Yeah, I like watching him from time to time, but he is to a good automotive show like Smash Lab is to Myth Busters.

I just got new cable service and can see Top Gear for the first time. I’m noticing all the episodes are from 2006. What’s up with that?

pls in Alabama

“The spelling of English-language words – for example, “meter,” “liter,” and “deka” are used instead of “metre,” “litre,” and “deca” – is in accordance with the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual, which follows Webster’s Third New International Dictionary rather than the Oxford Dictionary used in many English-speaking countries. This spelling also reflects recommended United States practice.”

Aren’t you glad you asked?

That’s all we ask :)

Though I’ve heard so many different pronunciations that I don’t really care anymore. It’s gotten to the point where only Top Gear’s pronunciations bother me.

It’s unfortunate that Hyundai doesn’t have an easy name to pronounce like Samsung.

Jag-u-uh
Toy-o-tuh
Niss-an
Hy-un-dye
Mit-suh-bi-shi
Ah-cyuh-ra (well, if I after needed to pronounce it)

I try… :) Surely my Korean friend is pronouncing it correctly. There’s a fine line to walk in making the English sounds/letters match up with the foreign sounds… I just can’t abide the silent “Y” most folks leave out…

Ah, America… Where we change grammar on the fly to suit our needs. Thus Coeur d’Alene, Idaho becomes “Core-duh-LAYne” in Seattle (and other atrocities). Forgive the tangent – I’ll stick to cars from here on out… :)

I make a habit of smacking anyone who claims an interest in cars and pronounces it like that, but fair point.

As for pronunciations:

Jagwarr=Jag-yu-ar. Neither is really better than the other. Awkwarrrd ‘r’ versus extraneous syllable, take your pick.

NEE-san > Nissan. Japanese pronunciation versus phonetical. authenticity wins out.

Don’t know a single person who actually says “dubya”, mitsubooshi, or teeyoda, but I can imagine parts of the country do.

Don’t forget — Poursh.

For the record, most folks I know in the States call ‘em like this:

JAG-war
Toy-OH-da
NEE-san
HUN-die
Mit-soo-BEE-shee
AH-cyur-ah

I object only to Hyundai, which I pronounce Hee-YOON-die on account of my Korean friend…

Anyone across the pond care to contribute the proper (non-Clarkson) speech patterns?

I’m pretty sure that his comments about the spellings were meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

Either that, or the Brits need to get a new dictionary. This is the best one, of course: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

What British car industry? As far as I know, there is no longer a single British-owned car maker left, with the possible exception of TVR (which I can’t tell if they are still making cars or not). Of course, there are car plants in the UK owned by foreigners.

TVR is owned by a Russian multimillionaire.

We have Aston Martin back. Yes, the capital is foreign, but the name on the papers is “Prodrive”. It was established at the beginning that Prodrive would run Aston Martin and the foreigners would leave them alone.

Quite a nice relationship, really, the engineers get to make cars and the financiers get the money, everyone is happy!

Mr Lieberman, what joke?

He’s not exactly praising the British car industry either.

What British car industry? As far as I know, there is no longer a single British-owned car maker left, with the possible exception of TVR (which I can’t tell if they are still making cars or not). Of course, there are car plants in the UK owned by foreigners.

You missed the joke.

And to all the people who say “Oh the British car industry is owned by foreigners”, may I remind them that Chrysler is still part owned by the Germans & GM and Ford are publicly listed companies which mean many countries could own stakes in GM and Ford. So they’re not as “American” as you think….

As for metrics, they are far superior to English units. For instance, Clarkson’s “Top Gear” partner, Davey Jones, is a shrimpy 5′1″; but in metrics, he’s 1.55m. That’s like totally impressive now!