tanner explains the body of the Ferrari and how some people see the California as too feminine to wear the prancing horse badge. Rutledge finds out his flight has been delayed. Rutledge finally gets on the plane, while Tanner is getting low on fuel. To conserve fuel, Tanner drafts behind a semi, something Enzo Ferrari would frown at. Tanner spots a sign for a gas station that was not on his GPS, but the gas station was abandoned. Tanner immediately gets back on the road. Rutledge is just relaxing in the plane. Tanner eventually finds a gas station in Baker, California. Tanner is nearly out of California and calls to find out if Rutledge had landed. The call went straight to voicemail. Rutledge was still in the air. Rutledge lands in Las Vegas as Tanner reaches Nevada. Rutledge gets his suitcase and informs Tanner that he is waiting for a taxi. Tanner lies that he could see the Las Vegas strip as he is 25 miles away. Rutledge takes a taxi to the Bellagio and yells out "Has anyone seen a little Tom Cruise in a 'girly' Ferrari?" Tanner finally gets to the strip. The guys are very close to the Bellagio. Both arrive, but editing won't reveal who arrived first. Tanner is seen lost trying to get to the final spot located in a lounge. Rutledge is so arrogant. He says he smells victory while walking in the Bellagio. Rutledge walks through the lounge and outside, only to see Tanner enjoying his drink. Tanner got Rutledge an appletini for his effort. Tanner won by 4 minutes Rutledge revealed he had a 50 minute delay. Tanner says there are some benefits to winning. He claps and the Bellagio Fountains activate. The show returns to the studio and Tanner confessed that he enjoyed the Ferrari.


Segment 3: Bret Michaels rocks the Suzuki SX4.

Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels is this weeks Big Star in a Little Car and is interviewed by Adam. Bret says he is happy to be alive after all the medical issues he dealt with. Bret just talks about his life as a rocker and a father. Adam brings up a few of Bret's cars and Harleys. Bret talks about his issues with his Porsche 944. Adam brings up the Poison NASCAR racer. Bret's lap is shown and he went around the track in 1:44.4. Since Bret was the last star to drive in the Suzuki for Season 1, Adam gives him a helmet with a bandanna rapped around it.


Segment 4: What Class does the BMW X6M Belong in

BMW X6M

Tanner is given the task to review the BMW X6M. Tanners says that the X6M is a Frankenstein car with the front of a BMW X5 fused with the rear of a 5-Series GT and some angry spark plugs. Tanner says that driving the X6M feels like driving a sports car except you are sitting on a ski rack. He says there is something wrong for sitting so high and having so much performance. The car costs $90,000 and could cost $105,000 with extras. It is huge on the outside and small on the inside. The dash is similar to the X5, but the gear shifter is very confusing. Tanner takes the X6M to the track. The car gets 550 hp from a turbocharged V8. 0-60 time is under 4 seconds. Tanner is surprised by how well the X6M handles. Pressing the M button improves the performance of the car. Tanner says the X6M struggles with its own identity. Tanner says the X6M is definitely not a crossover, an SUV, nor is it a sports car. Tanner is blown away by the X6M, but just does not know what to call it. The show returns to the studio and Tanner asks the audience what to call the X6M. Adam says it is a Fastback Utility. Tanner says it is a Sports Utility Coupe. Adam then says it is a Fastback Utility Coupe. The Stig then takes the X6M around the track in 1:30.0. Tanner also reveals that the Stig drove the California around the track in 1:28.5. Adam say that the X6M is a Sports Hatchback Injected Turbo.


Overall, This was an entertaining show. Two Top Gear UK styled reviews. The Stig was seen twice. The challenge answered an important question, "Is it better to fly or drive from LA to Las Vegas?" The jokes at the end were funny. This is one of the stronger episodes from Top Gear US.


Final Verdict: 7 Stigs out of 10. This episode is available at www.history.com

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 1 Episode 7 "Used Car Salesmen"

On Episode 7, Adam and Rutledge race two BMX bikers through San Francisco in a Honda CR-Z, the guys try to buy and resell cars as used car salesmen, and Tim Allen tries his skills in a Suzuki.

Warning: Spoilers are in the review.


