Mercedes SLR Oslo CHALLENGE | Top Gear - Part 1

Can a boat beat a car? In an epic splash and dash from London to Oslo, Jeremy Clarkson pits the Mercedes McLaren SLR against Richard Hammond and James May who are making the journey by boat.
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[@brickhead48]

These old Top Gear challenges are just timeless, everything about them is perfect right down to the camera angles and soundtrack

[@zanastumasonis]

the whole team really knew their craft

[@biswojyoti1]

puts a smile on my face every damn time.

[@flauschxger]

imagine watching this with modern video quality like in 4k 60fps it would be so good, even if it already is!

[@Stroke999]

@@flauschxger I feel like the quality makes it more nostalgic. I don't think it would look that good at 4K. Plus lower quality for me is more easy on the eyes, so it makes the episode less demanding and more calm. That's just my view on it however.

[@flauschxger]

@@Stroke999 depends on preference i guess, i mean it more like that way how cool it would be to see these episodes in a better quality but yeah i still like it as it is

[@nilsersson3385]

"A part of me wants the car to win but all of me wants Jeremy to loose."

[@mopadrider6012]

Haha so treu jeremy wins chalanges to many times well chalanges like this one

[@georg446]

lose*

[@georg446]

@@mopadrider6012 i wont even bother correcting that

[@im_bentongaming4193]

Lol, you're so correct.

[@shiroyasha7324]

Indeed.

[@jackmcdonald8355]

"I wonder what the fastest anyone's ever been in a Euro Train is?" *Puts foot down* "No, no, no, no grow up"

[@seaalon138]

That just crackled me up

[@youngtoonfish6891]

Well... he failed miserably in that respect 😂

[@trentwerner366]

That would be a world record only top gear would go after😂

[@hello7533]

I did 34mph on a bike. 🏍 no, i will not grow up.

[@p_sher12]

he doesn't always have to act like a yobo

[@cdubs9918]

Whats amazing is that 3 TV presenters with such different personalities not only worked together for so long but they are actually friends and continue to be good friends. As much as they annoy each other, they love working together. Thats a rare thing. Even when Clarckson got fired from the BBC. Hammond and May both left the show and followed Jeremy to do the Grand Tour. I love the loyalty they have in each other.

[@wintermute8315]

"Such different personalities"? In the spectrum of all the different people in the UK, let alone the world, they're practically identical triplets.

[@AK-dw8jo]

@@wintermute8315 oh you talk utter rubbish. Are you Welsh by any chance!?

[@rajchoudhury5130]

Getting paid pal. Pays to be mates

[@AverageAlien]

@@rajchoudhury5130 also mates outside of work so... No

[@hughjaenus2235]

@@rajchoudhury5130 Both Hammond and May were offered a few million pounds to stay at BBC and continue hosting Top Gear after Clarkson's departure, yet they declined the offer...

[@beeeneee]

5:43 best scene, just shows perfectly who Clarkson is

[@ashleyvlahakis5152]

We all would've done it too😂😂

[@nillazilla22]

@@ashleyvlahakis5152 true

[@livebig6414]

@@ashleyvlahakis5152 mate, with that rumble... i can only imagine.

[@mattdunno1124]

2:29 - the sound of that engine tho, heaven

[@sashingopaul3111]

Best Mercedes V8 ever, even better than the 6.2 V8

[@ryanmusson3785]

Super charger whine

[@jesuschrist2287]

@@sashingopaul3111 is that v8 not v12?

[@Leinis7777]

@@jesuschrist2287 its a v8 mercedes just has v12s in amg 65 models and in the Zonda yk

[@aaryeshg.6526]

I actually still prefer it compared to it's successors SLS and AMG GT S. SLR can crack 200 mph unlike the successors which can't. 🤣

[@leannyly]

So they were told they'd be on a 737, they board a 757, and show a 767 taking off... ever heard of continuity?

[@dholmain29]

I think a 777.

