74 replies to this topic

[MrJ]

Hey everyone,

I'm sure there are a vast majority of people on this site who watch Top Gear (Clarkson) and Fifth Gear (Needell). And on another forum, it seemed as if each had its own legion of fans. So I'm just asking which of the two do you prefer and why?

As for those of you who do not know either, here is a clip of each:

Jeremy Clarkson Testing the Koenigsegg

Tiff Needell Testing the McLaren F1

Regards,

Mr.J

[pRy]

Clarkson without a doubt. Tiff tried to kill Mansell at the TOCA Shootout, for that, I shall never forgive.

[austin]

Originally posted by pRy
Clarkson without a doubt. Tiff tried to kill Mansell at the TOCA Shootout, for that, I shall never forgive.

I know nothing about this incident, and I don't condone attempted murder. Having said that, I like Tiff's narration much better, and I think he's a much better driver.

[baddog]

Originally posted by austin


I know nothing about this incident, and I don't condone attempted murder. Having said that, I like Tiff's narration much better, and I think he's a much better driver.

hes a much better driver because thats what he is.. a professional (second rate but still pro) racing driver. Jeremy is a TV presenter who drives cars, a different thing altogether.

For me Tiff is an annoying little oik with a chip on his shoulder about his failed driving career, who almost killed on of the F1 greats and tried to blame the crash on the victim. so no I dont like him ;)

Jeremy is supremely funny when he is on form

Shaun

[Ross Stonefeld]

And driving a car to the point where smoke comes off the tires is not only unimpressive, but shows how little he actually knows about driving.

[mahelgel]

Ross:
it makes exciting telly though

[pRy]

Originally posted by austin


I know nothing about this incident, and I don't condone attempted murder. Having said that, I like Tiff's narration much better, and I think he's a much better driver.

Basically Mansell was moving up the field in the TOCA shootout at Donnington, got a little out of shape coming out of the old hairpin, and just when he recovered with a piece of amazing car control, Tiff rammed him up the backside and sent Mansell spinning off into a concrete bridge support. He was knocked out for a while.

[DukeNukem]

Originally posted by pRy
Clarkson without a doubt. Tiff tried to kill Mansell at the TOCA Shootout, for that, I shall never forgive.

A liberal sprinkerling of allegedleys wouldn't go a miss with your comments ;)

[baddog]

Originally posted by DukeNukem


A liberal sprinkerling of allegedleys wouldn't go a miss with your comments ;)

absolutely. after all saying tiff intended to kill mansell it to greatly overrate his ability.

Shaun

[Kartdaddy]

Hi Im new here...but now old...Ive following F1 since they had engines in the front! hahaha...Im a drivers dad who taught him from a nipper in karts.

I entered that same competition to win a Lotus formula Ford/Junior that Tiff Needel won (cant remember the year)

I was also a spectator with my sons at the very spot Mansell hit the bridge in that BTCC race...yes he was charging through the pack after a dismal performance in race 1. when he got wildly out of shape, Tiff only did what most drivers do in an incident...left his foot planted on the gas!...hoping to gain out of someone elses error..it was a racing incident...typical of ole Nige to winge and blame someone!

As regards Needel v Clarkson...no contest Tiffs in another league as a driver. However I for one cant stand all that stupid 'donut' stuff they do...so stupid...thats what yobs do down the car parks! Totally pointless!...My son refuses to do it in demonstrations or after races, quite right too!

[baddog]

Originally posted by Kartdaddy

I was also a spectator with my sons at the very spot Mansell hit the bridge in that BTCC race...yes he was charging through the pack after a dismal performance in race 1. when he got wildly out of shape, Tiff only did what most drivers do in an incident...left his foot planted on the gas!...hoping to gain out of someone elses error..it was a racing incident...typical of ole Nige to winge and blame someone!

hi, was at the same corner myself.. good day of racing wasnt it?

