http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12529-2522579,00.html

BMW 335i SE Coupé
Jeremy Clarkson, The Sunday Times
It’s damn clever, for a dog

Last summer, while you were on holiday, I was in the high desert of California tearing around a racetrack in a selection of powerful and exotic cars.
Each night I’d get to the bar in the hotel and relive some of the better moments from my day. The time when the Dodge Viper stuck a wheel on the gravel and made earthquake noises as I wrestled to regain control. The time when I executed a perfect power slide in a Corvette Z06. The time when I hit the ton in Ariel’s little Atom.

And then, the next morning, there’d be an all new selection of cars to drive, and that night an all new selection of he-man tittle-tattle. Then one day I arrived at the track to find, sitting in the early morning desert sunshine, a BMW Z4-M.

Oh dear. This was a bit like sending a food critic to the best restaurant in the world and presenting him with a Big Mac. It looked all wrong, parked among the Vipers and the Ferraris and the hyper-tuned Mustangs. It looked boring and grey. A Liberal Democrat in a sea of Monster Raving Loonies.

With a limp heart and not much enthusiasm I eased out onto the track and, with my mind in neutral, set off to slither about for the cameras.

The thing is, though, that after a short while it became screamingly obvious that despite the girl-next-door looks and the miserable 3.2 litres of homo-power, this car was head and shoulders above everything else I’d driven out there.

Where a Viper or a ’Vette shouts and waves its arms about, the little Beemer just gets on with the job of going fast and telegraphing messages to the seat of your pants and your fingertips, instantly and with no ambiguity at all. Out there in the desert, it was a sniper’s rifle in a field of howitzers and mortars.

We see this with a lot of BMWs. You may not like the people who drive them. You may not like the styling. You may not like the way they supported the Nazi war machine or what they did to Rover. You may have a million reasons why you would never buy such a thing — I know I have — but the simple truth remains: when it comes to the business of driving, they really are very good indeed.

Lots of cars, for instance, are fitted with antilock brakes, but the system fitted to a BMW is just better. It only cuts in when you are in real trouble, and not — as is usually the case with modern cars — far too prematurely.

And then there are the brakes themselves. We’ve often wondered on Top Gear why BMWs always set such fast lap times round our track. You look at the power. You look at the weight. And you can’t really see how it got round so quickly. The Stig always has the same answer. “It’s the brakes,” he says. In Martian.

Because they’re so good, and because the ABS doesn’t stumble into the equation when it’s not wanted, you can hit the middle pedal later than you would in any other car. And when you are against the clock, that makes a huge difference.

I would have to say though that in recent years some of the handling fizz has gone. A modern 3-series, for instance, is nowhere near as electrifying as a 3-series from, say, 1984. But that said it’s also less dangerous. You get a small hint of understeer to let you know that maybe you’re going a bit too quickly, and then a little yellow light on the dash to say that underneath it all the traction control system is working its magic on the rear end. In an old Beemer you were still grinning from ear to ear, completely oblivious to any danger, when you hit the tree.

And then of course we get to BMW’s engines. The V10 in the M5. The straight six in the M3. And — whisper it — their big diesel. Each has a remarkable knack of blending the need for speed with the peculiar need western man has developed for saving the sky.

Yes, of course, the 1-series is a ghastly little car with very little interior space, a boot the size of a matchbox and bread-van styling, but to drive it’s lovely. And it’s the same story with the 7-series, and even the Z4 hard top, which beneath that wart of a rear end is a honey. In fact, the only car in the whole BMW range that completely fails to float my boat is the 3-series.

Stung by criticism of the more avant-garde styling seen on other models, BMW took a step back with this car and ended up with 14ft of automotive wallpaper. It’s just a bonnet, a cockpit and a boot. And the last one I drove was more dreary than shopping for bathroom cleaning products.

I really wasn’t holding out much hope, therefore, for its coupé sister, the 335i.

