(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Hello. Welcome to Top Gear.
In tonight's show,
we've got every sort of car you can imagine.
We're rammed to the gills with 'em.
We've got dirt-cheap cars.
We've got Italian supercars.
- We've got electric cars. - We've got pick-up trucks.
And, ladies and gentlemen,
we've also got a Vauxhall Agila!
- Rrrrr-reee! - Agila! Agila!
Whatever your tastes, whatever your budget,
we've got something for you tonight.
But we're kicking off with one of the greatest names
in motoring.
CHRIS: Maserati.
The Italian sports car company with a truly glorious history.
COMMENTATOR: Stirling Moss in his Maserati number 7
wins the race.
CHRIS: There at the very dawn of Formula 1,
this was the team that took the great Juan Manuel Fangio
to his final F1 title
and went on to build
some of the most beautiful race cars, and road cars,
ever seen.
But in recent times,
the shine has faded on the old trident badge.
Yes, there have been some decent saloons
and pretty coupés,
but the closest Maserati has come to a real head-turner
was 2004's MC12,
which was just a Ferrari Enzo with a body kit.
For the last genuine Maserati supercar
you've got to go back to this...
...the beautiful Bora.
This was the last genuine Maserati supercar,
and it was built in 1971.
So we haven't had a new one in over 50 years.
Must be time for a new one, then.
This is the all-new
Maserati MC20.
It's got supercar looks.
It's got supercar doors.
And with prices starting at £190,000,
it's got a proper supercar price tag.
But after 50 years out of the game,
what sort of a supercar has Maserati built?
You might think
if you were building a supercar from scratch
fit for the third decade of the 21st century
that you'd go for some electric hybrid plug-in thingy.
But the MC20 is at heart quite old school.
No e-motor, no regenerative braking,
just a turbo-charged V6 behind me
sending power to the rear wheels.
That turbo-charged V6 makes 621 horsepower...
...which, in a car that weighs just under 1,500 kilos,
is plenty.
It'll do 0-60 in 2.9 seconds...
...and over 200mph flat out.
By any standards, it's a very fast car!
You're not going to be late for anything.
So, it definitely does the whole supercar speed thing...
...but with a super-stiff carbon-fibre tub,
and double wishbone suspension all round,
where the MC20 really comes to life...
...is through the corners.
This chassis can handle really rapid direction changes.
Wind the lock on, it's so fast
it darts around in a way that no Porsche 911
could possibly hope to do.
You've got to be on top of your game.
That's the way it should be.
Good front-end grip. The back wants to come round,
but it's nicely balanced.
This is, really, a massive 620-horsepower go-kart!
Issues? Well, it's an Italian supercar.
Of course there are issues.
The brakes - they're effective, but they take a huge push.
The pedal requires much, much more effort than any rival car.
Maserati's done this deliberately to give it
a kind of race-car feel.
But the steering is so light there's a bit of a mismatch
between the input required for the brake
and the little delicate steering inputs required
for the light steering.
I think the biggest problem is the size of the fuel tank -
60 litres.
And this V6 likes a drink.
And then there's the question
of where on earth you're actually going to put anything.
Now, normally, when your engine's in the rear,
you have lots of luggage space up front.
Ah.
About enough room for a pair of undercrackers
and maybe a sock.
However, there is more boot space back here.
The trouble is, it's right next to the engine,
which means it gets quite hot - bad news
if you're transporting ice cream,
very good news
if you're a high-speed pizza delivery service.
Argh, that's hot!
But look,
it wouldn't be a Maserati without a few...foibles.
And in truth, it's just good to have that badge
back in the supercar game.
Would I have this MC20 over a McLaren or a Ferrari?
You know what? I think I would.
I love the simplicity.
It's not trying to be a clever hybrid.
I love the way it looks.
I love the way it drives.
It's unlike anything else on sale.
Will it provide a prosperous
and stable financial future for Maserati?
Probably not.
But I'm so glad it exists anyway.
Whoo-hoo-hooo!
Ha!
(LAUGHS) Dip a wheel in the dirt! Dip a wheel in the dirt!
I'll tell you what, it's a really great car!
Welcome back, Maserati.
We have missed you!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
Beautiful.
Look at that.
I love it. Last week Lotus,
this week Maserati -
those legendary names coming back out the woodwork
and absolutely smashing it.
You wouldn't put your money on it. This is Maserati,
and its track record isn't great. When they say,
"We're gonna make a carbon-fibre supercar
"from scratch, including the engine,"
the correct answer is, "Course you are, lads."
(LAUGHTER)
But actually, they've gone and done it. And it's good.
And I believe there's an electric version
in the pipeline.
- Is there, Pad? - Yeah, they're saying
there's a convertible and an electric version
in a couple of years.
However, this is Maserati. A couple of years could mean
four or five financial implosions,
so we won't hold our breath! But this is still a great car.
Well, now it's time to find out just how fast the MC20 is
by putting it round our track in the hands of...The Stig.
CHRIS: Here we go. The MC20, looking menacing in black,
our test track looking almost entirely under water.
The car stepping out of line at 100mph there on the straight.
Look at the standing water.
The MC20's carbon-fibre tub
made by the legendary Italian race outfit Dallara.
