Clarkson on Japanese Motoring

[emperor]

[gv]-8701392936812760087[/gv]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8701392936812760087

it looks to be a doc/show filmed in Japan around the mid-90s

about 8.5 mins in, hes watching a drift-race, the reaction he gives is so quaint

[Mulboyne]

I don't know about cars but Clarkson mentions an unemployment rate of 2% which would date it around 1990/91.

[Adhesive]

The Drift King was driving an S14, so it couldn't have been aearlier than 94', and considering the GT-R in the vid was the R-32 and not the R-33 which was released in 95' it must have have been 1994.

Clarkson is such a Euro-whore. Can't believe he is bashing Japanese syling when the 3rd gen RX-7, Supra, S-14, fairlady z, miata, and NSX were all prowling the streets at the time. He should just keep his cranky ass in Britian.

[Kanchou]

You really have to take everything he says with a grain of salt, since he's incredibly opinioned, very sarcastic, and has really high standards for cars (that aren't British).

He basically thinks that every car that isn't either British (at leas tin design or company), or has an interior made of solid gold is rubbish... he isn't a fan of stiff rides either.

Also, a large number of Japanese sports cars that actually look good weren't designed in Japan, or by Japanese people at all (at least not the body styling). I have to agree with him when he said "Anyone who would actually drive one of those DESERVES to have it towed."

Honestly, Korean cars are the ones that have really questionable aesthetic designs... it really makes you wonder just how hard you have to try to make a car look so ugly.

I found the section with the yakuza fairly amuzing...

Also, an R32 Skyline IS capable of 800 HP, but 500 is a more realistic number (and you can't really do that with the stock turbochargers either). Doing that with the stock chassis is only something you could do with a drag car...and even then it wouldn't be very wise.

[Adhesive]

I know a lot of newer Japanese cars are designed overseas (350z for example) but I'm pretty sure most of the cars I mentioned were designed in Japan.

I could be wrong, but regardless, even European auto manufacturers have design studios in foreign countries like the U.S. (I know somebody that has a son who works in the Mercedes studio in Irvine, Ca).

I do think Clarkson is funny, I just think he goes a little too far sometimes.

[Kanchou]

Well, the FD (3rd gen RX-7) is the prettiest of all of them (especially the post-99 model years) in my opinion, and IIRC it was designed at least partially in California.

I can't imagine he wouldn't like the late-model RX-7 (he loves the RX-8).

I drive a 2nd-gen RX-7, personally...