What Tiff Needell knows that Clarkson doesn't

[lozcb]

Came across an old fith gear episode on Dave of Tiff Needell testing the then new M5 ( flappy paddle ) less than 5 mins in Tiff had sussed the best way to gear change, listen to what he says


[video=youtube;_zYWOqm_Zkc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zYWOqm_Zkc&feature=PlayList&p=AEA23D39EB1C8F26&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=57[/video]





Now listen to what Jeremy says , reference the early 4200 test/review what a plonker , i like the show, but his ability to listen and apply driving instruction is comparable to that of any geriatric novice

[video=youtube;Vax3ZNqNuuw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vax3ZNqNuuw[/video]



Helps to put the record straight

regards loz

 

[BigFoot]

Tiff was a racing driver, JC wasn't. I guess that explains pretty much everything.

 

[lozcb]

Tiff was a racing driver, JC wasn't. I guess that explains pretty much everything.

Thats too easy an explanation Maurizio ,

Even i learned relatively early on , within days of owning the car, which driving style got the smoothest gear change and was mechanically sympathetic to the car , i would presume that JC has had far more experience than i of driving various model and makes , i think a psychiatrist would say his resentment of Maserati is far deeper than what it appears, for godsake, , he treats them like Hammond treats caravans but thats acceptable in my mind


regards loz

 

[BigFoot]

What I did not say Loz is that JC is paid to talk rhetorically and generate cheap laughs. Tiff is paid to review cars properly. Hence also the difference in ratings.

 

[Parisien]

Yes.....JC has moved on and morphed into an entertainer/show man/talk show host......with a few cars thrown in.......indeed ths show has been for some time, more about the 3 hosts with the cars occupying 2nd/3rd place in a real pecking order!

Still I fine the show very watchable.........if that their opinions are to be glossed over!

Long live the Maseratisti!!!!!!


P

 

[dem maser]

well jeremy cant drive, i find tiff a better presenter so thats confusing, but im willing to put money down that tiff is the stig

 

[dem maser]

i know the two of them best friends so im thinking they never wanted to show him so there wont be problem with the channels then it went on as a joke but hes the stig

 

[BigFoot]

Could very well be, interesting theory!

 

[bigbob]

Why are you guys all so touchy about SMG/RTronic/F1/CC etc? If you like it - and I guess you do as you own these cars - then thats great for you. However, please accept that a lot of people don't like these gearboxes.

I test drove an M5 a few years back and hated the gearbox. I test drove a few CC 4200s in 2002-04 when I was getting out of my manual 3200GT and could get on with it. So be it!

Please don't build this great forum on implying that people who don't like these gearboxes are idiots. We all buy the cars we like. Can't we just leave it at that?

 

[urbanmaser]

Bob I agree that many don't like these gearboxes......a bit like Marmite.....you either love it or hate it. The point we are trying to make I think is that a journalist perhaps JC should be a little more open minded and should learn how to use the gearbox before damning it so out of hand. At least he could have learned that his foot needs to be on the brake to engage neutral.

JC I don't think is an idiot. You don't achieve that level of success by being an idiot. I think though many are irritated by the fact that he thinks he is the world's gift to motoring when clearly there are others much more knowledgeable. A bit less ego and a bit more knowledge might help his case. There is no doubt that these out of hand remarks can be very damaging to a car's image when he has such a big following.

Critisise by all means but make the critisism a fair one.

 

[lozcb]

Why are you guys all so touchy about SMG/RTronic/F1/CC etc? If you like it - and I guess you do as you own these cars - then thats great for you. However, please accept that a lot of people don't like these gearboxes.

I test drove an M5 a few years back and hated the gearbox. I test drove a few CC 4200s in 2002-04 when I was getting out of my manual 3200GT and could get on with it. So be it!

Please don't build this great forum on implying that people who don't like these gearboxes are idiots. We all buy the cars we like. Can't we just leave it at that?