[@willaka12]

They boarded a 767. BA removed 757's from there fleet early 2000's.

[@PinkThorn242]

william raffoul G-CPES is a 757. It was still flying for BA as late as 2010.

[@willaka12]

The two remaining 757's BA had were used as sky tours aircraft.

[@Carfreak36]

Th departing aircraft is a Triple 7 :)

[@Tokyodrift5000]

I like how James just swiftly slides to the check in desk at 1:05 smoooth

[@rhymeztubeofficial5538]

Lmao 😂

[@mrguest3749]

smooth operatoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooor

[@ShockWithStyle]

@@mrguest3749 smooth operatiooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon

[@Shinx990]

I’ve never noticed that before. James is so smooth.

[@zechlin6975]

He is such a stud

[@EmmaLouiseRata]

Jeremys' face when he said "there we are, it's 1320 miles" hahahahahahhahaa

[@laurenswitte8483]

Yes me to. His face is just hilarious

[@heypachuco1991]

"F*ck me right?" Is basically that expression

[@pvtghost117]

1300 miles, 8 countries? *laughs in american*

[@quattro4468]

Just drove 300 miles and it was excruciating. Through San diego and los angeles.

[@thegreatafrican3367]

@@quattro4468 I'm guessing you don't own a grand tourer

[@kylepinner5372]

James: "Permission to come aboard skipper" hahaha

[@samoandemigod1210]

"cocktail penis"

[@TheThunderbirdZero]

"Can you make this boy walk the plank?" Best question ever!!

[@codycolosi8982]

The SLR is so cool it deserves to be put in the top gear freezer

[@LukeTansiongco]

Honestly have a soft spot for this car. Probably one of the best to have ever been showcased in the show. Too bad it's seemingly forgotten about these days

[@fish3439]

its not really forgotten about, the issue is its sitting in the garage of a huge amount of collectors who never drive them, manny khoshbin is a great example, he has THREE

[@scalychannel5897]

@@fish3439 he had 5 until recently

[@underSTATEDexcellence]

Because it falls apart faster then any other merc and that’s saying something. The trans goes every 10k miles and it’s a $35-60k job. It’s a car to look at, you don’t wanna drive it unless your literally Bezos, Musk, Soros money.

[@jasper4682]

JAMES MAY HAS RUN ON TELEVISION!!!

[@GaneshrajP_]

@Bilal Khalid indeed

[@johnking5174]

4:05 - And 8 years later after this originally aired Jeremy Clarkson would be an attendee at Mrs Thatcher's State Funeral in St Paul's Cathedral in London, so the production team in 2005 knew very well here about Jeremy's friendship with the former iron lady.

[@Hammern28]

These three together in a show, is golden. No one ever, will be able to reach their entertainment value.

[@HeyThisIsTommy]

Never realized how much the music in Top Gear influenced my music preferences of my adult life. Drum & Bass, breakbeats, garage, house… So good!

[@DanielSadjadian]

6:25 "That's enough health and safety, can we go now?". Classic Clarkson 😂

[@Area-5l]

4:30 camera man couldn’t resist

[@scottallpress3818]

Good car though

[@CWINDOWSsystem32]

I come back to this video just to hear that sound...

[@iBFP.]

+1:34 :) CWINDOWSsystem32 yeah man same here specially

[@KoudZ]

I absolutely agree. one of the best looking and best sounding cars ever made

[@rayboccino5174]

Sounds like a Spitfire!

