Rutledge Wood trades in his Datsun for a.....

cesariojpn · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:24 pm

....1966 VW Double Cab.

TMZ claims Wood traded in his "Datsun 521" for the VW.

Top Gear USA still sucks BTW.

Camshaft · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:32 pm

...and TMZ is still retarded.

toyotageek · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:36 pm

Camshaft wrote:

...and TMZ is still retarded.

I second that!

DmK66 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:38 pm

Hmm, I've never seen Top Gear USA (thankfully, if popular opinion is to be believed).
That VW looks pretty cool but I just googled his pickup and I know which way I'd like the trade to go...
And I have no idea what a "TMZ" is either ! Please feel free not to explain....

Camshaft · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:07 pm

DmK66 wrote:

And I have no idea what a "TMZ" is either ! Please feel free not to explain....

It's a tabloid show that tells us about the dump a famous person just took, and why we should care.

DmK66 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:56 pm

Thanks Camshaft, I knew I didn't want to know !
As for the cars, never mind the cool 521, I'm sure I could import a decent Hako for what I'd pay for that VeeDub over here.
It has a touch of the "Death of the car enthusiast" about it, dont'cha know :roll:

cesariojpn · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:27 pm

DmK66 wrote:

Hmm, I've never seen Top Gear USA (thankfully, if popular opinion is to be believed).

Let's put it this way:

Take Jeremy Clarkson, and give him tranquilizers. Put Richard Hammond back into the situation he had with the Vampire Drag Car sans medical treatment. And James May is willing to destroy classic Sports Cars like the Jaguar E-Type and the Volvo P1800 in order for them to haul sewage sludge.

Your Top Gear USA hosts in a nutshell.

DmK66 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:12 pm

Thanks cesariojpn, that's some picture you've painted.
Reckon I'll give it a miss.....

e-at_me · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:55 am

it's not all bad.. haters gonna hate... wood is the best of the 3 for sure though..

and to be honest, if you compare it to any other US based car show, it's awesome.. i mean really? "test drive" with tommy kendall makes me want to kill myself.... seriously.. what a freakin copout/sellout..

just don't compare it to the british version of top gear and you're fine..

cesariojpn · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:22 pm

e-at_me wrote:

it's not all bad.. haters gonna hate... wood is the best of the 3 for sure though..

Wood doesn't come off as an "expert" to me. He says all the right things, but you don't really want him to touch your car for any reason whatsoever.

Tanner is okay, just he needs some work on his hosting. Adam.....um......that comedian guy. Yeah, fire him.

e-at_me · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:27 am

i know what you mean, but he really does know his stuff.. ever seen him on some of the nascar shows?

KC30 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:36 pm

If you're a fan of UK car shows, you'd know that Top Gear and Fifth Gear have continually vied for popularity with Top Gear winning mainly due to the presenters. The Top Gear US reminds me of Fifth Gear more than anything, the presenters let it down, they lack the chemistry that's made Top Gear UK what it is.
I would have to agree that Wood is the only decent presenter they have on the Top Gear US show. You really have to compare it to the british one, because that's what they are trying to recreate, hence carrying the Top Gear name. And they failed, it doesn't hold up. Tanner Foust lacks personality, pretty boring. Adam Ferrara, the comedian, isn't funny or really add much to the show. It's kinda sad, because there are better presenters that came to mind before the US spin off even started, Adam Carolla for one. That is a true car nut with the knowledge, personality and humor that would have added so much to the show.
I think Top Gear may have to face their presenter issue this season, since Speed channel has Carolla presenting "The Car Show". I hope that it at least makes both shows face up to the challenge and improve both... time will tell who wins in creating a quality Car Show for the US.

cesariojpn · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:08 pm

e-at_me wrote:

i know what you mean, but he really does know his stuff.. ever seen him on some of the nascar shows?

**** NASCAR. I'm still waiting to buy a RWD 800 BHP Toyota Camry. "Stock Cars" my ***.

KC30 wrote:

I think Top Gear may have to face their presenter issue this season, since Speed channel has Carolla presenting "The Car Show". I hope that it at least makes both shows face up to the challenge and improve both... time will tell who wins in creating a quality Car Show for the US.

That show.....they really need to overhaul that show drastically.

* Turn the set over from "ESPN Sportscenter Lite" to more car-themed. Like a garage set with a few lawn chairs. Or the seats out of a GMC Savannah Passenger Van.
* Get rid of a couple of the hosts. The black guy for starters.
* Adam needs to differentiate between being punctual and factual and cracking jokes. Not everything that comes from his mouth needs to be a joke.
* Maybe add a few Juggies.

DmK66 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:20 pm

I watch T.G. and F.G. here. They do seem to vie for top spot but I've never been sure why.
To me they seem to be very different animals, trying to do similar things but for different audiences.
They both have the weekly "you cant afford this but we'll tell you why you should buy it anyway" segment.
They both have a bit of a "crazy" piece with upside down dumper truck racing while on fire, blindfold, etc. (though I'd have to say T.G. has the edge here).
They also have the usual road tests of affordable cars, some news and a bit of something "out there" which they both usually muck up by not doing their homework.
Top Gear is hosted by 3 blokes who obviously love cars on various different levels.
They've all improved their skills and knowledge with age but basically it's all a bit of a hoot.
It seems to aim for mass-appeal but sometimes will get it spot on for proper car fans.
Fifth gear is hosted by some very well qualified drivers, one of whom is a woman no less, and some other people who are a bit trendy and are good at looking cool and saying silly things.
It's a bit more of a technical show but a little clinical at times.
I like them both, but I look forward to Top Gear.
Fifth gear I enjoy when I realise it's on.
I'm going to look at youtube in a minute and see how Top Gear's done in the U.S.A...

qdseeker · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:33 pm

cesariojpn wrote:

... but you don't really want him to touch your car for any reason whatsoever.

How long did you say you've known him?

Rutledge Wood trades in his Datsun for a.....

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