Automotive Shows on TV - Like & Dislike

michaellno

We know all about the love everybody has for Top Gear - UK.

And, we know about the vitriol many folks have for the US version of Top Gear.

What else is there on TV about cars and trucks that you like or dislike? Why?

Discuss.....

au1994

Lets see...

Like: Wheeler Dealers
Chasing Classic Cars
Top Gear (UK)
Motorweek
Mecum Auctions (exept for Bill Stephens) The cars get repetitive but at least its not B-J money for them

Dislike: Graveyard Cars (love the cars, its the people that ruin the show)
Fast and Loud (see above)

Indifferent: Top Gear (USA)

THere's more I'm sure that I'll chime in on when someone else posts.

crkyolfrt

Like: Motorweek although haven't been able to get it for years now. Poor signal being the reason.

Dislike: Driving Television (Canadian) Lacey is a looker and offers a chic's opinion on things which is sometimes useful, but she still says stupid idiotic things at times. And Zack Spencer, the main host, can't even remember that the SL he's reviewing is a 4.7 litre, not a 4.6 litre. And if you write them and suggest that when they wrote out an ad that had assess when what they really meant to say access and insure when they meant ensure...and they argue with you and get all defensive..well that is pretty poor and so very 'not' Canadian as a general rule..

And that other poorly thrown-together Globe and Mail sponsored Canadian one with those two yahoos, Jeremy Cato and Michael Vaughan. Is it Autoweek I think? It is SO bad I skip over it like it is just one big ad. They act like two clowns in which you can't really take either one of them seriously. As a Canadian, I am embarrassed for them..

michaellno

I don't mind watching Mecum for the same reason .. not stupid money for cars that I really like.

I saw a new show last night ... Car Lot Rescue. Similar to Restaurant:Impossible and Bar Rescue, an old hand in the auto sales game comes into a lot to turn them around.

A little cheesy (they had the GM and sales team work as bell boys at a hotel to understand the meaning of customer service), but it's interesting to go behind the scenes.

I actually don't mind TG:US - I take it for what it is and not directly compare it to TG:UK. Yes, they've gotten away from the reviews and the "Big Star, Small Car" segment, but the comfort level of the three hosts is improving each season.

There is another "Wheeler Dealer" type show premiering on CNBC in early March, but the name escapes me at the moment.

I also kinda like "Car Wars: Texas" - again, more for the cars than for the people.

au1994

RE: Texas Car Wars...didn't think I was going to like it but caught a marathon on a few months ago and its not too bad. If they would play down the obviously staged trash talking it would be a good show.

michaellno

RE: Texas Car Wars...didn't think I was going to like it but caught a marathon on a few months ago and its not too bad.

Sort of like "Wheeler Dealers" in that they bring cars back from the dead for a profit.

I like it when they encounter more problems than they bargained for ... "sometimes you're the pigeon, sometimes you're the statue".

What shows do you record? I've got TG:UK, TG:US and Wheeler Dealers set up on my DVR.

au1994

I don't have TG: US on mine but do have Chasing Classic Cars.

Thought of one for the 'dislike' category: Inside West Coast Customs

and one that I used to like but am now just indifferent: Overhaulin'. Got really tired of the 'gags'...car stolen, mistakenly repo'ed etc. Foose does some cool stuff with the cars though. Usually not too over the top.

fintail

I don't mind TG USA. It a copy, but can be pretty funny too. And let's face it, there aren't many really fun American car shows to begin with.

Of course, Wheeler Dealers, original TG, Chasing Classic Cars - all excellent. Motorweek is good other than that they are too nice, the host's routine hasn't changed for 30 years.

I don't like any of the custom shows, contrived and the cars are often pretty unsightly. The auctions can make for good background noise.

Haven't seen Car Lot Rescue - sounds interesting. I watched something about demo derby drivers yesterday, it was OK - but I just watched it to see what kind of cars were being destroyed (one guy was using a 59 Edsel).