Why does BBC Top Gear hate the Beetle?· Page 8 · International Vintage Volkswagen Forums

64rotbox
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

Damn, what gave it away – must have been having the same avatar.:?

At this point your own advice is the best I can give you……: :wink:

wrote:

Right. Well, I'm guessing that 'challenged' in this case means you sent Richard Porter an insufferably smug and boring email ramble, which he either didn't receive, or completely ignored. Pistols at dawn, indeed.

Wasp's nest? Box of frogs, perhaps.

I've seem to have taken to Ghias all of a sudden, actually... shift over a bit, George.

You can call me Al.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#142

Right. Well, I'm guessing that 'challenged' in this case means you sent Richard Porter an insufferably smug and boring email ramble, which he either didn't receive, or completely ignored. Pistols at dawn, indeed.

64rotbox wrote:

I got through 2 long emails with the guy, and in his defense, he did reply. His reply showed him to be an arrogant, self-righteous bigot with no knowledge of vehicle development or manufacture. He did not explain to me why in his book of 'Cr*p Cars' – featuring cars from the '70s, he threw one in from the '30s (even showing a picture of a split-window Beetle), and then when comparing it with the other cars declared it to be the worst car ever, ignoring 40+ years of advancement the others had.:?

However, I've come to realise just as there are idiots that hate the Beetle; from my experience on these forums, there are idiots that claim to love it too. After well over 30 years of enjoying vintage Beetles, its certainly changed my outlook on the hobby, which now seems to have gold-diggers, show-offs, bigots and idiots pushing for space among the real die-hard Beetle lovers, of which fortunately, there are still many left and some still joining.

I've seem to have taken to Ghias all of a sudden, actually... shift over a bit, George.

64rotbox wrote:

He doesn't need to shift over – its totally empty there – loads of space..:rofl:

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

GKL 7
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#143

His reply showed him to be an arrogant, self-righteous bigot

Rattletrap wrote:

That's funny,he had nothing but good to say about you:roll:

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#144

That's funny,he had nothing but good to say about you:roll:

'50 Karmann wrote:

You know, it really wouldn't surprise me if the guy was a member here… it really wouldn't. :mellow:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

GKL 7
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#145

You know, it really wouldn't surprise me if the guy was a member here… it really wouldn't. :mellow:

Rattletrap wrote:

:thumbdn:

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#146

Where do you get your acid from Ra•••••••p you must be on another planet
:thumbdn:

'50 Karmann wrote:

Years of dealing with idiots on the way to shows, at the shows and now even on the web takes its toll…

No wonder Tony Levy's patience was pushed to breaking point while displaying Rattletrap as often as he did. The man must have been a saint.:mellow:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

GKL 7
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#147

No wonder Tony Levy's patience was pushed to breaking point while displaying Rattletrap as often as he did. The man must have been a saint.:mellow:

Rattletrap wrote:

He bloody loved it,all that attention.
That's why the whole story was invented.And that's why you are continuing the fiasco.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#148

… the whole story was invented..

'50 Karmann wrote:

Now you know that not to be true '50 Karmann. I have the car and the records. While Rob insists on keeping that thread locked, we'll have to leave it at that.:wink:

He bloody loved it,all that attention………that's why you are continuing the fiasco

'50 Karmann wrote:

Not me, I'm not a one for the limelight – I prefer to be in the shadows. I do plan to come out and display Rattletrap at Lavenham 2012, he'll be the star of the show – I won't.

My pleasure will be, as it has been in days gone by, in furthering the interest in the vintage Beetle. Rattletrap is a fascinating achievement as is the Beetle itself, and there are still great people sharing our hobby, (despite the idiots I mentioned earlier).:thumbup:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

GKL 7
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#149

The answer to this continuing debate is simple John.
You supply me with the numbers(verified) and i'll write to the Stiftung museum and get the story.I'm sure they will be able to either confirm or deny,if Volkswagen made a Zwitter prototype in 1950.

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

64rotbox
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#150

Years of dealing with idiots on the way to shows, at the shows and now even on the web takes its toll…

Rattletrap wrote:

I doubt you know the half of it. After some of the things I've been through in the name of the 'VW scene' over the last 20+ years, it's a wonder that I can even stand the sight of a Beetle. Anyway, thank you for answering my original question at last, even if the answer turned out to be rather low on details and high on personal opinion.