As usual BMW claims that it’s an all-new car and that every panel is different from the saloon’s. But it still looks dull. You’d only really want to get inside it if you were being chased by an armed gang from Shining Path.

And then, when you did get inside, you’d want to get right back out again. In other coupés, from say, Alfa Romeo and Audi, you get all sorts of fancy bits and bobs, but not in the Beemer. Here you get exactly the same dash that you find in the saloon. It’s as dull and as featureless as the inside of a Cheeky Girl’s head.

At first glance, then, I could not — and would not — bring myself to buy this car. And certainly not for £33,420, which is a damn sight more than you’re asked to pay for a Mazda RX-8.

Yes, the rear seats in the BMW are as big as a sofa, and yes, the days when BMW made you pay extra for windows are gone. But even so, £33,420 for a car that doesn’t even look as good as a Hyundai? You’d have to be mad.

And there’s more to worry about, because although it says 335 on the back it doesn’t have a 3.5 litre engine. What you get instead is a 3 litre straight six, which is force-fed its diet of air by two small turbochargers.

On paper this sounds fine. Because they’re small, they don’t take an age to reach operating speed, which means there’s no turbo lag.


But because each one is feeding only three cylinders, you still have loads of power and loads of torque.

The worry is that BMW may have fallen into the same trap as Volkswagen, which tried a similar two-stage system on the Golf GT I reviewed recently. That didn’t work at all. It was horrid and jerky and pointless.

In the BMW, though, there are no problems at all. If you really, really concentrate you still cannot tell it’s turbocharged. Put your foot down and immediately there’s a meaty, almost diesel-esque shove in the back. But where a diesel would be out of puff after a moment or two, the Beemer just keeps on accelerating in a wall of subdued fury — for about nine and a half weeks.

This engine is little short of a masterpiece. There’s so much low-down grunt that even the BMW traction control system — a good one normally — is regularly woken from its electronic slumber by the wave of torque.

And of course it’s all fitted to a perfectly balanced chassis with the usual array of excellent steering, fine brakes and a nicely chosen balance between comfort and handling.

As a driver’s car, then, this is yet another winner. But I still wouldn’t buy one.

You need to think of it as a painting by the world’s greatest artist. Yes, the brush strokes are magnificent. Yes, the texture is superb. Yes, the perspective is world class and the detailing is better than you’d get from Leonardo.

But what he’s actually painted in this case is big dog turd.

Vital statistics
Model BMW 335i SE Coupé
Engine 2979cc, six cylinders
Power 306bhp @ 5800rpm
Torque 295 lb ft @ 1300rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel 29.7mpg (combined cycle)
CO2 228g/km
Acceleration 0-62mph: 5.5sec
Top speed 155mph
Price £33,420
Rating Three stars (out of five)
Verdict Nice motor, shame about the car



His original RX-8 article
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12529-1074073,00.html

Sorry, I forgot my decoder ring in my other pants. Where exactly does he say it's more fun than an RX-8?

Sorry, I forgot my decoder ring in my other pants. Where exactly does he say it's more fun than an RX-8?

Um....he doesnt.

He kinda, sorta implies that the RX8 is as fun a car for a lot less cash than a beemer. Which we already know. :eek:

This article clearly states the rx8 is a superior car to the 335i. Clearly.

Um....he doesnt.

He kinda, sorta implies that the RX8 is as fun a car for a lot less cash than a beemer. Which we already know. :eek:

Hey, whatever makes you happy.

This article clearly states the rx8 is a superior car to the 335i. Clearly.

Indubitably

Maybe I'm slow, but I don't know that you can draw any conclusions with respect to the RX-8 other than the BMW costs more. The single sentence leaves me with... huh???

Maybe I'm slow, but I don't know that you can draw any conclusions with respect to the RX-8 other than the BMW costs more. The single sentence leaves me with... huh???