[@armands3153]

7:12

[@aaditpatani9969]

Me to my wife before we go to any party : 6:38

[@Frosty4Real]

6:55 did someone laugh? xD

[@AussiePetrolhead]

Glad I'm not the only one that noticed! 😂

[@BenEmberley]

7:11 - Doww-dow doww-dow.....Oww!!! LOL

[@hamzaanegm]

7:04 “he’s not turning round, he’s going about” ~James May 2006

[@alfienaylor1587]

*2005

[@samdherring]

*1453

[@ronk7285]

3:07 James May is me in the airport

[@magicaIpineapple]

Richard is me

[@nikkcade1672]

same

[@nickrushworth6925]

I'd be James

[@user-jr8vt3jv2i]

RON0BIJ_ exactly me too

[@prodbyshdw]

Me too

[@user-jr8vt3jv2i]

i love how James takes the time to use his aviation knowledge at the airport

[@ninjapants7688]

Mercedes and McLaren need to do more car collaborations, the SLR is just gorgeous.

[@k.r.99]

1:13 as a plane enthusiast, i felt that.

[@tylerkilarski5831]

James May is like the dad that you think is embarrassing you then you grow up and realize he was just being a good dad

[@daunteuflay4859]

1:30 that soundtrack mate is superb

[@alloutofbubblegum127]

I saw one of these on track at Brands Hatch and in the pit lane, my daughter wouldn't sit in it because it scared her with how loud it was. Its the best car noise I've ever heard.

[@NoblestStrive]

the vignetting of the editing and cool temperature of the video is so nostalgic.

[@migselv16896]

Love it

[@lunaticworld4212]

Season 6 Episode 6. You're welcome ;)

[@nevillewood1]

And you're a legend..

[@TheMuldoonFella]

You. You sir are a hero

[@glyks1550]

Oh there is a hero watching

[@benflanagan8584]

Legend

[@deadly_waffle1432]

I love u man

[@DeeKay1911]

This - along with the DB9 trip south - was Top Gear in absolut prime shape! Never better and have gone down hill ever since

[@r.a.6459]

The DB9 race to Monte Carlo in 2004, this race in 2005 and the cross London race in 2007 are the best.

[@camarocharger8180]

End of 2019, world is full of hypercars, megacars, supercars but damn I forgot how beautiful the Mercedes- McLaren looked, for me it's gotta be one of the best looking cars of 2000's and that engine sound, damn it was such an awesome soundtrack.

[@Dd-mt5ol]

All slow tho nothing would compete to my 911 turbo s

[@Firemarioflower]

@@Dd-mt5ol Boaster

[@wintermute8315]

@@Dd-mt5ol You live a sad life. Either you own that car, and yet still feel the need to try to brag about it to strangers in KZbin comments. Or you just wish you owned it, and are trying to play make believe in the comments section. I'm not sure which is sadder.

[@Dd-mt5ol]

@@wintermute8315 not sad it's a 2014 model worked my ass of for 2 years for it back in 2018 finally got it in 2020 this Aint no ordinary 911 it runs on water/ methanol and no I'm not bragging it's a 2014 not 2022

[@sukhdevr3489]

From the front it's amazing but the back is a bit weird imo.

[@RandomCarGuy17]

6:51 Lol, I feel sorry for Jeremy there; having to listen to health & safety twice in 2 languages.

[@xboxgamer9680]

I feel sorry for Richard who had to be with know it all May

[@ozm8642]

Canada bruh

[@Brooks__EU]

I've been in a plane from Frankfurt Germany to Japan... Everything was done in 3 Languages... German.. English and Japanese..

[@aaryeshg.6526]

Rather have a screen showing instructions than an announcement. Faster just like Jeremy wants. :)

[@MattAutoMotive]

@@aaryeshg.6526 Maybe in the future of the Channel tunnel

[@trondedvardsen]

Ah: 360p - The way Top Gear is intended to be enjoyed, according to KZbin

[@armands3153]

To add some superficial layer of nostalgia.

[@DamnSmoker]

"No-no-no-no, this lady's not returning!" LOL

[@TheBenchPressMan]

taron_baron *not for turning!

[@POVShotgun]

2:53 has basically defined how I talk to Google Maps

[@brwlers]

this is still one of my favorite challenges. feels so real and grounded; i love how extravagant everything became later on with their challenges but i prefer how raw this one feels comparatively.

