Who had the best Eurocrash car?
Posted by Fragrant-Taro-8508@reddit | thegrandtour | View on Reddit | 72 comments
I honestly really like the Mitsuoka. Paint it black with that Dalmatian print May did, Cruella vibes right there. The candelabras just make it funnier. The Crosley is just awful, if a bit cutesy. The SSR, well I do actually see them every once in a while. And I’m gonna be honest I have always kinda liked them. If given the chance to buy one I would probably. But for me I think the best is the Mitsuoka. Even if it is just an old Nissan.
JackDiesel_14@reddit
May's choices on this special and the Vietnam boat trip were really annoying. Felt like we were robbed of a lot of banter at each stop because he was constantly playing catch up.
RockyJayyy@reddit
Yeah, he definitely picked the wrong car, at least pick something that can keep up on the highways.
LancelLannister_AMA@reddit
Wouldnt suprise me if it was never meant for highways to begin with
kent_eh@reddit
Wasn't part of the brief that it's supposed to be a car that nobody would ever think of taking on such a trip?
May certainly nailed that part.
RockyJayyy@reddit
Yeah but he ended up missing everything because his car was so slow. I'm surprised he was legally able to drive that car on the highway.
1llseemyselfout@reddit
I think that was planned. I think it was part of the storyline for him to “miss” everything.
kent_eh@reddit
Granted.
It failed in every other way, even though it met that one part of the challenge.
A 2CV or a Morris Minor would also have fit the bill (and been just as funny for the initial car reveal gag), but would have been a complete failure in the same way.
Ok-disaster2022@reddit
He got the brief right but really put himself in danger. Honestly I like it when he shows up with a legitimately good car more than a bad car. Even a mini Cooper would have been impractical for a long road trip, but a much better option.
gah_trees@reddit
I bought it when I was drunk!
RockyJayyy@reddit
He must've been blacked out drunk to make that purchase.
bomble1@reddit
Not that it left him behind, but his car for Madagascar was also so opposite of theirs/the environment. Better when it's all slightly similar.
Bennyboy11111@reddit
Nah his Caterham was awesome, actually practical and funny with the killswitch
bomble1@reddit
I mean I loved the car itself and the killswitch was funny, but how the hell was an open wheeled, open cockpit, track car, practical for offroading? He was just miserable the whole time, understandably so.
Bennyboy11111@reddit
Yeah forgot about the open cockpit lol
If it were closed, the simplicity and lightness of the build would work as a rugged offroader like a buggy. Which Hammond would like for greenlaning, which can get very muddy. There was a topgear episode where they get drenched.
Would be more practical then a fragile Bentley.
bomble1@reddit
To be fair Jeremy's "fragile Bentley" never broke, albeit with modifications. And Hammonds Ford only broke because of the tracks he put on it.
James could have picked almost any car, lifted it, and been fine and related to the others more.
Koioua@reddit
I really wish May stopped being the "Catchup" or bad choice dude. He's my favorite of the trio, and I wish we had a little more of his hurrah moments like the madagascar special.
Prize-Recognition670@reddit
Do you really think he went online when drunk and purchased the car?? It's a scripted show.
bomble1@reddit
In his write up he said that he genuinely did buy it drunk with his own money.
JackDiesel_14@reddit
Of course not which makes the choice so annoying.
wurtin@reddit
this. they are better when together and Jeremy and Richard’s car were far too nice for James to have that.
M4NOOB@reddit
Maybe that's Mays way of getting his time alone on those trips.
beautifulafro@reddit
May went from choosing a car that cannot be killed and MVP of the show to the worst car that basically slowing the show
binderofchains@reddit
Clarkson. That car was a work of art.
ZachAscot@reddit
Absolutely! A work of art I purchased!
Martinilingiuni@reddit
I liked Clarksons car, the candelabra and the interior just made it more over the top.
ZachAscot@reddit
It is fantastic, that's why I purchased it!
ArthurMBretas03@reddit
James. The other cars were stupid, the Crosley is brilliant as a city car. Putting it through a massive road trip is like using a Zonda in a busy city center at rush hour
ZachAscot@reddit
Interesting to see some love for the Crosley. I own it now and there's a lot of faults with it that were pretty unfair to judge the car on. Soon it'll be running reliably!
Shadowrenderer@reddit
The only car that didn’t break down was the one that looked the most ridiculous (small margin, they’re all pretty crazy). So, I guess that was the best option. Looked comfortable enough too. Not sure I’d be able to bring myself to drive it in public though…
ZachAscot@reddit
I drive it in public all the time!
wurtin@reddit
I think Richard’s was forced.
Shadowrenderer@reddit
Maybe - but it could have been real, it is a second hand car after all.
RockyJayyy@reddit
He got that car for a steal. I see them going for 30k to 50k on autotrader.
ZachAscot@reddit
It's a great car, I drive it often!
DaddyChiiill@reddit
The Cruella ia top notch and I love James May's touch to it
But May overdid his hand on his car, again. There's a lot of more practical reliable but unique cars to choose from. He could've gone with DACIA SANDERO ffs.
ZachAscot@reddit
It is top notch and I've been sure to keep all the mods just a they were!