This car is built of the good stuff.
Stig working his way through that eight-speed
double-clutch gearbox.
(ENGINE HUMS)
That V6, not the most exciting sounding.
Into the Follow Through. This could be interesting.
Stig getting his money out of that steering wheel today.
Holding it together there.
And across the line.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
PADDY: All right.
Straight away, off the bat, it was a very, very wet lap -
tipping it down.
- So... - Yeah?
The time was rock bottom.
1:30.4.
CHRIS: Ah. And not a good tyre
- in the wet either. - No, no.
So, when it dried out,
and just after the cameras had left...
Oh.
...we sent The Stig out again.
On a dry lap, what do you reckon?
So, 1:30.4 on a wet lap.
17 dead.
- 17?. - Ooh... Ooh.
- So we're down here. - Yeah.
Ooh.
1:20. Higher.
Higher.
- I reckon... - Higher.
- About there. About... - Where are you thinking?
A bit slower than the GTS AMG.
Behind the Bugatti?
- Not a million miles away. - CHRIS: Yeah?
1:16.6.
CHRIS: Oh.
It's faster than a Veyron SS!
- (APPLAUSE) - Faster than a Veyron SS.
Look at that.
Unbelievable.
And now it's time to move on and talk about money saving.
Correct, because we've all noticed
everything's getting very expensive right now in the UK,
including cars.
In the last year, the average price of a second-hand car
- has gone up by five grand. - PADDY: Wow.
But are there still cheap, cheerful, reliable
used-car bargains to be had?
We decided to find out.
PADDY: To see if you can still pick up a dependable runabout
for not a lot of cash,
the producers had rounded up
a load of used cars for us to have a look at...
...all bought for less than 500 quid,
all with MOTs, ready to roll...
...in theory.
- CHRIS: Wow. - PADDY: Well, I've got to say!
Do you know what? Looking round already...
- How are they this cheap? - Bargains!
CHRIS: They can't have MOTs, can they?
PADDY: Oh. Challenge.
250 quid.
- FRED: What, this? - PADDY: Yeah.
CHRIS: These are great cars, tough as you like.
- PADDY: Here you are. - Yeah.
"You have five minutes to each choose a car."
"You may start the engine but you may not move the car.
"Whichever car you're in when the time's up" - oh! -
"is the one you're going to be driving."
When does the five minutes start?
- Don't know. - (HORN)
- Oh, there it is. Ay-oh-ay! - Right, I've seen that.
First things first,
rear suspension I think's the problem.
That's quite solid.
PADDY: This is the one that young Paddy would have bought,
cos I'd have been skint
and I'd have known it'd run and run and run.
(ENGINE RUNS)
Not too bad, that. I'll put that in the old reserves.
(LAUGHS)
FRED: What's in there, Chris?
CHRIS: Air. Lots of fresh air!
FRED: Paddy, what do you reckon?
PADDY: A bit of headroom for you!
FRED: Practical.
(ENGINE RUNS)
No. Can't do it.
PADDY: There's a little MX-5 here!
CHRIS: Have you seen the rust on that thing, Paddy?
Rust? Oh, it's just a bit of...
Oh...
Oh, dear.
That's not good.
For 500 quid, the Merc's got to be
the one that appeals, hasn't it?
She's done 380,000 kilometres.
(ENGINE RUNS)
Starts OK.
That is a good car.
Oh, I'm going to look at the MG.
I'm panic...panicking.
Lads, 364!
It's got the chequered flag on and everything!
Start it up, Pad.
(ENGINE RUNS)
Absolutely sweet as a nut, this one.
Oh-ho. No, out of that one. Diesel.
I couldn't live with that, even if it was the best car here,
Oh, my Lord. That's had a bit of a life.
Did you have a look at the Celica?
- PADDY: Sounds good. - FRED: Is it all right?
PADDY: Sounds good, you know.
FRED: Here we go.
(ENGINE RUNS)
Oh! That's the frontrunner so far.
- (ENGINE REVS) - Listen to that.
CHRIS: Volvo. Best seats of the lot.
Oh.
(ENGINE RUNS)
- FRED: Hey. - Five cylinder...
I've had me eye on this one.
Frederick, sit in this.
- Do you like it? - It's lovely.
- (ENGINE REVS) - That's all right, that is.
MAN: 30 seconds!
Oh, I'm torn between two very different cars.
I know where I'm going. Merc it is for me.
- PADDY: How much is that? - CHRIS: 450 quid.
Come on.
Once I've finished the film, I can do a bit of minicabbing
to Luton Airport, so I'm going to be...
And I even look right for the job, don't I?
Aarrgh.
Oh, he's gone Celica!
No, no, no.
- No, I'm going Volvo. - (HORN)
You can't make your mind up for anything,
- can you, Flintoff? - Volvo.
Going back to my Scandinavian roots.
- (CHRIS LAUGHS) - FRED: Thank you.
(ENGINES START)
PADDY: Having each put our chips on a car,
it was time to find out what we'd actually ended up with.
And to do that, we'd been given the run
of an empty Army training ground...
...where, it has to be said, the early news was...
Go on, the little Cooper!
Wahey!
...I had bagged a winner.
This Mini runs like an absolute dream.
