# The American Top Gear

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-top-gear/690539>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 11, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-top-gear/690539 "2014-06-11T14:39:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-top-gear/690539/21 "2014-06-12T23:41:06Z")

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> [@steronz](#):
>
> The “humor” in the British Top Gear is often really, really bad. Like the Burma special, Jeremy Clarkson is so utterly befuddled by his lorry that he accidentally dumps the contents of the truck bed when he didn’t mean to. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh British humor, are you ever funny?

I know - it’s weird. I often feel like Top Gear succeeds in spite of its hosts’ ability, rather than because of it. But still, it works for me somehow.

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-top-gear/690539/22 "2014-06-14T06:59:36Z")

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I think the American Top Gear is underrated. Tanner Faust is the best driver outside of the Stig, and the three of them have some pretty good charisma.

Today they did a major off-road challenge in a Land Rover, a Toyota FJ, and a custom built Jeep. They beat them up pretty bad, and the little FJ hung right in there. It was pretty cool.

I love the UK Top Gear, but it’s starting to show its age. The gags no longer bear any resemblance to reality, and they’re kind of repeating themselves a bit. Still great television, but probably past its peak.

Top Gear USA isn’t consistently up the UK version’s standards, but it has a lot going for it. For one thing, the same crazy high production values. They’re both gorgeous shows to watch. I could watch them both with the volume off just for the cinematography.

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**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-top-gear/690539/23 "2014-06-14T07:12:05Z")

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When the American version first came out I thought it sucked. I’ve warmed to it since. It’s a different perspective with different personalities.

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