ZachAscot@reddit
Good taste! I liked it so much I purchased Jeremy's!
cmgww@reddit
My wife LOVED the SSR when it was introduced. They didn’t mention it on the special but it was powered by the same engine that was in the Corvette at the time. Hammond did say it had a 6 L engine, and that was what GM used in the 2005-ish Vette…. It was pretty powerful for the day, obviously not very practical at all. But I have a soft spot for it
Fragrant-Taro-8508@reddit (OP)
The 6.0L was in the 05-06 SSR’s I believe. I know the first ones used the 5.7 IIRC. They are kinda dumb trucks but they are so cool and I always strain my neck when I see them. I always kinda thought of them as a sports coupe that someone converted into a truck.
cmgww@reddit
Yeah you’re correct. The only way I knew it was a 2005-2006 was when Hammond said 6L
Fragrant-Taro-8508@reddit (OP)
Oh but I love me a Prowler. I don’t even care that it has an Intrepid V6. They actually don’t sound too bad if you get a nice exhaust for them. And I mean, engine maintenance is very cheap. Just get Intrepid parts. They are ridiculous cars and I do agree the V6 was a bad idea. They should have at least put in a manual, even if they kept the V6.
MandalorianCovert@reddit
I agree. I think it had around 250HP, which, for the time, wasn’t bad. With a proper manual, it would have been fine, just missing that V8 soundtrack.
Pineapple_Spenstar@reddit
They look especially good in purple metal-flake
RockyJayyy@reddit
He got that car for a steal. I see them going for 30k to 50k on autotrader.
WallyReflector@reddit
That's not because it's a great car. It's because about 12 of those ugly fucks were ever sold.
dwaynetheakjohnson@reddit
Damn do I wish I got one when prices were cheaper, I’m a young adult so I can afford to have a car that isn’t practical at all right now
witchgnome42@reddit
The film crew in the Range Rover.
Ok-disaster2022@reddit
I thought they used Toyotas? Why would you put the crew in something as unreliable as a Land Rover?
witchgnome42@reddit
They traditionally used Land Rovers. I would imagine that they have access to top-notch mechanics, for when the Land Rovers go wrong 😉
mr_greenmash@reddit
Why is this always the correct answer?
Versigot@reddit
Mongolia special, film crew's Range Rover got stuck while John did not. Point to arguably the best car in TG/TGT history.
1llseemyselfout@reddit
"But the moral of that is, if you're going on an expedition and you're absolutely dependent on your car for your life, get a John." ~ James May
KebabGud@reddit
I just really hope they realized how stupid it is to have a totaly wrong pick like May did.
why would ever pick a car with a 38mph top speed for a road trip that mostly consisted of highways? its SUPER fake and stinks of little creativity
1llseemyselfout@reddit
I thought it was hilarious.
M_Zlu@reddit
The Mitsuoka Le Seyde as it fully captures what it meant for the offsprings of British aristocratic families to do a grand tour in Europe and learn about wax statues, the Birmingham accent and WW2-era German prisoner camp.
mr_greenmash@reddit
Can you ever beat Titties and beer?
kent_eh@reddit
As a Zappa fan, I approve.
But, the name aside, the body styling was pretty cool.
Too bad whoever did the other mods did such an below average job of it.
oh-yeah-nahui@reddit
Honestly, the crosley. Why not the SSR? I generally do not like sporty Pick up trucks or SUVs because the very idea of that is just so brainless and poorly thought out it’s giving me pain. In this particular case it was done all right partially tough cause the Chevy engine is just quite nice. Jeremy’s wild cruella ride is quite nice but I don’t really like the looks of it and I think it is a bit childish to make bodywork like this.
Now as to why the Crosley. Yes it’s awfully slow but it is from goddamn 1947. You just have to really understand how incredibly old that is, especially in car years. This car has lived out so many celebrities, companies, even nations. The very fact that you are still able to drive and steer it is amazing on itself and it brings so much historical value, I mean how many cars are actually still existing and drivable on the road that were built in the 40s? Not that many I would think, considering that cars from the 60s are already incredibly rare. That’s just my opinion, you can have a different one just remember that I don’t care about it
International_Peak15@reddit
The SSR
TheMatt561@reddit
Clarkson
tomviky@reddit
Seeing the velorex made me dissapointed they have not picked it yet for anything. Its kidna iconic here.
The yellow cabriolet pickup was the most normal/booring and the SSR was just normal cheap car with some body work. So Crosley was the best.
Picking 3 cars the symbolize the cold war era (crosley, velorex and trabant) would be more interesting IMO. Only interesting car was May (both of them Tities and Milk was fun aswell).
But It was great show anyways, just the cars were booring.
Dbwasson@reddit
Jeremy wish his Le Seyde
RainMaker323@reddit
Hammond. He even had sound effects for each and any electrical uses - now who can say that?
The_GopnikCZ@reddit
Hammond. Not too good but much better than a Crosley or the Cruellamobile.
Esteban2808@reddit
Jeremy.
turbo88Rex@reddit
Hammond was the only one with a decent motor, the entire episode I was saying "well at least Hammond has an LS"
insanelyphat@reddit
I have driven the SSR before and honestly it wasn't a bad truck/car/whatever it was.
They didn't mention that it actually has a corvette motor in it. The one I drove I floored it and was over 100mph in no time. Had to slow down though didn't want a ticket.
It was just far too heavy and far too niche of a vehicle to be mass produced and profitable.
No_Mouse5345@reddit
I really like ssr I use to hate it but see it now it look great WV it ugly duckling of Chevy
chemcast9801@reddit
Best is such a vague question, best at what? Looking cool, surviving the trip, being slow/fast?
Tornookthetooka@reddit
I love the concept of the SSR, a convertible pickup is amazing.
GeoHog713@reddit
I hate to say it, but the SSR was the least awful.
None were good, so none can be "best".
Mlmulkey@reddit
The SSR. The crosley was slow as heck, and the Clarkson car with the funny name was too insane for my taste.