Just for some kind of balance, a quote from an interview with the man:

"Why do you consider over 21 million people foolish, and name the VW Beetle as a crap car?

I don't consider 21 million people foolish. If you bought a Beetle between the late '40s and about 1970 you were probably buying a reasonable car. What I don't get is the reverence that the car is treated with today. As far as I'm concerned its time has long passed. Plus, I've driven several Beetles and I found them universally awful, as you might expect from something designed before the Second World War. Whereas, for example, at least the Austin Maestro has surprisingly good steering feel. Why is it that Beetle enthusiasts' first line of defence is that it sold in huge numbers? Is Coronation Street their favourite TV programme? Is Coca-Cola their favourite drink? Is popularity automatically synonymous with worth? Is it bollocks."

I don't agree 100% with his viewpoint, but I'm happy to let him have it.

BTW, has this TG business been greeted with sizable amounts of knicker-twisting elsewhere in the VW internet forum world, or is it just here? I've not got the willpower to go looking...

You can call me Al.

lifeintheslowlane
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#151

BTW, has this TG business been greeted with sizable amounts of knicker-twisting elsewhere in the VW internet forum world, or is it just here? I've not got the willpower to go looking...

64rotbox wrote:

TG has a big following just about everywhere in the world...as does The Beetle but certainly, in the US nobody is getting their knickers in a twist about their Beetle bashing.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291956

Mind you they haven't seen the latest UK TG episode yet.:wink:

John.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#152

Just for some kind of balance, a quote from an interview with the man:

"Why do you consider over 21 million people foolish, and name the VW Beetle as a crap car?

I don't consider 21 million people foolish. If you bought a Beetle between the late '40s and about 1970 you were probably buying a reasonable car. What I don't get is the reverence that the car is treated with today. As far as I'm concerned its time has long passed. Plus, I've driven several Beetles and I found them universally awful, as you might expect from something designed before the Second World War. Whereas, for example, at least the Austin Maestro has surprisingly good steering feel. Why is it that Beetle enthusiasts' first line of defence is that it sold in huge numbers? Is Coronation Street their favourite TV programme? Is Coca-Cola their favourite drink? Is popularity automatically synonymous with worth? Is it bollocks."

I don't agree 100% with his viewpoint, but I'm happy to let him have it.

BTW, has this TG business been greeted with sizable amounts of knicker-twisting elsewhere in the VW internet forum world, or is it just here? I've not got the willpower to go looking...

64rotbox wrote:

Well Ben – to a point, we seem to share a level playing field after all. As regards his detailed replies, I'd need to find the emails which were 3 computers ago. Much of your quote regarding his comments seems familiar though. Porter was on Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show about 8 years ago regarding his VW Beetle views, he got hammered by a few 'phone-ins, had a couple of supporters, but generally talked rubbish, not being able to justify his stupid book's findings. Have you read the his book? The copy I read was in the public library (wouldn't waste my hard-earned). :roll: The library since removed it from the self :roll:

Surely, you can see the answer to his twisted views with his comment "I don't get is the reverence that the car is treated with today" – he's the schoolboy left out of the group, they aren't interested in the cars he likes. Regardless, he still compares a vintage pre-war car with '70s-'80s. I agree 0% with his view point.

As regards Top Gear bashing, there are snippets defending the Beetle elsewhere on the web.

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

54 Gertie
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#153

He just doesn't 'get' why Beetles now have such a following. Just his opinion.

I kind of agree, by the 70's at least there were other far superior cars available to the average man.

Had I been in a VW dealer in the mid 70's, would I have bought a Beetle? Would I heck. I'd have plumped for a far better Polo. Either in Blue or that lovely shade of lime green.

I love Beetles, I cant see a time in my life when I wont own one, but the fact he doesn't like them is up to him. They are noisy, clattery, harsh, gutless sacks of s**t!

I'm still amazed that when they arrived in the UK in '53, that anyone bought them. Merely eight years on since Mr Adolfs little shenanigans.

I dont know why we (people on the forum) are getting so hepped up about peoples opinions about the car they like?

William

JD
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#154

"I don't get is the reverence that the car is treated with today"

Some tosser wrote:

Not sure I understand this one either. Surely the same applies more or less universally. Something like an E type Jag may have been the business when it was new, but again, that was a long time ago and there are a great many better sports cars around since then. A lot of hot hatchbacks will outrun one nowadays. But they are still revered inspite of being pretty poor by modern standards. Whats the difference? Has this guy never heard of nostalgia?
(Actually the one that really baffles me are MGBs, which weren´t even good when new!)

