R55 The Top Gear's Ugliest car of 2008 is?
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
"Ditto"
I was getting ready to type the same message!!!!!!!!
There are other threads where someone is trying to get vital information and are lucky to get 10 replies and this one has 7 pages.
I was getting ready to type the same message!!!!!!!!
There are other threads where someone is trying to get vital information and are lucky to get 10 replies and this one has 7 pages.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 38,578
Likes: 2
Only because it's Clarkson!!!
No, really....there is no telling what thread is going to create sparks. These things just happen!!
No, really....there is no telling what thread is going to create sparks. These things just happen!!
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: On the road from DC to AL.
Speaking of Clarkson, as others have said, he gets himself in trouble. ( I do like Top Gear though...)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01...ank_backfires/
Clarkson's 'steal my ID' stunt backfires
Top Gear chap shoots self in foot
Gobby TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been forced to reverse his position after he lost money after publishing his bank account details in a newspaper column.
The Top Gear presenter rather rashly published his account details in a column in The Sun to back up his claims that the child benefit data loss furore, which resulted in the loss of unencrypted CDs containing bank details of 25m people, was a lot of fuss about nothing.
Clarkson published his bank account number and sort code, along with clues to his address, insisting that the worst that could happen was that someone could pay money into his account.
Days later Clarkson was forced to admit he was wrong after an unidentified prankster set up a £500 direct debit from the presenter's account in favour of charity Diabetes UK, the BBC reports.
"The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again," Clarkson said in a column published in the Sunday Times. "I was wrong and I have been punished for my mistake."
Clarkson, never one to shy away from colourful or controversial commentary, is now hopping mad over the data loss. "Contrary to what I said at the time, we must go after the idiots who lost the discs and stick cocktail sticks in their eyes until they beg for mercy," he said
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01...ank_backfires/
Clarkson's 'steal my ID' stunt backfires
Top Gear chap shoots self in foot
Gobby TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been forced to reverse his position after he lost money after publishing his bank account details in a newspaper column.
The Top Gear presenter rather rashly published his account details in a column in The Sun to back up his claims that the child benefit data loss furore, which resulted in the loss of unencrypted CDs containing bank details of 25m people, was a lot of fuss about nothing.
Clarkson published his bank account number and sort code, along with clues to his address, insisting that the worst that could happen was that someone could pay money into his account.
Days later Clarkson was forced to admit he was wrong after an unidentified prankster set up a £500 direct debit from the presenter's account in favour of charity Diabetes UK, the BBC reports.
"The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again," Clarkson said in a column published in the Sunday Times. "I was wrong and I have been punished for my mistake."
Clarkson, never one to shy away from colourful or controversial commentary, is now hopping mad over the data loss. "Contrary to what I said at the time, we must go after the idiots who lost the discs and stick cocktail sticks in their eyes until they beg for mercy," he said
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
From: USA
Publicity stunt
Speaking of Clarkson, as others have said, he gets himself in trouble. ( I do like Top Gear though...)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01...ank_backfires/
Clarkson's 'steal my ID' stunt backfires
Top Gear chap shoots self in foot
Gobby TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been forced to reverse his position after he lost money after publishing his bank account details in a newspaper column.
The Top Gear presenter rather rashly published his account details in a column in The Sun to back up his claims that the child benefit data loss furore, which resulted in the loss of unencrypted CDs containing bank details of 25m people, was a lot of fuss about nothing.
Clarkson published his bank account number and sort code, along with clues to his address, insisting that the worst that could happen was that someone could pay money into his account.
Days later Clarkson was forced to admit he was wrong after an unidentified prankster set up a £500 direct debit from the presenter's account in favour of charity Diabetes UK, the BBC reports.
"The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again," Clarkson said in a column published in the Sunday Times. "I was wrong and I have been punished for my mistake."
Clarkson, never one to shy away from colourful or controversial commentary, is now hopping mad over the data loss. "Contrary to what I said at the time, we must go after the idiots who lost the discs and stick cocktail sticks in their eyes until they beg for mercy," he said
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01...ank_backfires/
Clarkson's 'steal my ID' stunt backfires
Top Gear chap shoots self in foot
Gobby TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been forced to reverse his position after he lost money after publishing his bank account details in a newspaper column.
The Top Gear presenter rather rashly published his account details in a column in The Sun to back up his claims that the child benefit data loss furore, which resulted in the loss of unencrypted CDs containing bank details of 25m people, was a lot of fuss about nothing.
Clarkson published his bank account number and sort code, along with clues to his address, insisting that the worst that could happen was that someone could pay money into his account.
Days later Clarkson was forced to admit he was wrong after an unidentified prankster set up a £500 direct debit from the presenter's account in favour of charity Diabetes UK, the BBC reports.
"The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again," Clarkson said in a column published in the Sunday Times. "I was wrong and I have been punished for my mistake."
Clarkson, never one to shy away from colourful or controversial commentary, is now hopping mad over the data loss. "Contrary to what I said at the time, we must go after the idiots who lost the discs and stick cocktail sticks in their eyes until they beg for mercy," he said
The Register seems to have gotten it, whilst its readership is apparently rife with Clarkson apologists who read the article and didn't get it.
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA
If I recall correctly, he said he was 6'5" when he squeezed himself into the Peel P50. (if you haven't seen that one, it's worth the laugh!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0LQJLabqA
Is it just me, or was he having some problems handling the car in that clip?
Is it just me, or was he having some problems handling the car in that clip?
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: U.K.
