Top Gear (UK) - D1 Drift and F150 lightning

Did anyone here from UK see Top Gear last night (Motoring programme to those not from UK).

They had the D1 drift cars on there.
Now I've heard of drift racing but this is the first time I've actually seen it.

Surely this isn't for real is it?
Hugely impressive skill that it was I still had to think that surely sliding round a bend is not the quickest way to navigate a track?

Is this just an exhibition classification or are these cars actually competitive against one that goes in a straight line?
(The racers seemd to love the new Monaro VXR!)

Also, has to say I found it hilarious the way they destroyed the F150 lightning pick up! What a dog of a motor!

Drifting is for real. The top Japanesse guys are awesome to watch, and the guys in the UK D1 championship are getting pretty good as well.

The cars aren't designed to compete speedwise against 'normal' racecars... it's all about going sidewase with style! Do a search on the web for D1 drifting and take a look.

I thought they were a little harsh on the F150. I have a standard L200 Mitsubishi pickup because it suits my lifestyle (horses, mountain bikes, big DIY jobs etc.). Yes they are a little large in this country, and a pain around town but you don't buy them for that... Trust me, if I could put that V8 in my truck I would!

Yeah I saw it, glad to see D1 getting more and more recognition over here.

Drifting isn't about who crosses the line first. Drivers are awarded points for technique and skill. This is why I think drifting is the coolest motorsport on the planet.

Drifting isn't about who crosses the line first. Drivers are awarded points for technique and skill. This is why I think drifting is the coolest motorsport on the planet.

Sounds like ice dancing in cars.
Impressive but motorsport to me is crossing the line first.

Sounds like ice dancing in cars.
Impressive but motorsport to me is crossing the line first.

Yep.. I second that.. I don't understand any sports apart form the ones where you cross the line first.. Racing is the only sport I can watch and truly understand... It looked impressive, but didn't really do it for me.

as for the pick up truck - what was with the build..!! I mean the interior was worse then some of my early models..!! Never really understood the craze for pickups either.. They are working trucks, nothing else.. I mean all that HP, and for what.. And in the UK, with our silly fuel costs, what a waste..!!

I'll stick with my Honda.. £40 and I get 360 miles on average..!!

Hmm... Was that a bit of a rant?

It was the huge horsepower and tiny brakes that made me laugh - probably has leaf spring suspension as well!

Hey, sport trucks are cool here in the 'States. To each his/her own.:) I didn't care too much for Rallying either but I learned more about and gained a lot of respect for it; to point that I like it a lot now. An open mind can work wonders for the soul. :2cents:

A Lightning is in my top 3 list of vehicles I must own. If you've never driven one I guess you wouldn't understand....as for the interior, nicest I've seen in any pickup so far. I could sleep in those seats. Like he said ^^ to each his own...and man, I love those trucks. It handles like a car, performs like a car, and has the storage/towing capability of a truck. What's not to love?

I have absolutely nothing about trucks at all - quite like the look of them.
It was just the poor build quality (may just have been RHD conversion) and the archaic engineering.

Looked very nice!
Definitely more a US thing than a UK thing.
In the US even city dwellers seem to like pick ups whereas in UK they tend to be more for utility vehicles only!

*shrugs* It's priced at $10k under Chevy's dog of an SS truck and $25k under Dodge's flashy SRT-10, and is much faster than either one. It is by far the best sport truck on the market here in the US. Archaic or not, she sure gets the job done!

In parts of Northampton a pickup truck is something used to pick up loose woman.. The kind you pay for....!! He he..!!

All joking aside, I wouldn't buy one for my everyday car.. I liked what they said about stuff being stolen.. Plus, with all the rain in the UK, not much chance of stuff staying dry.. i just don't think the UK is the right market for these kind of vehicles.

Farm users would like them, but then they don't want leather seats, carpets etc.. They want Land Rovers, 4 x 4's that don't get stuck in the mud or need to worry about paint getting ruined..

As you say, each to their own.. You like what you like.