114 brake horsepower to the front wheels.
£364.
Aside from a few warning lights on the dash, it's mega.
And come on, it might be 21 years old...
Whoa-oa-oa!
...but that classic Mini styling still looks fantastic.
It were designed by Frank Stephenson,
who had a hand in designing the Ferrari F430.
Practically a supercar, this thing.
CHRIS: Well, that's clearly not true.
But, if you're talking about a super car,
for 450 quid...
(LAUGHS)
...my C-Class was a joy.
The W203, launched in 2000.
2.1-litre turbo-diesel engine.
I've got about 140 horsepower, a load of torque.
The fact is, I got seduced by the rear-wheel drive
and I've done four slides already.
This is, I'm sure, the one to have.
Although, with all the fun you'll get from buying
a turn-of-the-century Mercedes like this one,
there are...certain risks attached.
They're not that tough.
This is the era when Mercedes-Benz rusted,
the engines weren't that reliable.
But come on, look at it! For the money,
I'm driving round in a silver Mercedes.
It has to be the choice, doesn't it?
FRED: Look at Harris.
He's loving life in that, sliding it about.
I went for the Volvo V70.
Not sure it's the right car.
The Celica was calling me.
I think that might have been more fun,
but I'm thinking £495, Volvo -
bulletproof, reliable.
This has done 193,000 miles,
which for a Volvo is nothing.
Look at Harris there, going sideways.
Nothing for me there.
What sold it in the end was the seat.
As soon as I sat in it, it was so comfy.
I'm just worried I've gone boring.
- (GRAVEL HITS CAR) - Whoa! Thanks, Chris.
Lads, I've got to tell yer,
this Mini is driving like an absolute dream!
That Mini looks far too good for the money.
But I've got car envy for the Volvo as well.
I know how good those Volvos are.
It's the comfiest car seat I've ever sat in!
CHRIS: There is an untold joy in this type of car.
I just love the fact that you feel like
you're beating the system. You get in it and you think,
"Why would you want to spend any more money?"
PADDY: Well, it was time to find out.
Because to see if our bargain-basement cars
were something you should actually consider living with,
the producers had decided we should drive them through
a tank test track.
SOLDIER: Stop!
Back!
Yes, allegedly simulating
a full year's wear and tear on 'em,
first would be a strength test,
where we'd have to drag a tractor tyre
up and over a very steep hill.
Then, suspension wear -
bouncing across a series of very bumpy dips...
...before finally reaching the water splash...
...a reliability-testing wade
through three feet of murky water.
Now, the tank overcame the three obstacles
in five minutes, 56 seconds.
Question was, working together,
how fast could we get all three cars through?
Boys, remember, never leave a man behind.
Or a sub-£500 car.
(ENGINES REV)
Three, two, one, go!
What is that?
Oh, dear, dear.
Flintoff, you've got a tow hook on. Let's tow it up.
Right, come on, we're against the clock.
PADDY: There we go, boys.
- Here we go. - PADDY: Oh, he's off.
CHRIS: Not a chance. Watch this.
PADDY: He's going up.
- CHRIS: Not a chance. - PADDY: He's done it. Go on.
- CHRIS: Nowhere near. - PADDY: Oh, God.
She's not gonna go.
Teamwork! You've shot off.
I thought you wanted me to go.
We're gonna have to give you a bit of a shove, aren't we?
Right, hold on. Wait. Don't go yet!
(CLUNK)
Right, three,
two, one, go!
(CLUNK)
PADDY: On an angle at the top.
Whoa!
(ENGINES REV)
Oh, dear.
Oh, so close! So close!
PADDY: Stay there, Fred. We've got this. Stay there.
I'm gonna come and ram your tyre, Fred.
(ENGINE REVS)
- Oh, dear. - (LAUGHS)
CHRIS: With it becoming increasingly clear
that our cars didn't have enough grunt
to get even themselves over the hill...
Lift it.
There we go! Hey-hey!
...I decided to spin the Merc around
and give Fred a shove from behind.
CHRIS: Flintoff, just get it pinned in first now.
I'm gonna go up backwards
so I don't do my radiator and I've got more traction,
- like I'm front-wheel drive. - PADDY: Go, Chris!
He's coming. Oh, here we go.
Come on, Chris. Come on, Chris. Hit me. Hit me, Chris.
- Give it the beans, Fred. - I am.
Give it the beans!
PADDY: Spin it, Fred!
Yes! (LAUGHS)
(LAUGHS)
Oh, my God. Oh!
- CHRIS: Right. - Yes!
Take the tyre off quick!
CHRIS: Now we've got to get these two over.
PADDY: Give yourself a run at it. Go on.
Oh, dear.
(BEEPING)
Paddy, I'm beached.
PADDY: I'll give you a nudge!
(ENGINE REVS)
(CLUNK)
(ENGINE REVS DIMINISH)
Oooh.
That's not even... That is not even possible.
How is that even possible?
(BOTH LAUGH)
PADDY: I slowed down cos I didn't want to...
I didn't want to hurt your car.
CHRIS: So that was two of us now stuck,
and the only option for help was Flintoff.
FRED: I'm coming, boys. I'm coming.
Oh, God, no.
No, no, no, no, no.
PADDY: No, no, no, no.