I´d always assumed that Crap cars book was just tongue in cheek anyway.

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

"John, you need to get a grip and STOP MOANING AT EVERYTHING. ThumbDown "

GKL 7
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#155

I´d always assumed that Crap cars book was just tongue in cheek anyway.

JD wrote:

Exactly James,and so is Top Gear,but some people just have to bite.You know like those who write to the Guardian over some trivial nonsense.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#156

I kind of agree, by the 70's at least there were other far superior cars available to the average man.

Had I been in a VW dealer in the mid 70's, would I have bought a Beetle? Would I heck. I'd have plumped for a far better Polo. Either in Blue or that lovely shade of lime green.

I dont know why we (people on the forum) are getting so hepped up about peoples opinions about the car they like?

54 Gertie wrote:

In the late '70s, at the age of 17 my father took me out to get my first car. It was precisely because there were such truly awful cars as the Allegro, Polo and Mini on offer that we went for the far superior 'built like a tank feel' Beetle. We bought a 1972 twin-port Marathon 1300 Beetle, the acceleration and performance of this low-mileage car was pretty good, infact Dad drove it on motorway business trips leaving his new and dreadful Austin Princess – which really was a car he wished he'd never bought – at home in the garage.8)

The Polo was a miserable, gutless, wretched dull-looking, wafer-thin, flimsy excuse for a car, not even nearly as good as the Beetle's replacement – the Golf, although this still a boring box nonetheless, until the GTI came out. Today's Polo, like most cars now. are so much better than the general rubbish that was on offer in the 1970's. 😶

I love Beetles, I cant see a time in my life when I wont own one, but the fact he doesn't like them is up to him. They are noisy, clattery, harsh, gutless sacks of s**t!

I'm still amazed that when they arrived in the UK in '53, that anyone bought them…

54 Gertie wrote:

Lost me with this part, why on earth are you involved with them. They sold well here in the '50s because we were producing abslolutely awful unreliable rubbish as well as trying to catch up on production after the war. The Beetle had a 4 speed box, a heater and rarely broke down. The Ford in the same buyer market had 3 speed no heater, one wiper and not even direction signals on the base model. The Minor was prehistoric with its cart springs, poor construction, design and dreadful performance.:thumbdn:

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

54 Gertie
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#157

Lost me with this part, why on earth are you involved with them. They sold well here in the '50s because we were producing abslolutely awful unreliable rubbish as well as trying to catch up on production after the war. The Beetle had a 4 speed box, a heater and rarely broke down. The Ford in the same buyer market had 3 speed no heater, one wiper and not even direction signals on the base model. The Minor was prehistoric with its cart springs, poor construction, design and dreadful performance.:thumbdn:

Rattletrap wrote:

I would imagine that people were still a bit raw about what had happened only eight years previously...

I'm glad they sold though, of course I am. Good to know that people had sense back then, looking at photos from the 50's, not so much the 60s, they looked far more modern and better built than anything else comparable on the market.

William

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#158

I would imagine that people were still a bit raw about what had happened only eight years previously...

54 Gertie wrote:

Of course, and its testament to just how good those '50s Beetles were, that they still sold here in numbers, despite being 'The Mass Murder's car', to quote that bigoted fool from Top Gear – James May.

I'm glad they sold though, of course I am. Good to know that people had sense back then, looking at photos from the 50's, not so much the 60s, they looked far more modern and better built than anything else comparable on the market.

54 Gertie wrote:

Thats a relief, I thought that Richard Porter cr*p author of 'Cr*p Cars' and puppet operator behind BBCs Top Gear programme had got to you.:thumbup:

Edited by user 14 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

JD
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#159

'The Mass Murder's car',

Rattletrap wrote:

I think he means this one...

https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/ted-bundys-vw-beetle-is-now-a-museum-piece/

"John, you need to get a grip and STOP MOANING AT EVERYTHING. ThumbDown "

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

14 years ago

#160

So this is how Richard Porter spends his evenings.

:omg: You will need to watch this right through to appreciate what an idiot we have at work in this clip, and its not for the faint-hearted I can tell you…

I'm leaving my meal tonight.:cry:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

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