Top Gear guide to Buying a Banger

Top Gear's Quentin Willson takes a look at buying a quality banger in a 1997 edition of Top Gear. This was the days before the internet and cheap PCP's.

[@joshhhieee1]

Legend has it that Susan is still trying to find the registration and MOT documents.

[@edgarbeat275]

joshua clark Hahahah coughed my tea on my phone.

[@lafingas555]

KZbin is full of these legend has it jokes. Yawn.

[@amitsidhar]

lafingas555 - legend has it you’re still yawning

[@amitsidhar]

bill Bloggs - legend has it ,that within a canyon deep in Petra Jordan resides a man who is 657 years old who writes all the “legend has it” jokes until legend has it, the chosen one arrives to banish him and take his place and honour the 3000 year old tradition that is the “legend has it” joke.

[@trainman665]

@@lafingas555 The world is full of people like you with no sense of humour. Yawn.

[@mattbod]

I actually miss Quentin on the telly. Was always my favourite presenter. Was nice enough to reply to a letter I wrote to him as a kid too asking how to be a motoring journalist. I turned out as a Solicitor but still love my cars.

[@Bazed.]

@Henry Discipline ok... and that makes him a bad person how?

[@turquoisecat761]

@Henry Discipline only when driving that Polo

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

Class act that man, Wilson.

[@rscosworthfan]

He was done for clocking cars i heard

[@Corinthian44]

Quentin is , and was , on Top Gear , a class act . Without him and Tiff Needell , the programme wasn't the same and , as someone else said , it became more of a comedy show than a serious car programme .

[@aadi8568]

5th gear existed for that to replace top gear

[@JohnyMcNeal]

Literally, comparing this to modern top gear is an insult to old top gear.

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

There's nothing to say about post 2015 Top Gear because it ceased being a show worth watching but the post 2002 New Top Gear with Jeremy, James, and Richard was probably the best show to ever exist on Television. It makes not a bit of difference that it wasn't a serious car show; there was and is plenty of good serious car shows. What there never was was a fun to watch, hilarious show about cars with people that felt like your friends doing what we could only dream of. There's no reason to even bother about it not being serious or like old Top Gear because new Top Gear was a legend and was the most popular show, worldwide in the history of television. That's why it continued in the form of Grand Tour and every Top Gear fan loved it. Did they love Top Gear anymore, heck no. No one stuck with the show. My point is this was a great show and so was new Top Gear with James and Richard with Jeremy.

[@robhosking9399]

I couldn't have said it better. 👍

[@justsumguy2u]

Quentin is my favorite Top Gear presenter from the old days. He simply said it as it was, and if a car had faults, he was quick to call them out

[@jayrave4]

“As tight as a trampoline” - Crisp little box” - “Lovely virgin engine compartment, never been stuffed”. Yep, definitely a BBC programme then 😂

[@mediapark101]

"They honestly don't come much better than this." Q was on a roll that day.

[@stephenroberts5993]

Ha ha 😂😂👍

[@garethjones8047]

Should have got Jimmy saville to present the show.

[@jayrave4]

Gareth Coppell yep, Jimmy knew a thing or two about tight little boxes. As Q says in this video... “well dash my buttons” 😂

[@MrDavey2010]

Pure filth before the watershed too!

[@BiggerbyteNet]

The first car died in 2004, the volvo I couldn't find the reg of, the morris survived until 2012 and the triumph is still alive and kicking.

[@crustycorollas]

there is another upload of this video somewhere on KZbin and a person said that the polo died in 2000

[@BiggerbyteNet]

PCgeek486 What Polo?

[@crustycorollas]

+BiggerByte the polo at the end of the video if I recall correctly

[@Cascroft-lp6ir]

+BiggerByte The Polo at the end died in 2000, the Triumph Acclaim is still alive on a sorn and the others I haven't checked yet.

[@Cascroft-lp6ir]

+BiggerByte The Morris is still alive, it's on a sorn though and has been since 2012 so I'm guessing it's in someone's garage waiting to get restored.

[@rjft7003]

This Morris is still on the road in 2018. Fantastic!

[@not_necessarily_analog]

Sadly the Gov't scrappage scheme put paid to a lot of the good old cars. I always had bangers, never paid more than £500, ran it for a year, if it passed the MOT, drove it for another year. Trying to buy a decent motor for this money today that isn't a whole heap of trouble is very hard. Best one I had was a Mk1 Seat Ibitza bought for £75.

