V8 Esprit beaten by a diesel Beemer!

[Mysterae]

Those watching Top Gear may have noticed the 535 DIESEL BMW has beaten the V8 Esprit (amongst other cars I like) round the Top Gear test track!

I demand a retake! Can I drive it this time instead of the dosey Stig?!!

[lrg_machine]

I know !!!

I saw that as well, I think the Stig was Jonathan Ross or the blind man the day they tested the V8.

[WayneB]

Does this show really hate Lotus that much?

[lrg_machine]

From memory, Clarkson actually likes the V8 even though he did keep stalling it ( the muppet)

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I refuse to accept for one second that the Esprit in ANY turbo charged guise would be beaten anywhere by a bloody Ford Focus - even the RS and *especially* not the V8

They did say Stig moaned about not liking Lotus cars so I bet he barely tried and only did like one lap.

Like a bloody diesel anything would beat a V8... I'm sorry I just don't believe it

[Mysterae]

I agree Dr!

Perhaps they put diesel in the Esprit before doing the track time

They also changed Stigs between filming seasons. Now we know why, he was sh1t.

[Jussi]

What were the track conditions when they tested Esprit? I remembered it was wet on that day

[WayneB]

Still havent seen the episode where the V8s gearbox explodes, whos V8 was tested, surely not one from the factory?

[Mysterae]

Seeing is believing I suppose!

The evidence in on LEW!!

Esprit on Top Gear test track

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

The V8 gearbox thing is 5th Gear on Channel 5 - their amazingly remarkabe "Can we make a car go 200mph" project that theyre making out to be such a big deal!

Errr.. Yes, Buy any modern Esprit and whack a 5th gear mod and a few simple other things... job done!

Daft!

They re-did the Murcielago track time cos they didn't like it.....

I demand a re-count!

[neal]

I know this is going to sound really whiney but I doubt anyone here will mind. That Top Gear time has always annoyed me and here's why:

1. Although it was dry, when they were discussing the time afterwards (it's not on that LEW .mov but there is another more complete version somewhere) Clarkson described the temperature as minus 500 or some such. So the time didn't get a 'wet' label but suffered similar.

2. As I recall the V8 was a stock 02, i.e. stock ECM which means boost limitation in all but fifth. The Top gear track is too short to get into fifth. Even had he stayed in the high rev range in one to four, I doubt the boost would have averaged more that 7psi compared to the S350's 11psi.

3. Yep, the Stig did make a balls up. Just listen to him bouncing off the rev limiter after the start with the on screen speedo going no where, before bothering to change into second! Plus he obviously overcooked a few corners.

4. They lied about the time! The video shows 1:31:90 whereas they wrote 1:32:50 on the board.

Whining over,

Neal

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Wel... in answer to the subheading to this thread.. I think I can safely say it's a resounding..

YES!!

[WayneB]

Who is this Stig bloke? (never heard of him over here)

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

He has popped up in several threads...

He is two (at least!) different racing drivers... Basically he is anonymous on the show cos they can't guarantee getting the same bloke every time. So they stick him in a black Simmons crash helmet with a black visor and noone knows specifically who it is from week to week.

[Simon350S]

Did you see the STIG in a new spanky Red F430 the other week?

Clipped the tyres and left a nice big BLACK go faster stripe all the way down the side! LOL Had a giggle at that.

[WayneB]

So its probably Tiff Need*l, or another wank*r

[Mark Blanchard]

Yep, the Stig did make a balls up. Just listen to him bouncing off the rev limiter after the start with the on screen speedo going no where, before bothering to change into second! Plus he obviously overcooked a few corners.

I seem to remember the Stig not liking the car much. I recon, given another driver who new how to drive an Esprit, would have wasted those shopping trolleys.

[oneshot]

So its probably Tiff Need*l, or another wank*r

One person that I heard it was is Johnny Herbert

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I'd have like dto have overheard THAT conversation with Ferrari later!

[paul&paula]

One person that I heard it was is Johnny Herbert

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nope; generally speaking the Stig is Perry McCarthy

[Advantage]

Nope; generally speaking the Stig is Perry McCarthy

Nope, was Perry Mc Carthy. Nowadays its mostly Ben Collins (BTCC) except when he can't attend (or something a bit special like the F1 car from a short while ago) then it's anybody's guess. So you can take the lap times with a pinch of salt.

As for the 5 series derv, I'm not convinced because it's two tonnes of metal despite the bhp/lbft....but it makes a good story. It's an "entertainment show", after all.

[neal]

Nope, was Perry Mc Carthy.  Nowadays its mostly Ben Collins (BTCC) except when he can't attend (or something a bit special like the F1 car from a short while ago) then it's anybody's guess.  So you can take the lap times with a pinch of salt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, the black Stig (i.e. the one who drove the Esprit) was McCarthy. He's also famous for having the shortest F1 career of any driver. Pull out of the pits during opening practise and reaches the end of the pit lane before the car gives up. Team then told him to piss off home again. Nuff said

[WayneB]

Met Ben Collins when he was over here running in Indy Lights for Stefan Johhanson. He did nothing but moan about the car (excuses for crap driving) It sounds like he is your mystery man

[Jussi]

I thought this "mystery driver" was formerly Damon Hill Don't know from where I get that information

[paul&paula]

I thought this "mystery driver" was formerly Damon Hill  Don't know from where I get that information 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

that was an urban myth