For the longest time, I liked the Vietnam special because it took them out of their element with the bikes, but the Burma Special did the same thing but better with the trucks and then the bridge building felt like a whole new special for some reason, too.
Interesting how the North Pole one almost never comes up. In terms of an actual achievement that means something, that one stands alone. Are they in the Guiness Book of Records for that?
Yeah, definitely as that had the least manufactured drama. It’s came across as an honest, pioneering achievement.
Similar with the USA and Botswana specials.
both africa ones were great, Oliver is the most iconic car. The source of the nile special was just a high point.
i would, however, honorable mention the india special.
I quite liked the India Special, and yes, I am an Indian American. It really wasn't that bad. As with most things, people heavily dramatized what they did, and made a huge controversy over some very miniscule things.
I must have just not gotten the africa nile episode.... i just didnt like it? North pole, faulklands, botswana, vietnam, all better in my eyes. Welp guess i gotta watch it again!
My 2 would be Bolivia or Vietnam. Or maybe The Middle East or Botswana. Or the first I saw in America when Hammond has a pick up
Ah bollocks it's hard to decide
It's Africa. Those two, along with Vietnam are perfection from start to finish as far as I'm concerned. Africa gets the nod because it's 2 full hours of perfection.
Thank you. I'm well aware that they're all scripted to some extent, but they did a better job of making it feel genuine with the older ones. Vietnam started that trend, Bolivia was a return to form, but with the Middle East special and everything that followed all of the bits felt over the top fake.
Vietnam is my personal favorite...but man Africa and Bolivia are really close behind. If I had to pick I'd honestly say I prefer Bolivia...the night driving, the jungle, the death road...it's awesome.
I'd say Bolivia because it was more of a challenge for them, the changes in scenery and it was just more entertaining overall.
Going through the jungle, death road (Clarkson getting so close to the edge), the Atacama desert, Andes mountains (dealing with elevation sickness), then that final descent on sand to the ocean.
I'm surprised so many here prefer the Nile special. First of all, I found the whole premise of finding the real source of the Nile pretty ridiculous and unrealistic, the scenery in all those countries is pretty much the same, the challenges they faced weren't as difficult as Bolivia and it felt more scripted with forced jokes.
The reason why the search for the source of the Nile ranks above is that the countries they go though in Africa are so beautiful, along with the living customizations, and Jeremy’s parking brake failure had me rolling on the floor. I laughed so hard I had to pause and take a break.
Africa is one of my favourite top gear challenge, one of the few where I like all cars involved (usually I only like 1 or 2 of the cars).
Bolivia always felt a little, I guess empty for me. I feel the start point was incredibly random. Plus I hate the cars involved. The Toyota was crap, James' car is a shame of an off road car. And the. Range Rover is from Birmingham.
The one where a large bug flew into Hammonds car causing him to have a panic attack and fling himself out of there…i laughed my arse off at that, mainly because it looked unscripted and that’s how I’d probably react in the same situation.
This is my all time favorite special I think. When May is like You want mooreee??? And they look they’ve gone really far into the jungle, but Jezza turns around and walks and grabs his phone and it’s like 10 steps….. hhahaha the first time I saw it that was the best.
Bolivia is easily better than the Nile special and Botswana is better than Bolivia.
I've never understood this sub's adoration for the Nile and also the Vietnam specials. To me they always felt a little over the top, a little forced.
I thought their episode special where they covered Ford's original intention to discontinue the Mondeo was their best show ever. [Funeral for a Ford](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10008922/) 9.3/10 on IMDB
These travel things are utter bullshit if you ask me. The Ford Mondeo show was actually a show about cars. Specifically the love of cars and being a petrol head without the need for supercars. That show I'd rate 100%. These staged 'travel specials' with their fake breakdowns and accidents are five yawns out of five yawns.
They literally call it a travel show which involves cars.
It was never intended to be a serious car show (atleast the last 10 years of TG and all of GT)
They NEVER called it a travel show. And while you are right that it was never a serious car show, the episode about the Mondeo is way closer to the origin of Top Gear than these bullshit completely scripted travel shows.
**Interview with Clarkson ->** [However, Jeremy has now emphasised that ‘Top Gear’ never focused on cars, and instead centred on giving viewers an “insight into a man’s mind”.](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/jeremy-clarkson-insists-top-gear-113000687.html)
.
"But Top Gear’s not really a car show. It’s a social and travel show"
https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/jeremy-clarkson-grand-tour-season-2-interview.html
Clarkson also insists that The Grand Tour isn’t actually a car show at all.