I wish we got the UK Top Gear. All we get in the US is some mixed matched US and UK Top Gear. But hey, it's something. I'm so so with the lightnings. I saw one smoke a ZO6 vette once. But it's still only a ford. How is this not in the OffTopic section yet? lol

You can download UK TG episodes from the web. Get yourself a Torrent program and you're set ;)

You can also check www.finalgear.com forum.. They have everything about TopGear and 5th Gear :D

If your after D1GP action you want to get along to Silverstone on 2nd October. The D1 boys are putting on a demo match much like the american events last year. Tickets are for sale on the silverstone website or the normal ticket line number.

I thought the coverage was a bit short when you compare it to the Old lame guys attemp at making the theme tune with engine note so Clarkson and hes butt boy could rip him.

As for Clarksons review of the F150... Do we detect a bit pissyness about the Ford GT cock up? I get the feeling Ford could give him the worlds best car to test and he'd pan it.

And is it me or is Richard Hammond turning into clarksons mini me ???

Most of this post will make no sense to none UK readers LOL.

If your after D1GP action you want to get along to Silverstone on 2nd October. The D1 boys are putting on a demo match much like the american events last year. Tickets are for sale on the silverstone website or the normal ticket line number.

Covered Grandstand Seating Tickets Booked a while ago :) :)
http://www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk/booktickets/book_tickets_D1.htm
Can't wait :grinyes:

All joking aside, I wouldn't buy one for my everyday car.. I liked what they said about stuff being stolen.. Plus, with all the rain in the UK, not much chance of stuff staying dry.. i just don't think the UK is the right market for these kind of vehicles.


That's what a hard tonneau/bed cover is for- it locks and is waterproof. Wonderful invention, really.

[QUOTE=V1nce]If your after D1GP action you want to get along to Silverstone on 2nd October. The D1 boys are putting on a demo match much like the american events last year. Tickets are for sale on the silverstone website or the normal ticket line number.

I thought the coverage was a bit short when you compare it to the Old lame guys attemp at making the theme tune with engine note so Clarkson and hes butt boy could rip him.

As for Clarksons review of the F150... Do we detect a bit pissyness about the Ford GT cock up? I get the feeling Ford could give him the worlds best car to test and he'd pan it.

QUOTE]

In all honesty the theme tune part was more enterntaining than the D1 girls.

As for the Clarkson review - it was hardly pissy, you only had to look to see the interior falling apart and as for the brakes - seen bigger brakes on my godsons bike!

According to this: http://www.fordf150.net/specs/04lightning.php site, the Lightning has 12.1" front discs and 13.1 rear discs. Hardly tiny discs. Also, the interior parts they showed while complaining of poor fit and match, were all on the dash. The dash is the one part that was changed in the right hand drive conversion. Since we don't do the conversions here, I can only assume that it was UK "craftsmanship".

The Lightning is a small volume special and not representitive of the nearly 1m F-150's built each year. Most are more normally equipped work and play trucks such as mine. I bought mine to tow my track car to and from events.The 2005 F-150 was totally redesigned and it is completly different from the model shown in the Top Gear piece.

I enjoy Top Gear quite a lot, but I do notice quite a lot of bashing of American cars. Perhaps if we engineered them to constantly leave a puddle of oil behind, or quickly return to base elements (rust), they would be more platable to UK tastes. As it is, I would stack them up very favorably to anything built by the British motor industry....Oh wait, there is no British motor industry!

Ok, I'm really enjoying this now!

12.1" and 13.1" on a 400bhp truck - pretty small to me - if you want to stop that is.
You seem slightly touchy about this.

I did say previously that the interior issues could be due to RHD conversion.
No need to knock UK craftsmanship (they are probably american supplied parts).
You can make little quips about leaking oil and rusting (although not quite sure where that comes from).
If you want to build american cars to suit UK tastes then you can firstly bring your technology into 21st century! (leaf springs are for horse drawn carriages).
Get away from the "monster motor" disillusionment. It's no surprsie that majority of european cars far outperform their US counterparts with much smaller and more efficient powerplant.