The 335i costs more than a Fiat Uno too, but he didn't mention that. This is where a reader with skills beyond "see spot run" can use context and inference. Context; he clearly states that the 335i, as good as it is, is bland. Inference; using one's powers of deduction, most of us would remember that he described the 8 as anything but. And it's cheaper!

Simple really, decoder rings not needed.

What I got out of it is: He would buy the 8 before the BMW.

I love Jeremy Clarkson :D

I don't understand why people post these threads as though it's undeniable evidence that the RX-8 is better (whatever that means) just because some tv personality says so.

And the idea that a guy who lives in the windy roads of Europe where everyone and their mother (including the police) drive BMW's would prefer a RX-8 is absolutely no surprise at all.

At least the Top Gear video of the RX-8 review is entertaining. This article is redundant and not very useful.

I don't understand why people post these threads as though it's undeniable evidence that the RX-8 is better (whatever that means) just because some tv personality says so.

And the idea that a guy who lives in the windy roads of Europe where everyone and their mother (including the police) drive BMW's would prefer a RX-8 is absolutely no surprise at all.

At least the Top Gear video of the RX-8 review is entertaining. This article is redundant and not very useful.

Same reason people post when the 8 is left off of some list or put down elsewhere. Either way, I think it's a "story" when relaying the opinion of someone with cred. Clarkson, love him or hate him, is one of the most widely renowned auto scribes.

As for everyone having BMW's in Europe...huh? Only in the States can so many buy BMW's and sportcars. On the road prices, factoring in list price, taxes, insurance, gas, etc. is WAY higher proly everywhere else, and thats without factoring in lower average disposable incomes.

that guy just doesnt like German Cars... so he dumps on them every chance he gets

that guy just doesnt like German Cars... so he dumps on them every chance he gets

I could not disagree with this statement more! I've seen practically 90% of all the Top Gear videos and he frequently raves about German engineering not to mention how often he mentions how much he dislikes american cars because they are made so cheeply.

Irony is that he purchased a Ford GT and it broke on him after the 2nd day of ownership with an electrical problem. Seems that the GT's car alarm would not shut off. The car was repaired several times and I think he eventually got rid of it.

I could not disagree with this statement more! I've seen practically 90% of all the Top Gear videos and he frequently raves about German engineering not to mention how often he mentions how much he dislikes american cars because they are made so cheeply.

Irony is that he purchased a Ford GT and it broke on him after the 2nd day of ownership with an electrical problem. Seems that the GT's car alarm would not shut off. The car was repaired several times and I think he eventually got rid of it.

He makes fun of German engineering all the time and often refers to the cars as being soulless. He ended up getting a refund on his Ford GT but then turned around and bought it right back.

This thread fails

Really like the way he writes.

tooo much reading but all and all, ok

Top Gear is great and I like the banter between the hosts, but Jeremy Clarkson is kind of a douche. He does things like taking the opportunity to blast the US's handling of the Iraq war and the conduct of American soldiers while writing a review on the new Corvette.

I want the 5 mins I spent reading this thread back...

What I got out of it is: He would buy the Hyundai before the BMW.

There you go, I corrected it for you. :crazy:

wow. bimmer gets close to 30mpg! that's double the 8

He makes fun of German engineering all the time and often refers to the cars as being soulless. He ended up getting a refund on his Ford GT but then turned around and bought it right back.

Out of all the videos I saw I do not recal him ever mentioning they were souless. He did mention the BMW 335i was soulless in the article but thats it.

You could be right I just did not witness that from him.

Its funny though that he bought it again! Especially after they (co-hosts) made fun of him for even buying the car to begin with.

I want the 5 mins I spent reading this thread back...


I pinch! :hahano: :cwm27:

waste of a thread.....and I would love to have clarkson's job.

