Top Gear 03x04
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}};" colspan="2" | “[03x04]” | |||||||
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 {{#if:Top Gear celebrates 40 years of Lamborghini|Top Gear celebrates 40 years of Lamborghini}} | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Episode no. | Series 3 Episode 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by | {{{Writer}}} | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Music used | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Directed by | {{{Director}}} | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Guest stars | Rich Hall | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Photographed by | {{{Photographer}}} | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Production no. | 0304 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Original airdate | November 16th, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" style="background:{{#switch: 3 | #default = #C6C9FF | Angel = #5678AC | Buffy the Vampire Slayer = #5678AC | Entourage = #FBBC87 | Firefly = #fc9 | Home and Away = #F9BA5B | Stargate Atlantis = #7F8EB7 | Stargate SG-1 = #7F8EB7 | The 4400 = #B9D0E8 | The O.C. = #FFAA44 | The Simpsons = #FADA00 | Veronica Mars = #C0D883 | Sex and the City = #EAADEA | OldTG = #FFD700
}};" | Series 3 episodes {{{Series list}}} | |||||||
}} {{#if:List of Top Gear Series 3 episodes| | |||||||||||||||||||||
| List of Top Gear Series 3 episodes
}} | |||||||||||||||||||||
Contents |
[edit] In This Episode
It is Lamborghini's 40th anniversary that year, so they've dedicated the episode to the mad marque.
[edit] Review
Hammond drives a bright green Miura, opening with it's glorious noise. He says it's the spiritual father of all modern Lamborghinis and in addition, the inspiration behind all modern supercars. The first Miura arrived in the UK on the 13th of June, 1967. Hammond compares it to Harold Wilson on LSD.
Hammond talks about the Miura's origins. The chief designer was 22, and the project was an unofficial, after-hours project.
He notes the transverse mid-engined layout, and the door pillars that resemble bull's-horns.
There are mechanical issues, including the front-mounted fuel tank and the fuel-spitting carburettors. The car is also very difficult to drive, as Hammond demonstrates.
Hammond then meets up with Jay Kay and his 1971 SV, which they rip about in at high speed. Jay Kay tells the story of how the driver's side window smashed (he closed the door).
They finish off by visiting the prototype Concorde at Duxford, as Richard compares it's ground-breaking nature to the Miura. 
In the studio, Jeremy invites opinions on the best-looking machine of all time. Opinions include the Spitfire, the SR-71, Ford GT40, Aston Martin DB7 (to which a bloke with a two-tone beard objects) and the Miura.
[edit] News
James starts off by expressing disapproval of the personalised registration number, saying that he doesn't play golf.
May points those of an alternative opinion to a DVLA auction, where one can buy:
- B347 LES, for the music enthusiast. This baffles James, as he didn't realise drum-kits (in the photo the plate is on a drum) had to be registered, and says it's rubbish and only suitable for someone called Les who lives just off the B347.
- V14 GRA, which wins universal derision (it cost £22,000), Hammond asks why you would advertise such an embarrasing 'problem' to the world.
- T10 AST, for £1,125. "There's no 'I' in toast!" exclaims Hammond. "Why do you want 'Toast' on your car?!"
- S74 MPS, for £1,200 which is 'even worse'. They suggest other random words, such as 'blamange' and 'elbow'.
- P147 BOY. "I've met him!" says James.
Jeremy attacks the very existence of such an auction, as the Police would probably book you anyway.
They move on to that year's Wales Rally GB, and some rallyists who got caught by a speed camera van, and decry the officious nature of this act. "Some of them were doing forty miles per hour," says Jeremy.
Richard shows the VW Concept R. Jeremy mocks the fact that the wheel and pedals move instead of the seat.
They say that the Perodua Kenari is indeed multi-purpose, as it could be used to stop a door banging in the wind, as a chicken-run, and a bottle-bank, but not as a car.
They are unhappy to discover that the best-selling car for September 2003 is the Vauxhall Corsa. They suggest the Honda Jazz, the Nissan Micra and the Toyota Yaris as alternatives.
[edit] Review
James drives the Countach LP400S. In the Countach/Boxer war he comes down on the side of the Lambo. He finds that the Lambo is outrageously flashy, saying that 'Countach' is Italian slang, roughly translating to 'phwoarr!'.
On the road, he finds that it's exciting, but finds that it's exhausting to drive and extremely difficult to park. He ends by saying that one should never meet one's heroes.
Back in the studio, Jeremy reveals that the lady tennisist is called Steven, to James' dismay. Jeremy makes it worse by parking the Lambo in a space by sitting half-out of the car. Apparently it's a technique developed at the factory that Jeremy modified (by not wearing sunglasses).
[edit] Stig lap
Richard confesses that the Murcielago lap from the 1x01 was unfair because of a wet track, so they repeat it in the dry with White Stig.
He sets a time of 1:23.7, a new lap record.
[edit] Star in a Reasonably Priced Car
The comedian and regular QI contestant Rich Hall is on. His first job was as a NOAA hurricane namer. He was fired for calling one 'Jugs'. Jeremy drides his car history, which consists of:
- The Chevrolet Corvair, described as 'unsafe at any speed'.
- A Vega
- He bought his first pickup truck two weeks before going on the show.
They discuss the traffic laws in Rich's home state of Montana, including the time when there was no speed limit.
He apparently faked his death to evade paying for repairs to someone else's car.
They compare American and British car names, finding that the latter are terrible, particularly the Rover 25.
[edit] Review
Richard reviews some tuned Mini Cooper S cars.
- Works Cooper S - £18,000 197hp, 0-60 in 6.7s, top speed 140mph.
- Hartge Cooper S - £16,370, 200hp.
- Digi-tec Cooper S - £16,000, 210hp.
- BBR Cooper S - 275hp.
Hammond picks the Works as it's the best all rounder and it keeps it's warranty.
[edit] Studio segment
They laugh at a VW Corrado with a massive supercharged V8 engine, and at cars with ludicrous exhausts, including a Clio with two stolen dustbins.
May looks at the LM002, available to about £35,000, however Jeremy once filled one up many years ago for £147. Tyres are £550 each, and a full tank of fuel in November 2003 would be £220.
They start it off around the track, with the Hammerhead cameraman laughing at the ridiculous spectacle, but apparently it didn't finish because 'it ran out of petrol'.
[edit] Review
Jeremy takes the Gallardo out on the track. He says that Lambo had to stop making 'dinosaurs', and this is Lambo being sensible.
He finds evidence of Lamboness in the broken ashtray and the worn gearlever but little elsewhere. He's taken with it's non-scaryness, and he can see where he's been. He puts this down to the sensible Germans running the company.
He compares them to the 996 Turbo and the DB7 Zagato and thinks that the Lambo is much better looking, whilst being faster, easier to drive and more powerful than a 360, 'like a big Lotus Elise'.
He loves it overall but he says that, like the Bentley Continental GT, some of the Lambo passion has been lost in the making of the car.
Back in the studio, they comment that the episode was rather a poor tribute to Lamborghini. Jeremy says the Murcielago is the best Lambo.
The Stig then takes the Gallardo around a wet track in 1:25.8.