I read the incident VERY differently to you.. nigel did indeed get out of shape and recover, but I dont think ANY of the regular btcc drivers in the race would have failed to avoid him.. but what Tiff did that was REALLY bad was to loudly bang on about how it was nigels fault, and he was of course blameless, while nigel was on his way to hospital in an ambulance (having said nothing at all about it, let alone whinge). Its bloody poor form is what it is, you save all that **** for later, when its clear the guy isnt injured.

mind you its 10 years ago now, so whos memory is really crystal?

Shaun

[_bigbadbob_]

Baddog:

We get an edited version of Top Gear in Canada thanks to the BBC World feed, and no version of 5th Gear at all.

However, I've seen video clips of both, and while I didn't know about Tiff's "attempted murder," I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote.

I watch racing to see good drivers, and I watch television to be entertained and educated.

Clarkson all the way!

Mr. J, you should've included a poll! It would've been funny to see just how many votes Tiff could've collected ;) And BTW, which do you prefer?

[MrJ]

Hey Bob,

I completely forgot to mention who I prefer.

Well for my part, I like Tiff better than I do Clarkson (Mind you that I new nothing of Tiff's racing career before I started downloading clips of car reviews). I think Tiff is another league with regards to driving than is Clarkson, and that he is more entertaining to watch. Usually in the reviews he goes crazy with the car for the audiences amusement which I like a lot.

That said however, I think Clarkson is much funnier than Tiff (not to imply that Tiff is a drone - he too has a bubbly personality), and is no slouch when it comes to driving either.

The ideal commentator for these sorts of shows I believe would be someone with Tiff's driving skill and Clarkson's humor.

Regards,

Mr.J

[Mox]

Who cares about Needell & Clarkson when there's a Butler-Henderson around?

[GerardF1]

No Contest .... Clarkson

GerardF1

[mclarensmps]

Clarkson is a better presenter
Tiff is a better driver

the question i pose is, who is the stig? i have no idea!

[Mox]

It's Perry Macarthy!

[revvhead]

Clarkson.
Really good sense of humour and great TV presenter.
I liked Nedell as well, but clarson wins my vote easily.
I havent seen nedell's new program but i have seen them together on Top Gear.

[Dudley]

Mox- Not any more it isn't, Perry left the show at the start of last series.

The new stig is a lot shorter.

[checkonetwo]

thanks for the clips !
didn´t know any of them, nor the shows. watched both vids. clarkson is alot funnier, tiff is obviously a much better driver. i wouldn´t believe he was in for some tyre smoke if it wasn´t for tv. he shurely does know better.

my vote would go for clarkson, but it has to be said that both are lightyears ahead in terms of presentation than you would expect to see from a similar german or austrian feature. more fun, more humour, so i dig both, but with a clear preference for clark.

i don´t want to see golfbags in a car review.

[KMHPaladin]

Needles is a better driver and has a racing pedigree. Clarkson tends to be more amusing and has a better television personality. Tossup as far as I'm concerned.

[LuckyStrike1]

Originally posted by Mox
It's Perry Macarthy!

Is that really confirmed? I've heard the rumours but never seen it confirmed

[Riker!]

That Clarkson is a riot, check out his Review of the Aussie Manaro that they can buy now in Britain. Its classic.

CLICKY

[pRy]

Originally posted by baddog


hi, was at the same corner myself.. good day of racing wasnt it?

Shaun

me too!

I was just at the bit where the fences bend around for the oil hairpin itself, just a little down from the bridge, near the toilets and burger/beer van. Mansell would often pass coming down the hill and the crowd would all be cheering.. it was great.

I remember when he hit the bridge and didn't get out for ages, I recall people actually trying to scale the fence!! I think everyone was pretty worried for a while. It all went very quiet. I have the review video at home, complete with Mansells onboard panting and breathing as he controlled it then the "oooohhhh" just before he hit the bridge.

So thats three of us who were within 100m of each other that day, crazy stuff.