[@airforce556]

3:07 me every second in my life

[@ThomasWilliams89]

Top Gear during its peak years.

[@clearspira]

I really miss these guys. So sad what happened to Top Gear.

[@DogWick]

Yeah but The Grand Tour looks very promising

[@bharataggarwal4090]

clearspira What happened to top gear?

[@TheStrictlyAwesome]

SkinoReturns He assaulted a producer... would have been taken to a tribunal if he wasn’t sacked. You cant expect to punch a colleague and not get fired.

[@WitchTrials92]

@@TheStrictlyAwesome yes Jeremy punched a producer because he wanted a steak and he didn't get it cuz the Hotel chef had gone home and was offered a soup and cold meat platter instead and Imo that's no reason to punch somebody in the face just because you don't get the dinner you did want

[@chrindo8237]

Nick his doctor also said he might have cancer and his mom recently died

[@arnoldrjs]

Jaw dropping to see how far cars have come since..

[@dazzaboy04]

"ohhh we've gotta have it in french!! START THE TRAIN!!"

[@jonnnyren6245]

Clarkson's little rants here are actually pure gold like the "THE CHANNEL TUNNEL IS STRAIGHT AHEAD, I CAN READ!!!!"

[@visionist7]

To think this was broadcast before the 7-7 attacks in London... I remember those days. Amazingly, all the original songs from the original broadcast are actually in this video

[@flamingburritto]

When I was a kid my dad bought me a remote control car. That remote control car was a Merc SLR. I played with it for days, made it drift, bump into things and what not. I was addicted to it. But then we moved houses and it was lost. I don't have a lot of "Dream possessions" I wanna own. But I hav two. A Mercedes SLR and an AMG GT. Not the black edition. The regular one. Hopefully someday I'll be able to realise my dream.

[@benarn9083]

6:51 Lol, I feel sorry for Jeremy there; having to listen to health & safety twice in 2 languages.

[@vihaansethi5140]

1:34 that engine sounds amazing.

[@technik2020]

This is one of the greatest Top Gear episodes of all time. That intro gives me the goosebumps every single time.. the producers nailed it with the music and soundtrack, my gosh

[@tnzn4951]

I'm guessing I'm not the only person who'll do anything for an SLR, such a gorgeous looking car

[@jackjames7806]

Even the camera angles are hilarious. 2:10 *Oh, sorry, what?*... not to mention its a really well made shot, to begin with.

[@andrewpepper3145]

These really were well made in their time. They were well filmed, well presented, the music was really well chosen...

[@JackFitzsimmonsZondaFan]

1:04 I love James simply slides up to the check-in desk, & then "Hello" James May's ultimate chat-up line.

[@hughthompson4846]

0:54, impossible!

[@duolingoowl7043]

7:19 killed me for some reason haha

[@migselv16896]

Me too. Hilarious scene for some reason haha. You just know theres nothing interesting to film on that boat, so hes just pointing at a LEGO racecar going: ''Jeremy. Wraargh.'' hahaha

[@Ashs290]

I remember watching this episode episode as a kid and absolutely falling in love with the car. Since then it has become one of my goals in life to get one.

[@muienpantaipr6929]

And? Did you got one?

[@Ashs290]

@@muienpantaipr6929 not yet. I do have a slightly less extravagant Mercedes for now :)

[@robertwallace4928]

That SLR is such a cool machine! This is one of the best races! Hamster in that night club...classic!

[@pcvexplores1305]

Watching this 12yrs later...still fresh and exciting😍

[@chrisg24601]

The supercharger whine at 1:21 gives me goosebumps

[@frankenoise]

Love that they use Biosphere and Amon Tobin tracks in this episode!!!

[@BentleyMulsanneII]

That Arnage though...

