Top Gear 02x01

From FinalGear.com Wiki

“[02x01]”
This is James May's first season in Top Gear.
Episode no.	Series 2 Episode 1
Music used	–
Guest stars	Vinnie Jones
Production no.	0201
Original airdate	May 11, 2003
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → "[01x10] December 29, 2002" "[02x02] May 18, 2003"
List of Top Gear Series 2 episodes

In this Episode

The general theme of this episode is "Cheap Thrills".

Review: Jeremy Clarkson road tests the Smart Roadster. Despite the poor performance figures and the terribly slow sequential gearbox, he likes it very much. He loves the styling, the funky interior and the way it goes, so his conclusion is that it's a fantastic little car. In spite of that, later in the studio he says he wouldn't buy one, because he "refuses to be ripped off by Germans".

Cool Wall: Jeremy and Richard discuss the coolness of three small convertibles: the VW Beetle, the Ford StreetKa and the Smart Roadster. Unsurprisingly, they all are put in the "Cool" section of the Wall. The Beetle and the StreetKa go to "Cool" and the Smart into "Sub-Zero". After that, the Renault Avantime is taken off the Wall due to Renault having stopped making it.

Studio Segment: Jeremy introduces the new "Love/Hate" Board, and Hammond lists his 5 worst cars ever. Top of the list is the Nissan Sunny, which will feature in the following segment.

Challenge: Richard Hammond has a jet-powered dragster car burn a Nissan Sunny.

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car: Vinnie Jones, former footballer, talks about his car history and reenacts the scene in Lock&Stock where he smashes a man's head in the door of a Rover P6, this time using a watermelon and the door of the Smart Roadster. He completes his lap in the Suzuki Liana in 1:53.0.

Review: James May makes his first appearance ever in Top Gear explaining the pros and cons of buying a classic Bentley, using his own as a prime example.

News: Peugeot 206 GTI and 206 GTI SW. Renault Kangoo. Saab 93 Convertible. The new V10-engined, 5-liter 500 BHP Lamborghini Gallardo. Lotus' attempt at copyrighting the Lotus Esprit shape.

Main Review: Bowler Wildcat. Richard Hammond tests this souped-up Land Rover Defender and proclaims himself "Driving God", much to Clarkson's amusement. The Stig puts the Wildcat around the Top Gear track in 1:39.4, not a very good time, but not that bad, bearing in mind that the Wildcat was completely out of its environment.

Challenge: Hammond torches a caravan using the jet-powered dragster he used earlier on to destroy a Nissan Sunny.

Screenshots

Jeremy tests a Mid-engined, rear wheel drive, turbocharged, convertible Mercedes-Benz	This episode introduces the Love/Hate Board	The Nissan Sunny dies a well-deserved fiery death	Vinnie Jones is the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car
James May's Bentley	Jeremy tests the suspension in James May's Bentley	The 206SW in the news	Richard next to a modified Toyota MR2
The Bowler Wildcat	Richard Hammond about to self-proclaim "Driving God"	A real "driving god": The Stig in the Bowler Wildcat	Richard torches another thing he hates