The reason top gear bash american cars is because the majority of them are crap compared to euro/ asian cars.
They do tend to look nicer though (old cars that is!)

*shrugs* It's priced at $10k under Chevy's dog of an SS truck and $25k under Dodge's flashy SRT-10, and is much faster than either one. It is by far the best sport truck on the market here in the US. Archaic or not, she sure gets the job done!


Oh really, how interesting. Tell you this, find me a trustworthy site that shows the price of a brand new Lightning used to be 21K USD since that would make it 25K cheaper than a new 46K USD SRT-10 ram. (and if you're going to reply that you were thinking of a used f150, i hope i don't have to remind you that would make it an apples to oranges comparison)

Also show me site where the lightning is much faster than the SRT-10 ram stock for stock.


Showing this proof might prove that you have some clue.


Let me start by posting some links to help you get started:
http://www.fast-autos.net/dodge/dodgesrt10.html
http://www.fast-autos.net/ford/01fordlightning.html

of course they show you have no idea of what you are talking about, but I'm sure you can prove us wrong.

Yes, this is fun!

12.1" and 13.1" on a 400bhp truck - pretty small to me - if you want to stop that is.

According to this:http://trucktrend.com/roadtests/pickup/163_0407_forddodge/index5.html site, it stops from 60 in 122 ft compared to ...let's see... a Honda NSX which according to this: http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Technical/performancenums.htm site stopped between 120 and 128 ft from 60. Sounds like the Lightning has pretty good brakes to me.


I did say previously that the interior issues could be due to RHD conversion.

I'll concede that point to you. I tried to research the conversion, but given that I'm at work, it's hard to devote enough time to the search. Given that the complete dash was changed, I seriously doubt that much, other than small bits, were retained from the original dash. The mismatch Clarkson mentioned could be between the Ford parts and the locally sourced conversion parts. You can hardly blame Ford for that mismatch in fit and finish.

You can make little quips about leaking oil and rusting (although not quite sure where that comes from).

It comes from the fact that my first job as a teenager was at the largest sportscar dealer in the Southeast U.S. You quickly learned not to go and retrieve an MG, Triumph, or any British car without taking a battery jumper box along. I was constantly being told to put oildry down in the parking lot to pick up the oil on the new car lot.

I also was involved in the restoration of several British sports cars and we spent most of the restoration replacing panels that had rusted away in very short order. That's when we found out about the very healthy aftermarket in the UK that specialized in repair panels and in some cases, whole bodies, to replace the rotted originals.



If you want to build american cars to suit UK tastes then you can firstly bring your technology into 21st century! (leaf springs are for horse drawn carriages).

First, I have to ask why. Our driving conditions are vastly different. Our government doesn't tax our gas to the point that we spend a weeks salary to fill our cars up. Also, our roads are much wider trhan the typical Euroean streets. Our cars fit our conditions quite well. And as far as outperformaing our cars, I find it interesting that many of your cottage industry makers and many in Europe use our engines in their low volume specials. You can't beat cubic inches and you can't do it with less as cheaply as you can with our engines. Your own specialist builders have shown that. That truck as overhead cams, electronic fuel injection, and a supercharger. It sounds 21st century to me. Sure, it has leaf springs. IT'S A TRUCK! It hauls stuff, sure this one is a performance special, but it has to share the basic architecture with the more common worktruck. Tell me a better suspension for hauling loads. Nissan, Toyota and other, imported (for us) trucks also have leaf springs.

The reason top gear bash american cars is because the majority of them are crap compared to euro/ asian cars.

It's interesting how you can mentions the horrific quality of American cars and mention how they stack up against European and Asian cars, but you don't bring up the same point about the British car manufacturers. Until their demise, they built horrible quality cars of little interest to anyone outside of the UK. That's why they're gone. We had an experience in the 80's that puts light oin that fact. When Honda released the Legend (branded an Acura here) Rover brought in a mechanically identical model; the Sterling. While the Honda aquired a reputation of excellence, the Rover twin was plagued with numerous mechanical woes, electrical gremlins, and... get this... rust problems. It was a dismal failure here while the Acura brand, on the basis of this car, went on to flourish.

