They're British TV's two outstanding car shows - but which is the greatest? Clarkson and the gang or Tiff and his team?
Tiff Needell, Chris Ryan, Jason Plato and Vicki Butler-Henderson make for a formidable team, and Fifth Gear consistently provides some of the best car journalism you'll ever see on television. In the other corner, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May from Top Gear serve up candid reviews and cunning stunts. But which is the greatest show? Gape in wonder as two of our Daves argue the toss as to which is the better Gear...
The case for Top Gear
By Dave Rahmdel
Well it's Top Gear, isn't it, clearly? Trying to claim Fifth Gear is better is like saying that you prefer Shakin' Stevens to Elvis. It's legal, yes, but anyone who holds that opinion should very probably be considered for sectioning, immediately. As a minimum. Top Gear's been setting the standard for TV motoring for literally decades, and since its reboot in the early Noughties it's funnier than most sitcoms, more informative than a Stephen Fry voiceover, and, let's not forget this, it's got the Stig. He once punched a horse to the ground – what more do you want, people? The fact of the matter is that Top Gear is also one of the most popular British telly exports in the world. Never mind David Beckham – we reckon there are whole villages in Asia whose homes are plastered with pictures of Clarkson. Terrifying a prospect as that is, it's a testament to just how madly (and justifiably) popular the Top Gear formula is.
For explosions, shockingly extreme challenges, truly irreverent wit and celebrities making an utter fool of themselves in a car they wouldn't normally get in even if it was full of lifetime membership cards to The Ivy, there's only one show to watch. Clue: it's not Fifth Gear.
The case for Fifth Gear
By Dave Woodlock
Sure, without Top Gear there'd be no Fifth Gear but that doesn't mean it's better. Without popular Australian soap opera Neighbours we'd have seen a lot less of Kylie Minogue's lovely bottom but that doesn't mean tuning into Ramsey St is better than watching the 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head video' on a loop now does it?
Top Gear's all well and good if you want to see a bunch of over-grown teenagers blowing up caravans, swerving around mountain roads and occasionally causing an international incident by way of a throwaway gag, but if you want a proper show which is actually about cars, and which doesn't waste most of its budget on explosions and fancy foreign jollies, you'll want to stick with Fifth Gear. Tiff's a far better driver than the denim-cladded one, Quentin's got more class in his raised eyebrow than Captain Slow can dream of, and Vicki looks a lot less like a Hamster than Richard Hammond. Watching Fifth Gear is like tucking into a balanced and nutritious meal – you come away feeling satisfied and like you've done something useful with your time. Whereas Top Gear is basically a heap of salty junkfood which you wolf down in a rush, feeling it's the best thing ever, then end feeling a bit dizzy, stunned and empty again an hour later. And as for Top Gear being popular the world over: so is Justin Bieber. That doesn't make him good, does it? Top Gear's had its day, we're going into Fifth.
Who's right? Which is the greater Gear? Or are they both right with Top and Fifth tied in Pole Position in some kind of sappy hands-across-the-water, everyone-is-equal, what-have-we-done-to-the-world kinda way?
![[Halfords]](http://uktv.co.uk/images/28070/69687_.jpg "Halfords")
Comments
Displaying 1 to 5 of 53
Even if I didn't already prefer Top Gear over the newer version (started during the hiatus when they didn't know whether Top Gear would continue) I would never choose a show whose write up includes phrases like "denim-cladded". "DENIM CLAD" is the correct version. (Yes, I am a pedant)
First let me say I am a fan of both shows. Secondly, I am a Yank, so they both far exceed the brilliance of any car show we have here in the States. Those things said, I believe that there are two answers to this question. Fifth Gear is the better CAR show, but Top Gear is the better show. Fifth gear does indeed give better practical and useful information in an entertaining way. However, Top Gear is almost a parody of car shows in and of itself, whilst still being the second best car show in the world. However, it is one of the best TV shows of all time, something Fifth Gear can not claim, because it would have little appeal to a non-petrol head, while Top Gear does. Dave B. - Milford, DE - USA
everyone knows you don't leave your car in fifth, you get it in top gear. and it has better explosions
Top Gear all the time cos its more fun
TopGear all the way jezza for PM!!!!
