The Foreman – BBC Top Gear Australia

Good work on the site, looks great. Many hours shall be wasted n thjs site.

Great site, just as good as the show,
Thanks

congrats mate on the new site looking good already. hope it all goes well for ya.

cheers
ollii (your brother in/out of law)

Ha Ha

Well done, guys!

Been waiting for this for ages! Great site and thanks for finally getting it up and running.

Dear Mr. Clarkson,

While I do not expect this missive to be read by you or any of your colleagues given your very busy and demanding lives, I remain hopeful that one of you might consider some of the issues I am about to raise. After all, part of the charm and success of Top Gear (and your articles in The Times or, in my case, the Prestige Motoring section of The Australian newspaper) is its irreverent and politically challenging attitudes, views and creativity to a subject that matter that appeals emotionally to any man who desires to control, as Jaguar’s founder once said, the closest thing man has created to something that is alive.

The recent episode aired in Australia of the UK version of Top Gear undermined what was, ostensibly, a matter of agreement between yourself, James May and Richard Hammond, despite the closing remarks made with respect to the Alfa Romeo challenge – the effect was gratuitous. To say that it is possible to qualify as a true car enthusiast unless one has, at some point in one’s life, owned an Alfa Romeo and then to ridicule and undermine that proposition by purchasing Alfa Romeos that are in bad condition or were made during a period during which unequivocally the company was not producing motor vehicles that reflect its inherent philosophy, is disingenuous.

I do not deny that many Alfas, past and present (the inexcusable liaison between Alfa and Nissan in the 1980s, most of the 1980s models, the rust and electrical problems, the recent GTV and the current Brera all accounted for) have been under-whelming and less than what the company is capable of, but Alfa has shone through with a number of its more recent cars. The 147 is not a bad car, though now outdated. The current 159, while overweight, is beautiful and well-engineered. However, the 156 is what has brought Alfa back to the fold.

If the selection process at Top Gear for the 1000 pounds available to spend on the challenge had been better applied, which is presented as being part of the responsibility of the show’s presenters themselves, an 1974 Alfa GTV 2000, in good condition, should have been chosen and/or the last of the mid 1980’s Alfa GTV6, would have presented as more appropriate adversaries for the challenges in question. The former car, in Australia, successfully challenged the V8 Australian Fords and Holdens outside their class in the 1970s. The latter, when modified, with inexpensive upgrades, but with their inherent 50/50 weight distribution and superlative handling, have challenged the Porsches and other exotics portrayed in your challenge in many track days, both here in Australia and overseas, and still continue to do so.

For myself, I clearly confess a bias. I own a late model 2003 Alfa 156 jts (face-lift). It is a beautiful car. Your cool wall once described it as “sub-zero”. However, despite the apparent issues that have arisen in the UK with dealer service, such issues do not exist in Australia, at least not in my experience or those of other Alfa owners of whom I am aware.

Further, it is prescient to note that my now 5 year old 156, after nearly 40,000 kms runs like it was when it was new. The only thing ever to have failed is the fast cycle on the window wiper. That is not an expensive repair. In comparison to my experience, I am aware of many, many other vehicles in a similar category that have experienced much more serious issues. For instance, my father owns an only just 4-year-old BMW 320 estate. After only a few months out of its 3-year warranty period, two cylinders shut down. Upon diagnosis by BMW Australia, it was ascertained that a further two cylinders were also affected. The cost of parts and repairs for what is essentially and, on the face of it, a European prestige car for which reliability and longevity are expected, was over $5,000 Aust’. I made a point of requesting my father to inform BMW Aust’ that I own an older, Italian Alfa and nothing of that order has ever gone wrong with it.

Alfas are now no longer the irresponsible choice and the flippant choice of the unwary or foolish enthusiast. They are well made, reliable and the sort of pleasure to drive that is what is all about being in control of the closest thing that man has come to creating something that is alive at leas – at least insofar as my experience and that of fellow Alfa owners. The manner in which Alfas were portrayed on your program was regrettable. Hopefully you might re-think such views if the subject arises again.

Kind regards,

Padraic.

I think what padriac is trying to say is that the presenters could have chosen better cars and that he has an Alfa that doesn’t brake down. Oh, and Yes, Alfa’s are cool cars…

What about a caption competition?

Can u put links to the UK and US site on the page somewhere, like the uk version does?

Padriac i am little confused.
If u r saying that TGUS or TGA host selection could be better, yes i agree
but the TGUK hosts r the best, no one can replace them not even me
Well Done TGUK keep up the great work!!