[@JJMCB26]

Bangers? I don't think so, those cars look absolutely fucking mint! Wow! Nearly new with low mileage? I'm completely gobsmacked! It's almost like the owners had used their garages as time capsules lol!!!

[@LutzfromPS2]

What he says about old people taking care of their cars is true. My grandma has a 1978 dodge sportsman van. Shes owned it for 32 years. The engine is still good, body has a dent here and there, but overall it is worth a lot more than the value kelly blue book has to say about it. That tank of a van will last forever if well maintained.

[@drg111yt]

Thank you - classic Quentin Wilson style and precision.

[@markthompson50]

The lady that popped inside to get the registration documents & MOT for the Volvo never returned! Probably still searching now....

[@manofthehour6856]

Quentin Wilson touches of humour in his presentations seems to have bridged the gap between the rather serious by informative William Woollard to the clownshow Clarkson, Hammond, and May. Interestingly, Clarkson hated the Volvo 340. And while the Triumph Acclaim might look dowdy especially in beige, fast forward another 25 plus years and it just looks marvellously retro. Absolutely useful information!

[@silverliteway]

Love the genuine happiness on his face when he sees the Oxford

[@KidThomsonMediaProductions]

Decided to check whether the cars still exist, the results are as follows in chronological order: Talbot Sunbeam - Hasnt been taxed in over 10 years but not registered scrap Volvo 330 - F26 something or other, cant see enough of the plate! MORRIS OXFORD (FARINA) - Been off the road since 2012 but not scrap it seems Triumph Acclaim - Off the road since 2016, still about though! Volkswagen Polo - Hasnt been taxed in over 10 years but not registered scrap, probably scrap though due to new system change, you never know though!

[@ceannscriteach81]

The Creepiest Of Pasta I'd say the sunbeam disintegrated years ago, possibly flew apart while on a journey somewhere

[@rarevhsuploads4995]

Thanks, saves me the job of checking. I had a feeling the Truimph would still be around, they seem to attract cult enthusiast types. I suspect the Volvo would be gone by about year 2000. I reckon the Talbot will long gone too.

[@jayshields1234]

Rare VHS uploads talbot is still about apparently with 29k on the clock

[@KeithsReviews]

Do you have a friend at the DMV or is this publicly available info?

[@jayshields1234]

public info in the UK.

[@shellacandvinylarchive3370]

Great presenter with genuine enthusiasm for the subject. Excellent cars shown here. I have not always driven bangers but have preferred them overall in terms of value for money. Had a 2002 Mitsubishi Colt in 2014/15 for about 8 months (£320) and followed it with a 2000 Toyota Avensis for a year (£685). Followed those two with a £1525 van for four and a half years - got half my money back when I decided to change back to cars. I've done OK.

[@RetroGUY77]

That Morris Oxford would now be worth £15000 not £1500

[@stevebentley2345]

It wouldn't... £6000 tops

[@seaninterpop]

This shows that Quentin is impressively good at ducking and diving on the used car market

[@burkezillar]

Back when Top Gear was actually about cars, rather than a comedy show.

[@AlejjSi]

Yes, but it died, because nobody watched it...actually, I'd quite like to have this kind of Top Gear and also the show off one too.

[@Lukeno52]

Fifth Gear took on the mantle but that too had to move past this style as it didn't get the views either.

[@shuddafukkup]

Michael Burke and not even a funny one

[@Jademyheart]

Soooo agree there Michael. It's about blowing caravans & Stupid boring Play adventures in Prestige cars. It's Emabrassing, boring & Childish. 😣😣😣😣

[@1cmman]

Agreed. It became a rich peoples comedy car show instead of a regular peoples real car show.

[@mattwebb6056]

0:59 The Selly Sausage cafe was open until recently too. Closed in 2016.

[@pogly100]

No dents, no dings, no scratches on the Acclaim... except for the big one on the right rear wing at 5:45... ;o)

[@GamezGames19]

pogly100 No that's the daytime position light

[@BrooksterMax]

I was relatively young when this was first broadcast and didn't appreciate the humour and substance as much as I can now. Very much enjoyed watching this and many other older Top Gear videos on KZbin.

[@shaalis]

"Crisp little box". oh my

[@KeithsReviews]

"tight as a trampoline"

[@adubbya1776]

Lovely virgin engine compartment, never been stuffed😂

[@Dazsvintagestuff]

Ooow Matron

[@tonyquigley6543]

never been stuffed

[@jayswarrow1196]

Well-dash my buttons!