Displaying 6 to 11 of 53
Top gear all the way.COME ON JEZZA!!!!!
Top Gear all the way baby, Fifth gear just haven't got it...
fifth gears ok but top gear is the best eva after all it is voted number 1 car show its not just the cars but the boys sence of humor and personality on top gar that makes it worth while and face it the boys on top gear are alot cuter than the ones on fifth gear. fifth gear dosnt tour every where getting tangled in mess like top gear, top gear will push it over the line and break the rules thats obusley what the great public wants top gear XXX
nearly all answers are for Top Gear; they are all tottaly correct, Top Gear is the best by far !!
well as you can see from everyones comment top gear is best as top gear is top and fith gear comes fith and dave let this be a message to you take fith gear off air and replace it with more top gear as im sure you know your ratings go straight to 0 when fith gears on
Displaying 11 to 16 of 53
top gear is the best the presenters on fifth gear are scared of going fast and they are crap drivers so top gear is the best!!!
Top gear!!! Who wants to hear about the crappy £20 cars you get on fifth? I want super cars!!! :D
Top gear
top gear is THE best
your all correct, Top Gear is a far better programme...
Displaying 16 to 21 of 53
top gear is the best
Top gear is so much better than fifth gear,go top gear.
Top Gear is the best!
your all correct, top gear is a far better programme, Tiff is not too bad but not the rest , TOP GEAR IS THE BEST....
Watching fifth gear is like watching paint dry, its rubbish. All they have done, is found a couple of rubbish tv presenters and gave them a script to make them look like they know all about cars. Where as, TOP GEAR is a propper car show, with ambitious challenges, its overall more fun to watch. And the best thing about it is that I can watch the same episode 100 times on end and i won't get bored of it. TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR. Jezza for PM!!!!!!!!
Displaying 21 to 26 of 53
Watching fifth gear is like watching paint dry, its rubbish. All they have done, is found a couple of rubbish tv presenters and gave them a script to make them look like they know all about cars. Where as, TOP GEAR is a propper car show, with ambitious challenges, its overall more fun to watch. And the best thing about it is that I can watch the same episode 100 times on end and i won't get bored of it. TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR. Jezza for PM!!!!!!!!
top gear, top gear, top gear is the best. JAMES MAY FOR PM!!
Fifth Gear is Just Stupid, I've Only Seen Parts Of Fifth Gear Because I Just Found It Annoying. Top Gear on the Other hand is Brilliant, I Watch It Everyday on Dave and when it's on, on Sundays on BBC. I Got My Love of Top Gear From My Dad, Though Now I Love it more than him. My Mom Says That Girls shouldn't like top gear as much as I do. TOP GEAR ALL THE WAY. TOP GEAR! TOP GEAR! TOP GEAR! :D :)
watching fifth gear is like watching paint dry. the presenters have no personallity and seem to just read from a script. my opinion, top gear all the way
Your wrong, Top Gear is far more advanced than Fith Gear.
Displaying 26 to 31 of 53
Get a grip you lot you are like a flock of sheep, your all ba ba's. you know deep down that fifth gears the best.
Top Gear is best by far.
TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR, TOP GEAR...FIFTH GEAR SHOULD RETIRE AND THE MAN WHO WROTE HIS PART FOR FIFTH GEAR IS WRONG
TOP GEAR, who else? fifth gear is crap , who wants fifth gear go for top gear and be the best, plus the top gear presenters are better and more funny than them over sized boring babies on fifth gear!, even if theres no girls presenting on top gear, it still gets my vote!!!!! TOP GEAR RULES, FIFTH GEAR SUCKS LIKE A CHEAP SUZUKI ON EBAY!
TOP GEAR, who else? fifth gear is crap , who wants fifth gear go for top gear and be the best, plus the top gear presenters are better and more funny than them over sized boring babies on fifth gear!, even if theres no girls presenting on top gear, it still gets my vote!!!!! TOP GEAR RULES, FIFTH GEAR SUCKS LIKE A CHEAP SUZUKI ON EBAY!
