# Top Gear (BBC America) -- Americanized? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855 "2013-09-03T02:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/21 "2013-09-03T11:02:46Z")
They, of course, use Imperial on purpose. It’s the Clarkson way. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/22 "2013-09-03T11:09:17Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > Sure, EU car manufacturers label performance as 0-100 kph and fuel economy in k/litre. I’m sure JC or one of the production staff do a quick back-of-an-envelope calculation to change those figures to imperial and 0-60 mph, it wouldn’t be hard to guesstimate the answers. They’re only presenting a tv show, not flying to Mars, so who cares if the numbers are very, very, very slightly out? > > All the above is totally speculation. The car manufacturers themselves put out the figures for the UK market in their PR, so "Jezza’ doesn’t need to get his calculator out. I’ve noticed [Lexus quote 0-62](http://www.lexus.co.uk/car-models/ct/ct-200h/index.tmex)\*, must make the maths easier. That Lexus link gives a good idea how confused our metrification is: they quote maximum speed as MPH, then CO2 emissions as grams per km. Anyway, adapting the figures has got to be easier than putting the steering wheel on the other side of the car. \*Why yes, that is my new car, how kind of you to ask 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/23 "2013-09-03T14:02:31Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > So your foot is a foot? A foot is 304.8 mm 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/24 "2013-09-03T14:17:46Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I’ve noticed [Lexus quote 0-62](http://www.lexus.co.uk/car-models/ct/ct-200h/index.tmex)\*, must make the maths easier. That Lexus link gives a good idea how confused our metrification is: they quote maximum speed as MPH, then CO2 emissions as grams per km. I also notice they list their wheel sizes in inches. Frankly, the CO2 emissions listing seems a bit redundant. If you click on the “Prices & Specifications” link on that page, the CT 200h S listing shows a fuel economy of 74.2 miles per (Imperial?) gallon. As far as I know, the amount of gasoline you burn DETERMINES the amout of CO2 you put out, period. In fact, the only way to reduce your CO2 emissions without improving your fuel economy would be to burn the fuel more dirtily, so you get junk like partially-combusted hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in your exhaust instead of CO2. Bleah. > [@](#): > > Anyway, adapting the figures has got to be easier than putting the steering wheel on the other side of the car. True, but at least right-hand drive isn’t just a British thing. They also need to put the steering wheel on the right if they’re going to sell it in India, South Africa, Japan, Australia, and (I think) Puerto Rico. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/25 "2013-09-03T14:19:56Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > A foot is 304.8 mm 🙂 Unless you’re talking about U.S. survey feet, in which case it’s 304.8006 mm. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/26 "2013-09-03T14:38:07Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > There is nothing americanised about Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson would have a fit if it was. Except Richard Hammond 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/27 "2013-09-03T14:50:35Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Unless you’re talking about U.S. survey feet, in which case it’s 304.8006 mm. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/28 "2013-09-03T14:52:07Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > the hood is the “bonnet”, the trunk is the “boot”, gasoline is “petrol”, and prices are in pounds A speed bump is a “sleeping policeman”. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/29 "2013-09-03T15:17:55Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > So while many things are now fully metric - we measure short things in mm, cm and metres, for example - some things have clung on stubbornly to imperial measures. Measuring distances, and fuel consumption, are just two such examples. Even though we buy our fuel in litres. It’s complicated. > > We also still drink pints of beer (this measure is protected under EU law, as a local tradition) and buy pints of milk (labelled 568 ml to comply with the standard EU law on weights and measures). So, in other words, the Brits who create threads asking, “Why can’t you Americans fully commit to the metric system like we do?” are idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/30 "2013-09-03T15:21:41Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > So, in other words, the Brits who create threads asking, “Why can’t you Americans fully commit to the metric system like we do?” are idiots. Which Brits said that? ---
**Author:** ![fanganga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fanganga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fanganga)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/31 "2013-09-03T15:24:53Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > Frankly, the CO2 emissions listing seems a bit redundant. If you click on the “Prices & Specifications” link on that page, the CT 200h S listing shows a fuel economy of 74.2 miles per (Imperial?) gallon. As far as I know, the amount of gasoline you burn DETERMINES the amout of CO2 you put out, period. In fact, the only way to reduce your CO2 emissions without improving your fuel economy would be to burn the fuel more dirtily, so you get junk like partially-combusted hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in your exhaust instead of CO2. Bleah. The CO2 listing’s something it’s useful to know directly, as Vehicle Excise Duty is based on CO2 emissions - but then again, fuel consumption in litres per mile is more useful than mpg in letting drivers estimate the running costs of their cars (even though it mixes two measurement systems) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/32 "2013-09-03T15:31:49Z")
So long as they don’t throw Nautical miles into the mix… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/33 "2013-09-03T15:56:04Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Which Brits said that? I don’t know. Find a few “Why don’t Americans use metric?” threads. They’re around. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/34 "2013-09-03T23:30:54Z")
Oh, and before I forget: > [@Kiyoshi](#): > > Seriously, does any country have logical shoe sizes? The shoe size puzzle pales in comparison to DRESS SIZES. I swear, the income tax code is easier to understand. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/35 "2013-09-04T06:52:35Z")
Okay folks----- Since we’ver already derailed a Top Gear thread to a let’s-bang-British-measurements-thread… How have we gone 34 posts without mentioning the most infamous unit of all: the Stone? Used exclusively ( I think) for weighing human beings. Its only purpose is to confuse the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/36 "2013-09-04T09:14:32Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Okay folks----- > Since we’ver already derailed a Top Gear thread to a let’s-bang-British-measurements-thread… > How have we gone 34 posts without mentioning the most infamous unit of all: the Stone? > > Used exclusively ( I think) for weighing human beings. > Its only purpose is to confuse the rest of the world. Agreed! No one understands stone(s?) except the Brits. I’ve lived here 9 years and I still can’t translate that into anything sensible - by which I mean kilos, of course. None of your pounds here, tyvm. I generally go “okay, so a stone is 14 lb, I think, so that’s about… er… divide by 2.2… okay, call it 2 because that’s easier but… argh, fuck it, where’s Google?” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/37 "2013-09-04T15:18:56Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > How have we gone 34 posts without mentioning the most infamous unit of all: the Stone? The two thing that strike me as oddest about the stone are: (A) It’s its own plural. You don’t say “two stones”, you say “two stone”. And (B) It’s a multiple of 14. Most older customary units are organized into groups of 3, 8, 12, or 16. (3 teaspoons to a tablespoon, 3 feet to a yard, 16 ounces to a pound, 12 troy ounces to a troy pound, 12 inches to a foot, 8 furlongs to a mile, etc.) BUT, it kinda does make sense, in that an Imperial long ton is exactly 160 stone. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/38 "2013-09-05T20:35:31Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Except Richard Hammond 🙂 You mean he’s not just the token Yank there for comic relief? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/39 "2013-09-06T01:25:02Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > You mean he’s not just the token Yank there for comic relief? 😃 Waaaaaaaaaaaaaait a minute … Richard Hammond was born in England, and lives in England. How is he a Yank? EDIT: Ohhhhhh! This must be one of the running gags on the show… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855/40 "2013-09-06T02:17:40Z")
I saw an episode, filmed in the UK, where Clarkson, not Hammond, was drinking a Barq’s _Root Beer_. I was appalled at how American he’s become. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-bbc-america-americanized/667855.md?page=3)