J Clarkson Top Gear 26 June

THX911 · Jun 26, 2005

ORIGINAL: daro911 from a different thread

[] Seems like it came on and then off as soon as JC got drive the fighter jet it was obvious which of the 2 would rotate his wheels It would appear Clarkson jnr must have lost his Porsche contracts as he has definitely cooled on the brand only leaving James to defend our corner for now [&o]

...and almost on cue he stated that Boxster will alway be a poorman's 911. Surely an experienced driver like him should know by now the difference between a mid-mounted and a rear-mounted engine...

daro911 · Jun 26, 2005

ORIGINAL: THX911

...and almost on cue he stated that Boxster will alway be a poorman's 911. .

[

] Yeah I am pretty sure the short Clarkson wannabe fed him that pearl of wisdom What a pair of sadacts those two are rapidly becoming []

Helen Goff · Jun 26, 2005

was impressed that old clarkie fitted in the new Boxster and looked quite comftable..he always winged about the old one not being big anough.

out of interest is there more room for the taller/bigger driver in the 987?

daro911 · Jun 26, 2005

ORIGINAL: Helen Goff

out of interest is there more room for the taller/bigger driver in the 987?

[

]Yes it has more space for those vertically challenged amongst us extra leg, head and elbow room

JCB.. · Jun 27, 2005

...and almost on cue he stated that Boxster will alway be a poorman's 911. Surely an experienced driver like him should know by now the difference between a mid-mounted and a rear-mounted engine...

Classic Clarkson in my view - we don't complain when he slags off any other make!

If the consensus is that "Top Gear" is now light entertainment instead of educational then the show needs the man.

I didn't really understand the evaluation test and as Helen suggested why an AMG?

JCB..

daro911 · Jun 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: JCB..

...and almost on cue he stated that Boxster will alway be a poorman's 911. Surely an experienced driver like him should know by now the difference between a mid-mounted and a rear-mounted engine...

Click to expand...

Classic Clarkson in my view - we don't complain when he slags off any other make!

JCB..

Yes classic Clarkson but why is the little fella jumping in on the band wagon when a few series back he was a strong Porsche supporter and the banter between him and JC was even more entertaining! Being JC's lap dog isn't as effective

JCB.. · Jun 27, 2005

Yes classic Clarkson but why is the little fella jumping in on the band wagon when a few series back he was a strong Porsche supporter and the banter between him and JC was even more entertaining! Being JC's lap dog isn't as effective

Well he did ask the Pongo's to use live rounds![

]

Michael Downing · Jun 27, 2005

It looked to me as if TG's scriptwriters had been cribbing off our Forum. Virtually every prediction we made came true.... [

]

Should we put in a claim for royalties?

Usual format, though; devise a carefully structured test and then ignore the result and say which one they like [

]. Odd for JC to have chosen a hairdryer with wheels, though.

daro911 · Jun 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: mdowning

Usual format, though; devise a carefully structured test and then ignore the result and say which one they like []. Odd for JC to have chosen a hairdryer with wheels, though.

[8D] Not at all the poor sod sold his Ferrari for a SL and then sold his Merc for a FORD!! which has been off the road and in the garage more days than poor JC has been behind the steering wheel, which happens to be on the wrong side

thboxster · Jun 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: daro911

[8D] Not at all the poor sod sold his Ferrari for a SL and then sold his Merc for a FORD!! which has been off the road and in the garage more days than poor JC has been behind the steering wheel.

So based on this, we can assume his judgment is clouded anyway[

]

Helen Goff · Jun 27, 2005

haven't we assumed that for a while.. ?

still quite entertaining though [

]

Guest · Jun 27, 2005

We all know some very careful marketting and market share considerations have resulted in the perceived "dampening down" of the Boxster/Cayman power plants so as not to cut the throat of 911 sales.

I think, just for the sheer hell of it, Porsche should find a way to wedge the new 3.8L twin turbo engine with AWD into a Boxster/Cayman chassis as a one-off. Call it a "development", a limited edition or Albert. I don't care what it's called but I think we all agree that it would be the most complete driving experience money (probably a lot of it) could buy.

Then send it to RUF!

cheers,

Iain

PS : Just remember not to use Michelins!

Guest · Jun 27, 2005

Just adding my bit. [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

Why didn't they compare the Boxster against the real Merc rival, which is the SLK 350?

Same price.

I think we all know the answer.

Instead he went for one which costs a whole family car more than the Boxster.

I suppose it shows just how good the Porsche is. For the Merc to stand a chance it needed a 5.5 V8, the help of AMG and another £11k spending on it before it could get equal with the Porsche. [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

Michael Downing · Jun 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: SimonS
Why didn't they compare the Boxster against the real Merc rival, which is the SLK 350?

Who reckons the conversation with Merc's press office went like this:

TG: "Can we borrow an SLK350 please?"
MPO: "No problem. Can we ask why?"
TG: "We want to compare it to the new Boxster S"
MPO: "Oh.. Ah... my colleague tells me that he's just booked out the SLK350 for that week. But we can give you an SLK55AMG instead ?... ."

daro911 · Jun 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: SimonS

I suppose it shows just how good the Porsche is. For the Merc to stand a chance it needed a 5.5 V8, the help of AMG and another £11k spending on it before it could get equal with the Porsche.

BUT JC said the Merc was inferior build quality, cheaper interior, appallingly harsh and unforgiving suspension, didn't handle ride or corner anywhere near as good as the Porsche and it was purely the power and sound track that swung the SLK for him. He did say the SLK was the better looking car and had a superior roof, both of these points can be argued as they are purely personal tastes / preferences. So JC and the little clone went for the SLK for all the right reasons unusable performance in the real world

Dapster · Jun 27, 2005

To be honest, anyone who needs a perm haired yobbo and his sidekick to tell you how to spend 40 large deserves everything they get! It is fantastic entertainment though - a programme totally redeemed by articles such as the "race" between the plane and the Ferrari or the Aston and the train, and some jawdropping photography like the Discovery in Scotland or the super slo-mo during Ferrari and Aston comparison. As for intellectual balanced debate, you're going to get more of that in the Beano.

Michael Downing · Jun 27, 2005

I listened carefully to JC and the hamster .... I noted their points. I too like the pull of a powerful engine. But, even after all they had said, I'd take the Boxster and £11k. No question. Although I'd probably spend the £11k on the options list! [

]

And I'm not biased because mine is a 911. [

]

Rodney Naghar · Jun 27, 2005

I had a ride in a friend's 350SLK recently. I didn't even want the car to move, I just wanted out. You just can't compare the two.My friend didn't even consider the Boxster.I'm stating the obvious, but people want different things from their cars. Some are not interested in buying a Porsche - and all the sports car connotations it embodies. They want a refined car, with some power and good looks. Hence Clarkson's choice of an SL55 AMG over a 911 turbo.

That's why Clarkson makes sense to a lot of people.That's why his 'Can't afford a 911' comment is oft repeated, because that's what the great unwashed think. That's why people buy an SLK AMG instead of say a 911 or Boxster.

Every time I see a new SLK or Z3 being driven around I am amazed that these people bought these cars over a Boxster. But there you go. Less Boxsters around, better resale values I guess.