No ones touchy BigBob , just stating the facts as they see them , thats what forums are for, of course everyone to there own , in this particular case, rather than mock the F1 like Jeremy did in the episode he could of said it wasn't his cup of tea, far easier and less subjective , but credit where credit is due its gotta bitta poke tho its gotta bit poke he was right there


regards loz

 

[Maser Sod]

I'm pleased that JC slated the 4200 and its FP gearbox. If he had praised it to the skies, they might just be a little more common on our streets. I've never fully got on with the CC, but it's much much better with the Formula Dynamics box installed.

 

[Evoluzione]

I think paddle shifts are a great idea, and I'm presuming they're quite well executed on a BMW, I'd be surprised if downchanges sound and feel like you're sitting on rock crushing equipment, like in the Cambiocorsa.

Tiff Needell is a whining thoroughly nice low-budget moron, like the rest of the 5th Gear retards.

 

[Emtee]

Is it the sound of rock crushing equipment, or the finely honed opera that is Italian mechanical engineering?

As for Tiff Needell, I've never found him particularly whiney.

 

[Evoluzione]

No, I am talking about the feeling that I get in the pit of my stomach every time a down change is made at low speeds, a bit like dropping large bits of gravel into a food blender, love it.

Oh come on, Tiff always sounds like he is just about to break down and cry like a *****, it may not be whiney to some but I can't listen to him for long. He can drive a car sideways for miles though, really useful.

 

[Emtee]

Hi Evoluzione, I do know what you mean re the gearbox, on occasion it's shaken the change out of my pocket, but I do like the mechanical feel of it. To misquote the Hamster, "like the bolt action on a Winchester".

Re Tiff, I was giving him the benefit of just two out of three, but no you've proven the third; low budget, moronic and whiney!

As for driving a car sidewards, it's twatish I know, and would cost £300 in rubber, but I want to know how to do it. Similar to bungee jumping or parachiting. No logical defence, just a moment of selfish fun.

Keep up the good work, Your No.1 fan, Emtee.

 

[Evoluzione]

Emtee

Why thank'ee sir, says I, one is left chastened and bowed.

I have done powerslides for ages, only on public roads as on a race track the idea is to be quick, sometimes you just get the urge to come over all chavtastic. I have stopped lighting-up the rear tyres in the sleepy Kentish village I live in, residents never had a sense of humour about that, talk about dirty looks. From an early age I used to practice in large, empty car parks at night and soon got the hang of it. I did, however, muck-up the front-wheel alignment on my first Quattroporte Evo while sliding around like a complete lunatic back in 99, typically it had to be a Maserati that could't take the abuse I would occasionally put my motors through. With the huge tyres on modern cars and the electronic traction wizardry available I'd say it's becoming increasingly difficult to make them perform like ballerinas on LSD, at least in Ashford roundabouts.

A Maserati driver should always drive with a show of restraint, like the gentleman he is. Of course I am as guilty of hypocrisy as the next man and hardly ever actually do as I tell others to do, except when it comes to shaving of course.

 

[Phil H]

Tiff Needell

Good points:
Extensive competition history
Handy driver
Not given to histrionics
Lives near me
Thoroughly nice chap as Harry used to say

Bad points
Can't think of any so behave yourself Evo.

 

[Phil H]

OOPs, post 13, can't have that.

PH

 

[Evoluzione]

Phil H

There are plenty of tv personalities that rub me the wrong way, and I'm sure some of them are kind to their mothers. Take Vicky Butt-Headerson for example, she probably has friends. Don't get me started on Tom Ford though, or the other clueless buffoon that joined 5th Gear a couple of seasons ago, his name escapes me.

I quite enjoy ridiculing people you see, especially when they decide it's a good idea to invade our tv screens and drive us up the frigging wall, and even if they happen to live next-door to forum members. However, I have edited my first post concerrning Mr Needell even so, to show that I am not entirely oblivious to the feelings of others.