JC did not say 8 is better than 335i apart from the price... and we all know that the 8 isnt an expensive car to start with.

that guy just doesnt like German Cars... so he dumps on them every chance he gets
really, is that why he bought himself a merc sl55? and i think his wife drives a merc 4wd.

right, as well as recommending them over the maserati, calling them perfection over the arnage t etc etc etc, only thing he repeatedly dumps on if anything is silly Americans and how huge everything is here lol

wow. bimmer gets close to 30mpg! that's double the 8
:scratchhe Im getting 21-22. BTW the rx8 costs around $42,000 here(using the exchange rate of £1/$1.91)

You need to come over here then. Is that a reasonable price for a car? Over here 40K is kinda pricey for a car and puts you in BMW/Mecedes territory. do you all just get paid more and is everything that way?

Here's an interesting study:

How much are these things in England converted to dollars? (I am using approximate prices from my neck of the woods)
Gallon of milk -$2.29
loaf of bread -$1.50
Pound of coffee (I know you drink tea mostly but I don't know what it costs over here) $9.00
Frozen pizza in the supermarket -$5.00
Big Mac meal at McDonalds - $3.50

I could not disagree with this statement more! I've seen practically 90% of all the Top Gear videos and he frequently raves about German engineering not to mention how often he mentions how much he dislikes american cars because they are made so cheeply.
.


He raves about German engineering because its hard to argue with.... he'll say that the engine, suspension and the like are great but then he turns around and says it has no soul, and picks on people who drive German cars.... or he'll pick on the smallest of niggling issues and STAY on them for a long time..meanwhile he'll totally gloss over similar or bigger issues on an Aston.

You can tell hes just itching to totally trash them the first chance he gets...not really given much opportunity though

Wow... you Americans really don't get British humo(u)r at all..

Or maybe only the Borat and Benny Hill type.

The way he harps on the same issues all the time is really just a humo(u)r device which plays on sterotypes and running jokes... And he uses hyperbole a lot. Don't take him too seriously and get all analytical about everything he says.

Yes, you folks in the US pay relatively little for cars. Be thankful!

Wow... you Americans really don't get British humo(u)r at all..

Or maybe only the Borat and Benny Hill type.

The way he harps on the same issues all the time is really just a humo(u)r device which plays on sterotypes and running jokes... And he uses hyperbole a lot. Don't take him too seriously and get all analytical about everything he says.

Yes, you folks in the US pay relatively little for cars. Be thankful!


I'm not "American"

I really dont think thats humour.. sounds alot like personal opinion (which of course he is entitled to)... Hyperbole is funny, yes....but if running through the same hyperbole old jokes all the time is British humour.... then I pass....sooner or later, things get old

I wonder which continent Canada is on...

They're a part of British humour.. I never said they were the sole constituent elements. Anyway, a large part of the humour of funny folks like David Letterman and Howard Stern etc etc depend a lot on personal opinion too. Clarkson isn't funny to you only because you don't agree with him.

I think Clarksons' a riot and love his deadpan sarcasm. Let's see he hates: Americans, Germans, French. Sounds like he's still bitter about WWII. Seriously I think the stereotyping is great fun. Even with his America bashing episode he couldn't help but laugh like a maniac when driving the Roush Mustang and Viper so you know he's just being a scrooge about anything not British.

I wonder which continent Canada is on...

They're a part of British humour.. I never said they were the sole constituent elements. Anyway, a large part of the humour of funny folks like David Letterman and Howard Stern etc etc depend a lot on personal opinion too. Clarkson isn't funny to you only because you don't agree with him.


That does not make me "American" as many commonly use the term.

No actually I find alot of his humour quite funny... when its FRESH.. however if he's going to kill something to death... then no its not funny anymore

Yeah, it's kind of like calling a Scot English. Canadians are alot like em: rowdier, drink more, and talk funny. -J/k all:)

so you know he's just being a scrooge about anything not British.

Not quite true, Clarkson loves the Australian built Holden Monaro (Pontiac GTO / Vauxhall Monaro) - especially compared to something like the Chrysler 300SC.