Segment 1: A "Sporty" Hybrid vs. Mountain Bikers

Honda CR-Z

Rutledge and Adam test the Honda CR-Z in San Francisco to see how sporty this hybrid hatchback really is. Rutledge tries to get it to 60 mph and gets bored by how long it takes. He gets it up to 50 mph before stopping because he is so bored. He call the car " a cruel joke" because it looks sporty but it is really boring. Rutledge also says that if you want to save the world by a Prius, which gets 50 mpg. The CR-Z only gets 37 mph. The CR-Z comes in three modes, normal, economic, and sport. Rutledge wants to see if Honda has made a sporty hybrid and has Adam help him navigate through San Francisco. They will be competing against two pro free-riding mountain bikers. The race is from Twin Peaks to Fort Point, covering a distance of 13 miles. Adam is not impress with either the car or Rutledge's driving. The bikers open the race with the lead then CR-Z takes the lead. Rutledge tries to show Adam some of the features of the car, but Adam was not impressed. Adam smiled when Rutledge pulled out faster than an M3 at a traffic light. The race goes back and forth. Eventually, the bikers win. The show returns to the studio and Rutledge says he lost because there were too many stop signs and he was impressed with the car. Adam and Tanner were not impressed. Tanner said the CR-X was better at economy and sport than the CR-Z.

Segment 2: Used Car Salesmen Challenge Part 1, Getting the Cars

Porsche 914

L:exus LS

Acura Legend

The guys have a $3000 budget to buy, fix up, and resell a used car. The guys used the Cars 911 store as the place to sell their car. The guys look at a few cars and tell the viewers who the cars are for. The guys sit down with Bobby, a used car salesman who gives the guys some advice in selling used cars. To start the challenge, the guys must each buy a car. They go to a police car auction. The cars at the auction started at $350, but were in bad shape. The guys would have to buy the cars, then fix them up a bit. Tanner buys a Porsche 914 for $1850, after his co-hosts made bids on the car to make Tanner pay more for the car. Adam bought a 1987 Acura Legend for $870. Rutledge bought a Lexus LS for $2250. The guys then had the rest of their budgets to fix their cars in to presentable conditions. They guys were not allow to drive their cars until they paid for them. The only driving time they got was the 15 mile drive from the car auction to the used car lot. Tanner has a few problems with his Porsche. His car did not have a reverse or first gear. Adam has no problems with his Acura, except for a joint in a cup holder. Rutledge had no problems with his Lexus.

Segment 3: Used Car Salesmen Challenge Part 2: Market Strategy

Each host sat down with Bobby to discuss his market strategy. Rutledge's strategy will be barbeque and a free pony ride. He is trying to market the family. Tanner's strategy was bringing in models. He is going for "sex sells" strategy. Adam's strategy is getting a sign spinner to attract customers. He also wants to do a promotion where buying a car gets you some reward. The guys then reveal their cars. Tanner replaced the white paintjob with an orange paintjob. The Porsche also has a new steering wheel and shifter knob. The Porsche still cannot reverse. Adam painted his Acura green and clean up the interior of the car. Adam reveals that he is using a "stress-free" market strategy. Rutledge painted his car black and went with a "stealth Lexus" theme. Tanner was the first to attract a potential buyer. On the test drive, Tanner reveals that there is no horn on the Porsche.

Segment 4: The Tool Man drives a Suzuki.

Tim Allen

Tim Allen is this week's Big Star in a Little Car. Tim talks about growing up in Detroit, his hot rods, and his current project. Tim takes the Suzuki around the track in 1:44.0. Tim is disappointed that he lost to Kid Rock and joked that he would buy his own air base just to beat Kid Rock.

Segment 5: Used Car Salesmen Challenge Part 3: Selling the Cars

The show returns to the used car lot as Rutledge had gotten a family as customers. Tanner got his customer to the desk and asked for $2900, but the customer was willing to pay $290 for the Porsche. Adam got a customer and went for a test drive. Tanner and Rutledge each got new customers. Tanner's customer was willing to pay $1700 for the Porsche, while Rutledge's customer was willing to pay $1200 cash for the Lexus. Tanner tried to use the models to get his customer to pay a few extra dollars for the Porsche. Rutledge tells his customer that he could not sell the car for $1200. Adam and his customer agree to a deal. Tanner sells his car for $1850. The show returns to the studio as Tanner is the first to announce his net gain. He spent $1850 on the car and spent the rest of the budget on marketing and fixing the Porsche, spending $3000. He lost $1150. Adam bought his car for $870 and spent another $536 on marketing and fixing up the Acura. He sold it for $1450 and made $44. Rutledge spent $2350 on his Lexus and spent $400-$500 for marketing. He did not sell his car. To end the show, the guys auction off the Lexus. Rutledge trades the Lexus for a Members Only Jacket and $1.

