Top Gear

- Season 2

(2003)

Cheap thrills are this week's theme. James May joins the team to bring some hot car buying tips. The Love/Hate Board is introduced. Former footballer turned Hollywood tough guy Vinnie Jones is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car. The team discuss the remake of The Italian Job, the Peugeot 206 Estate and a Toyota MR2 that has been dressed up to look like a Ferrari 355.

Luxury is this week's theme. Jeremy reviews the Rolls Royce Phantom. Richard drives the Queen's Rover P5, described as a classic "Gentleman's Club on Wheels". Jeremy compares the BMW M3 with the Audi S4, and The Stig takes both cars on a lap around the test track. Politicians from different parties compete for a safe seat when they take an MG ZR for a lap around the test track. Jamie Oliver is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car, and he has rival chef Gordon Ramsay in his sights.

Bad cars are this week's theme. Jeremy, Richard and James discuss with the audience the worst car on sale in Britain, and prove that you can spend a lot of money and buy rubbish. In the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest, cars from Great Britain, the United States, Italy, Germany, France and Japan compete in a quarter-mile race to find out which country makes the fastest supercar. Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul is the first American to be the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car, and Jeremy wears a cardigan while interviewing him.

Jaguars are this week's theme. Jeremy tests the new XJR and sets himself a challenge to see how long he can drive it before he becomes bored. James drives a C-Type from the 1950's and tells a yarn from the 1953 Le Mans 24 hour race. Richard looks back at the 1960's Mark II. British Member of Parliament Boris Johnson is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

Blokes are this week's theme. The Ford World Rally Championship pit crew compete against four Pirelli girls to see if a gearbox or womens' outfits are quicker to change. James looks at the Daihatsu Copen, Ford Street Ka and Triumph TR6 when he finds out if a bloke can get away with driving soft-top convertibles or if they are really girls' cars. As an antidote from all of the testosterone, Anne Robinson is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

Speed is this week's theme. Jeremy goes to Scotland to compare the Subaru Impreza to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII. Richard takes a Peugeot 206 GTi 180 to a track day to find out if it can do justice to its predecessor, the 205 GTi. The Stig drives an Ariel Atom 2, a Caterham R400, a Lotus Elise Sport, a Radical SR3 and a Westfield XTR2 around the test track to see which would be the fastest car to take to a track day. James attempts to break the speed record for towing a caravan. Richard Whitely is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

Safety is this week's theme. Richard drives a Renault Megane and tests its claim to be the safest family car you can buy by getting a real driver to crash it into another car on the test track, and puts a Talon riot control vehicle through its paces. The team reveal the results of the Euro NCAP program from crashing cars including a Renault Megane, a Ford Fiesta and a Land Rover Freelander into concrete barriers. Neil Morrissey is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

Fun is this week's theme. James and Richard test the latest VW New Beetle, Citroen Pluriel, Mercedes CLK, Daihatsu Copen and Audi Cabriolet. Jeremy puts the Nissan 350Z through its paces. James explains why he thinks the Citroen DS is his greatest car. A Dalek, a Klingon, a Cyberman, Ming the Merciless, the Doctor and Darth Vader drive a Honda Civic around the test track to see who is the Master of the Universe. Supermodel Jodie Kidd is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

The future is this week's theme. Jeremy finds a novel way to drive the new Vauxhall Signum while still enjoying its best features. James travels to Germany to test the General Motors Hywire concept car. Jeremy and Richard take a look at the part-car, part-motorcycle Vandenbrink Carver. Patrick Stewart makes it so when he is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.

Tuned cars was intended to be this week's theme. Richard compares two British shed-built super-cars, the TVR T350C, which he races against a Harrier Jump Jet, and the Noble M12. Jeremy reviews Volkswagen's first ever high-end luxury saloon, the Phaeton W12, as well as the Overfinch 580S. James finds out if the Cadillac Sixteen can help the company reverse its market woes. Five disabled drivers drive a modified Toyota on a lap of the test track. Alan Davies is the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car.