But yeah, if he can leverage a stereotype to justify an opinion, he will.

Clarkson's an entertainer first and foremost, and increasingly less of a journalist all the time. Entertaining is a job he does extremely well-- delivering unbiased opinion, not so much.

Yeah, it's kind of like calling a Scot English. Canadians are alot like em: rowdier, drink more, and talk funny. -J/k all:)


hehe nice analogy

I wonder which continent Canada is on...

They're a part of British humour.. I never said they were the sole constituent elements. Anyway, a large part of the humour of funny folks like David Letterman and Howard Stern etc etc depend a lot on personal opinion too. Clarkson isn't funny to you only because you don't agree with him.
ah the international relations guy is here :smoker: .

somebody sounds bitter about humor :smoker:

You need to come over here then. Is that a reasonable price for a car? Over here 40K is kinda pricey for a car and puts you in BMW/Mecedes territory. do you all just get paid more and is everything that way?

Here's an interesting study:

How much are these things in England converted to dollars? (I am using approximate prices from my neck of the woods)
Gallon of milk -$2.29
loaf of bread -$1.50
Pound of coffee (I know you drink tea mostly but I don't know what it costs over here) $9.00
Frozen pizza in the supermarket -$5.00
Big Mac meal at McDonalds - $3.50

I don't drink tea, only coffee ;)
Pizza is around that price, the cheapest bread here is around $0.50 a loaf. Milk is double the prcie. Big mac meal $7.50, as for bmw/merc territory an M3 is $73,000 here(plus options)
BTW Canada is in North America, you are a North American. Just like England is in Europe. I am a european ;)

ah the international relations guy is here :smoker: .

somebody sounds bitter about humor :smoker:

Yeah.. humour is serious stuff, guys. Nothing to laugh about.

Now if you don't mind, I'm off to find a few Indian chaps just so that I can call them Pakistanis.. :Freak_ani

Clarkson's an entertainer first and foremost, and increasingly less of a journalist all the time. Entertaining is a job he does extremely well-- delivering unbiased opinion, not so much.Exactly! He's very funny and entertaining—a refreshing voice in the world of auto journalists. Like with most humor, if you take every word he says literally, you don't get it.

Yeah, it's kind of like calling a Scot English. Canadians are alot like em: rowdier, drink more, and talk funny. -J/k all:)

By rowdier you of course mean incredibly dull, right?

By rowdier you of course mean incredibly dull, right?


Thanks Ike

Thanks Ike

Toronto doesn't count as Canada ;)

Yeah it's part of Detriot...

BTW Canada is in North America, you are a North American. Just like England is in Europe. I am a european ;)

Yeah the Canadian's and Mexicans take offense because American tends to by synonomous with the U.S.A. They all come here to work anyway. -J/K :hahano:

So it sounds like just cars are morbidly expensive in England then. Glad to hear you guys don't have to spend you last dime on a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk. (maybe a big mac is a little pricey but you're better off) Are there extra taxes on cars that make them more expensive?

I just realized Jeremy Clarkson has the same first name as me.

That's pretty weird.

Toronto doesn't count as Canada ;)


Does that mean I gotta start drinking crappy beer? hehe

Does that mean I gotta start drinking crappy beer? hehe

It really means you gotta drop English and speak American, comment on stuff you know nothing about, buy a handgun 'cause man - you're paranoid, become patriotic beyond reason. Oh, and accept culture = football and fast food.

And yes, drink pissy bear 'cause that all they got in 90% of restaurants. :hahano:

It really means you gotta drop English and speak American, comment on stuff you know nothing about, buy a handgun 'cause man - you're paranoid, become patriotic beyond reason. Oh, and accept culture = football and fast food.