I'm just gonna go for it.
Yes! Whoo-hoo-hoo!
PADDY: Where's he gone?
Oh, it's like bloody Jaws, this.
FRED: I'm coming. Here we go.
Oh!
Ooh, Jeez!
(LAUGHTER)
PADDY: That wasn't nice!
CHRIS: Having now all just about proven
our cars' strength...
PADDY: Oh, oh, oh.
Oh, lads...I see danger.
...next up was the suspension test.
Hang back, lads, I'm going in.
PADDY: Here he goes!
Whoa!
Go on.
Oh-ho! Upsy-dais...!
Oh, no. This is not good for this car!
It is not enjoying it. Oh, no!
Ooh!
Oh, no! The Volvo is through.
I'll tell you what, my car did not enjoy that one bit.
- Shall I have a go? - PADDY: Go on, Chris.
Get that water out for my little Mini.
Oh, no!
Oh, dear.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Might have to have a bit more of a run-up at this.
CHRIS: Come on, little Merc.
That is horrendous.
That is horrendous!
PADDY: Here we go.
Oh! Ooh!
God!
Whoa, me little Mini!
CHRIS: Oh, my God!
Go on, the Cooper!
(LAUGHS) The Cooper's done it!
FRED: We should have made some time up there.
CHRIS: We must have smashed it over that, surely.
PADDY: Definitely smashed something.
FRED: Leaving what looked like
an important piece of the Mini behind...
I literally do not know how this Cooper's still going!
...the car-killing dips were done with.
And there was just one very unpleasant obstacle left
between us and the finish line.
What is going...? Oh, no... That... That is deep.
(LAUGHS) This is ridiculous!
Oh, my word.
Go on, Pad. Get through it. Go on.
I'm going in.
Go on, the Mini. Go on, the Mini!
Go on. Go on.
Go on, the Mini. Go on, the Mini!
He's done it. He's done it!
The finishing line is ahead, boys. The Mini's through!
Come on, the Mercedes!
CHRIS: Come on, old girl.
Come on, girl.
Come on, girl. Oh, my God, I'm actually floating.
I'm floating.
I'm floating. I'm stuck.
The engine's still going but I'm stuck.
I'm coming, Chris.
Oh, my God.
Go on. Come on, the Volvo!
Don't hit me too hard!
Yes, Fred. Yes, Fred!
Yes, Fred.
Keep on it.
Yes, Fred!
PADDY: Or, to put it more accurately...
(ENGINE FAILS)
...no, Fred.
FRED: Me car won't start.
Me... Me exhaust is bubbling.
- (ENGINE FAILS) - PADDY: Oh, God.
FRED ON RADIO: I'm stuck now.
PADDY: Now, while Flintoff was busy discovering
just how deep he was stuck...
- Oh, no! - (WATER WHOOSHES)
No!
Oh, no!
...we decided to give plan A another good go...
Handbrake off. Neutral. Get it whacked out.
- FRED: Go on, push. - Speed, Chris! Speed!
- No speed! No speed! - Speed!
PADDY: Yes. Go on, son!
- ...and... - Right!
...once we'd concluded that wasn't going to work...
PADDY: Chris! Stop. Kill it!
...it was time to break out plan B.
Right. Are you ready?
I'm gonna drop it onto t'bonnet.
- One, two, three. - FRED: All right.
- There. - You...
You knob!
When I grab hold... Oi... Oi, look at me.
When I grab hold of that, do not pull it.
- Have you got it? - Yeah.
Come...
(BLEEP) You absolute...
I've got a bad knee!
- You absolute tit! - I've got a bad knee!
Do you know how cold this is?
Has it escaped you that we've actually got
to get out of here in time? Come on.
Yeah, you've got a point.
CHRIS: So, once we'd successfully
teamworked the tow rope onto the Volvo...
I can't feel me feet.
...it was just a simple case of hauling it out.
PADDY: Go on, Chrissy.
CHRIS: Come on, the Merc!
She's out!
Argh!
You big (BLEEP)!
And, having successfully demonstrated precisely
why it was called plan B...
You just fired a load of bricks at me shins, you dick!
Let's get to the finish.
...just 100 metres short of the chequered flag...
- (WHIRRING CLUNK) - Oh, God, it's gone.
...our used-car bargains decided enough was enough.
Oh, God, no.
Oh, no, no. No, no, no.
Yeah, this is gone.
The Merc is dead.
Oh, here comes Tank Man!
- PADDY: He looks smug. - CHRIS: Thank you.
FRED: Oh, it's the results.
"The tank completed the course
in five minutes and 56 seconds."
PADDY: Oh.
"You did not complete the course
"in 21 minutes and 23 seconds."
PADDY: Well, no surprise on the result there, really.
FRED: Where are you going? Where are we going?
PADDY: I'll tell you where we're going - find another car.
FRED: I wanna dry me feet.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
PADDY: Ah!
Not a good start, is it? Three cars driven, three cars killed.
Was that Mini dead, Pad? Or was you being melodramatic?
A couple of dents. It still looked very drivable to me.
I thought so as well. But it turns out - common issue
with that generation of Mini -
is when you drive over a submerged telegraph pole
on an Army barracks, it rips the radiator clean out.