[@derin111]

First time I’ve seen this but coincidentally just 2 years ago my son and I did almost exactly Jeremy’s journey in my silver Mercedes SL ! Sadly it’s a 350 and not an SLR! Still…it was an interesting journey! 😄

[@benjyfriedman]

Jeremy's face at 2:21 wasn't so confident when he read out the number of miles he'd have to drive: 1,320 miles!😬😂🤣

[@ledionhysenaj128]

Bro driving the most powerful car at that time for such a long distance and getting paid for doing so , when me and you just dream about it....i mean thats awesome for me...and who is the lucky one , a crazy old man🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️life is just not fair🤪😢

[@lasangagamers]

nonono grow up

[@Avenger460]

i was searching for this comment

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Saw one of these the other day. Still looks fantastic and special.

[@emircosic7860]

I have sincerely enjoyed watching all of Top Gear with these 3. Some of the best time of my life!

[@psychic_plays]

Appreciate the sound editor

[@mav4596]

Scykick GELOSO

[@hunterxsimple3821]

1:22 that sound...

[@MBHerbig]

that SLR looks like a spaceship among these cars love it

[@knobrush]

This is my favorite Top Gear race.

[@Metalblack88]

I have all the Top Gear DVD's But this London to Oslo has never been put on DVD why ? It's one of the best races of all.

[@danielruud224]

Wait really? It's on my season 6 DVD🤷‍♂️ season 6 episode 6

[@TheAtomicANetwork]

@@danielruud224 devil episode confirmed

[@TimeSplitter1701]

Song used in this clip is Amon Tobin - "Nightlife" Great artist. Highly recommend checking out their work.

[@toospooky051]

I recognized it instantly. Whoever was running the editing process has great taste in music.

[@gsg72]

"It's saying it's 1320 miles... " - his smile is priceless! Jeremy enjoying the ride in one of the best road racing cars back then

[@AlexTsakal]

hhahahahhaa "no no no grow up" !!!

[@axeljonsson151]

Check in lady: b737 James: a340 Actual plane: b757

[@axel247]

Electric Midnight well no its a 777

[@karlosbricks2413]

BA have never had A340s, I think it was just a plane he saw

[@uselessDM]

No, James is asking whether it is a 737-400 which is a specific model.

[@shorteranton]

I made almost the exact same trip but in a VW Lupo 3L 1.2 TDI, with two others and bags for a week abroad. Opposite way though. Stayed in London. Oh and of course drove it back home to Sweden (midwest boarder, not far from Oslo). That semi-auto transmission is a pain on the autobahn, wants to stay in 4th. 0/10 would not recommend. Anything else would've been better. Flunking a mid-term. A slap in the face. A retina tattoo. Anything.

[@oOFLOM1996Oo]

Oh dear! Poor car :,(

[@evo271]

+Anton Shorter I'm guessing the trip wasn't nothing memorable ? because that car at least had good gas mileage. I've done 2000 km in a Peugeot 206 with a 1.9D with no turbo, which has 70hp and no torque, but it made possible the trip that I tell about today, after almost 3 years. My point is, the car is just a vehicle to go from A to B. Only the experiences matter. And that it will not break during the trip.

[@justandy333]

I got to agree, with Hammond. The airport is possibly the most torturous part of any journey. I think, we're a very long way off just being able to hop on and off them like buses. Most times I've flown, they've said arrive 2 hours before the flight?! 2 + hours doing bugger all. Its tragic that we haven't progressed in any way on this aspect of air travel.

[@AsphaltManiaks]

Watching the OG Top Gear brings back my childhood dreams of being Jeremy Clarkson and getting to drive the worlds most exotic and beautiful machines! Nothing can ever replace this top notch Trio of automotive presenters!!

[@bunsenn5064]

Fun fact: After two years of ownership, the maintenance for this car will cost as much as the car’s original MSRP. You will pay double the initial price just to own this car for a few years.

[@notaspy3751]

That won't stop me if I had the money.