[baddog]

I was just over on the grass bank on the infield overlooking the corner.. yeah it was very tense.. I mean really noone knew if the guy was seriously in trouble.. funny looking back.

Its actually pretty cool that several people from here were there at the time

Shaun

[HYMS]

Originally posted by revvhead
Clarkson.
Really good sense of humour and great TV presenter.

I wouldn't dare to deny that fact either.

Should give him a try on commentating a F1 race. Dunno what he will do on live telecast.

[acey]

Clarkson! Even if he does hate Porsches and Bmws

[baddog]

Originally posted by Riker!
That Clarkson is a riot, check out his Review of the Aussie Manaro that they can buy now in Britain. Its classic.

CLICKY

especially the choice of kylie minogue music to overlay it... muahhaha

[dolomite]

Originally posted by pRy

So thats three of us who were within 100m of each other that day, crazy stuff.

I was there that day as well but round the other side of the track at Coppice, so didn't see the shunt.

[KMHPaladin]

Originally posted by Riker!
That Clarkson is a riot, check out his Review of the Aussie Manaro that they can buy now in Britain. Its classic.

"There's a POM on board"

[BorderReiver]

For driving Needell, however his voice is just so. . . .well. . . .ever heard fingers down a blackboard?

Clarkson is supremely hillarious.

[pRy]

I think one of the secrets to Clarksons success is he can get across a wide range of emotions with his voice. He can say something but the tone of his voice can echo what he is saying more. He is also very enthusiastic about everything he does. He has been presenting shows away from Top Gear, in particular historical factual shows, and his technique is perfect for that. He can talk about the way pioneers in invention were forgotten/ignored and went unpaid in a low, sympathetic, almost unfair voice.. and then talk about how an invention such as the AK-47 has killed so many, in a serious but factual tone. He says it how it is. And he also has the skill of being able to express things such as size, with his expressions and comparrisons, which is a key skill in explaining and teaching.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by pRy
I think one of the secrets to Clarksons success is he can get across a wide range of emotions with his voice. . . .

Very good points.

By the way, did anyone see Clarkson's documentary on the history of the VC? I missed it unfortunately, but heard it was uniformly excellent.

His historical shows and Top Gear are great, I also loved his series on "Speed".

[BorderReiver]

Just a clarifier, VC as in Victoria Cross, not Vietcong. . . .

[pRy]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
Just a clarifier, VC as in Victoria Cross, not Vietcong. . . .

I believe he won an award for that one.

[B. Dover]

Is this a trick question? Needell without the slightest doubt, atleast to serious car-fanatics like me.

Clarkson can't come even CLOSE to Tiff's insight on how the cars behave and what's special in them.

Yes, Clarkson is witty and sometimes even manages to make a good joke, BUT in knowledge and experience when it comes to cars, they are in totally different leagues.

This is like comparing Ben Edwards and Murray Walker.

[Mox]

Originally posted by LuckyStrike1


Is that really confirmed? I've heard the rumours but never seen it confirmed

Well ... he has written a book about it (and about his career). Recently published.

Don't know if he has been replaced. It's been a while since I've seen the show.

[madmac]

As a driver obviously Needell, 2nd rate as he is. Clarkeson however is wittier & far more apealling.

Perhaps the question should be whos quicker new stig or old stig? or just how do you destroy a Hi-Lux?

[black magic]

seem to miss it most times.

clarkson gets my vote because it is a show for motorists not racing drivers. his abilities and opinions therefore seem more relevant.

find the stig bit a little irritating. would be more interested in knowing who he/she was.

[VAR1016]

I dropped into this thread because I presumed that the question mark meant that we were invited to decide who was the more annoying of the two.

So we have Clarkson with his philistinism and Needell with his profoundly irritating voice (AMAYEEZING).

I give up with one qualification: like many drivers, Needell would be great if he'd only shut up.