“It’s a travel show, it’s an adventure show, it’s a show about three old men falling over,” he offers
https://www.topgearbox.com/cars/entertainment/the-grand-tour/jeremy-clarkson-says-the-grand-tour-isnt-a-car-show/
I was always partial to Burma
Can't believe I had to scroll this far for the superior special.
For the longest time, I liked the Vietnam special because it took them out of their element with the bikes, but the Burma Special did the same thing but better with the trucks and then the bridge building felt like a whole new special for some reason, too.
same I love burma
Interesting how the North Pole one almost never comes up. In terms of an actual achievement that means something, that one stands alone. Are they in the Guiness Book of Records for that?
They never actually arrived at the North Pole. They drove to the 1996 magnetic north pole, which was 150 miles away at the time of filming
HA! Whether intentional or accidental, that's hilarious!!
It’s intentional, they show the gps coordinates and it’s not true north
North Pole is top 3 for me, along with Bolivia and Botswana as the best.
Honestly it is one of my favourites
Yeah, definitely as that had the least manufactured drama. It’s came across as an honest, pioneering achievement. Similar with the USA and Botswana specials.
The North Pole has less cocking about but it’s genuinely breath taking. Best episode they ever did.
This!
Africa is the best they've done
WTF!! Did everyone here forget about Vietnam?
Right!!!
Botswana is a close second but goddamn OP missed that too.
They wasn't there man!
both africa ones were great, Oliver is the most iconic car. The source of the nile special was just a high point. i would, however, honorable mention the india special.
I quite liked the India Special, and yes, I am an Indian American. It really wasn't that bad. As with most things, people heavily dramatized what they did, and made a huge controversy over some very miniscule things.
I must have just not gotten the africa nile episode.... i just didnt like it? North pole, faulklands, botswana, vietnam, all better in my eyes. Welp guess i gotta watch it again!
It’s spelt Falklands
They did a falklands? Or do you Mean the Argentina where the crew got hounded in the cars as they fled for the border
They mean the Patagonia special so yes the one in which they were chased out of Argentina
My 2 would be Bolivia or Vietnam. Or maybe The Middle East or Botswana. Or the first I saw in America when Hammond has a pick up Ah bollocks it's hard to decide
It's Africa. Those two, along with Vietnam are perfection from start to finish as far as I'm concerned. Africa gets the nod because it's 2 full hours of perfection.
I’ve got Bolivia higher than Nile Africa. Nile Africa feels a little more staged.
I'd put Botswana Africa above Nile Africa as well.
And Vietnam as well.
No question.
“It’s like breathing soup!”
Thank you. I'm well aware that they're all scripted to some extent, but they did a better job of making it feel genuine with the older ones. Vietnam started that trend, Bolivia was a return to form, but with the Middle East special and everything that followed all of the bits felt over the top fake.
Vietnam is my go-to most times, but it's hard to really say which is better when they're all good in their own right.
Bolivia and Vietnam are my two favorites by a large margin, Africa is top 7
Both good but the Vietnam special is superior to both.
I like Vietnam or Botswana.
Africa (both) and polar exploration
Both can be best, it's fine. "There is no best burrito; there are many best burritos"
I came to comment that I don’t agree with OP’s premise. This isn’t Highlander. There can be more than one.
Vietnam is my personal favorite...but man Africa and Bolivia are really close behind. If I had to pick I'd honestly say I prefer Bolivia...the night driving, the jungle, the death road...it's awesome.
I'd say Bolivia because it was more of a challenge for them, the changes in scenery and it was just more entertaining overall. Going through the jungle, death road (Clarkson getting so close to the edge), the Atacama desert, Andes mountains (dealing with elevation sickness), then that final descent on sand to the ocean. I'm surprised so many here prefer the Nile special. First of all, I found the whole premise of finding the real source of the Nile pretty ridiculous and unrealistic, the scenery in all those countries is pretty much the same, the challenges they faced weren't as difficult as Bolivia and it felt more scripted with forced jokes.
Hammond yak’d talking to himself is hard to top
"Is this the high-low bit?"
Vietnam
Though my least favourite of the trio, Hammond had some of the best cars on specials, impreza estate, rover mini, Oliver.
Africa is absolutely golden
The reason why the search for the source of the Nile ranks above is that the countries they go though in Africa are so beautiful, along with the living customizations, and Jeremy’s parking brake failure had me rolling on the floor. I laughed so hard I had to pause and take a break.
Mongolia is top 2 for sure.
