In the age of austerity there’s one TV programme that refuses to exchange its Ferraris for Fiestas, and that has limited interest in fuel-saving city runabouts. It’s called Top Gear, and its latest episode has been hailed a classic by some.
Indeed, the team took a light-hearted look at austerity in this particular show, at the expense of economically challenged Spain. They took three ‘budget’ cars (‘budget’ meaning they cost less than £200k) to large, unfinished property developments in Spain and showed us what it might be like to have one. Clarkson took the British offering, a McLaren 12C Spider; May drove an Audi R8 V10 Spyder, while Hammond had a Ferrari 458 Spider.
The fun of such vehicles was amped-up by the freedom of the endless, deserted streets, but which also, despite all the jokes about Spain, reminded us of the plight of the Spanish economy.
Elsewhere, Benedict Cumberbatch featured in the show’s Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment, but was understandably embarrassed at his uninspired circuit in a Vauxhall Astra.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable episode, although many of the show’s usual petrol head viewers may have missed it, since the Goodwood Festival of Speed had just finished as it aired – confining many to a traffic jam packed with the world’s most beautiful cars.
And if you’re one of our vehicle recovery customers who missed it (and Monday’s repeat too), you can still catch it on BBC iPlayer.
What did you think of the latest Top Gear episode? Does it deserve to be called a classic? Or did the trio’s sense of humour jar with you? As ever, leave your thoughts below.
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