PdeRL

[balaclava]

Clarkson is a brat.

All his wit and funny comments are made of stereotypes and, almost hate, when he is not reviewing a German or British car.

Doh, I remember his review of the Seat Leon Cupra R. WHAT A CLOWN ffs.

And when this guy and his team throwed a piano over a classic Prosche 911? THIS GUY MUST DIE! NOW!

[Bob Sacremento]

Clarkson is easily the most annoying by a country mile, which is a shame because he comes across very well on all non-motoring releated programmes.

Top gear has been destroyed by the new format, its now even more of a show for people who dont know anything about cars ( my wife quite likes it!) , a bit like the ITV F1 commentary team is for people who dont know anything about F1.

[AndreasNystrom]

Jeremy doesnt even seem to like to drive cars at times.. so i wonder what the heck he is doing there?... he is just trying to be a comedian all the time.. funny at times, irritating at others.

I also love Tiff (and Vicki) cause they trully can tell how a car behaves.. and sometimes why.. and what could make it better. Non of those crap about "its built by the germans"..

Sometimes.. Jeremy can say bad after bad things about a car.. and the verdict is that he loves it?.. uh..!?!? wtf.

things like that makes Tiff my hero.. he is so enthuisiastic about driving cars.. he really loves it.

[JDeRosa]

Clarkson is the better presenter, Tiff is the better driver.
I prefer Clarkson because he cracks me up.

[Bob Sacremento]

The whole German thing that Clarkson does is really tedious, he seems obsessed by it. And I think at least twice every single episode he makes some sort of joke about the other annoying guy being short.

Interviews and track sessions with the likes of Carol Vorderman and Richard Whitely, why ?

[B. Dover]

Like I said, it's like Ben Edwards vs. Murray Walker in F1 commentating.

One appeals to large masses who don't pay that much attention to F1 and gets away with inferior knowledge of the sport & several mistakes, the other isn't as flashy but can deliver all the relevant & right information to those who are already experienced & knowledgeable about the sport.

It's the same with Needell vs. Clarkson. If you're a serious car-fanatic like me, Needell is easily miles ahead compared to Clarkson who appeals to the casual viewers with his witty comments.

[pRy]

Originally posted by Bob Sacremento
The whole German thing that Clarkson does is really tedious, he seems obsessed by it. And I think at least twice every single episode he makes some sort of joke about the other annoying guy being short.

Interviews and track sessions with the likes of Carol Vorderman and Richard Whitely, why ?

Why not? Carol Vorderman is a huge F1 fan. They are just celebs. I mean, who would have predicted Simon Cowell would have been the fastest person around the track.

And the presenter insults are equally shared out.. Clarkson gets his fair share of stick. The team as a whole works well together.

[Mosquito]

I regard Needell better on judging and handling cars, but overall I do prefer Clarkson.

He really cracks me up using his excellent form of understatement, bashing frontwheel driven Saab cars, toy boy BMW sportscars and best of all, his trashing of the Hummer II.

[baddog]

If I wanted SERIOUS car info, I wouldnt watch a lightweight TV show for it, I would READ. so I watch for entertainment, and Jeremy is entertaining

[B. Dover]

Originally posted by baddog
If I wanted SERIOUS car info, I wouldnt watch a lightweight TV show for it, I would READ. so I watch for entertainment, and Jeremy is entertaining

Uhhuh, what if you want to BOTH read and watch? Top Gear was lightweight enough but Needell brought lots of credibility which Clarkson doesn't have. If you want cheap comedy, you're better off watching reruns of Benny Hill Show. I read most of the car mags around but other than Top Gear and Auto, Motor und Sport TV there are not many weekly car tv-shows around.

I don't mind Clarkson but Needell was so much better. The best option would have been to retain both so that Needell handles all the more exotic & faster cars and Clarkson can drive the 'regular' cars while making witty cracks so that those looking for comedy & entertainment wouldn't change the channel