I used to own a Limousine company where I used Lincoln (Ford) cars exclusively. It was not uncommon to put 300,000 miles, and far more in some cases, with out any service other than fluid changes and replacement of normal wearable parts. Remember these cars were cut in half and lengthened. It was the equivelent of towing a trailer all it's life through stop and go city driving. I'd say they held up rather well. This isn't an experience I had with one rare example, this was the norm for myself and many other operators. My wife put 250,00 miles on a Chevrolet Corsica (truely a boring, dull car) with no problems whatsoever. I could go on as could nmany others people. The point is, that the poor quality of American cars versus their Eurpoean and Asian comtetitiors if unfounded and exagerated.

I really don't have an issue with European, or British cars. I currently work for a German company and make trips there on occasion. I am a huge fan of F1, I read Top Gear, Evo, Car, Motorsport, and many other magazines. Hell, every Monday I download the new episode of Top Gear. I'm upset that this last episode was the last of the series until Autumn. I have great respect for the specialist car industry and I'm jealous of the vibrant car hobby in the UK. I'm not a basher. I just get infuriated when I see the constant bashing of our cars by the UK press when they have little understanding of our conditions and marketplace. And the echoing of these statements by people who read and believe these erroneous comments without first hand knowledge. I really did mean most of my comment in fun, but I can see in retrospect how they could be taken otherwise.

Ok, I wasn’t going to post anymore into this, but I feel it must be pointed out, that top gear in the UK is a very superficial and pointless bit of motoring journalism, that I and I think many others watch just purely for its entertainment values. Its virtues to educate potential buyers of any said vehicles can be at times highly questionable.

In other words, anything top gear say about our, yours or anyone’s cars should not be taken out of context, and treated as a way for Clarkson and his motley crew to bash anything that doesn’t do 0 – 60 in 4 secs and has anything less then a V8 and is almost useless as a practical everyday car.

Top gear did plenty to ruin the reputation of Rover, although Rover did plenty on its own. So, don’t take what top gear say about your cars so to heart. And I now see you are behaving in just the same manner as Clarkson, and decided to give the UK motor industry a good bashing. Not that we have any UK motor industry left to speak of. So, kudos, you produce more cars then the UK, but do not make the mistake that some of your cars are nothing short of fantastic.

I’ve been to the states a good few times, and, to be frank, I’ve driven a few US hire cars. If you want to drive in a straight line, and spend every other day at the fuel pump then what ever does it for you. For me, I prefer a car that goes around a corner, does a few more miles to the gallon and doesn’t have a FORD badge on it.

Ok, now it is me being rude. I do apologise. I will give you that the 150 truck in the states perhaps has a “wide” audience, whereas in the UK we tend to want our trucks to be a little more, well work-a-friendly. And not so, well masked with attempts to make it more luxury car like.

Talking of luxury cars, is it not Beverley Hills were many UK luxury cars end up? Last time I was there on the old tour bus I lost count of the “European cars” I looked at. Hell, I thought I was back in good old Hertfordshire, right here in the land of old “rust buckets, and oil strainers.”..

mickbench,

Talking of luxury cars, is it not Beverley Hills were many UK luxury cars end up?

UK luxury cars like Rolls (BMW) and Bentley (VW)? :grinno:

Now it's you taking me too seriously. I hope you made it all the way through my diatribe and also read the last bit. Please don't take what I say as being serious. I only wish you could see my grin as I type these replies!

In truth, we don't have the best reputation in the world for our cars, but neither are they as bad as they are made out to be. I assume the same is true for the British industry. I understand the nature of the Top Gear show. I hope you don't think badly of me for sticking up for a wrong I see being committed.

mickbench,



UK luxury cars like Rolls (BMW) and Bentley (VW)? :grinno:

Now it's you taking me too seriously. I hope you made it all the way through my diatribe and also read the last bit. Please don't take what I say as being serious. I only wish you could see my grin as I type these replies!