[@MadIIMike]

I can't complain since I just recently snatched a 2004 A6 Avant (Quattro, 2.5 TDI 180PS, Auto, ex. white cross) for 300€ with less than 200t km, but damn, it sure has become more of a crapshoot with used cars those days. Part of which surely is because even cars from 20~ years ago had plenty of tech that could go wrong in every possible way, but I also feel like sellers used to be a bit more honest back then. Also, the idiotic scrappage programs surely took many good cars off the road.

[@miaugato93]

6:15-6:26 what i find amazing is that JC used this very footage to _slag_ on the Acclaim to the words of something like this: _The Triumph Acclaim succeded in what even the TR7 didn't....and finished off the Triumph brand for good_

[@001-j7l]

imagine finding that Sunbeam for sale now for £595!

[@FMFGUF]

Imagine finding one at all! Most rusted away sadly. I recall my Scout Master's rather fit daughter had one in the 1980s, same colour too.

[@allanmacbadger5692]

Squade shoes and cavalry twill trousers - oh suit you sir!

[@fodsaks]

I know everyone raves about Hammond, Clarkson and May... But the team of Clarkson, Tiff, Count Quentin and VBH was peak Top Gear for me.

[@tonyn9858]

He does make it look so easy, in my experience most of the cheep cars i looked at in the day were rotten has a pair. best thing i every did was buy a mig welder.

[@jase1382]

Nice bloke Quentin tbh met him once in the services on the M40 I had a Volvo 850 t-5 at the time he said keep it as it be rise in value and never let u down I should of listened

[@williamegler8771]

Bought a 2001 Saturn LW300 (Vauxhall Vectra) wagon from a neighbors estate sale. Paid $1500.00 for a loaded example with 38 k . New tires brakes and a complete service history including a timing belt change. Not the most exciting car in the world but as reliable as the sunrise and it costs pennies to maintain and insure.

[@AhhMishMoneypenny]

“This Talbot is tight as a trampoline, tight little box”. Oooo matron.

[@Eray2007]

thank you for recording this on tape for us:)

[@BobM925]

The Triumph is, as I type, SORN'd but MOT'd! Yes this stuff still does apply today, but of course with the internet as it is nowadays "the search" is even easier.

[@howardkerr8174]

Just an observation from an American: used cars can be ridiculously cheap in the U.K. while new cars are shockingly expensive. I doubt that I could assemble 6 cars here in my area that would be as attractive for the equivalent of $2,000.

[@alastair4151]

That Talbot Sunbeam if bought in 1997 for £595,and put into storage would be worth at lest £6000 today.Same is true for the equivalent MK1 or 2 Escort which back then could have been bought for the same money for a similar 1300 spec car in the same condition.

[@mrspivvy]

That oxford would be around £5k these days with such low mileage and good condition

[@Landie_Man]

Didn’t someone phone the number for the Morris Oxford and got some guy who was really angry about getting continuous phone calls 20 years later?

[@historicmilitaria1944]

2;18 "you could run this car two three years".....filmed in 1997 that blue talbot VKV659X was still on the road till its tax ran out in 2004!!!! so it gave someone eight years service., 4;22 blue morris oxford JSJ213 still exists and is on SORN, 6;25 beige triumph r325udm no details presumed scrapped, same with vw g756gdp

[@R33Racer]

Triumph - A325 UOM SORN MOT - Expired May 2016 So sad, it lived so long... Morris is still on he road though. Next test in 2018.

[@Car_and_classic_lover]

Its probably being restored somewhere.

[@987654321Edd]

Triumph is back, currently on Marketplace

[@Matt-yw8tj]

Had my 2001 Skoda Fabia for sixteen months and so far it's cost me the grand total of a fiver for a new bulb to go through its MOT. Will need a little bit of work very soon - coil pack - but sourced a second hand one cheap. Bought for £300, FSH, 110k miles but you can't argue with that for a day to day runner.

[@killerdinamo08]

5£ for just one bulb? I do an oil change besides that 😂.

[@abcbcde9985]

Clarkson learned his craft at the feet of Quentin.....

[@hestonpfheffer1299]

Quentin just turns up like a bad man and starts inspecting some old codgers Triumph Acclaim then drives off like a gangster and trades it in for a VW polo! Wtf??

[@EgoShredder]

In the UK the word has many associations including a worn out, broken old car; a grilled / oven baked sausage; a loud firework.

