The Truth Exposed: A ‘Dimwitted’ Gearbox, an ‘Odd’ Steering Wheel, and Clarkson’s Deep Disappointment
A car anticipated for over a decade, yet within minutes behind the wheel, Jeremy Clarkson – the iconic figure of motoring television – bluntly declared his disappointment. From a gearbox dismissed as “dimwitted” to a steering wheel branded “odd,” and even down to details as trivial as the sun visor and the fuel gauge, everything became evidence of an unfiltered frustration. Was this fearless honesty, or merely another dramatic outburst in true Clarkson fashion?
Expectations crushed by reality
Clarkson had long awaited the moment he could finally drive this car. Yet the excitement evaporated almost instantly as he concluded it failed to live up to expectations. “I just don’t like it,” he announced, setting the tone for what would become a barrage of criticism.
A ‘dimwitted’ gearbox and an ‘odd’ steering wheel
At the heart of Clarkson’s discontent was the driving experience itself. The gearbox, he argued, was “dimwitted” – sluggish and unresponsive. The steering, he declared, was “odd” – imprecise, lacking the trust and feel that any true driver demands. For Clarkson, who views the driving sensation as the very soul of a car, such flaws were unforgivable.
Small details spark big disputes
Not content with the fundamentals, Clarkson turned his fire on the details. The sun visor was dismissed as “flimsy,” while the satnav was ridiculed as a hand-me-down from a Honda Civic. The fiercest debate, however, erupted over the fuel gauge: Clarkson insisted the needle was off-centre, Hammond disagreed, and James May chimed in with a technical theory of his own.
Clarkson’s hallmark style: honesty or provocation?
This was far from Clarkson’s first controversial broadside. Renowned for his bluntness, he has built a career on challenging conventions and sparking outrage. To some, this is the refreshing candour the automotive press needs; to others, it is simply the well-worn act of a man who thrives on provocation.
When the truth cuts deep
Regardless of one’s opinion of Clarkson’s methods, his criticisms raise an uncomfortable question: is the car industry becoming too obsessed with image and flashy technology at the expense of the driver’s core experience?
Clarkson’s disappointment, in the end, may be more than personal frustration. It could be a stark reminder: a car, flawless on paper, can still collapse entirely in the eyes of the driver.
