Aus Top Gear filming turns into demolition derby

[Dazza XLT]

Top Gear filming turns into demolition derby
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-10229,00.html
By Paul Gover December 08, 2008 12:01am

FILMING of the Australian series of Top Gear has turned into a demolition derby with a repair bill close to $200,000.

Eager driving and wild stunts have left a trail of destruction behind the Top Gear team that goes beyond the expected bill for bald tyres from slides and burnouts.

Luxury cars have needed total resprays because of flying stones, and lesser brands have reported damage from silly stunts created for the SBS TV series, which is unofficially confirmed for a second series in Australia in 2009.

Some of the most expensive repair bills involved a Lamborghini, which is believed to have sustained about $25,000 damage during filming, while a group of Holden Astras needed $30,000 to restore them after they were used in a game of "lawn bowls".

"We have no appetite for automotive Jackass," the spokesman for one of the damaged brands said.

"When they revisit series two, they will encounter a lot of shut doors," said another.

The damage bill for Top Gear goes way beyond anything seen in any form of Australian motoring journalism.

"All we will say is that it turned out to be a very expensive test drive," said Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale of the Astra bowls stunt.

The show's producers failed to return the Herald Sun's phone calls.

[Molloy]

Aussie Aussie Aussie!

[Daymoe]

Lol, the automakers are having a sook because someone is making a good show.

[GS608]

lol, well maybe they should have used cars from a wrecker for the lawn bowls not brand new cars. but oh well happens get over it

[smally289]

30k to repair the Astra's??? Must have expensive bumper bars those Daewoo Schitzoo's ................

[XWGT]

Hmmmm, are they saying they have never seen Top Gear UK and therefore were unaware of the fact that the show destroys cars on a daily basis????????????

I call BS!

I personally cant understand why manufacturers keep giving their cars to the tossers at 5th gear.........which is nothing more than a drift fest by .

But if Holden seriously thought they were being asked to provide 3 Astra's for a genuine in depth segment on their product rather than to be the butt end of some comedy.......they are clearly delusional lol

[Fev]

I would have thought SBS would foot the bill for the repairs?
And as if these companies didnt expect some damage from these cars they must have been living under a rock for the last 10 years

[Scott]

I've gotta say, when I saw that Ford GT being flogged around the airport in the first or second episode, I said out loud that I couldn't believe anyone would let a car like that get flogged up a gravel road. The rocks being flung up everywhere off that thing were horrifying.

[XR6_661]

That's what top gear is all about! I had a feeling car manufactuers would crack up over it...

Imagine how Holden would feel if Clarkson got hold of an Astra haha.

Stuff like this could mark the end of Aus Top Gear.

[TadKa]

Didn't each episode cost something like $500k - $1m anyway?
If that's the case $200k is nothing.

[OLDFORDNUT]

AS IF the car makers paid for damage,what a beat up.
i noticed the reporter was PAUL GLOVER,
told me straight away it was going to be another ambush story with no basis on Fact

[ebxr8240]

That's a cheap advert for a cheap car..
They got there monies worth !!
Obviously money has run dry...

[BlackLS]

I gotta say Camden airport is basically a gravel road. You can hear each stone hit during the fast laps.

[Hally]

I have no issue if a car gets damaged when it is being tested, but when it comes to mindless damage, as per the Astra segment, it turns me of the show. Most individuals cannot afford to be reckless like those guys. Charlie is the worst (remember him trashing the RAV4 in the sand dunes and nearly running over the crew).

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by smally351

30k to repair the Astra's??? Must have expensive bumper bars those Daewoo Schitzoo's ................

You'll find the astra's are Opels.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Hally

I have no issue if a car gets damaged when it is being tested, but when it comes to mindless damage, as per the Astra segment, it turns me of the show. Most individuals cannot afford to be reckless like those guys. Charlie is the worst (remember him trashing the RAV4 in the sand dunes and nearly running over the crew).