[@ianedmonds9191]

I have a mate who subscribes to the whole bangernomics philosophy. He's had some interesting cars. He had a lovely honda civic coupe that was amazing. It lasted him 3 years. He had a Merc W124 that probably would have lasted him until he died but he wrote it off. He then had a Volvo s80 2.3 that was a really nice car with full leather and a nice raspy 5-cylinder. He neglected to change the oil for a couple years and the bottom end deteriorated to the point he was seeing metal flecks in the oil filter. To be fair it probably cost him as much as an oil change would have. He seems to have gone more conservative this time and plumped for a fairly new Fiesta. I don't think I'd go down the same route. I tend to buy nice cars at medium miles and care for them for many years. My last two cars; An Mr2 SW20 t-top went to over 150,000 miles and my next car I drove 147,000 miles. It was a Beautiful E46 BMW 320i which came with a BMW individual colour (Tourmaline Violet) and a BMW custom extended leather interior (Blueberry Nappa Leather). Gorgeous car. In the end just like the MR2 it was the bodywork that killed it. Rust ate it up. I live in scotland so salt on the roads just chews the cars up. Both cars were mechanically solid as they were sold presumably for spares or scrap. I'm now in a 2006 Z4 2.5si with a decent spec but this time I'm hankering after Boxster. I'm 3 years in on this car so maybe I'm allowed to sell it on and break my previous model. It's only gort 85,000 miles at time of posting. Luv and Peace.

[@johnmiller8250]

"A Volvo 340 in Vericose Vein Blue"

[@bananamickey69]

I bought a Volvo 340 vario matic from auction years ago £50 with no mot but it was mint, put 2 gallon of petrol in , drove home about 10 miles, nearly out of fuel, lol, took it for mot, passed, put it in local auction, got £340 for it, result

[@muk8804]

"hearing aid beige"! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@phillipecook3227]

We really need him back on TG

[@barryrathbone]

Morris Oxford and the Triumph Acclaim are alive and on SORN sadly the Sunbeam and Polo only made it to 2000

[@alfamonk]

Never thought i'd hear Mr Wilson talking about a 'crisp little box'...good work!

[@upupaepops1988]

'hearing-aid beige' LOL!

[@drg111yt]

Worthy bangers from Top Gear classic days - Quentin, Tiff, Jeremy and the fragrant Vicki Butler-Henderson. I know Willson have a whiff of dodgy dealer, but he does campaign to make vehicle ownership cheaper via FairFuel.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Buying like this has almost all but died out, its a nightmare trying to buy private now

[@Forcefield23]

varicose vein blue and hearing-aid beige. funnier than a lot of what top gear puts out today, i still like it though.

[@jonessenoj6753]

I used to buy the auto trader and highlight cars I wished to own...it was as mich fun as owning them...in my head 🤯....did it with motorbikes too....these days I watch youtube videos....I've owned every car there ever has been...also been to many amazing places....but I'll settle for my pos these days....

[@MrROTD]

I had incredible luck the first car I bought was a mint Chevy Monza with only 60,000 km on it for 800 bucks in 1989, drove it for 4 years sold it on for 300, owned by a mechanic and kept in a garage. If you really shop around and are a good negotiator you can find amazing deals on cars my buddy just bought a Chrysler 300 in decent shape for 1000 bucks and a not so great Escort GT in trade

[@jadesmith6823]

That blue Morris 😍❤️

[@sergionuno]

thats how i buyed my car, 1991 FIAT tempra brand new with only 60.000km always serviced on FIAT, air conditioned, alloy wells, 200km/h on the highway, all for 500Eur. i buy it 7 years ago and no problems at all.

[@importcarenthusiast]

I want that Triumph Acclaim!

[@SuperRedraider1]

this guy was the greatest top gear presenter in my opinion

[@5KpGD]

I agree with you, Quentin was amazing.

[@Zapple7]

Quentin was The Man...

[@promodpromod]

@@Zapple7 not so, more a proven con artist.

[@moonbluebob]

Was Tiff not better

[@promodpromod]

@@moonbluebob tiff was proper and well liked, people of my age and from this trade will always remember quentin as a con artist - he was a car dealer from leicestershire convicted of clocking fleet cars fact, his latest con is writing a columns in classic mags and using the space to big-up certain models - the very cars he has just bought or owns long term, he's a proper smug spiv.

[@Kofi_Mensahs_BurnerAccount]

I've got a Corsa C I bought that had supposedly 83,500 on the clock but the previous owner had the whole engine changed and that engine only had 27,000 miles done. He drove it for 2 years until I bought it off him. Price? £750 and it's a factory LPG car too. Score!

