I don't get the hate for CH, my brother doesn't like him, I think he is great and probably the only one that can actually drive

This. The previous line up had a hell of lot more PR beforehand as well.

Take a look at the viewing figures for old TG. Back in 2002 they were at 3 million viewers and it took many years to build up to there 4-5 million figures. Even then they seemed to get stuck until 2007 when they spiked following Hammonds dragster crash.

Just watched ten minutes of it.Cringe worthy and embarrassing to watch.
Changed Chanel.

Fiat 124 (Abarth version) got slated. They should have tested the standard 124 IMO.

Still cringeworthy watching, though the Sabine Nurburgring feature was pretty good.

I watched the Quadrifoglio segment the other day but that was it. I couldn't stand any more than that. Even Monkey Harris wasn't himself

It's bloody awful

Sounds just like grand tour

left turn at hammer-head rofl

Really? I thought the Golf Clubsport article was truly awful

"we've overtaken £1m worth of supercars on a hot hatch"

What utter drivel - yes, I can see a fast Golf with Sabine at the wheel getting past some junior supercars like a boggo Cayman, but when they drive round the outside of a 911 GT3 and then a Lambo - what utter bollocks. It was either staged (which I suspect) or the drivers were simply driving at 7/10 in order not to prang their expensive car.

I felt the Abarth 124 article was unfair - yes, its different to an MX5, but IMHO, it looks better, sounds better and on any tarmac outside of a race circuit, probably goes better too

I get the feeling that the three of them are starting to gel, which was one of the more amusing aspects of the old team

I think that they are trying to hard and that there is a bit more room for some of the design and tech of the cars. One of the guys I work with led the engineering team that developed the DB11 - there's lots of interesting stuff about that car. I'd liked to have heard a bit more about the S63 too.

Agree about the Ring bit but I'm soooo bored of the Ring.

Not the car, but it was more the anticipation that Sabine might get behind the wheel, as at least she's got a bit of personality. As for the Golf she was driving, I think it's completely flawed. A Golf with no back seats? That's almost as bad as the Range Rover Evoque with no 4 wheel drive !

I still think they are finding their feet. The features are still too much like the old TG.

Agree that the Fiat 124 article was biased towards the MX-5. We had an MX-5 and I must admit I struggled to see what all the fuss was about.

So was J S Tolkien.

I had a day at Blyton Park with the place all to myself and Mark Hales sat in the MX-5 beside me. I TOTALLY get why people like the MX-5. It cured me of wanting silly amounts of horsepower - it was so capable. Took my Abarth 595 Turismo there a few months later and the difference (for not a massive amount of cash difference) was huge - not least of all because the Abarth's "uprated" brakes were done in a lap.

Anyhow, I have lots and lots of respect for the Mazda.

Dunno who he/she is - a relative of JRR?

Yep Richard, indeed he was. My maths teacher at school was a J S Tolkeyn. A senior moment.

To be absolutely pedantic, I think you'll find it was the Harvard Lampoon...

I think you'll find there's no other kind of pedantry.

Who is that guy that presents Extra Gear? He's terrible.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Probably what we missed was a track day in ours. I'm sure it's abilities would have become clear then. It did have tons of grip, but I found it quite a dull experience as a road car. It was also rather jittery and uncomfortable on rough roads. And, it could have done with a better engine sound....

As a driver of an NA Coupe, I fully appreciate that you don't need lots of power to have fun....

The Uno turbo i.e. got a mention last night, the whole show is alright by me

SLIGHLTY OFF TOPIC - More Fiat 124 related....

Mrs BB has a TT roadster and she's been looking for a replacement recently.

We re-visited the MX5, which she tested last year and the 124 spider. Last year she had registered for the 124 spider updates and yes the press pictures of the 124 looked fantastic. She did take out an MX5 but the Fiat had not been launched. In the end she chose a much older TT.

Clearly now that the Fiat is available she had to see one. The dealer we visited allowed us to park a NEW 124 alongside a used MX5 both in white. In the metal / plastic the Fiat is sadly far less attractive than those press pics. It is also considerably bigger (Overhangs) than the Mazda and kind of looks like it's on stilts.

I am sure that on the track the RWD Mazda based cars will be the most rewarding but on a damp road in early March it wasn't great - constant TC lamp Both these cars are also tiny too, no leg room for a six footer.

We then spent a week with a brand new Audi TT roadster, which she did consider. It was really good with the roof down. Sadly roof up the road noise was horrible also to get a good spec the price is silly.

So, she's gone for a 2014 Amplified black TT roadster quattro, which is a far better car than either the Fiat or Mazda, on the road, though not too much cheaper

Regarding the 124, am I the only one who thinks that the headlights look odd, reminds me of bulging eyed frog. Not the end of the world but I don't think it's that good looking in the flesh.....Just my thoughts.

I think the thing about RWD is that comes with pros and cons as do all drive systems. What I love about it is that it is engaging and, far beyond the other systems, allows you to trim the attitude of the car in corners. It's is, though, far more challenging in the wet. Not everybody wants that.

I'm 6' and had absolutely no trouble with the size of the car.

The car was tight but would be fine for local runs. But as we plan to take our convertible down towards Italy and beyond there was no way we could live with one In the passenger seat there was no way I could straighten my legs.

Hairdresser in the city I know of, the last time I looked he was driving a Merc s class saloon.

There's a coupe-driving hairdresser in Hemel... (Hi Freddie :waves: )