I like the R56 design. the factory ride height leaves A LOT to be desired, but I understand why it is setup like that. The R56 looks really good with a proper suspension setup and some black wheels . If i was in the market for a new MINI I'd go for it in a heartbeat.
I'm not a fan of the clubman, it looks like the whole car was an afterthought, and something that was built by a limo company that had spare time in between building Hummer stretch limos.
And 'ugliest' car? Top Gear used to be a good show, but Jeremy Clark is getting old and his opinions seem more and more irrelevant with each passing episode. I suspect he was very disappointed by the clubman and his knee jerk reaction was to slap that label on the car. I can think of 10 uglier cars off of the top of my head, and that Renault posted earlier would rank waaaaaaay up there.
I'm not a fan of the clubman, it looks like the whole car was an afterthought, and something that was built by a limo company that had spare time in between building Hummer stretch limos.
And 'ugliest' car? Top Gear used to be a good show, but Jeremy Clark is getting old and his opinions seem more and more irrelevant with each passing episode. I suspect he was very disappointed by the clubman and his knee jerk reaction was to slap that label on the car. I can think of 10 uglier cars off of the top of my head, and that Renault posted earlier would rank waaaaaaay up there.
Just thought i'd reply to this thred, i live in the UK & i have to say that a lot of people still love the MINI no matter what variant it is.
I borrowed a Clubman S last Friday for 24 hours & i'm amazed at how fun it is & even though this model didn't have many exterior extras it still attracted a lot of attention wherever i went! It's just as fast as a standard R56 S & there is the option of having a LSD fitted to the car so torque steer wasn't an issue! Yes i'll agree that the styling isn't to everyone's taste but trust me on this it looks better in the metal than all the pictures show!
I also don't see what the problem with the club door is either i went out with some friends around town (i decided to drive since i had the Clubman) & after they'd had a few to drink they still managed to get in the back of the car without falling over each other which they would have done in a R50/53/56!This pic is one of the demo's at my local dealer & in the metal it does look good!
P.S. Even though Jeremy Clarkson said the Clubman was the ugliest car it still won "Best Small Car Of The Year" in the Top Gear magazine! (makes you think doesn't it?)
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: U.K.
The only rattle we got when we had one for the day was when we loaded the trunk full of shopping, The Clubdoor didn't have any problems! As for the Mini feeling... well i'm happy to say that it feels exactly the same to drive as a normal R56 Cooper S just.... well longer, i have to admit that i had my reservations at first but it is HUGE fun to drive & the performance is practically the same as a normal R56 Cooper S The only time you'll notice the extra weight is if you go full throttle into a corner but even then there's not that much difference between it & the normal R56, the sales guy at the dealership who's a friend of mine (hence why we got the car for 24 hours) still says that he thinks it handles & drives just as good if not better than the standard car! Also i'd like to point out that th car isn't as big as you'd think! it is still small when compared to other cars in the same market, in fact when i parked up at home the Clubman is about the same length as my mother's R32 VW Golf!
The only time you'll notice the extra weight is if you go full throttle into a corner but even then there's not that much difference between it & the normal R56, the sales guy at the dealership who's a friend of mine (hence why we got the car for 24 hours) still says that he thinks it handles & drives just as good if not better than the standard car! Also i'd like to point out that th car isn't as big as you'd think! it is still small when compared to other cars in the same market, in fact when i parked up at home the Clubman is about the same length as my mother's R32 VW Golf!
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Far West Texas
Whew! I'm glad to hear that. I could just see me getting the underpowered first model release which is full of rattles. Hearing about the performance, or not the lack thereof, is making me more excited on getting mine. Thanks again.
ftttu
ftttu
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,966
Likes: 1
Probably has something to do with Clarkson's critique
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle3082414.ece
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle3082414.ece
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 38,578
Likes: 2
That's the thing...he hates it one minute and loves it the next (in other segments). But, that's Clarkson...he speaks his mind (at least fragmented sections of it) and ya gotta love that (or at least find it entertaining)!!!
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Tempe, AZ
Jeremy Clarkson is a ****. Can't stand him.
But I agree with him on one thing: the Clubman is an absolute eyesore. If the Cooper S had a rear end like that, I'd have never even considered buying one.
As for whoever said it's impossible to say the Cooper's styling is fine, and suddenly the Clubman's is awful... um, no it's not. That's exactly what I'm saying. There's only one thing truly different about the styling of the Clubman versus the Cooper, that much is true. That thing is the rear end. And the rear end of the Clubman is unequivocally atrocious.
But I agree with him on one thing: the Clubman is an absolute eyesore. If the Cooper S had a rear end like that, I'd have never even considered buying one.
As for whoever said it's impossible to say the Cooper's styling is fine, and suddenly the Clubman's is awful... um, no it's not. That's exactly what I'm saying. There's only one thing truly different about the styling of the Clubman versus the Cooper, that much is true. That thing is the rear end. And the rear end of the Clubman is unequivocally atrocious.
Last edited by Damnathan; Jan 18, 2008 at 12:37 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Tempe, AZ
But this is one designer (granted, my specialty is print and not automotive styling) who thinks that all those cars are at least fairly awful, and that it's a shame that something as cringe-worthy as the Clubman has a MINI logo on it. Just my two cents.
Last edited by Damnathan; Jan 18, 2008 at 01:14 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 38,578
Likes: 2
Folks around the forums do consistently seem to have a hard time wrapping their minds around any change whatsoever in the MINI. I think the same is happening here. Cringe-worthy seems extreme...best to see them in person. And since it is a MINI, I suggest an open mind at least.