Advantages: Talks about cars 'n' stuff in a way that I, a girl, can understand!
Disadvantages: Hidden away on BBC2 on a Sunday night!

...Well, when I saw that "Top Gear" had not received a review based on its current format (i.e. Its re-birth after BBC decided that they DID need a car consumer programme after having previously axed it) I felt that one was long overdue. And to make it even more refreshing for you all, its from my point of view - that of a female!! You'll find Top Gear hidden away on BBC2 at the moment - 8pm until 9pm on a Sunday evening. Perhaps not the most ideal timeslot for all (I'll hold my hands up and say that I don't always remember to tune in - and then I'm gutted when I realised that I've missed it!). The show is now based from a hangar on an old airfield, with the runways at the programme's disposal to show us what the cars that they report on can really do! The main presenter is once again Jeremy Clarkson - who did have the same job... Read review

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Advantages: It has its good moments but...
Disadvantages: Its not consistent and Jason Barlow is just so annoying

...There I am. Its Thursday, its 8.30 and I am about to tune into my favourite program - Top Gear. Oh yes the BBC 2 gang continue to fuel my knowledge of cars and keep me informed. Whoops sorry, I forgot to tell you that that was a flashback from only a couple of years ago when I could actually be bothered to tune in to BBC2 to watch what was my fave program. Unfortunately Top Gear is falling from our screens at the end of this year and I can perfectly see why. Despite its almost legendary name, Top Gear will drop from the TV listings for a 'revamp'. My job here is to identify why such a repected and interesting show turned into a mundane and muddled program. PROBLEM NUMBER 1: JEREMY CLARKSON LEAVING TO DO 'BETTER THINGS' At school my friends dont see the appeal of cars as much as I do and Top Gear wasn't exactly a great... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent features, A-Z index of manufacturers/make+model, excellent regular columnists
Disadvantages: letters page; occasionally the photographers focus more on their models than the cars

...The biggest problem I've found with my car enthusiasm is, well, I'm a girl. So trying to find a monthly car-oriented publication that's not FHM with power steering or a lingerie catalogue wrapped around a few F1 reports can be a bit of... A trial. So often did the covers of my magazine purchases result in mortifying embarrassment (long before I reached the check out, I might add), I'd confined my vehicular reading materials to copies of Autotrader and newspaper motoring sections. Then last year I discovered TOP GEAR MAGAZINE and I haven't looked back. It really is a fantastic magazine, offering some of the same; yet so much more than the eponymous programme and wrapped in a package that wouldn't make your gran blush! TOP GEAR MAGAZINE is all about cars, cars, cars! Hurrah! STUNNING CARS: The magazine's first section is METAL... Read review

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Advantages: Packed with features, loads of pages, great quality photos, plently to read,
Disadvantages: Adverts!

...The Top Gear magazine is a more detailed bigger, written version of the Top Gear programme. It is a thick magazine with two parts and usually a little extra part. It is a thick magazine in general with plenty of thin pages; on average there are around 280 pages. Pricing and Value for Money = The magazine is usually priced at £3.60 but there are sometimes exceptions to this. I think that this is pretty good value considering the amount of pages, extras etc. Although it is surprising that they charge that much for the magazine when there are so many adverts on the inside. Overall, the pricing in my opinion is pretty fair. Quality of Magazine The quality of this magazine is great, the pages are thin but still okay, and everything is printed in good quality colour. The cover is thicker card... Read review

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Advantages: some good info
Disadvantages: cars most only dream of.

...Top Gears-Back in the Fast lane, Yes their back, Jeremy Clarkson and the gang, with another superb showing of big boys toys (road legal Super Cars) including the McClaren F1. TVR, Ferrari 575 GT, Jaguar, Pagoni Zonda, Lamborghini and the Aston Martin Vanquish are just a few of the Super cars put through the test, Who comes out the best? Also on show is that great British institution the Rolls Royce, with its German Engine, German Tyres, German made body and German interior. An attempt by a double Decker bus, to reverse the fame of Eddie Kidd's jumps on a motor bike over 14 buses, this time, they jump a bus over 14 motorbikes, will they succeed? An attempt is also made to enter the Guinness book of records, for the fastest time set by a car towing a caravan, I was amazed at just how fast they went. Is it possible... Read review