Overall, this was a weak episode. The CR-Z segment was bland and unfunny. The used car salesmen challenge was dull until the final part when Rutledge was auctioning off the Lexus. Tim Allen was not that funny in the Big Star in a Little Star segment. This was a boring episode. Again, no Stig. It would have been nice to see how a hybrid did in the hands of the Stig.

Final Verdict: 2 Stigs out of ten.

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 1 Episode 6 "Fast in Florida"

On Episode 6, Tanner reviews the Morgan Aero Supersports, Michelle Rodriguez is fast and furious in a Suzuki, and the guys find out what is the best way to travel from Miami to Key West.

Warning: Spoilers are in the review.


Segment 1: Tanner reviews the Morgan Aero Supersports

Morgan Aero Supersports

Tanner goes to England to find out why people would wait two years to own a British sports car made from wood. Tanner tests the Morgan Aero Supersports in a small English town. Morgan is one of a few British car makers not owned by a foreign car company. Morgan is known for its retro styling and using wood to make its cars. Tanner says that if Al Capone was alive, this would be the car he would be driving. Morgan has been around since 1911. The Aero Supersports has an aluminum chassis and a wooden body frame. Under the hood is a BMW 4.8L V8 engine.  Tanner complains how the Brits drive on the wrong side of the road. Tanner comments how smooth the Morgan drives on the British roads and how good the suspension is. Tanner goes to Bruntingthorpe Proving Grounds to test the performance of the Morgan. Tanner unleashes the 376 hp on 2 miles of runway. The Morgan was twitchy and unpredictable in the corners. Tanner tries to see how close he can get to the Morgan's top speed of 170 mph in 2 miles. Tanner got it up to 162 mph. The front end became unstable at high speeds. Morgan makes 600 cars a year and only 200 Morgans Aero Supersports will be made. The waiting period to buy one is 2 years and the cost is $150,000-$200,000. Tanner says the Morgan is a gentleman's sports car and buying one is like buying a piece of history. Tanner says the car is meant for cruising, not for racing. There will only be 1 Aero Supersports in the United States.


Segment 2: Finding the best mode of transportation from Miami to Key West

Cessna 206 Sea Plane

Donzi Marine 38 ZR competition

Lotus Evora

The guys try to find out if it is quicker to get from Miami to Key West on land, air, or sea. Adam will be driving a Lotus Evora. Tanner will be riding in a Cessna 206 Sea Plane. Rutledge will be riding in a Donzi Marine 38 ZR Competition. Speedboat. First one to reach the most southern point of the United States win. The race starts as Rutledge gets into the boat and Adam drive off. Tanner has to wait 20 minutes for a taxi to get to Watson Island to get to his plane. Each person talks about his transportation. Adam gets pulled over by a cop for speeding in a 50 mph zone. Rutledge finally gets out of the no wake zone and the boat can unleash its two 700 hp engines without worrying about speed limits. Adam gets slowed by traffic. After 2 hours, Tanner finally reaches the sea base and takes of in the sea plane.


Segment 3: The News

Camaro Neiman Marcus Edition

First up is the GM special edition of the Camaro SS. It will be the Neiman Marcus Edition with all 100 cars being sold in 3 minutes. Each car will cost $75,000 dollars. Rutledge then reads a few Craiglist ad about cars.
Tanner then says that it is time to reward the Stig with a gift. They give Stig a one-of-a-kind Lamborghini and let him take it around the track. The Lamborghini is a tractor and the Stig goes around the test track in the Lamborghini in 5:22.