And yes, drink pissy bear 'cause that all they got in 90% of restaurants. :hahano:


Yeah, because Canadians are so cultured... Some of the parts of Canada I've been to make Deliverance seem like a Canadian documentary. There are more guns per capita in Canada than in the US. We can't help it that all of your professional sports leagues are a joke. Also, just because your idea of fine dining when you come to the US is Chilis doesn't mean you have a right to complain about the beer. We have a wider variety of beer than you do and as I pointed out in another thread, Canadians drink the same crap most Americans do. Best selling beer in Canada is Budweiser.

You're honestly not making a comment about the way we use the English language. Gotta, bear, that IS, huh?

Here we go.... :rolleyes:

:shooter: :rl:

Yeah it's part of Detriot...
Uh, I think you guys are mistaking Toronto for Windsor....

We have a wider variety of beer than you do

yeah but its all crap
;)

Yeah, because Canadians are so cultured... Some of the parts of Canada I've been to make Deliverance seem like a Canadian documentary. There are more guns per capita in Canada than in the US. We can't help it that all of your professional sports leagues are a joke. Also, just because your idea of fine dining when you come to the US is Chilis doesn't mean you have a right to complain about the beer. We have a wider variety of beer than you do and as I pointed out in another thread, Canadians drink the same crap most Americans do. Best selling beer in Canada is Budweiser.

You're honestly not making a comment about the way we use the English language. Gotta, bear, that IS, huh?

There you go again, cherry picking stats. All I know is that nearly half of all households (trailers?) in the States have a gun, we’re like half of that up here. And it’s rural shotgun owners here, hardly comparable to the land of the handgun where nearly every State allows citizens carry ‘em. No surprise that most of your murders involve firearms. Us? Only one third…for the rest we use hockey sticks!

Anyways, even though you started this, I don’t think you’d want to get into a debate of comparing the two countries on such issues like crime, or for that matter healthcare, education, racial tolerance, economic divides…

As for beer, yes our industry has been taken over and lately our consumption is shaped by supply (and promotion). Unfortunately, supply breeds demand, not the other way around in this case, so many more Canadians are drinking shity beer. Still, walk into most Canadian restaurants and you’ll get a beer list as long as your governments transgressions with facts. Most consumers here still demand it. Meanwhile, most restaurants in the States had a tiny selection of lousy American brands, obviously a problem with controlled product distribution. Hence this is where the shity American beer perception lies.

Just checked this thread for the first time in a few days. WTF does any of this have to do with the topic???

Ike, when you and I finally meet and have a few rounds, would you like me to pay for the Budweiser rounds, and you the Guinness?

Yeah, because Canadians are so cultured... Some of the parts of Canada I've been to make Deliverance seem like a Canadian documentary. There are more guns per capita in Canada than in the US. We can't help it that all of your professional sports leagues are a joke. Also, just because your idea of fine dining when you come to the US is Chilis doesn't mean you have a right to complain about the beer. We have a wider variety of beer than you do and as I pointed out in another thread, Canadians drink the same crap most Americans do. Best selling beer in Canada is Budweiser.

You're honestly not making a comment about the way we use the English language. Gotta, bear, that IS, huh?


There you go again, cherry picking stats. All I know is that nearly half of all households (trailers?) in the States have a gun, we’re like half of that up here. And it’s rural shotgun owners here, hardly comparable to the land of the handgun where nearly every State allows citizens carry ‘em. No surprise that most of your murders involve firearms. Us? Only one third…for the rest we use hockey sticks!

Anyways, even though you started this, I don’t think you’d want to get into a debate of comparing the two countries on such issues like crime, or for that matter healthcare, education, racial tolerance, economic divides…

As for beer, yes our industry has been taken over and lately our consumption is shaped by supply (and promotion). Unfortunately, supply breeds demand, not the other way around in this case, so many more Canadians are drinking shity beer. Still, walk into most Canadian restaurants and you’ll get a beer list as long as your governments transgressions with facts. Most consumers here still demand it. Meanwhile, most restaurants in the States had a tiny selection of lousy American brands, obviously a problem with controlled product distribution. Hence this is where the shity American beer perception lies.

ok you two break it up.... What started as playful joking around is turning into a fight.

we all have our own opinions...thats what makes the world go round.

now lets all join hands and sing "We are the world"

^ he started it :Kill2:

Ok, back on topic. Jeremy LOVES the RX8, "this one's the best" I think he said...