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Advantages: Hilarious,cheap to buy
Disadvantages: could have done to have extra features,as per usual with T.G DVDS

...(Forgive me if this is slightly rusty..its been a while since my last review!) The Top Gear lads are back in business, with the release of their eagerley anticipated challenge, 'The Polar Special'. I first saw this,along with the American Special going on for about a year ago now,and as expected from the team,was in stitches when I saw it. Only Jeremy Clarkson,James May and the Hamster could be daft enough to consider racing to the North Pole and actually pull it off! I first heard they had released this on DVD about a month ago,yet I believe its been on sale for about six months. I scanned internet shops,such as Ebay,Amazon and H.M.V....ebay working out the cheapest,which always seems to be the way. The DVD came in two forms,a single DVD,which I am reviewing and a double box set consisting of both the Polar and the American... Read review

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Advantages: Great laughs,top gear lads
Disadvantages: Not much in terms of car reviews,price,not all challenges are included.

...I love Top Gear,I've been watching for about 3 years now,and probably will watch it till its death day. Im a big fan of cars too,and have never minded the fact that they tend to forget that the rest of us cant afford Ferraris and Porsches! I must admit,that im pretty fond of all the presenters too,and think their all gorgeus in their own unique way! So for me,buying a d.v.d with 2 and a half hours of cars and those three..well it was a dream! THE CHALLENGES,came out in June this year and I bought in in early August,costing me 14.00p from W.H.SMITH. Although now you can get it for alot cheaper. When I heard the words 'Top Gear-The Challenges', my first thought was about the challenge they had done in America,where they had to paint anti-southern slogans on their cars. That was really a cracker of a challenge,but much to my... Read review

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Advantages: An informative & entertaining programme
Disadvantages: Risks involved

...If I had been asked a few years ago, I would have said that programmes like Top Gear were a waste of air time and should be given to something more worthwhile. How glad am I that I grew up!! I am now a big fan of Top Gear and would be somewhat upset if it was banned because of the tragedy that took place. My heart went out to Richard Hammond and his family when I found out what had happened. I believe him to be a great asset to the Top Gear team. Despite this, I do not think that Top Gear should be banned because of one accident. Maybe he shouldn't have been driving the rocket-powered car, maybe he needed more training first, the bottom line is, no one forced him to drive that car. I am sure that, when Richard Hammond agreed to drive the car, he knew that it was a large risk that he was taking. Personally I think... Read review

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Advantages: Clarkson returned
Disadvantages: Not Enough from the main men, Clarkson, May and Hammond

...I hadn't bought Top Gear for a few years but I remembered it as by far the best and most interesting Car magazine out there. Where other magazines read like a massive indiscriminate advertisement for whatever car they were reviewing and are often bogged down in listing all the facts on the car or displaying a journalists knowledge of "Torque", Top Gear was always more readable and you always got some real opinions on the cars and it was always done in an entertaining way. They had the incomparable Jeremy Clarkson, willing to savage a car like no other man could if wasn't up to scratch. For those who remember what he did to the Vauxhall Vectra, you know what I mean. They had ex racing driver Tiff Needell to give the supercar evaluations from a racing driver's point of view and he really did give a good sense of how good the big boys toys... Read review

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Advantages: Well Designed, Great Presenter, Fun Rounds, Can be played over and over
Disadvantages: Could do with the other presenters from the show to make it perfect

...The best DVD game i have ever played, great for top gear fans, motoring fans or basically anyone as only small amounts of car knowledge are required. Hamster (Richard Hammond) presents the whole DVD through voice and video so it feels very similair, and follows the same concept, as a top gear episode. When you load the dvd you are presented with a screen asking to choose "Billy No Mates"(single player) or "Head to Head". After selecting you are given a short intro by Hamster. In the first game "Keep your Distance" you are shown a photo of a section of a car, you must then choose the correct car name from a list. If you choose the right car you get 5 points towards your total marks, the wrong one and you lose 5 seconds of your time limit. The next round is called "Under the Bonnet" where you are given a short video clip of a car... Read review

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