Segment 4: Michelle Rodriguez is the Big Star in a Little Car

Michelle Rodriguez

It is Michelle Rodriguez's turn to be the big star in a little car. She gets interviewed by Adam. The first item is that Michelle got her driver's license for the Fast and the Furious. She confesses that she owns a Prius just to keep the cops off her. She says that her points are going down so she could buy a sports car soon. Adam brings up Michelle's Nissan history. Adam brings up Avatar. Michelle's lap is shown and she does a wet lap in  1:55.2.


Segment 5: The Florida Race Finale

The show returns to the Florida race. Tanner is catching up to the other twos. The boat has to refuel. Adam reaches Marathon, the start of the 7 mile bridge and Adam is only 50 miles from the finish point. Rutledge starts getting sea sick but the boat passes Adams and then the plane passes Rutledge. Tanner lands three miles away from the finish and has to rent a scooter to reach the finish. Rutledge reaches the shore and had to travel a mile in a taxi to reach the finish. Adam barely beats Tanner to the finish point. Rutledge finished last. To end the show, the Stigs takes the Evora around a wet track in 1:28.4.


Overall, this was an entertaining show. Top Gear UK did something just like what the guys did. The Top Gear UK hosts each took a different mode of transportation to get through London. For Top Gear US, the race was close and entertaining. The Rodriguez segment was less than spectacular. The Morgan segment was decent. This was a good episode, just not as good as the second or third episode.


Final Verdict: 7 Stigs out of 10. Episode is available at www.history.com

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 1 Episode 5 " Beater Boot Camp"

On Episode 5, the guys try to find the one classic GM model that should go back into production to save GM and Tony Hawk test his skills in a Suzuki.

Warning: Spoilers are in the review. If you have seen the Top Gear UK episode where Jeremy, Richard, and James try to prove that Birtish Leyland built decent cars, Top Gear US uses the same tests on GM cars.


Segment 1: GM Competition Introduction

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Pontiac Fiero

Buick Roadmaster Stationwagon

The guys arrive on the top of a parking garage in Detroit, Michigan, each arriving in a classic GM model. Adam arrives first in an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Tanner arrives next in a Pontiac Fiero. Rutledge arrives last in Buick Roadmaster Stationwagon. The guys are handed an envelope and are told to drive 100 miles to Marshall, Michigan for their first challenge. Each host talks about the pros and cons of his car and how his car can save GM.


Segment 2: Car Tests

The Guys arrive to the Eaton Proving Grounds in Marshall and put the cars through a series of tests to prove which classic GM should be brought back. The first test is a 0 to 60 mph test. Rutledge goes first and his Roadmaster takes a shade over 9 seconds to reach 60 mph. Adam goes next in the Cutless and takes 12.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Tanner goes last in the Fiero and takes 7 seconds to reach 60 mph. Tanner wins the first test. The second test involves the emergency break. Each host must drive his car up a 20% grade incline and engage the parking break. He must the exit his car, pick up a bowling ball, put the bowling ball in his car, and drive over the hill. Fastest time wins. Rutledge goes first and has no problem with the challenge. Adam goes next in his Cutlass and failed. His phone fell out and the emergency break failed to keep the Cutlass from sliding down the incline. Tanner goes last in his Fiero. One of the many recalls on the Fiero involved the emergency break. Tanner made it up the incline and engaged the emergency break. He got out of his car only for it to roll down the incline and hit Adam's Cutlass. Rutledge won that test. He got so cocky that he tried to get his car up a 60% hill climb. His car failed. The third test involved handling. Each car must travel through a wet skid and navigate through the cones while holding ten 32 oz. cups of soda. Five seconds would be added for each spilled cup. Best time wins. Tanner went first and had two cups left. He threw his remaining cups at Rutledge and Adam. Rutledge went second and had five full cups left. Adam went last and had four cups left. Tanner did the course in 51 seconds but lost eight cups, so his final time was 1:31. Adam did the course in 1:09 but had lost six cups so his final time was 1:39. Rutledge did the course in 55 seconds but he lost 5 cups so his time was 1:20. Rutledge won the third test. For his victory, Adam and Tanner threw the rest of the soda at Rutledge. After three test, Tanner has one victory, Rutledge has two victories, and Adam has zero victories.