- I've heard that. - Very common.
Anyway, we'll get back to that film later.
Now we must move on to EVs.
We know everything is going electric nowadays,
and for some types of car, though,
it's not that much of a leap from petrol, really.
Exactly. Little city runabouts going electric,
it's hardly a big deal.
But some other corners of the car world
might be a tougher nut to crack.
FRED: The good old-fashioned pick-up truck...
...which, here in America, is big business.
Literally millions of these are sold over here every year.
And they're not just bought by farmers and lumberjacks,
they're bought by everyone.
So far, they've been very much not electric,
very petrol.
But all that could be about to change,
thanks to that lad.
It's called the R1T.
And it comes from an American start-up called Rivian.
Yes, the race to launch the world's first electric pick-up
has been won not by Ford or even Tesla...
...but by a company you've never heard of.
And they're doing things a little bit different.
Your traditional pick-up truck,
well, they're generally a bit rough and ready inside.
Not this one. This is business class.
It's all big screens, recycled, sustainable materials.
And because it's electric...
...it's quiet, it's effortless to drive.
It's classy.
This is a good start.
But then it needs to be...
...because the world's expecting big things
from this truck.
Last year, after Rivian had built just a handful of cars,
the company offered up a load of shares for sale.
They were so popular that within just a couple of days
Rivian was worth...
...$127 billion.
Billion.
Which meant that this tiny start-up,
that had never made a penny in profit, was suddenly
more valuable than Kuwait.
What that says about the world of stocks and shares
I have no idea,
but what it does mean is that a lot of people
have got a lot riding on this being good.
And let's face it,
you don't buy a pick-up just to potter along the highways.
The Rivian needs to cut it in the great outdoors.
And weirdly,
that's where electric makes a whole lot of sense...
...because regular pick-ups have the engine at the front,
sending power to the four wheels,
with a lot of complicated drive shafts and differentials.
But the Rivian has an individual motor on each wheel.
And that means... it can do this.
Yes!
Oh, it sends just the right amount of power
to whichever corner
needs it most, so that means plenty of grip,
plenty of torque, but plenty of fun!
Whoa-oh!
Get up. There we go!
Up the hill.
It just eats anything up.
Oh, yes. Look at you go!
Now I'm on the straight and I'm just gonna go.
Oh, my word.
55, 60.
75. I'm off-road.
This thing, I'm telling you, is a weapon.
And that's before you find drift mode,
which shuts down the stability control,
stiffens up the suspension,
and sends a whole heap of torque to the back.
(LAUGHS) Come on. Here we go.
Oh, yeah, go on, lad! (LAUGHS)
(LAUGHS)
This is immense.
What a car!
So the Rivian will definitely get you off the beaten track.
(LAUGHS)
...and a 300-mile range
should be enough to get you back on it...
...but just like any EV,
that half-decent range does come at a cost.
Because to get a 300-mile range in a truck this size,
you're gonna need a big battery.
A really big battery.
And that means this R1T weighs three tonnes.
That's pretty much three Ford Fiestas.
If this new electric-car era is all about efficiency
and treading a little lighter,
I'm not sure a three-tonne truck is the way forward.
But if Rivian's going to succeed,
to be honest, it's not me that needs convincing,
it's these guys -
traditional pick-up petrolheads.
Now, this is gonna be a big test,
getting the opinion of the locals.
Oh, oh, they're having a look already.
Afternoon, gentlemen. What are we thinking?
- What is it? - What is it?
It's a Rivian. All-electric pick-up truck.
No way!
What do you reckon? Come and have a look.
Got their attention. Here we go.
300-mile range.
Here's the cockpit.
Nice little one to start with, lads.
Just push that there.
Just push that. Go on, push that.
A nice little handy torch for them outdoor evenings.
Here you go, lads. Watch this, watch this.
Storage in there.
Hello.
Hey? Hello!
Look at this here.
Air compressor.
Blow your tyres up there?
Blow your tyres up. Air compressor.
- Hey? Look at you. - Ha.
Underneath the console... Pulls out.
(MUSIC PLAYS)
Now, you wouldn't have thought the Rivian's portable
Bluetooth speaker would be the thing to swing it...
60 grand, basic.
- 77, this one. - It's amazing.
...but this crowd were definitely coming round.
MAN: Very, actually.
Look at the headroom here. Look at this!
- Holy crap. - You've got like a foot.
This is a nice interior.
- FRED: There we go. - Oh! Holy cow.
- Wow. - Check that out!
- Is this a cool box? - That is cool.
Fill this with ice, put your beers in.
There's your plug - drain it through.
MAN: Now you're ready to party.
- Huh? - Yeah. OK.
- (ENGINE REVS) - Oh!
Right, thanks for that, lads. I've got to go.
I think I've just been challenged.
- Uh-oh. - Here we go.
Oh, yes,
when you take Rivian's pick-up to the drag strip,
you don't have to leave it in the car park.
That is a Dodge Viper,
one of the fastest, most powerful
American sports cars ever made.
Its 8.4-litre V10
makes over 600 horsepower...
(ENGINE REVS)
...in a car that's less than half the weight of the Rivian.
But what I've failed to mention so far is...
...is that I've got 835 horsepower.