In truth, we don't have the best reputation in the world for our cars, but neither are they as bad as they are made out to be. I assume the same is true for the British industry. I understand the nature of the Top Gear show. I hope you don't think badly of me for sticking up for a wrong I see being committed.

I wasn’t offended; I just thought you were taking comments from a UK TV show a little to heart. Top gear is mostly a comical affair, best enjoyed with your brains on standby – just in case something of intellectual debate does arise from the most of the time pointless, but comical ramblings Clarkson and crew bang on with.

I will totally agree with you about Rover. They partnered with a very capable Japanese car manufacturer, and yet were still unable to produce a car that passed as being a quality bit of motoring. The Honda name has since grown and grown, whereas Rover is now all but gone, with a glimpse of perhaps new production from a little known Chinese car manufacturer that has scooped up what ever is now left of what was once the UK’s largest motor firm.

You only have to look at the past history of Rover and its cars to see just how wrong this company had gone. Management was partially to blame, other factors were as well, however Ford and GM appear to be doing no better (although one hopes no worse), with reports of record losses and down turn in sales.

Perhaps this is why Japanese cars are now selling more and more. I own a 2005 Honda Accord, shipped all the way over from Japan, I and will go on record and say it is the BEST car I’ve ever owned. Period. I shall never buy another FORD (my past car) again... Not good, considering FORD are having sales problems, and have lost a past customer.

Perhaps Accord is a pretty good name for the car, after all Accord is to mean an “agreement” and I certainly am in agreement that Japan has got car quality and value well beat over us Brits, you in the US and most of the European manufacturers in terms of just good value, run off the mill cars. Can’t argue with that, truck or no truck. And top gear EVEN bash Honda good and proper.

mickbench,



UK luxury cars like Rolls (BMW) and Bentley (VW)? :grinno:

Now it's you taking me too seriously. I hope you made it all the way through my diatribe and also read the last bit. Please don't take what I say as being serious. I only wish you could see my grin as I type these replies!

In truth, we don't have the best reputation in the world for our cars, but neither are they as bad as they are made out to be. I assume the same is true for the British industry. I understand the nature of the Top Gear show. I hope you don't think badly of me for sticking up for a wrong I see being committed.

I wasn’t offended; I just thought you were taking comments from a UK TV show a little to heart. Top gear is mostly a comical affair, best enjoyed with your brains on standby – just in case something of intellectual debate does arise from the most of the time pointless, but comical ramblings Clarkson and crew bang on with.

I will totally agree with you about Rover. They partnered with a very capable Japanese car manufacturer, and yet were still unable to produce a car that passed as being a quality bit of motoring. The Honda name has since grown and grown, whereas Rover is now all but gone, with a glimpse of perhaps new production from a little known Chinese car manufacturer that has scooped up what ever is now left of what was once the UK’s largest motor firm.

You only have to look at the past history of Rover and its cars to see just how wrong this company had gone. Management was partially to blame, other factors were as well, however Ford and GM appear to be doing no better (although one hopes no worse), with reports of record losses and down turn in sales.

Perhaps this is why Japanese cars are now selling more and more. I own a 2005 Honda Accord, shipped all the way over from Japan, I and will go on record and say it is the BEST car I’ve ever owned. Period. I shall never buy another FORD (my past car) again... Not good, considering FORD are having sales problems, and have lost a past customer.

Perhaps Accord is a pretty good name for the car, after all Accord is to mean an “agreement” and I certainly am in agreement that Japan has got car quality and value well beat over us Brits, you in the US and most of the European manufacturers in terms of just good value, run off the mill cars. Can’t argue with that, truck or no truck. And top gear EVEN bash Honda good and proper.

This is still great fun!

I'm glad you are taking this in good humour too! Sure it's UK/ US bashing but it's fun while we were all working.
Interesting to hear your opinion too.