Segment 3: The News

First up, Google has invented a car that drives itself. The president of Google stated "It is amazing to me that we let humans drive cars. It is a bug that cars were invented before computers." This did not sit well with the audience or the hosts. Tanners says that the Google president will never set foot on the Top Gear US set. The crowd loved Tanner's statement. Adams says that if the Google president is using Google Maps, he will never find the set.  Rutledge announced that GM is planning to bring back the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with a supercharged engine that produces 500 hp and maybe as high as 550 hp, which Rutledge says that is great news if you are a tree or a ditch. Adam also says that is great news for the organ donor program. Adam says he likes the new Camaro but he cannot see out of it. Finally, Adam announces that the city of Philadelphia police will fine people for leaving the cars unlocked while parked on the street.


Segment 4: Tony Hawk shreds in a Suzuki

Tony Hawk

Tony gets interviewed by Rutledge and the first thing Rutledge brings up in Tony's hybrid, a Lexus LS600H. Tony says that he has been fascinated with Lexus since he was a kid.  Rutledge brings up the Tony Hawk video games and Tony's career as a stunt driver. Tony got a Ferrari up to its top speed 300 kph on the Autobahn. Tony's favorite car is a 1964 Corvette Stingray. Tony takes a shot around the Top Gear test track in the Suzuki SX4 and does the lap in 1:43.2.


Segment 5: More Car Tests

The fourth test involves suspension. The guys would line up in front of a rubble road and drive at 30 mph. Seven eggs will be placed in a colander that will be positioned above each host's head. Whoever has the most eggs left wins. Adam went first, Tanner went second, and Rutledge went last. Rutledge had all off his eggs in tact and won the test. The guys throw eggs at each others cars. The fifth and final test involved build quality. Each car would be filled with water and each host would drive his car around the oval test track until the water level reached a below the steering wheel. Whichever car went the furthest won. Tanner went first and had to get help to get the car started since the car could not drive with the added weight from the water. Adam went next and lapped the Fiero. Rutledge went last and the Buick was filled with 20,000 lbs of water. The Buick lapped Fiero and passed the Cutlass. Rutledge won the final challenge.


Segment 6: The Winner

Top Gear Updated Buick Roadmaster

The winner of the GM Challenge is the Buick Roadmaster. The guys file into the Roadmaster and drive to GM headquaters with "PLEASE MAKE THIS CAR" written on the side using tape. To end the show, the Top Gear hosts reveal their version of an updated Buick Roadmaster.


Overall, this was a subpar episode. The is a carbon copy of the Top Gear UK Series 10, Episode 7, where the guys try to determine that British Leyland made at least one quality car. The tests used to test the GM cars were the same as the British Leyland tests. The humor and pranks were childish. The tests have been done by Top Gear UK. No modern cars were tested. The Stig was absent from the episode. If you want to see cars being put through tests, go watch the Top Gear British Leyland episode, not this episode. This episode was just as bad as the pilot episode, but the chemistry was better than in the pilot episode.


Final Verdict: 3 Stigs out of 10. This episode is available at www.history.com

CarJunkie

Top Gear US Season 1 Episode 4 "HALO vs. Velociratptor"

On Episode 4, Tanner races a Ford Raptor against a HALO jumper in a desert, Adam tests the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Kid Rock test his driving skills, and Adam and Rutledge try to find a replacement for the Humvee.

Warning: Spoilers are in the Review


Segment 1: Enter the Velociraptor

Hennessey Velociraptor 475

The segment starts with Tanner driving a Hennessey Velociraptor on a rancher's land in a desert. The Velociraptor can go up to 120 mph on any surface. The Ford Raptor costs $42,000 and upgrades cost an additional $7,000. The total cost is $49,000 for car that can go over anything and can go fast on any surface. The suspension travel distance allows the car to handle any bump, but the car does roll over on its axis while turning. Tanner drives the Velociraptor through Eloy, Arizona, flicks the switch that enables the truck to make a loud exhaust noise, and everyone in Eloy can hear the truck go through. Tanner attracted too much attention and was asked to leave town. Tanner then takes the truck off-road and the truck just handles the terrain with no problem. Tanner gets some serious air with the Velociraptor. Tanner could not find a car that could race against the Velociraptor off-road. Tanner introduces his challenger, a HALO jumper.