(ENGINES REV)
So I'm keen to race that.
Right, here we go.
Stick it into sport.
Reduce the ride height.
Let's catch me a Viper.
(ENGINES REV)
Ooh, I'm tense, I'm tense.
(STARTING BEEPS)
Oh, I'm off in the Rivian!
Come on! 0-60, three seconds!
Why am I shouting? It's so quiet. Where's the Viper?
He's coming up. He's catching, he's catching.
Come on, the Rivian. Come on, the Rivian.
Go, go, go, go!
Come on!
And the win! That is something else!
Wow!
Get me a form. Sign me up. I am sold!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
CHRIS: It's very slidey. Very slidey.
What a machine! But, Fred, I thought
you weren't sold on the old electric cars?
Honestly, I wasn't. Every time I've driven an EV,
I found them a bit clinical.
And the Rivian - all right,
the peace and quiet I found a bit weird...
- Yeah? - But it worked amazing.
I think I'm on the turn.
I thought I could smell summat!
I tell you what, though, the Rivian, I want one.
Problem is, Pad, not coming to the UK.
If you want one, you're gonna have to move to America.
- Oh. - I'll buy you a ticket.
(LAUGHS) I'll pack your bags.
PADDY: No need for that, is there?
Now, this might surprise you, but I've got a slight issue.
- Oh, here we go! - There's a bunch
of these American trucks coming, and if Americans
want to cut their consumption, that's one answer.
The other answer is just to buy something smaller!
Why does it all have to be so big and heavy?
You do know that this show is on in America?
- (LAUGHTER) - Fair point.
You've literally just insulted an entire nation there.
Sorry.
Anyway, now it's time
to get back to our cheap-car adventure.
PADDY: Right...
This looks like it might be quite good.
...with our choice of used-car options
becoming increasingly limited...
Absolute dog!
...for another crack at proving sturdy and reliable bargains
do exist,
we'd each picked another steed
and hit the road.
I have lucked out big time here.
Honda Civic. Reliability.
They're absolutely bulletproof, these things.
1.6-litre five-speed manual.
Yes, it might have only had four days left on its MOT,
but what a four days they could be!
Bodywork's OK. Engine sounds great.
It runs like an absolute dream.
God rest me Mini's soul...
...I think I might prefer this one.
Lads, I'm...I'm gonna miss the Mini,
but can you believe the three of us are now
in little Japanese runarounds?
I have secretly always wanted a Mazda 323.
Mazda, as a company in the '90s, made such
beautifully engineered cars -
everyone thought they were like a Ford,
but they were miles better.
And with a peppy 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine,
mated to a silky-smooth four-speed auto box,
250 quid feels like an absolute steal.
The steering's lovely as well.
You know, this is a nicer car to drive than that Mercedes.
FRED: I am gutted for the Volvo.
The good news is,
it gives me a chance to drive the Celica.
When I was a kid,
the Celica round our way was a bit of a legend.
You saw one of them, oh, it was aspirational.
And you can see why.
1.8 litre.
Variable valve timing. Six-speed manual.
It's every inch the sports car...
...now...for just 450 quid.
PADDY: Got to say, lads,
apart from having to rev this one to death,
it's sweet as a nut.
Looking around, though, it's dirty. It is not nice.
CHRIS: And a car of this age,
you always worry about touching the steering wheel, don't you?
It always looks a bit... DNAey.
Yeah, and a cloth seat as well, Chris.
At least with leather, you can just wipe 'em down.
You don't know what's in this seat.
(LAUGHS)
CHRIS: We live in heady times, though, boys.
Everyone's cars are going up in value.
If you just buy a car now, sit on it for six months,
it will probably go up 10%
because there's a shortage of new cars coming through
and it's pushed the values of all used cars up.
So if I sit on this for six months, I might get 500 quid.
If you sat on that for six months, all you'd get is TB!
(LAUGHS)
CHRIS: Now, to see whether our second pick
of used-car bargains could go the distance...
Ooh, look at this.
...the producers had cooked up another test...
Deary me.
This is a fancy place.
...which, in a slightly worrying development
for our cars, appeared to be at a massive scrapyard.
PADDY: Here we go.
We've come to your happy place. (LAUGHS)
CHRIS: Have you ever seen so many cars
in one place like that?
- FRED: Look at this. - CHRIS: Wow.
Oh, I'm happy here, lads!
Gonna have a little mooch about?
CHRIS: Oh, yes. Right, looking for parts now, boys.
If you find a V8 diesel Land Cruiser, I need a dashboard.
(LAUGHTER)
PADDY: We might find one an' all,
because this wasn't just any old scrapper..
...this was one of the largest
vehicle dismantling yards in Europe.
A 32-acre Aladdin's cave...
...of knackered old motors.
CHRIS: There's a Capri.
- There's a Capri! - FRED: Where? Where? Where?
- (LAUGHTER) - PADDY: What a treat!
Look at that!
- Which one is it? - Two litre, isn't it?
Did they sell them on a D plate?
That must be one of the last Capris ever sold.
Look at that there. That's... That's nearly a minter.
PADDY: Tell you what, a new wing for the front...
- FRED: Yeah. - ...a bit of T-Cut,
right as rain.
