Ep 9. Series 3, Episode 9
- TV-PG
- December 28, 2003
- 60 min
-
7.7 (238)
In Top Gear season 3 episode 9, the trio of hosts -- Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May -- continue their automotive adventures with an array of challenges and experiments. The episode opens with a feature on the new Jaguar S-Type R, a powerful luxury sedan that Clarkson test drives and reviews on the track.
Next, the hosts tackle a challenge that puts their creative and mechanical skills to the test. They each buy an old British car for under £1,000 and attempt to turn it into a limousine for a wedding party. The resulting vehicles are hilarious and impressive in equal measure, including a Rover with a hot tub and a Triumph with a champagne cooler.
Following the limo challenge, the hosts shift their focus to off-road driving. They embark on a series of challenges to test the capabilities of three 4x4s: the Jeep Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery, and Toyota Land Cruiser. The challenges include speed tests, hill climbs, and water crossings, with each vehicle earning its share of victories and setbacks along the way.
In a departure from their usual automotive antics, the hosts then turn their attention to a high-flying experiment. They construct a homemade airship, using a Mini Cooper as the gondola, and attempt to fly it across England. The result is a hybrid of bizarre engineering and madcap humor, with the hosts experiencing both soaring success and spectacular failure.
Finally, the hosts reunite for a classic Top Gear challenge: a cross-country race across Europe. Clarkson, Hammond, and May each choose a supercar -- a Lamborghini Murcielago, Porsche Carrera GT, and Pagani Zonda respectively -- and set out on a 1600-mile journey from Switzerland to Blackpool. Along the way, they face a series of obstacles and setbacks, from traffic jams to mechanical failures, making for a thrilling and entertaining conclusion to the episode.
Throughout the episode, the hosts' chemistry and camaraderie are on full display, as they banter, bicker, and bond over their shared adventures. Whether testing the world's most elite supercars or trying to build a flying machine out of a Mini Cooper, the trio of hosts always bring their unique blend of humor, expertise, and vehicular hijinks to every challenge.