Well, all I know is, he likes the 8 more than the 350z.

There you go again, cherry picking stats. All I know is that nearly half of all households (trailers?) in the States have a gun, we’re like half of that up here. And it’s rural shotgun owners here, hardly comparable to the land of the handgun where nearly every State allows citizens carry ‘em. No surprise that most of your murders involve firearms. Us? Only one third…for the rest we use hockey sticks!

Anyways, even though you started this, I don’t think you’d want to get into a debate of comparing the two countries on such issues like crime, or for that matter healthcare, education, racial tolerance, economic divides…

As for beer, yes our industry has been taken over and lately our consumption is shaped by supply (and promotion). Unfortunately, supply breeds demand, not the other way around in this case, so many more Canadians are drinking shity beer. Still, walk into most Canadian restaurants and you’ll get a beer list as long as your governments transgressions with facts. Most consumers here still demand it. Meanwhile, most restaurants in the States had a tiny selection of lousy American brands, obviously a problem with controlled product distribution. Hence this is where the shity American beer perception lies.
Good points, but I think you're forgetting something...

USA! USA! USA!

I think I've made my point.

No surprise that most of your murders involve firearms. Us? Only one third…for the rest we use hockey sticks!


As if murder by some other method is somehow better?

I also love how other countries think we all live in trailers when we have the highest per-capita income of just about anybody.

Anyways, even though you started this, I don’t think you’d want to get into a debate of comparing the two countries on such issues like crime, or for that matter healthcare, education, racial tolerance, economic divides…


I made a silly joke, you started this. Mainly because you're dull and lack a sense of humor. But hey, at least you have free mediocre healthcare. :bowdown:

I made a silly joke, you started this. Mainly because you're dull and lack a sense of humor. But hey, at least you have free mediocre healthcare. :bowdown:


Ike dont add wood to the fire.

I'd rather have a free "mediocre" one that is just fine for most things than a great one that most people couldnt afford anyways.

Now thats enough.

lol

I'm a Canadian who is now an American... I was born in Toronto but now call New York City my home. Basically I came to make money but I ended up finding my wife here as. Although I love Toronto I plan on rooting my family in New York. Queens is plenty multicultural like Toronto - actually Queens is the most multicultural area in the world with residents speaking approximately 140 different languages. People are friendly once you present yourself well and I have yet to be shot at. However, I will say that people have no problem with bashing your car while parallel parking and leaving no note (okay I've bitched about this for too long). All in all, I'm falling into the ol' cliche of saying "I love New York".

I can go on and on but there are pros and cons to every place. As for living in places like Texas with all those fat people that voted for Bush - I don't know about that..... I mean I pray for that man to make great choices for this world but it's hard to watch him make so many blunders like Wed speech...

Let the political flames fly!

As if murder by some other method is somehow better?

I also love how other countries think we all live in trailers when we have the highest per-capita income of just about anybody.

No, No, you got it all wrong Homer.

Other countries think that America is a giant living embodiment of the Simpsons cartoons.

... and they would be pretty close to the truth.

America, for all its good and bad points, can be neatly summarised by the Simpsons.

(Oh, and Luxembourg and Norway have higher per capita incomes)

....

This is call Clarkson's fault....

....

This is call Clarkson's fault....

????

Speaking of Top Gear ...

"
Top Gear is currently off air - but it'll be back on our screens on January 28 at 8pm on BBC2.

If you find yourself having withdrawal symptoms, though, don't panic...
"

http://www.topgear.com/content/tgonbbc2/