watched the new The Grand Tour last night

AIUI, they've already produced the entire first season, so don't expect any feedback from the first few episodes to alter the content until season 2.

I really was looking forward to GT. So far I've been disappointed. As others noted Episode 2 really kinda sucked. Episode 3 was better but there are still entire segments of the program that (to me) are really lame.

The contrived killing off of celebrities for example. Just stop that. Conversation Street could go away too.

The track isn't as long or as interesting as the old one and they could've picked a more personable race driver. "The American" shtick gets old really fast.

Some of the best TG shows were when they were given a small budget, they bought cars sight unseen, then toured around the country. Like when they went to Central America with the 4x4's, or Africa...

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: In reply to Driven5: And either way I'll still watch them.

This. Show me a car show that's better and Ill watch that too.

I'm not saying episode 3 of GT, or the last few seasons of TG, are bad 'for a car show'...Just that it's somewhat disappointing to have watched them slowly become more of a caricature of when the show largely didn't need to be qualified as such.

Bobzilla wrote:

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: In reply to Driven5: And either way I'll still watch them.

This. Show me a car show that's better and Ill watch that too.

Roadkill and MCM...both more GRM...but I still enjoy GT

For those who doubt the chemistry of the boys, watch the Facebook Live video of the Drivetribe launch. It is purely unscripted and quite entertaining.

Raze wrote:

Bobzilla wrote:

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: In reply to Driven5: And either way I'll still watch them.

This. Show me a car show that's better and Ill watch that too.

Roadkill and MCM...both more GRM...but I still enjoy GT

RK yes. I can't take the MCM guys. It's likely the culture thing but I find them extremely annoying. I've tried so many times.

Ugh, just watched episode 4 and is was the WORSE one yet. The street talk, celebrities mishaps and the American needs to be replaced/reworked with something else.

What's MCM?

Honestly all of these shows get a bit annoying, but I still check them out.

The 911 review was pretty good, but I agree - that challenge was not.

slowride wrote: What's MCM? Honestly all of these shows get a bit annoying, but I still check them out.

Mighty Car Mods, it's an Australian youtube show. I am not a fan but a lot of people seem to like it.

This episode 4 of Grand Tour has me wanting the NEW Top Gear Season 2 to see the improvements made lol.

I think a problem with these car shows, including MCM and Roadkill, is that after they've been on for a while they try too hard to be characters and not regular people. Like Top Gear's James May "character" vanishes once you watch his other shows.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Ugh, just watched episode 4 and is was the WORSE one yet. The street talk, celebrities mishaps and the American needs to be replaced/reworked with something else.

I thought it was the best so far, honestly. It was definitely the most Top Gear-ish episode though. I mean, yes I truly expect James to be smarter, but at least they had a challenge and were out doing something interesting that led to playing with cars. The in studio bits seemed less forced and more natural, and weren't entirely pointless. Even the Super Beetle part was interesting, and I'm not a huge fan of anything Porsche produces other than the 918.

Seeing two cars on the Eboladrome at the same time was pretty cool too, or maybe I think it's smaller than it really is.

The American needs to go though. I think the entirety of everyone everywhere agrees with that. I don't know who Mike Skinner is or what he did before this, so I can't really say anything about his driving, he's just stupidly annoying.

Hopefully, as they just finished filming the last episode this weekend, some of the criticism of the earlier ones makes changes in the later ones of the season.

I think people are over thinking it. I am liking it so far. To me it is not really a new show. It is a continuation of the James, Jeremy and Richard show. Some will be good some not so much but it I still enjoy it. It is entertainment.

Oh and I really liked the Nascar drivers comment about turbos. I got a laugh out of that.

I enjoyed #4. Thought it was the best one yet, although I'm not sure the jab at Chris Evans was called for. Otherwise, I laughed often, which is why I watch the show. So I call it a win.

I agree about TG Mk3 season 2. Looking forward to seeing how they refine it.

Loved the fourth episode. The challenge made me genuinely laugh.

I can't imagine how bad Jeremy's bone car smelled.

Lots of great comments. Thanks everyone for chiming in.

It made me laugh. Made my wife laugh. I enjoyed it.

The one thing I would hope for, that I don't think we will see, are reviews on normal cars. I want to see a review on a focus or a wrx.

The american is my favorite part of each episode.

An M2 is nearly a normal car. I certainly have the hots for one, once they get below $25, which shouldn't take too long.

Tim Suddard wrote: An M2 is nearly a normal car. I certainly have the hots for one, once they get below $25, which shouldn't take too long.

That may depend on production numbers. I seem to recall we said the same thing about the M1 a few years ago. Those have held their value shockingly well, partly due to how few BMW built.

Just watched #4, almost forgot it was new this weekend. Which is almost telling...

Mute button for The American made it more watchable, even if I could still imagine the dumb things he was probably saying. Celebrity Brain Crash, please let that be the first thing they drop when they start filming season 2. The challenge, which is normally my favorite thing they would do, ...the race at the end was fun. Otherwise, I didn't get it.

The rest was good. The Porsche/BMW was good, the Audi thing was funny and reminded me of The Old Days. Even Conversation Street (minus the silly intros) is just The News with a new intro.

I liked it a little bit, my two teenage boys liked it a lot. I think they might be the target audience.

kazoospec wrote: I liked it a little bit, my two teenage boys liked it a lot. I think they might be the target audience.

Funny you say that as my son also really liked it and previous episode's.

Tom_Spangler wrote: Loved the fourth episode. The challenge made me genuinely laugh.

Same. Every time stuff fell off of James' car, I guffawed.