CHRIS: Look at this.
Ooh. "Rat in boot?"
Is that like a new panto I've missed out on? Rats In Boots!
Can we see if the aforementioned rats
are living comfortably?
PADDY: Where's the rats?
Argh! You...
(LAUGHTER)
As good as it is looking at smashed-up cars,
what are we doing here?
CHRIS: To find out, we'd have to wait until nightfall.
Because with the scrapyard closed,
the producers had been hard at work
turning it...
...into a racetrack.
PADDY: Got to say, I love what they've done with it.
It's like an '80s pop video.
- Lovely, isn't it? - Very nice.
I love the lights and everything else.
- Oh. - Here we go.
- Thank you. Challenge. - Yeah.
"Welcome to the Top Gear Death Race.
"You and your cheap cars will now race against The Stig."
Hmm.
Oh, no.
"Losing cars
will be crushed."
- Oh, no, no. - I'm attached to the Civic.
No, I don't want the Celica crushed.
- Right. - FRED: Who's up first?
Him.
Ho-ho. Go on, Chris, save your car.
PADDY: Yes, in a final bid to see
whether any of our used-car picks were worth saving,
we'd now be racing...
...to the death.
And apparently determined to show where we'd gone wrong,
Stig would be driving three of the cars we'd rejected
the day before.
And now, starting on opposite sides of the yard,
we'd be given a three-second head start,
aiming to stay ahead for two laps,
with the last to cross the finish line getting crushed.
CHRIS: Oi, clown brothers.
Oi, you two, listen to me.
I've noticed that the two big strapping lads,
combined height 72 feet, and all the muscle,
you've pushed me into battle first.
Well, yeah, you're the pro racing driver.
We, even though we take the mickey, we look up to you.
Well, we look down...up to you. You know what I mean.
PADDY ON RADIO: So you've got to set us an example.
FRED: And to take on Harris and his Mazda,
Stig had lined up the Rover 25.
Are you ready, my mate?
Do it for the good of the second-hand
- car market. Three! - BOTH: Two! One! Go!
FRED: Oh, he's got a good start.
PADDY: 'Ey!
Come on, old girl.
- Where is he? Here we are. - Oh, there he is. Here he is.
Right, I'm struggling a bit with the gearbox here.
I'm struggling a bit with the gearbox here.
- Who's on here now? Who is it? - This is The Stig.
FRED: Chris is on the back.
PADDY: Lovely stuff.
You're doing fantastic, Chris. Well ahead, pal!
Come on!
Got to carry more speed through the corners, Harris!
Go on, Chris!
- That's The Stig. - Smashed him. Well through.
Come on, find me a gear, you old girl!
Go on, Chris. Keep pushing, son.
CHRIS: Really throw it in now!
FRED: The Stig's going through here now. He's got him.
- Go on, Chris. Go on, Chris. - CHRIS: Up against the tyres.
PADDY: Go on, son. You've got this.
- Go on, Chris. - No, he's not got him.
- He's not got him. - Come on, come on. Push.
Trying to give it everything but my gearbox is sticking.
That was close. That was close.
Here we go, here we go!
- He's got him. He's through. - Push. Come on, Chris!
(BOTH EXCLAIM)
Chris Harris.
That was the best I could do.
- Oh! - Paddy...
- That were tight. - Do us a favour.
- Just humour him. - Oh, God...
You know when he starts? Excuses. Just humour him.
- This will go on and on. - Oh, it will.
(PADDY AND FRED CHEER)
- PADDY: Chrissy! Well done! - Is there some sarcasm here?
- Oh, no. - Hey, I'll tell you what,
- it was close, though. - You were close to him.
I had a bit of a mechanical, lads, I'm afraid.
Oh! It happens
- in these cars, Paddy. - It does.
The Mazda's going to the crusher, is it?
- It's looking like it. - Do you know what?
After it did that to me in that race, I'm not that sad.
What did it do, Chris? What happened?
- Oh, the old automatic went. - Ooh.
So you've just thrown the Mazda under the crusher? That's it?
Well, what am I supposed to do with it? It didn't...
It didn't perform in the race for me.
Well, don't be bitter. Glitter.
Now go on, off you pop.
Get yourself a cup of tea. I don't know.
You did well. Well done, Paddy.
PADDY: Oh, yes, with Harris's reputation
for snaffling out a bargain
now being reduced to the size of a wheelie bin,
next it was time
for the battle of the sports cars.
Because to chase down Fred's Celica,
Stig had chosen the MG ZT-T diesel estate.
I don't...
Don't...
Come... Just come back breathing.
FRED: All right.
I was trying to say, "Don't die."
- Don't say that. - I was just... Be alive.
- You've got this, big lad! - Come on, Fred.
- I'll put t'window up. - Yeah, that'll help.
PADDY: Here we go.
Come on, the Celica. Don't let me down.
Best of luck, Fred. Three, two, one, go!
Well, it's a keen start. Come on, the Celica!
I like this. This works well.
- PADDY: It's lovely. - FRED: It's brilliant.
PADDY: It's like a computer game. Wzz-vroom!
CHRIS: It's like Fred-vision.
FRED: Ooh, that was a bit close to them cars.
PADDY: This is The Stig.
