5th gear (the show, not the ratio!)

[4.9 EF Futura]

A lot of Top Gear fans on the forums (for obvious reasons) and im guessing the PayTVers amoungst us are also aware of the show 5th Gear. But for those without PayTV but who may be looking for downloads/DVDs in the same vein - this is definately a show worth checking out.

Wiki will give you a better run down than i can:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Gear

As an idea of the kind of stories, last night Tiff Needell (ex F1/open wheeler racer) tested an Astra VXR against a Focus turbo. Idea was to see the best lap time... but Tiff completed both attempts with his left arm taped to his body (and yes - it was a manual, drifting FWD whilst changing gears with right hand in a right hand drive is a sight to behold).

So yeah... similar to Top gear, a little less flashy on the production side, but cars and drivers are second to none. Tiff Needell and Jason Plato can really push the cars. Vicki Butler Henderson possibly the coolest chick you'll ever see on TV.

Have a look-see.

[Rodp]

I really tried to like that show but it just sent me to sleep. In comparison between the two, if you want to know how a car really handles you watch fifth gear, if you want to be entertained, have a laugh at something goofy and you really don't care about how a car handles, watch top gear. Had there been no top gear I probably would have gotten into fifth gear. Shows with a similar premise and I guess I prefer the fluff pieces with British humor scattered between it.

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by Rodp

if you want to know how a car really handles you watch fifth gear, if you want to be entertained, have a laugh at something goofy and you really don't care about how a car handles, watch top gear.

Well put rodp!!!

[Kenster]

I have seen both show Fifth and Top Gear both of them are different in way they review the cars. As Rodp said i agree with you, but my hands defenately goes to Top Gear for the harilous thing they do on the show and some uniqune way to test out the cars

[Dezza]

I prefer Top Gear, but don't mind 5th Gear either.

The interesting thing about this show was that it was made from the original Top Gear. Originally Top Gear was a general straight-forward motoring program. Jeremy Clarkson left the show and it changed stations, but the BBC kept the rights to the name Top Gear. The new station (I forget what it's called) then named it 5th Gear. A few years later, the BBC brought back Top Gear with the basic format we know now (although James May wasn't in the first season) which is more about comedy than the previous incarnation