Yet, you'd probably find the majority that watch the show enjoy it because they do get a little reckless and crazy with the cars. TG UK must be a nightmare for you to watch as they're 10 times worse!

I can't afford to do most of the things I see on TV, it would be an exceptionally boring medium if TV was restricted to only watching things I can afford.

The Amazing Race would be reduced to drive to Dubbo and back without getting mugged. :(

[SVR73]

I only watch the UK version now.

[outback_ute]

I have to say they would be pretty game handing back the cars like they were unless it was cleared beforehand - would have a nice bill coming from a rental company... While I agree with XWGT's comments, TG Aust is not quite in the same position as the UK show.

[bafel]

Recklessly damaging cars i the one thing that could put me off watching this show every week.

They're supposed to be car enthusiasts, but i dont know many that would treat cars they way they do.

Iv'e never had to damage a car to find out if it's any good. Seems a bit arrogant to me.

[Trevor 57]

Right from the start I thought the show was a WOFTAM. I watched one and half shows and thought it was shyte.

Mind you Gover is not the best/accurate journo in Australia, but I could seriously understand why they (the manufacturers) would be ****ed off. I thought that the first night when that lard head launched a 4x4 over a sand dune.

[Benny]

Generally Top Gear UK only smash up old cars, or cars they have bought themselves. I thought Top Gear AUS went too far with the lawn bowls Astras and Charlie needs to grow up, he drives like a 17yo who just got his P's.

[tapeworm]

yeah, the shows a shocka, hope the motor ind. do shut the doors, such

[Peuty]

What about the Toyota Aygo soccer segment? That was blatant car destroying, but I didn't see a thread about them mindlessly destroying defenceless Aygo's?

To all those getting upset about some crummy Astras getting destroyed, I think YOU have gone too far.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by Benny

Generally Top Gear UK only smash up old cars, or cars they have bought themselves. I thought Top Gear AUS went too far with the lawn bowls Astras and Charlie needs to grow up, he drives like a 17yo who just got his P's.

Not quite. It was very similar to the games of Soccer and Ice Hockey that they've done on Top Gear UK using new Suzuki Swifts and Toyota Aygos.

[SM1DY]

I enjoy the show, I can't imagine myself throwing an expensive exotic around the track, but that doesn't mean i don't enjoy it when someone else does!

[Ghiadude]

wreck em all i say! Top Gear UK is built on destruction and mayhem. Its what has made the show one of the most popular in the world - why should the AU version be different?

[xtremerus]

And motoring magazine testers don't flog their cars????

[tex]

There's a massive difference between driving a sports car as it manufacturer intended - ie, hard and fast, and the outright mechanical abuse / wanten destruction those turkeys displayed for some cheap (bad choice of words) laughter....

These spuds treated some of the cars terribly - personally I couldn';t give two turds, but I have to say, if I was a manufacturer, no way I'd give those unprofessional, stupid as dog sheet wally's a proper sports car to treat like a STOLEN hire car. They didn't even conduct an informed, consistant, and validated 'test' on any of them. IE: the quarry segment moving rock in brand new vehicles. Not even funny. Just abuse of new motor cars.

The Australian series was / is a complete waste of time, money and effort.

No sadness from me if it does not return to air.

Dropping a burnout, driving fast around a track - all good. Not acceptable is the deliberate and methodical damage to body panels, undercarriage, and suspension components. Just stupidity you'd expect from a couple of teenage f%&witts.

[Peuty]

Why can't people just enjoy it for what it is?

Why take it personally? It's not like they are asking for the keys to your personal car for filming. Sheesh.

[duaned]

I agree with some of the above posts. Why could'nt they have purchased 3 bombs ( and dressed them up) for that stupid lawn bowls segment? Top gear UK have the right recipe. The show gives em cash, they buy the ride, dress it up and destroy it! And we get the opportunity to watch it unfold! Using 3 new korean buzz boxes was a silly descision. Surley there's enough crap heap commodores in and around sydney for them to buy and destroy?