Top Gear (series 5)

Top Gear (series 5)
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 9
Release
Original network BBC Two
Original release 24 October (2004-10-24) – 26 December 2004 (2004-12-26)
Series chronology

The fifth series of Top Gear aired during 2004 and consisted of 9 episodes, beginning on 24 October and concluding on 26 December. The series was subsequently followed by a "Best Of Top Gear" special, which aired on January 2, 2005, and charted the best moments from Series 4 and 5.

Episodes

Total No. Title Reviews Features Guest Original air date UK viewers
(million)[1]
401Series 5, Episode 1Porsche 911 Carrera SCan an ice cream van jump a bouncy castle? Best Muscle Car on sale (Vauxhall Monaro VX-R • Chrysler 300C • Jaguar S-Type R)Bill Bailey24 October 2004 (2004-10-24)3.35
The trio return to Pendine Sands to see which is more fun to drive - from Australia, the Vauxhall Monaro VXR; from America, the Chrysler 300C; from Britain, Jaguar S-Type R. Meanwhile, an ice cream van attempts to jump over four bouncy castles, Clarkson spots similarities of the old school in the Porsche 997 Carrera S and finds out if he has to honor a bet about the look of the Vauxhall Astra, and comedian Bill Bailey heads out on the test track in the Liana.
412Series 5, Episode 2Ford Focus • Vauxhall Astra • Volkswagen Golf • Jaguar XJ220 • Pagani Zonda • Enzo Ferrari • Ferrari F40 • McLaren F1 • Porsche Carrera GTMountainboarder versus a rally carGeri Halliwell31 October 2004 (2004-10-31)3.81
A trio of old supercars, the Jaguar XJ220, the McLaren F1, and the Ferrari F40, are put through their paces by Clarkson as he compares them to three new ones - the Pagani Zonda, the Porsche Carrera GT, and the Enzo Ferrari. Meanwhile, Hammond has a go in a Ford Focus, a world champion all-terrain skateboarder is pitted against a Group N Mitsubishi rally car and a Bowler Wildcat, and Geri Halliwell finds herself as the latest star in the Liana to tackle a wet track.
423Series 5, Episode 3Dodge Viper SRT-10Drive a Land Rover Discovery to the top of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain in Scotland • Find the craziest car in the world • Top Gear survey 2004 resultsJoanna Lumley7 November 2004 (2004-11-07)4.41
There's a search for the world's maddest car, and Hammond thinks he can find it with a specialist car maker in Switzerland and the Rinspeed Splash. Meanwhile, Jeremy finds love in the engineering of the Dodge Viper SRT10, and tries to see if a car can drive up a mountain in Scotland - more specifically, a Land Rover Discovery. Finally, Joanna Lumley is the latest star to do a lap in the Liana.
434Series 5, Episode 4Pagani Zonda S Roadster • Aston Martin Vanquish S • Ferrari 575M Maranello24 hours in a Smart Forfour • Playing conkers with caravans.Jimmy Carr • Steve Coogan14 November 2004 (2004-11-14)4.44
A Pagani Zonda S Roadster is put through its paces on the track, while Clarkson sees how good the The Aston Martin Vanquish S is when he tests it in a race against Steve Coogan in a Ferrari 575M GTC. Meanwhile, Hammond and May find out if you could truly love the Smart Forfour by spending 24 hours within it, before having a game of conkers with caravans, while Jimmy Carr proves himself to be the luckiest but worst driver in the Liana when he tries to put in a lap time on the test track.
445Series 5, Episode 5Morgan Aero 8 GTN • Mercedes-Benz 300SLPeople carrier racing • Break 10:00 around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a diesel carChristian Slater • Sabine Schmitz21 November 2004 (2004-11-21)4.69
Clarkson prepares to see if he can get a diesel Jaguar S-Type, around the Nürburgring in under ten minutes, while the Morgan Aero 8 GTN prepares to be given a thorough workout on the track. Meanwhile, Hammond decides to start a new race series for people carriers, and actor Christian Slater talks about being in a real police chase and driving a Hybrid before taking the Liana for a lap.
456Series 5, Episode 6Volkswagen Golf V GTIHow much Porsche can you get for £1500? Porsche 924, Porsche 944, Porsche 928 • Blind man doing a power lapCliff Richard • Billy Baxter5 December 2004 (2004-12-05)4.87
The presenters find themselves each buying a Porsche for £1500 and putting them through a series of tests to see who got the best deal - Hammond tries his luck with a Volkswagen van-engined 924, May puts his hopes in a 2.5 litre 4-cylinder 944, and Clarkson struggles with a broken-down 928. Meanwhile, Clarkson finds out how good the Volkswagen Golf V GTI and compares it with some of its main rivals, before helping army veteran and blind land speed record holder Billy Baxter to set a lap on the track with the Liana, something Cliff Richard doesn't need when he tries to set a lap himself.
467Series 5, Episode 7Toyota Prius • Ford Mustang • Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ400 vs a Lamborghini • Top Gear Awards 2004A four-door Evo goes head-to-head with a Lamborghini. Top Gear Awards 2004Roger Daltrey12 December 2004 (2004-12-12)3.39
Clarkson finds out how good the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ400, by having it take on the Lamborghini Murciélago driven by British touring cap champion, James Kaye, before finding out how good a hybrid car the Toyota Prius is. Meanwhile, there's a contest between the Porsche Boxster and the Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, Hammond takes the Ford Mustang on a "road trip" of the A15, the Top Gear Awards for 2004 are announced, and lead singer of The Who, Roger Daltrey, tries to drive fast in the Liana on a mildly moist track.
478Series 5, Episode 8Ferrari 612 ScagliettiEpic race: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti vs Jet Plane to Verbier • Showroom cars vs old race cars • Mitsubishi Evo vs bobsleigh • The Stig attempts a sub-1:00 power lap of the test track in a Renault F1 carEddie Izzard19 December 2004 (2004-12-19)5.06
It's time for another race, as the car faces public transport, this time in the form of an airliner plane. While Calrkson attempts to reach a ski resort hotel in Verbier in a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Hammond and May hope to beat him with an airline flight and Swiss trains. Meanwhile, there are more races as classic racers go up against showroom cars, Hammond works with a professional bobsleigh team to see if they can beat May in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Fernando Alonso's Formula 1 Renault R24 is on the test track to see if it can get round in under a minute, and comedian Eddie Izzard is the latest star in the reasonably priced car.
489Series 5, Episode 9Ariel Atom • BMW 1 Series • Mercedes-Benz G55 AMGFind a 'pearl' among a collection of cars from the Pacific RimTrinny Woodall • Susannah Constantine26 December 2004 (2004-12-26)3.30
There are cars galore, as a company in Somerset sees how well their Ariel Atom fares in the hands of Clarkson, while Hammond finds out how good the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG is offroad and in the urban scene, and the pair see which is the best hot hatchback for the 21st century - the Ford Fiesta ST150 or the Citroen C2 VTS. Elsewhere, May tests out the BMW 1-series, there's a comparison of cars from the Pacific Rim (specifically Malaysia and Korea), and Trinny and Susannah find out who is the fastest in the Liana.

Best-of episodes

Total No. Title Feature Original air date
S4CEThe Best Of Top Gear: 2004 #2Best Moments from Series 4-52 January 2005 (2005-01-02)
A look back at the best moments from Series 4 and 5, including Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Joanna Lumley's laps, Hammond and May's minicab challenge, and the visit to the Pendine Sands with the Vauxhall Monaro, Chrysler 300C, and Jaguar S-Type R.

References

  1. ↑ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.
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