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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> Fifth Gear
        
(Message started by: Highlander on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:54pm)

Title: Fifth Gear
Post by Highlander on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:54pm

I'm sure some of you watched Fith Gear tonight as they destroyed yet another Scorpio (and a Granada).

To me what they did was completely pointless..

For those that didnt see it the idea was to show that tyres with 1.8mm tread, just over the legal limit of 1.6mm wouldnt be able to stop the car as quickly as tyres with 3mm tread (as if we didnt know that!)

Anyway, they set off at a steady at 50mph, Granada in front, Scorpio 3 car lengths (15m) behind on a very wet road.

By my calculations and going by the two second rule (4 seconds in wet conditions) there should have been a 90m gap between the cars at 50mph (See whats coming?)

The highway code state stopping distances at 50mph as

50MPH
Thinking time 15 metres
Braking Distance 38 metres (76 in the wet)
Total 53 metres (91 in the wet)

Highway code say 91, Fifth Gear do it at 15,
there never was any doubt as to the result (Scorpio ploughed into the back of the Granada)

What was the point??

I'd like to have seen a side by side test to see the difference, as it was we have learned nothing!

P.s. did anyone notice the airbag didnt deploy?? I wonder if they disabled it for some reason

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by solarpanel on Jul 17^th, 2006, 9:10pm

yes but did you see topgear doing the caravan trip,what a bunch of to**ers,but very funny.

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by km449 on Jul 17^th, 2006, 9:56pm

It was wonderful TV!! Topgear I mean! ;D

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by Daven on Jul 18^th, 2006, 7:44am

on 07/17/06 at 20:54:51, Highlander wrote:

I'm sure some of you watched Fith Gear tonight as they destroyed yet another Scorpio (and a Granada).

To me what they did was completely pointless..

[]

on 07/17/06 at 20:54:51, Highlander wrote:

P.s. did anyone notice the airbag didnt deploy?? I wonder if they disabled it for some reason

Yep - I wondered that - maybe the stunt driver felt it could be a problem!

Also wondered if the researcher had said "Go get two Granadas!) :-/

Dave

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by mazzy_j on Jul 18^th, 2006, 8:00am

I saw Fifth gear too, another Scorpio publicly murdered on national tv >:(

the reg of it was m737 hfl, i'm sure someone on here will be able to pull up all sorts of things about it.

Matt

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by Kjetil S on Jul 18^th, 2006, 5:35pm

The top gear episode was brilliant ;D ;D ;D

Hardly ever watch fifth gear.

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by Baz on Jul 18^th, 2006, 6:19pm

The software doesn't recognise the number plate...

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by john_smiffy on Jul 18^th, 2006, 6:29pm

i think it because it might not be its number plate

DVLA lookup results
This is a free selection of data held by Vehicle Registration Number database about the vehicle registration entered

M 737 HFL

Manufacturer VOLKSWAGEN
Model GOLF DRIVER
Body type 5 DOOR HATCHBACK
Colour WHITE
Fuel type PETROL
Date manufactured 31 December 1995
Number of previous owners 4
Last owner change 24 March 2006

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by Baz on Jul 18^th, 2006, 11:04pm

Still look on the bright side....one less means mine is even more of a collectors item!

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by DJWerkz on Jul 19^th, 2006, 10:04am

on 07/17/06 at 21:10:37, solarpanel wrote:

yes but did you see topgear doing the caravan trip,what a bunch of to**ers,but very funny.

...great TV, I was laughing all the way through. You can tell alot of it is pre-planned and scripted but if you don't take it too seriously what's the harm in a good laugh ;)

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by Tompion on Sep 12^th, 2006, 1:19pm

Just found a short clip of this at:
http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/tyre_bible.html

Dave

Title: Re: Fifth Gear
Post by TiberiuS on Sep 12^th, 2006, 8:00pm

I agree with Highlander, no point proved by smashing two cars, braking distance is affected by more factors than just tread. Recording the same run with the same car on both tyres and using a 'ghost' to compare the two would've been better but then that doesn't make such good telly...

I remember the time when Top Gear drove an XJ-S off the end of an Aircraft carrier :'(, waste of a good car in my opinion, sorry if I don't see the funny side :-/.

Regards, Bruce :).