I have to confess to a love of American cars (more historical than current) but more for aesthetics than anything else.

I did just about stay awake through your diatribe and it's a good point you make about different conditions. Majority of UK driving is in small towns and narrower roads so things like handling can be important.

Anyway - Truce, been a great debate and I have to agree that Rovers are crap. I drive a Vauxhall which I suppose is German??? (Opel)
It's also a Vectra (absolutely hated on Top Gear) so I'm used to people slating my car too.

Oh, and as for old british sports cars, people love the fact that they need constant tinkering (sorry to go on about it but Top gear recently did an article about that very thing!). It never stopped people buying them!

I'm sure in US the F150 lightning is a brilliant car/ truck. :)

Sorry, one more response - you quote British cars of the 60's as falling apart - what about The Chevrolet Corvair and AC Pacer???

And British car industry - 1.7 million cars produced in UK last year (not to mention all the UK design consultants)

"And you can't beat cubic inches" - a famous americanism if ever there was one - and so untrue.
Two words - Lotus Elise!!!!!

Thanks for the understanding responses. One interesting thing about the Top Gear episode is that the truck they tested is a 2003 model and is currently discontinued by Ford. The F-150 was totally redesigned in 2004 and a new version of the Lightning was thought to be too expensive to build given the low volume. The Lightning is engineered and produced by a division of Ford named SVT which stands for Special Vehicle Team. They build special low volume performance niche versions of mainstream Ford products. Ford builds almost a million F-150s a year, but SVT only produced less than 6,000 Lightnings a year. SVT also produced the Mustang Cobra Which, unlike the standard Mustang GT used an independent rear suspension among other upgrades, they also produced the SVT Contour, which was a version of the Mondeo ST-220 and the SVT Focus which had the same drive train as your Focus ST-170. All of these models were built in very small amounts, most under 5,000 units. I was defending a truck that doesn’t even exist anymore!

The next model from SVT will be a Lightning replacement named the Sport Trac Adrenaline. This model is based on the Explorer Sport Trac. The Explorer is a smaller (by our standards) SUV and much more nimble than the Lightning. The Adrenaline will feature all wheel drive, 4 wheel independent suspension, 390 hp Supercharged DOHC 4 valve V-8 putting out 390hp and 390 ft lbs of torque, a six speed automatic transmission and 21” wheels. This truck will also be a 4 door. It’ll sell for less than $40,000. You can see it here (http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2005-Ford-Sport-Trac-Adrenaline-Concept.htm)

Truth be told, I never understood the allure of the Lightning and I still don’t quite get the Adrenaline. It can haul and tow even less than a Lightning. I’m looking more forward to the SVT Shelby GT 500 Cobra Mustang. Whew! Say that quickly! It’s the new SVT version of the 05 Mustang and it will include the same engine found in the Ford GT sportscar also selling under $40k.

Also, yes, the AMC Pacer was a real loser, but the Corvair was really a good little car. What doomed it was a book written by a self appointed consumer advocate name Ralp NAder. The book was called Unsafe at Any Speed. He detailed a problem he saw with the design of the rear suspension. The Corvair was introduced in the very early sixties by the Chevrolet division of General Motors and it featured a rear mounted, air cooled flat six, four doors or a sport coupe, later they had Spyder and Monza models with turbocharged engines, etc. Nader questioned the use of a swing arm rear suspension as used in the early Triumph Spitfires and the VW Beetle among other cars. He convinced the public that under certain conditions the rear would “jack up” and roll the car. It was proven over and over that this was not the case, but the public sided with Nader over the big bad corporation that was trying to kill them with unsafe products. GM eventually redesigned the suspension, but nothing could save the little car. It’s a real shame because it was an innovative economical car for it’s time.

Covered Grandstand Seating Tickets Booked a while ago :) :)
http://www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk/booktickets/book_tickets_D1.htm
Can't wait :grinyes:

Hiroboy you going to the driver search on the 25th of this month ?