Segment 2: HALO vs. Velociraptor

The HALO jumper and the Velociraptor will travel 5 miles. The Velociraptor will do it on the ground and will try to reach the finish line before the HALO jumper lands from a 5 mile drop. The Velociraptor will travel on both pavement and dirt. Tanner will be driving through a ranch and cannot hit a cow, or the rancher can legally shoot at Tanner. It is a close race, but the HALO jumper wins. The show returns to the studio and Tanner and Rutledge discuss why the truck is such a good value at $49,000. Rutledge hugs the truck.


Segment 3: Adam gets some Gull-wings

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Adam is standing next to a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and starts talking about the car. He then says that Mercedes-Benz has come out with the successor to the 300SL. The show cuts to Adam describing the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, the spiritual successor to the 300SL Gull-wing. The SLS is the first car built from scratch by AMG. Its 6.3L V8 makes 563 HP. The 300SL was the fastest car when it first hit the road. However, the SLS will not challenge for the fastest street-legal production car title since Bugatti and SSC are battling it out. The SLS will do 197 mph, and that is fast. Where as the 300SL was built to win races at the cost of luxury and comfort, the SLS was built for performance and luxury. The interior of the SLS is inspired by airplanes. Adam impressed with the cars handling and feel. Adam comments that the SLS is more at home on the track then in the city. Adam then demonstrates the difficulties of the gull-wing, and iconic trait of the 300SL and the SLS. Adam is too small to close the door while sitting in the car. Adam questions the styling. He likes the styling of the car up to the doors. He does not like the rear of the SLS. Adam says the car has a Y factor, as in "Why don't I love this car?" The show returns to the studio and the hosts are standing between the 300SL and the SLS. Adam says he loves the 300SL and not the SLS. Adam says he likes parts of the SLS. Adam says the hates the rear of the SLS and the doors are fun for 20 minutes. He also says whoever owns a car with doors like that is a "dick." The SLS is handed over to the Stig, who drives the SLS around the test track in 1:27.6. The segment ends with saying that the SLS was fun, but it is not the 300Sl, and he wanted the SLS to be like the 300SL. The Stig then drives a Hennessey F-150 Velociraptor 600 around the test track. The Velociraptor's time is 1:39.0. That is very slow compared to the other cars, but the Velociraptor is a truck.


Segment 4: Kid Rock rocks the Suzuki SX4

Kid Rock

It is Kid Rock's turn to be the Big Star in a Little Car. He is interviewed by Rutledge. Kid Rock talks about growing up around cars in Detroit, Michigan. He loves the retro movement by the Big Three and also wants to see something new from the Big Three. Rutledge asks him if he would own a Prius. Kid Rock wants nothing to do with the Prius. Kid Rock calls the Prius uncool. Kid Rock's lap is shown and he did a wet lap around the track in 1:43.9.


Segment 5: Finding a Cheap Replacement for the Humvee.

Chevrolet El Camino

Honda Del Sol

The US Army has retired the Humvee from military service. Adam and Rutledge are given the task to find a cheap, less aggressive car to replace the Humvee. The two guys meet at a paintball field. Adam arrives first with a 1977 Chevrolet El Camino loaded with paintball guns and a paintball gun turret on the truck bed. Rutledge shows up with a 1997 Honda Del Sol armed with paintball guns. The goal is to cross the paintball battlefield first while decorating the other car with paint. The loser has to shoot himself in the foot with a paintball gun. Adam's strategy is to set up an ambush, get out of the car, and unleash the turret on Rutledge. Rutledge lines up his rear trunk guns and fires at Adam. The guys keep shooting at each other. The two cars collide and shooting commences. Rutledge escapes and reaches the otherside of the battlefield and wins. Adam has to shoot himself in the foot, which was awesome to watch. Adam is more pissed that he lost to Rutledge then having to shoot himself in the foot. I would have shot Rutledge in the face. The show returns to the studio. Top Gear's recommendation is to use the Del Sol to replace the Humvee.


Overall, this was an OK show by Top Gear standards. There was a cool race between an off-road truck and a HALO jumper. Top Gear UK has done that, so no points to Top Gear US. The SLS segment was acceptable, but not good. The military replacement segment was subpar, aside from Adam shooting himself in the foot. It is an average episode.


Final Verdict: 5 out of 10 Stigs. This episode is available at www.history.com.

CarJunkie