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Top Gear

S12 E4
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Season 12  "Economy Run"  12x4

Aired 15 years ago - Nov 23, 2008

Jeremy, Richard and James are challenged to drive from the heart of Switzerland to the north-western coast of England on just one tank of fuel, with the winner switching on the Blackpool illuminations. James also power tests the Pagani Zonda F Roadster, and the Stig sets a lap time in the Bugatti Veyron. Grand Designs presenter Harry Enfield is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

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Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 1
And my eyeballs are back in the correct position on the front of my face.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 2
Pagani is still very much here still today, getting up Ferrari's nose.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 3
TYRES SCREECH
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 4
Since I'd got my eye in with the Zonda, I took that.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 5
I wasn't kidding. I do actually mean it.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 6
I think it was that you stepped out of the Panda, into the Zonda,
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 7
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 8
No, really, apart from being given one, I can't think of a reason.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 9
What sort of band are those kids in?
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 10
Thank God for that.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 11
It's like people that say you've got to eat natural yoghurt because it's good for you.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 12
First one there would get their name in the history books.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 13
Yes, it's a big four-wheel-drive estate, but it has a large fuel tank which gives good range.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 14
How many miles per gallon...? You see, this is a VW Polo... We know what it is!
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 15
Well, theoretical range, 706 miles.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 16
But what if you need one of these? What if you need a wishbone?
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 17
looking forward to 17 hours of mental arithmetic.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 18
but there's fewer hills
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 19
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 20
I had to use my brakes, and then I've got to accelerate again, which uses more fuel.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 21
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 22
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 23
The only problem was boredom, and that was made worse by a phone call from James.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 24
So, I'm gonna spend a bit more fuel- to get there on time.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 25
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 26
But now, if you've always fancied a supercar
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 27
Because that, they've got a supercar, 911 nose on the front,
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 28
Which is? Which is that when I came- on, I did the round in the car,
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 29
LAUGHTER
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 30
Clarkson Island has the greatest number of Clarksons in the world.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 31
You're coming too soon, Enfield.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 32
what we want to do and we'll find it funny, and I think it sort of helped our relationship, too.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 33
Prince Harry, Prince whatever he's called, the other one. William.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 34
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 35
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 36
There you go, ladies and gentlemen.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 37
Jeremy meanwhile had decided the whole thing was impossible.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 38
as once again we'd all chosen different routes.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 39
Our man on the ground was preparing by having an afternoon nap.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 40
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 41
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 42
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 43
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 44
Since Birmingham, neither had I.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 45
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 46
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 47
How you kept that... I thought, there's no way he can do it.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 48
OK, I did make the mistake of going too slowly, but nevertheless, I got 63 miles to the gallon out of that.
 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 49
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 50
Right, now the Stig can really wind up all 16 cylinders, all four turbos, all 987 horsepower.

Or scroll and see one by one:

Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 2
Pagani is still very much here still today, getting up Ferrari's nose.
#2 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 3
TYRES SCREECH
#3 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 4
Since I'd got my eye in with the Zonda, I took that.
#4 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 5
I wasn't kidding. I do actually mean it.
#5 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 6
I think it was that you stepped out of the Panda, into the Zonda,
#6 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 7 #7 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 8
No, really, apart from being given one, I can't think of a reason.
#8 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 9
What sort of band are those kids in?
#9 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 10
Thank God for that.
#10 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 11
It's like people that say you've got to eat natural yoghurt because it's good for you.
#11 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 12
First one there would get their name in the history books.
#12 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 13
Yes, it's a big four-wheel-drive estate, but it has a large fuel tank which gives good range.
#13 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 14
How many miles per gallon...? You see, this is a VW Polo... We know what it is!
#14 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 15
Well, theoretical range, 706 miles.
#15 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 16
But what if you need one of these? What if you need a wishbone?
#16 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 17
looking forward to 17 hours of mental arithmetic.
#17 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 18
but there's fewer hills
#18 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 19 #19 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 20
I had to use my brakes, and then I've got to accelerate again, which uses more fuel.
#20 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 21 #21 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 22 #22 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 23
The only problem was boredom, and that was made worse by a phone call from James.
#23 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 24
So, I'm gonna spend a bit more fuel- to get there on time.
#24 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 25 #25 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 26
But now, if you've always fancied a supercar
#26 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 27
Because that, they've got a supercar, 911 nose on the front,
#27 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 28
Which is? Which is that when I came- on, I did the round in the car,
#28 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 29
LAUGHTER
#29 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 30
Clarkson Island has the greatest number of Clarksons in the world.
#30 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 31
You're coming too soon, Enfield.
#31 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 32
what we want to do and we'll find it funny, and I think it sort of helped our relationship, too.
#32 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 33
Prince Harry, Prince whatever he's called, the other one. William.
#33 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 34 #34 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 35 #35 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 36
There you go, ladies and gentlemen.
#36 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 37
Jeremy meanwhile had decided the whole thing was impossible.
#37 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 38
as once again we'd all chosen different routes.
#38 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 39
Our man on the ground was preparing by having an afternoon nap.
#39 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 40 #40 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 41 #41 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 42 #42 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 43 #43 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 44
Since Birmingham, neither had I.
#44 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 45 #45 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 46 #46 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 47
How you kept that... I thought, there's no way he can do it.
#47 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 48
OK, I did make the mistake of going too slowly, but nevertheless, I got 63 miles to the gallon out of that.
#48 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 49 #49 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 4 (S12E04) - 50
Right, now the Stig can really wind up all 16 cylinders, all four turbos, all 987 horsepower.
#50