‘Top Gear’ Recap: ‘Season 33, Episode 2’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 3302 of ‘Top Gear’. To revisit the season thirty-three premiere, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that every car enthusiast out there, would love to own a supercar and it makes sense as to why. After all, they’re gorgeous to look at and of course, they’re a blast to drive. For they harbor raw and incredible power. The kind that sends one’s heart thumping with excitement when the pedal hits the metal. Yet, what’s fascinating, is that a great deal of car enthusiasts, do not have one, and well… it makes sense as to why. In large part, because the price is… up there for certain. Making them a luxury purchase above all else and also because… is it practical to use on the city streets? Because going form 0-60 in 2.3 seconds is cool and all but could cause some trouble on your way to the store to get milk… so car enthusiasts tend to stick to having something practical in their garage.
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But that does beg an important question. In that, is it possible to own a supercar that is both affordable and practical to drive? Well, have no fear because the lads from Top Gear are here. For this week’s episode of the show, opted to answer that particular question. By having Freddie and Paddy and Chris Harris get their hands on a trio of supercars that could potentially be affordable and practical to drive about. For instance, Freddie got behind the wheel of Ferrari 296 GTB, a supercar that retails in the 300k range. And Chris, he chose the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, a car that retails for about half that. But of course, leave it to Paddy to throw off the curve and ask, ‘what if?’ one was to have the money and could drive their dream car about? Since Paddy brought forth the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC. A monster that runs 3.2 million and with those cars in hand, the lads then headed off to Germany to test that practicality and the thrill they would bring the driver through a series of unique tests.

Such as some big-time races and swaps to see which car brought forth the most enthusiasm because joy is part of practicality and they also… took these bad boys on the Autobahn and into local towns to get a feel for that practical nature and came to discover… it was hard to find a truly practical supercar. Because they had to choose the evening to make use of the Autobahn since it was akin to an American highway at rush hour on a Friday afternoon, and they weren’t easy to maneuver through cities either. In part because of the eyes upon them but also because, they’re big and noisy and their power cannot be unleashed. But while that made it seem as though this was a pipe dream, there was a car in the mix that met the criteria, the Porsche. Because the price was right, everyone had fun with it, and it was just… the easiest of the three to drive. So, in the end, it turns out you can indeed have a practical super car at a decent price.

Yet what was unique about this episode, is that the thought of being practical inspired the lads to think beyond supercars. Because if 150k is still too much, there has to be a way to get around your town in a manner that saves time but doesn’t break the bank and keeps one’s love of the road alive and well, that meant a trip to France to test out… the Microcar. Which are indeed what they sound like, tiny cars that only fit a single person, possibly two, but can indeed squeeze into small places and sneak around town and avoid traffic without requiring a bank-breaking loan. And to really get a feel for how they perform, the lads went on a treasure hunt about the city, or rather… a selfie hunt. To see how their car would do in busy times and well in the end it was Paddy’s ride that won the day. Since the Carver could easily slink past traffic with minimal effort, thanks to its stunning compact design. 

In the end however, this was just… an informative episode when all is said and done, one that did less celebration of the cars that we admire to really hammer home the possibility that we can in fact, get our hands on what seems impossible and only for the ultra-rich at times. Sure, it might cost us a pretty penny, but a supercar is doable and yeah, one could take it about town and enjoy the wonder of that and if that’s too much… the Carver, the Citroen Ami and City Transformer are out there. But what matters more is that this series once again made it clear, that it truly works to appeal to everyday people out there. Who love nice cars and want to celebrate them and potentially own them, and it is wonderful to know that this series will mix things up and educate and offer solutions for that now and again, in between showcasing the ridiculous rides that drop our jaws over, and now that this informative road trip has come to a close, it will be interesting to see what other lessons and celebrations await us as season thirty-three continues along. Until next time.

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