Top Gear Series 5

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 9

  • James drives the new BMW 1-Series.
  • Richard drives around a quarry in a Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG.
  • James and Jeremy try to find a ‘pearl’ among a collection of cars from the Pacific Rim.
  • Jeremy power tests the Ariel Atom.
  • Stars in a Reasonably Priced Car: Trinny Woodall, Susannah Constantine.

Episode Guide

Main review: Ariel Atom, from a company in Somerset. Clarkson describes it as being not only the next best thing to a superbike, for overweight middle aged men who would look ridiculous on two wheels and inevitably end up as organ donors – but actually better. He praises the “exoskeleton” design, plus the speed and handling, demonstrating both by racing and beating a 600cc motorcycle around the test track. He also points out that it is more thrilling than a superbike despite being safer – as it is legally a car and has a full roll cage and seatbelts, you don’t even need to wear leathers or a crash helmet, the latter famously leading to the car “destroying his whole face” with wind power and G-forces. The Stig takes it around the track in 1:19.5, well into Supercar territory.

Review: Hammond tests the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG. It is not as good offroad as its competitors, but in the urban scene it looks fantastic and has a more civilised demeanor. A supercharged V8 produces 476 bhp (355 kW), good for immense straight-line speed. Hammond calls it “the coolest car in the world”.

Review: May tests the new BMW 1-series, and is pleased with the rear-drive but finds it too expensive, slow, and poorly-made to buy.

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car: Trinny (1:54.1) who explains the importance of shoes to an outfit and Susannah (in 1:55.6) who shows how dressing is important to cars. Both in the wet. They fail to understand the importance of a good car to complement a good look.

Comparison: May and Clarkson go out to review a collection of cars from the Pacific Rim: Cars from Malaysia and Korea. Among these are the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent, in a 3-cylinder diesel version. They conclude that none of them are worth buying, due to being “built like white goods.” This is followed by a demonstration of a custom vehicle constructed from used home appliances.

Stig Power Laps

Ariel Atom
1:19.50

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

Susannah Constantine
1:55.70 (very wet)
Trinny Woodall
1:54.10 (very wet)

Music

BMW 1-Series Review:
00:34 – 01:17 – Starsailor – Four to the Floor (Soulsavers Mix)
01:17 – 01:35 – Christine & Katherine Shipp – She Began To Lie (Remix)
01:48 – 02:14 – Depeche Mode – Useless (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix)
02:14 – 02:15 – Depeche Mode – I Feel You
02:15 – 02:37 – Depeche Mode – In Your Room (The Jeep Rock Mix)
02:40 – 03:24 – Doves – Firesuite
03:26 – 03:58 – Mirwais – Never Young Again
03:58 – 04:35 – The Sabres of Paradise – Tow Truck
04:35 – 04:57 – FC/Kahuna – Hayling (Radio Edit)

Mercedes AMG G Wagon Review:
11:40 – 12:02 – Hybrid – Marrakech
12:02 – 12:45 – Global Communication – 4:02
12:45 – 14:24 – Orbital – The Box
14:30 – 15:09 – The Clifford Gilberto Rhythm Combination – Kula World
15:09 – 15:30 – David Holmes – Tub Scene
15:33 – 16:19 – Bill Withers – Who Is He (and What is He to You)
16:20 – 16:47 – David Holmes – Tub Scene
16:52 – 17:16 – David Holmes – Tub Scene

Pacific Rim Cars Review:
29:25 – 29:54 – Shirley Bassey – Spinning Wheel
29:55 – 30:10 – Tom Jones & Jools Holland – Slow Down
30:27 – 31:00 – [Love] Tattoo – Drop Some Drums
31:25 – 31:40 – Tom Jones & Jools Holland – Slow Down
31:42 – 32:06 – Fun Lovin’ Criminals – We Have All the Time in the World
32:31 – 33:06 – Fun Lovin’ Criminals – We Have All the Time in the World
33:22 – 33:47 – The Dandy Warhols – Get Off
34:41 – 35:00 – Alex Cuba Band – Bailalo Ahora
35:05 – 36:11 – Nat King Cole – Let There Be Love
36:27 – 36:53 – The Gentle People – Journey (Aphex Twin Remix)
36:58 – 37:39 – Manfred Mann – Got My Mojo Working
37:39 – 37:45 – Tom Jones & Jools Holland – Sally Suzas
37:50 – 38:50 – Veigar Margeirsson – Fearless
39:28 – 39:51 – Tom Jones & Jools Holland – Mam and Dad’s Waltz
39:51 – 40:24 – Veigar Margeirsson – Fearless
40:24 – 41:16 – Kings of Leon – Taper Jean Girl

Ariel Atom vs. Honda CBR 600RR:
45:29 – 45:50 – Craig Armstrong – Ball
46:09 – 46:40 – Matmos – Plastic Minor
46:40 – 47:26 – Massive Attack – Atta Boy
47:51 – 48:46 – Mirwais – Disco Science
48:47 – 49:51 – Curve – Crystal
49:58 – 50:41 – Crystal Method – Weapons of Mass Distortion
50:42 – 51:35 – Massive Attack – One Thought at a Time

Screenshots

Related posts

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 8

Sean McKellar

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 7

Sean McKellar

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 6

Sean McKellar

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 5

Sean McKellar

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 4

Sean McKellar

Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 3

Sean McKellar

1 comment

the guy with no name August 6, 2015 at 11:53 am

I NEED to get a kitchen appliance car like that lol.

Reply

Leave a Comment