BBC 2 Top Gear 29th November

[gamma a.i.]

wohaa; stop for a minute !

TG is a comedy show; a rather silly one at that. Which is one reason why it is great !

There is no one (except the Queen) & no car that they won't 'make fun of', so please breath slowly until your blood pressure goes down.
The fact that they mentioned Lancia at all is actually quite an honor - after else, Lancia isn't really spoken about alot elsewhere, except in Lancia circles !!

..................the truth is....NO ONE IN THE WORLD..... takes this show seiously; not the "Stars"; not the "in-studio audience", TV viewers, advertisers, car manufactures, producers etc etc

If TG became a respectable, factual, smooth, journalistically proper TV show, they would be out of jobs, business & viewers very quickly. So would the script writers & camera men & many more persons.

They are a Business-Enterprise ! They employee people !!! Good for them !!

PS: I am not English !! & I don't watch it...except sometimes on Utube !!! Thank You U Tube !!!

As far as us Lancisti, we could go for long walks with the dog instead of worrying ourselves sick about this wonderful stupid great singular spot of entertainment; that far exceeds so many other really stupid TV shows.....in every country that has TV ... on the Planet.

So says I.

[ncundy]

And so says I -D

[peofsz1600]

Why the hell they had to destroy two Betas?
Why the hell they had to show a disugustingly restored Fulvia 3 triyng to palm it of as a Montecarlo?

I'm still disgusted of the show and your words do not mitigate the matter that Lancia brrand and Italina way of making cars has been mocked.

[peofsz1600]

No, I haven't and I would be disgusted even if the two guys treated in the same way a Volvo or a Toyota (my most disliked car brands)

[ncundy]

So the guy who wanted but couldn't afford/find a real Montecarlo, but has spent much time and money perparing a car to a very high standard, uses it regularly, is very active in promoting Lancias and has now had it shown on television is to be critised by you in the same way you critise the program ?

I suppose if you saw it in the street would walk straight past, if he was broken down you would refuse to help because it doesn't fit your conception of what a Lancia or Lancia owner should be ??

We are all enthusiasts, we all have a slightly different view on what "enthusiasm" and "orginality" mean. Disagree with the progam all you like - it is an entertainment program not a documentry, and Lancia was given a far better hearing than pretty much any other marque has been in the last few years. Most viewers can tell the difference.

But please restrain yourself from critising owners or their cars in that way - tolerance is an oft used word, you should try it.

[gamma a.i.]

I enjoy reading this forum; a) I learn a lot b) I laff a lot c) I agree alot d) sometimes I disagree alot.

In this Caso, ncundye`corretto.

I think the 2 Beta crashed around were "oltre assistenza " long before this show

Still, it was absolutely great to see these 2 Beta on TG ! They were still running when the show was over ::o

[gamma a.i.]

I enjoy reading this forum; a) I learn a lot b) I laff a lot c) I agree alot d) sometimes I disagree alot.

In this Caso, ncundy e`corretto.

I think the 2 Beta crashed around were "oltre assistenza " long before this show

Still, it was absolutely great to see these Beta on TG ! They were still running fine when the show was over, so they must be very tough ::o

[peofsz1600]

You have to forgive me but I really dislike "wanted but couldn't afford" patched cars. The "couldn't find" is not the case as there are still quite a lot of Montecarlo though may be expensive.
To say you the whole truth the restoration standard, in my humble opinion, is even quite low.

If unfortunately the car was broken down (thing that I wish it will never happen) I'll help willingly the guy and I would try to explain to him that even a standard Fulvia 3 has it's own value and historical importance, therefore his car should be brought back in the original shape.

However I would not dare to show in television among the world such a car.
I'm in fact not a fanatic of originality, my own Fulvia Sport 1600 has negative camber, but there are certain limits: fake Fulvia Montecarlo are beyond of them.

All the best
Piero

[Huib]

Well, I have seen them throw a handgrenade into another car.

The collection of Lancia's they showed would not have been my choice either. I suppose they just depend on what cars members of the LMC come up with. If any TV station, or the Dutch queen for that matter, would call me to show up in my Lancia I would tell them to either pay my rates or find someone else.

There is only one person responsible for the thing with the Beta's and that is the president of Lancia. I bought a new Beta berlina in 1973. After just one year it had completely rusted through. I was never compensated but stupidly bought a Beta coupe instead. After that I bought a new Gamma berlina 2500. Everybody knows the story of the Gamma's. In 1987 I bought a new Y10 for my wife. Rusted through in 2 years. The dealer told me new production would not rust. I was stupid enough to believe him and bought another one. That one was worse. Similar stories about the other new Lancia's I bought: a Beta HPE, Thema Turbo and Thema Turbo 16V. From what I read on the Dutch forums even the Thesis has a rust problem. Every other car manufacturer solved the rust problem many many years ago. I no longer give Lancia the benefit of the doubt. In my opinion the management knowingly produced bad quality cars which is proof of total disrespect for their customers, dealers and fine engineers and designers. And in fact total disrespect for all the fine Italian people who work for Lancia.

For my wife I bought a 14 year old Peugeot 205 instead at 500 euro's without a molecule of rust. Still running well. Still no rust. Best car I ever bought.

To replace the old canvas hardy discs between steering column and steering box on the S1 Fulvia I use Mercedes discs. I go to the local Mercedes dealer. In his computer he looks up the exploded view of the parts catalog of that Mercedes type of the early sixties. He clicks his mouse and sees where they are on stock. Usually the total is 5 pieces. I order them all and have them in 2 days. A few months later, there is a new stock of 5 pieces. Try ordering parts for a sixties Lancia from the Lancia dealer or even a nineties Lancia. What you can buy in The Fulvia circuit is an imitation disc where they did not sandwich in the steel sections. These discs will come apart in a few months and may kill the occupants of the car. It is Lancia itself which shows nothing but total disrespect for their heritage.

Top Gear showed exactly how it is. They put Lancia at the top of the,list of most innovative car makers while less then 10 people out of millions voted for Lancia. They exposed the Lancia managment for what they are. They were mild. I sincerely hope the Lancia management saw the program, understands the message and takes action. I hope it does not weep like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

[Huib]

And the thing with the Stratos replica at the end visualized very well how Lancia makes a joke of itself.

Goes off in all directions except the good one and therefore does not finish. Then with pity and help of others it finishes last, just not dead.