Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip

Hammond & Jeremy decide to head for the perfect road trip from Venice to Pau (where the first Grand Prix was held). On the way each of them will select the perfect mode of transport for that leg of the journey. Jeremy starts with the Mercedes AMG SLS, while Hammond selects the Ferrari F12. Jeremy reckons that in Victorian times people would come to Venice for a grand tour, and the SLS is the ultimate grand tour. Hammond disagrees as F12 is better. 622 BHP for Merc vs 730 for Ferrari.The Ferrai has a double clutch auto gear box that is customized by a Ferrari computer to deliver a surge of power, every-time the gear changes. The body is sculpted to deliver the maximum down-force possible. The Merc had been earlier designing SLS to deliver raw power and maximum torque, which gave the impression of this tarmac tearing force every-time you put foot to the pedal. Now the engine power has been refined to deliver more speed and 11 less torque.Jeremy takes a detour through the Italian lakes. As the roads became more twisty, the 730 BHP on the Ferrari became too much to handle. At their overnight rest stop Hammond discusses the overpriced options list for the Ferrari with Jeremy. The next morning the duo heads to the Monza Grand Prix track and Hammond chooses the Pagani Viara. Jeremy chooses a Porsche Cayenne S. While the Pagani is loads faster, Jeremy reckons the Porsche is perfectly designed for speed and handling that allows him to enjoy the drive at a nice clip. The Pagani has a 6.3 L V12, while the Porsche has a 3.4 L flat V6. The Pagani's interiors are crafted (not Moulded) from aluminum. The gear shaft is made of 70 components. The Porsche's seats are a bit cramped. Hammond does the track in 2:15. Jeremy gets Stig to drive the car, who does a 2:13 in the Porsche.As the guys leave Monza to go to Nice, Jeremy chooses the hot hatchback VW Golf GTI, 2 L turbo engine, 220 BHP, with an amazing front diff that allows you to navigate tight corners with consummate ease. Hammond says that Golf is an all-rounder & hence by definition compromised.The Ford Fiesta ST is the pure essence of a hatchback.The guys reach Monte Carlo, where you can be a drug dealer, but cannot drive around in a Ford and a VW. They switch. Hammond goes for Lamorgini Avantador Roadster. Jeremy chooses the Bugati Veyron, 8 L quad cam, top speed 251 mph. Monte Carlo is the snobbiest place on earth that makes LA look like North Korea. And here valet parking is an issue as no matter how good a car you turn up in, some one else is bound to turn up in something nicer & the valets will take your car to the back end multi story car park. They take up a challenge to show up in a car that the valets wont take to the multi story car park overnight. Hammond & Jeremy show up in a 1914 model T Ford, with the idea that if they had a difficult time driving it, then the valets simply wont be able to take it away. They are right :).Towards the French Riviera next and Hammond picks the Jaguar E Type 1962 series 1 roadster, 3.8 L straight 6. Jeremy picks the Jaguar V8, F type, which is faster, better, more comfortable, more air conditioned & cheaper than the E type, even though it costs 86,000 pounds. Jeremy stops for lunch at a seaside eatery & Hammond cant eat octopus. The 2 set off for a stroll around a topless beach & then get a move on.The guys decide to race to St Tropez, with the loser having to wear a "I love James May" t shirt for the whole day, next day. Hammond chooses a Ducati Diavel motorcycle, 1200 cc engine V2, 162 BHP, top speed 70 mph, 0-60 in 2.5 secs same as a Bugati Veyron. Jeremy takes a speed boat, 32 L twin turbo charged V12. Jeremy beats Hammond again & he has to wear the T shirt. For the next stage, they bot chose the same car a convertible Bentley & there is only one. So Hammond & Jeremy go around St Tropez in a convertible Bentley, looking like a couple of poofs. Jeremy stops at the waterfront & the car is towed away, which he gets back after 2 hrs. The car has a 4 L V8, with a good engine & a good 4 wheel transmission. It looks good, but still has that quality that makes you embarrassed to turn up in it.Hammond convinces Jeremy to do some French rally driving in a convertible. Hammond gets a Nissan 350 Z, 3.5 L v6, 276 BHP, rear wheel drive & a direct descendant of the Datsun 240Z, the car which owned the world rally circuit. Jeremy gets a BMW convertible, 2.5 L straight 6, 192 BHP. They make modifications to convert their cars into rally cars. Jemery hates the rally driving & bets Hammond that if he beats him, they would leave immediately. Jeremy then takes a short cut to reduce the lap time to 28 secs in comparison to Hammonds 1:17.From there the guys leave for the last leg to Pau. Jeremy takes a V12 Aston Martin Vanquish. Hammond picks a Porsche 991, which is longer & wider than the previous 911 and for the first time an electric steering. The Porsche 991 ends up disappointing Hammond & The Aston Martin delights Jeremy. The guys change cars for the race at Pau. Hammond goes for Porsche 911 GT3. Jeremy picks the single seat VAC Inono. Before they can get to Pau, they are arrested by the French police for driving without permits & have to go back to London seeking lifts