Displaying 31 to 36 of 53
Oh and they could do with adding some fanny on Top Gear though and bring back TOP GEAR DOG! But Top Gear is still better!
Top Gear is loaaaaaaadssssss BETTER! Saying u like Fifth Gear over Top Gear is like saying "Id rather sleep with John mccririck instead of Angelina Jolie" Just wouldnt happeeeeennnnnnn.
Top Gear is sooo much better. Your right the Fifth Gear presenters arent as good as Top Gear i only sometimes watch Fifth Gear as Jason Plato is on it and am a fan of BTCC.
haha Ga33a24 a very good comment
I knew if we waited long enough the Fifth Gear audience would turn up, and there he is!
Displaying 36 to 41 of 53
Top Gear is fine if all the cars you think about are dream cars, only affordable to extremely rich. Fifth Gear have a more overall view and cover so much more than Top Gear. I vote for Fifth Gear.
i love cars in general but i still find the presenting on fith gear awful, i just find the hosts boring. i like a bit of banter in the presenting and seen as dave is the home of witty banter surely top gear is the best...jeremy clarkson is probably the best man on tv he talks soo much sence and he's just one of those men youde wanna go for a pint with. Top Gear FTW
TOP GEAR IS BY FAR THE BEST
Why not set the teams a challenge, a mad dash across the Gobi Desert - (during the hottest part of the year of course)taking their favourite four-by-fours and setting them 'tasks' - you know, juggle Scorpions or syphon a Camel or something.. then they can announce "Oh no! We can't show Fifth Gear anymore because the Top Gear Team have eaten them!" Well, you could....!?
TOP GEAR IS THE BEST BY FAR. FIFTH GEAR DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THEY SAID THE BUGATTI VEYRON WONT DO 253 MPH BUT JAMES MAY DID IT ON TOP GEAR. CLARKSON, HAMMOND AND MAY ARE BRILLIANT.
Displaying 41 to 46 of 53
Top Gear is the best show ever it is an 'all rounder' show even if ur not a petrol head u would enjoy watching it
Top Gear would definatly win because jermey is so funny and so is hammond and jermey stop be so horrible to james it is not nice always hitting his car if you ever read this jeremy
i love top gear don't put on fifth gear
fifth gear is an entier copy of top gear the cars, the super cars and the hyper cars are all copies of top gear. top gear has been out longer than fifth gear it has more series's, it has the funniest stuff when it comes to the news and fifth gear is just something that puts you to sleep its just info info info no funnyness or good news and the show only last for half an hour top gear last for 1 hour to 1 and a half of a hour and the best thing is the 14th series has a episode that's 2 hours long so in your face fifth gear.
Where did all the other comments go? Was it because Fifth Gear was getting such a slating? Doesn't matter how many times you restart this list Top Gear will win. Now take the hint (not that 99.9% one way is a hint) and get Fifth Gear off!!!
Displaying 46 to 51 of 53
i love top gear b00000000000000000000000000000! fith gear go somewhere else
dear dave i am youssef the you took of the list i hate fith gear and i love top gear so there now could you please put me back on regards youssef
top gear is well better than fifth gear top gear for life
TOP GEAR FOREVER 5TH GEAR SUCKS !!!!
Top gear. Fith Gear is a copy
Displaying 51 to 53 of 53
What on EARTH happened to all the other comments?!?! Oh well, Top Gear still gets my vote, and the votes of almost every other person that's going to post here. Please Dave, remove Fifth Gear, it's nothing but a lesser, cheapy rip-off version of Top Gear.
TOP GEAR! TOP GEAR! TOP GEAR!
top gear was the 1st but fifth gear gives u better info on cars us mear mortals can afford instead of all these £million 9000000bhp monsters.although its gud to see the trips & mad things they do on top gear.fifth gear has better presenters with tiff the madman & vicky the sexy minx & plato the looney toon they can all drive cars the way they shud be driven,Its hard to say which is the best they've both got something for everone keep up the good work bbc & five for all us dave viewers to keep watchin the best shows on tv