[@verwoerd]

I watched and heeded Q's advice in 2000 and bought an old but low mileage Merc with FSH... and it's still doing well. So I'm happy with his main line and I don't care whether some of the cars shown are still running. Just two remarks: Though I liked the Morris, too, I don't share Quentin's enthusiasm about a 1961 spare tyre because it can't be used any longer. And the lifespan of today's bangers is limited by environmental regulation more than mechanics - so the film is a bit dated now.

[@Brinkly1000]

I bought a Ford Escort in 2006, which at the time was P reg (registered in Sep 1996) for £500 with one lady owner, in pristine condition. The car had 61k on the clock and ran without fault till May of this year when the cylinder head crack. I put 85k on the clock with MOT bills of around £200 per year. The car 'failed' once when it developed a slight drip from a brake hose which cost £3 to replace. I loved that car! I have a Volvo V40 which isn't half as good, with it's rubbish Renault Engine!

[@assmannewzealand]

I got me a 1993 Daihatsu Feroza for 2.3k NZD One of the best purchases I've made Doing the GB, diffs and engine oil currently, only issue is the fill on the gb is stuck Will ask while to crack bolts it's on the hoist as mech and has better tools. Always do ya fluids when buying a used car especially a farm one like mine

[@MrTipperX]

There's a bit of rust emerging on the rear arch of that volvo 🤫

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

That bit about not being specific about the car was golden. I honestly never figured that out for myself but I am glad I learned it now. It's more relevant nowadays than ever as well.

[@josephshaw5225]

Great stuff from Quentin there. Willson, Evans... there's no comparison is there?

[@khew1]

I'd love to know if any of these cars are still on the road...

[@oh_hai_Mark]

A lovley virgin engine compartment... never been stuffed.

[@garysimpson3900]

If reshown today on the BBC it would come with one of those warnings: "This programme contains opinions & language which some viewers may find offensive, sexist or demeaning"

[@KTLaz]

Before top gear became like a soap opera

[@Alystas]

Just bought a 95 Primera with ABS, air con, electric mirrors and windows, brand new front brakes and tires and 89 000km on the clock for 1150€ so yeah, do what Quentin says and you still can end with an awesome budget banger ^^

[@johnmiller8250]

I had 4 Triumph Acclaims and loved them

[@georgekane9815]

It was my first car and it was a lot better than than anything in its class all so o had 3 HLS, CD, L

[@ThaMythbuster]

280 pounds for my mk2 1995 Seat Ibiza. Have owned it for 3 years now. Even though the paint is fading, the tops of the sills are starting to rust, it still stops and starts like it's only done 10.000, even in winter at minus 10 degrees it starts within a second, even though it's actually done nearly 140000 miles :D Love the little red beast to bits! :D

[@Samspianopage]

I used to hate him to, but the more I watch him , the more you actually realise that he's quite right alot of the time in what he says about used cars, he's also the only TG presenter who did the informative investigations into buying/evaulating new cars and other things. Sometimes he's abit of a snooty pr'ck but he's actually not that bad a fella really. He still does work for the consumers on motors.co.uk

[@mikecawood]

Quentin Willson is great!

[@Cascroft-lp6ir]

The Triumph is still alive with a valid M.O.T but is on a sorn so probably having a bit of work done.

[@crustycorollas]

it was for sale last year I think probably sorned for storage reasons

[@Cascroft-lp6ir]

PCgeek486 really!!! I think I know it.

[@crustycorollas]

+cascroft2011gaming I didn't read your comment properly sorry

[@Cascroft-lp6ir]

PCgeek486 its ok!!!

[@sergionuno]

Well...I got confort and a alfa romeo handling, reliability, my car is from 1991 and still no problems(not one at all), dealer network? i know about mechanics i do it all myself. About rust, did i mention that i have no problems at all with my car? yes no rust no fallen plstics or rubers. I thought you were going to say something wise, but you are actually saying that a French Citroen is better looking and reliable than a Italian design? by the way, witch Citroen? AX, Saxo?C3?

[@jayrave4]

This was c.September 1998 by the way... that copy of FHM on the shelves in the newsagent is the October 1998 issue featuring the stunning Denise Richards.

[@Parknest]

The Acclaim is currently for sale in Classic Car Weekly.

[@jaggass]

Its always best to get one owner cars especially from the elderly because they don't do many miles in them and are well looked after. Ive seen a few timewarps.

[@lce124]

True, but they like to go through clutches.