CHRIS: I think he might have him,
cos I think that is a heavy old boat, that estate car.
A bit of a bump. Wahey!
- PADDY: Here we are. - Come on. Go, go, go.
CHRIS: He's ahead, isn't he? PADDY: Ooh.
Last lap, Fred. Last lap. Keep pushing, son! Keep pushing!
FRED: Come on, the Celica! Get round.
- That was close. - Keep going, Fred!
You're doing a great job!
Oh, I missed it!
I think he's just overshot it and gone straight on.
FRED: I missed it. I was daydreaming!
OK, so we're done.
(LAUGHS)
He's definitely behind...
I think the old GPS failed!
No! It was going so well.
PADDY: Here he comes.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Jeez! One mistake cost me.
How are we gonna play this? Do the applause thingy.
(BOTH CHEER)
- Fantastic! - FRED: All in one piece.
- Fantastic! - Well done, Andrew.
- Fantastic! - That was amazing!
Thank you for your patronising tones.
(PADDY AND CHRIS LAUGH)
Did you see The Stig actually behind you?
I just lost me bearings. I was going straight.
CHRIS: The Celica is in one piece.
And, more importantly, so is he.
- And we're only 2-0 down. - Thanks, Pad.
So... Oh, that's two cars crushed.
On you go.
- Oh. - Go get 'em, tiger.
Got to do it for the Civic. Got to do it for the Civic!
Yeah, that's three cars crushed.
(LAUGHS)
CHRIS: So, with Fred's Celica
now off to the great track day in the sky...
...trying to stop the crusher
from enjoying a full three-course supper...
...would be McGuinness and his Civic.
And in a clear statement of contempt for his chances,
Stig had decided to take him on
in the Vauxhall Agila.
Paddy, we need you here.
Leave it to the gaffer, boys. Oh, here we go.
Are you ready, Pad?
In three, two, one, go!
Go, Paddy. Go on, son!
PADDY: We're off.
Oh, 'ey up. This is a bit tricky.
'Ey up. There we go. Wahey!
Stig's got his eye in now.
Look at the speed he's going at here.
- There we go. Hey-hey! - He looks a bit slow.
The Stig's round here now.
- FRED: Is he ahead? - CHRIS: Comfortably.
FRED: Oh, he's killing him. He's killing him.
- Oh, my Lord. - FRED: Come on, Pad.
PADDY: Man alive!
FRED: Over the line. Over the line! Keep going. Come on, Pad!
- That's one. - He's nowhere near.
(BOTH LAUGH)
PADDY: Come on.
Where's The Stig?
- What's McGuinness playing at? - He's here again, the Stig.
Come on, Paddy!
- PADDY: Oh, God. Oh, God. - FRED: Come on, come on, Pad.
PADDY: Argh! Come on.
FRED: Go! Go, go, go!
Oh, no. He's... Where is he? Come on, Pad. Paddy!
CHRIS: There he goes.
PADDY: Is that it?
FRED ON RADIO: Paddy, you've finished. Come in.
Oh.
FRED: He's no idea. He's no idea.
Lost by about 200 metres.
(BOTH LAUGH)
PADDY: Dear me.
OK, ready? Ready? Wait, wait, wait. Here we go.
Big applause.
(CHRIS AND FRED CHEER)
- Go get in! - Go on, son!
Is it three for the scrapper??
(BOTH LAUGH)
Listen, you're too happy. You're too happy.
I take it that's me.
You came second.
- That's the way we look at it. - CHRIS: See? Positive.
- Second place. Never mind. - So what does that mean?
CHRIS: Well, first of all, it meant the crusher
had had a busy evening.
PADDY: Oh!
Oh, no!
No, no, no.
Oh...
My word.
Me little Civic. Here it comes.
(ALL GROAN)
PADDY: It's pooing out a Civic.
What a shame.
My gosh.
CHRIS: What's more, it was time to conclude that,
while there may well be a few diamonds out there
in the used-car rough...
PADDY: Oh, dear.
...over the last couple of days of intensive testing...
...we hadn't found them.
PADDY: Well, our sub-£500 cars
reduced to furniture.
I've go to tell you, lads...
...I'm crushed!
I'm cru...! Come on, let's get a cup of tea.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
No, I'm not sure about that.
So, the question was...
...for less than 500 quid, could you get something
that will give you years of reliable motoring?
And the answer is yes - well, as long as you don't go
ragging it round a tank assault course
or race The Stig through a deserted scrapyard.
I thought it was horrible, watching 'em get scrapped.
- That big claw coming in... - It was medieval.
Hung, drawn and quartered.
It was like Mad Max meets
that grabby machine thing you play with down in the arcade.
I hate to see a car die. But we have to say,
all these cars were going to the scrapper anyhow, all right?
Exactly. If we hadn't have bought 'em,
the breakers would have. They died so others could live.
And at least we gave 'em a bit of excitement
before they finally kicked the bucket.
And look at this -
we've got three beautiful coffee tables, hey?
- (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) - Ah!
That's the end of the show for tonight.
We'll be back next week,
when we're letting Chris Harris loose
in an actual World Rally car.
(CHEERING)
And we're gonna go back in time
to tackle motorsport 1920s-style.
See you then. Goodnight.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)