[@smackadoodleish]

5:30 oooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu spooky XD

[@fif477rumjitnes8]

So they were told they'd be on a 737, they board a 757, and show a 767 taking off... ever heard of continuity?

[@SaiKumar-lr4pu]

Good old days.....it was television gold!!!!!

[@LeocornoProductions]

I will never get bored of the slrs supercharger whine or any supercharger whines, I really love the shelby gt500s supercharger whine and the ford gts and also the zenvo st1s.

[@anthonyarmstrong5012]

They look so young. Still watching in 2019

[@xn7331]

that smile at 2:21 was hilarious. lol

[@COYM_1908]

That is one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen, I love everything about it. I think it's one of those cars that you either love or hate, innit.

[@mathewbsaenz]

This is my absolute favorite supercar and top gear video

[@TheGtracer1994]

I love the sound of those Supercharged 5.4L engines

[@shanepoth2877]

The SLR is honestly beautiful

[@woodrow_mayes]

sadly unappreciated beauty

[@armands3153]

@@woodrow_mayes What makes you say that?

[@Keepingitrespectfulmostly.]

There was me thinking I liked the SLK, until I saw this. Love it when they do these race you there programmes. Jeremy normally wins but not always. Eurotunnel was very smooth and easy when I used it, riding abroad on motorbikes with pals. I decided to stay on in France a few more days and still just turned up at departures and got any train back.

[@armands3153]

Well, this race and the Bugatti Veyron one were quite nonsensical from James' and Richard's part. What stopped them from taking a non-stop flight from wherever they are to where they need to be? Superficially these are really entertaining and awesome, but realistically overcomplicated and artificially manipulated resulting the cars to get gifted some of those wins by illogical choices of transport. Of course it's all just great entertainment and show, but I think in reality half of these races would have ended up like the GT500 Vs TGV and that wasn't even a race, but sold as one by Top Gear by adding false sense of suspense in the middle.

[@streampunk6932]

This was the episode I got into Top Gear and now Grand Tour. I love the humor.

[@julio9991]

6:57 , song is "never the same" by Supreme Beings of Leisure. If anyone was wondering.

[@kingoftheworld5753]

Really? I thought it was "You Showed Me " by The Turtles

[@julio9991]

I'd never heard that song before. Good find! A lot of new songs have been inspired by previous classics im sure.

[@thatabu]

Wouldn't it have been easier for James and Richard to just take a plane from Heathrow to Oslo?

[@xboxgamer9680]

unfair race

[@Firemarioflower]

xboxgamer For the car, yes. But despite everything it still won!

[@thatabu]

Firemarioflower Actually, it was unfair and unrealistic for James and Richard. A ferry from Newcastle to Kristiansand? A crappy speed boat from there to Oslo? Come on now...

[@Firemarioflower]

thatabu Crappy?? The question of the challenge was if a BOAT can beat a car. Those boats did fail but they were pretty quick. Unrealistic? There's tons of people using ferrys to get to Norway. Way better than flying!

[@thatabu]

Firemarioflower Umm.. let me get this straight. You're saying tons of people would choose to travel from London to Oslo via Newcastle and Kristiansand? Seems pretty legit, yeah.

[@saljr.7647]

2:23 For those whose wonder, the song is Nightlife - Amon Tobin

[@S-T-E-V-E]

I still love the SLR after all this time! Especially the Stirling Moss version, it's just so beautiful!

[@TopStrikerMaverick]

This show was my childhood. Well, at least since I was 14.

[@tobyfarman]

2:38 - "Ferry to catch" 3:50 - *Boards Eurotunnel*

[@Spontaniczne.improwizacje2]

that one of the best episodes... just perfect, and this conlusion Jeremy's i remember for today... sth like that "car is perfect, just human have to rest" beautyfull Thanks Best Regards from Poland ;P

[@silasyadostar7648]

Keep it up top gear a love them it is so good and funny to see

[@haildrop8346]

Richard says jeremy is too old here, 15 years later, they still makin tv shows