[@jaggass]

lce124 True but you right minters and even better if they are automatic.

[@lce124]

michael jagger yeah i got a 1990 corolla from an old bloke, that was auto, absolute minter

[@jaggass]

lce124 I bet it was.

[@micglou]

Oh yeah, actually that model Volvo is excellent if you don't mind rust-busting... I know somebody that has one since new and still drives it, you'll be amazed how low the maintenance costs are if you don't count preventing and removing rust. And it does a respectable 1:16,5km, insurance costs absolutely nothing.

[@butchd2009]

i like how the acclaim he pulls up and has the keys

[@canadiancatgreen]

some cheap and beautiful collector cars in this c beautiful collectable cars to be exact

[@jut20five]

A virgin engine never been stuffed !! Absolute finbarr Classic !

[@Nooziterp1]

Fnarr fnarr!

[@MrDavey2010]

Ding dong!

[@nopy99]

Quintein was the best. Back in those days he could easily out class jezza

[@dontpanicblink]

how much was the volvo

[@foesure]

First question. Has it been clocked 🤔

[@boisegameshowguy]

You wanted to buy that Oxford straight away, didn’t you Quentin?

[@micglou]

Hmmm, Quentin could have a small part in the televisionshow if you'd ask me. I like his sarcastic playfully posh humor... he has those nice little stings that people would just smile about because he's so polite.

[@bendude6748]

I like how it just looks like he turned up to the driveway of the Triumph Acclaim and the keys were just waiting for him ready to go lol

[@axionknyght]

Love the music because it reminds me of the Sin City movie, :D

[@WarriorRazor]

Imagine getting a Talbot Sunbeam for £595 now!

[@catfishakaAMC]

I don't know. Where I live it gets to a very humid 95 degrees F (38 degrees C) in the summer and can get down to 8 or 9 (-15 C) at night in the winter. Hard to be harsher than that. But any car will last if you take care of it. Wash it, change oil, etc. But I bought my 1989 Suzuki Sidekick with 4,200 genuine miles for $700 2.5 years ago.

[@1ns4ne1d10t]

Its funny how a lot of people commenting below me are saying Seat Ibizas were the best bangers they've had. My sister went through millions of cheap bangers, Rover 200 SDI, Passat TDI, 307 HDI, Corsa 1.5 TD and many more and the Seat Ibiza TDI S was the best banger she ever had by far. It is the one car with reliability I would trust with my life if my life depended on it five years she owned it with very little trouble and boy we were sad to see it go it was like a faithful pet dog.

[@woodbine66]

Not only is the Acclaim still on the road, so is the Morris Oxford! 52 years old!!! This is proper Top Gear, before it was dumbed down for knuckle draggers and burn-out merchants.

[@richardbrabbs8283]

I really miss those days were id look through the weekly inkies on a Friday for cars

[@llywelyn1984]

Omg the Morris Oxford....wanted one of those acclaims when I was a kid. So cheap then.

[@_crg_]

the triumph is actually a Honda ballade so it is a good car underneath

[@CamaroAmx]

based on some of the comments on this page, it sounds like theres alot of redtape to go through to buy/sell a used car in england. in the US you sign the title, prove you have insurance and hand the money over, its yours. I'd love to be able to buy a mint, used car with low mileage for a few 100 dollars. These cars would run you at least 2-3 times the amount there charging in the US. Then again, what was a $500 car in 2001, is now a $1500+ today.

[@Thedinkzie]

Hillarious how he just walks up to the Triumph and straight up jacks it without talking to anybody :D

[@TheHorsebox2]

You're right. Never copped that. Just goes to show how contrived TV is.

[@apemoon1731]

@@TheHorsebox2 it's a TV programme. It has producers, editors and writers, of course it's 'contrived'. They would have taken several days to film that short film sequence and recorded hours of footage. Did you think it was filmed in real time!?

[@TheHorsebox2]

@@apemoon1731 which was exactly my point. Did you think i didn't know that?

[@moonliteX]

would you trust that first seller?

[@mrcorcelstar]

Crisp little box, lovely.....

[@ewandougie]

This guy would have probably had a nervous breakdown when Clarkson rebooted it

[@chriswinter5765]

+ewandougie I doubt it. He now hosts "the Classic Car Show" along side Jodie Kidd. Both GREAT shows for very different reasons. And great to see that even in old top gear, they were taking the piss out of "letter writers". That gag has continued through the years. Clarkson (and Tiff) were also BOTH Top Gear hosts at the same time as Quintin. They're all mates in the industry.