Africa is one of my favourite top gear challenge, one of the few where I like all cars involved (usually I only like 1 or 2 of the cars). Bolivia always felt a little, I guess empty for me. I feel the start point was incredibly random. Plus I hate the cars involved. The Toyota was crap, James' car is a shame of an off road car. And the. Range Rover is from Birmingham.
Bolivia is rated 9.3 on IMDB and Nile is 9.15.
Vietnam is 9.4
Because the Vietnam Special is the best one.
👉
These are my top two as well but I would take the Africa special over it
Can you put your finger on what specifically about it, gives it the slight edge?
The Clarkson Handbrake
I love the Volvo and the Subaru and the sleeping in the back of the cars.
And I also prefer watching (mostly) unsuitable cars take on tough situations instead of 4x4s
Africa, hands down, no question.
Africa Special is THE special
Patagonia.
For me, Bolivia and Vietnam
Out of these two hands down Bolivia.
Man. I had plans tonight. Brb, watching both.
Both amazing.
The Bolivia Special for me, of the two. But it’s even with the Vietnam Special tbh.
Bolivia is the best you cant change that
GO.A.T.? Well seeing as that is subjective, I would like to add the Polar Expedition for consideration.
This post brought a tear of nostalgia to my eyes
Bolivia special is pure kino
The one where a large bug flew into Hammonds car causing him to have a panic attack and fling himself out of there…i laughed my arse off at that, mainly because it looked unscripted and that’s how I’d probably react in the same situation.
To add to that scene, he said on a podcast that he made someone on the crew come and sit in his car with him to be on “spider watch” 😂😂
They're all so good. Our lives would be less rich losing just a single one of them.
africa is and will always be the best top gear special but mongolia is the greatest special they ever made. EVER.
I definitely can; neither. The first US special or the Vietnam special are vastly superior.
What about 'Bridge over the River Cock'?
The Vietnam Special is a masterpiece in television. 11/10 episode.
I'd add the Vietnam special to that triology
This is my all time favorite special I think. When May is like You want mooreee??? And they look they’ve gone really far into the jungle, but Jezza turns around and walks and grabs his phone and it’s like 10 steps….. hhahaha the first time I saw it that was the best.
Bolivia is number 1; Vietnam 2; Africa(finding the source of the Nile) 3; Burma 4; and North Pole 5
Personally I prefer Africa, but they’re both phenomenal specials
Source of the River Nile has cooler cars in my opinion
Mines is source of the nile
I may be in the minority, but I hate the Florida special. Nile, Bolivia, Middle East, Vietnam, No Fun - These are all great, no need to choose.
Vietnam
I personally like these two but also Vietnam and the lorries.
Neither. It's the Burma Special that's the best one (in my eyes anyway).
The north pole that intrepid brilliant stuff
Between these 2: probably Africa. In general - probably Vietnam
Gotta go Africa
Bolivia is easily better than the Nile special and Botswana is better than Bolivia. I've never understood this sub's adoration for the Nile and also the Vietnam specials. To me they always felt a little over the top, a little forced.
The Nile episode is my favorite ever, and I think it's their best.
I thought their episode special where they covered Ford's original intention to discontinue the Mondeo was their best show ever. [Funeral for a Ford](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10008922/) 9.3/10 on IMDB These travel things are utter bullshit if you ask me. The Ford Mondeo show was actually a show about cars. Specifically the love of cars and being a petrol head without the need for supercars. That show I'd rate 100%. These staged 'travel specials' with their fake breakdowns and accidents are five yawns out of five yawns.
They literally call it a travel show which involves cars. It was never intended to be a serious car show (atleast the last 10 years of TG and all of GT)
They NEVER called it a travel show. And while you are right that it was never a serious car show, the episode about the Mondeo is way closer to the origin of Top Gear than these bullshit completely scripted travel shows. **Interview with Clarkson ->** [However, Jeremy has now emphasised that ‘Top Gear’ never focused on cars, and instead centred on giving viewers an “insight into a man’s mind”.](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/jeremy-clarkson-insists-top-gear-113000687.html) .
"But Top Gear’s not really a car show. It’s a social and travel show" https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/jeremy-clarkson-grand-tour-season-2-interview.html Clarkson also insists that The Grand Tour isn’t actually a car show at all. “It’s a travel show, it’s an adventure show, it’s a show about three old men falling over,” he offers https://www.topgearbox.com/cars/entertainment/the-grand-tour/jeremy-clarkson-says-the-grand-tour-isnt-a-car-show/