Top Gear

This was my first time watching a top gear episode. I found it to be informational and entertaining. The first car that was evaluated was the Fiat 500. It was a small European car. For most it would appear too “cutsie” which is what one of the Top Gear hosts described it as. But, the evaluator, Jeremy, described it as something completely different.

When he evaluated this car he was clear, precise, and knowledgeable. He explained many details and facts about the car, for example: He described that even though the car was the size of a shoe it had 160 horse power. He was enthusiastic when delivering the facts and that made me, the listener, love this car myself. My favorite line was “It’s the kind of car that would try and make love to your leg”.
The criteria he used for describing the car were, basic make-up (engine size, speed, horse power, facts), price, handling, and overall customer appeal. Even though it was obvious that Jeremy loved this car, he still presented all the facts both good and bad.

The main perks were: price, more bang for your buck, and more economical. The main criticisms were: size, the ride was a little bouncy, and the overall look of the car could be considered too “cutsie”.

Presenting a car like the Fiat 500 showed that the show was not based on personal preference at all. I don’t think that any of the hosts of the show would personally decide that they wanted that car, or it was their dream car. However, it was presented with all the facts, and came out as an overall great buy. Jeremy even said “ this car just makes you feel happy”.

On the other end in their muscle car segment, they had 3 completely different cars that were completely based on preference. James had his luxury car the Cadillac, Jeremy had his sports car the corvette and Richard had his loud masculine muscle car. Each one of those selections was based on preference. So, in that segment preference was a big part of the show.

Editing in this section was a huge part of the evaluation; the way that the camera took different shots of the car, or enhanced the rev of the engine. Those elements played a big part on what the audience took in and how they evaluated their evaluations in a sense.

Overall, I think that the episode was great. It was comedic, informative, and insightful. I would definitely watch another episode.