Demolition Derby of Top Gear Filming Terrifies Car Companies

If there's a chapter where the Australian series of Top Gear makes no compromise, that's damage. Filming of the well-known show has definitely changed into a real demolition derby, totaling almost $200,000 repair costs. The high numbers have shocked car companies who don't seem enthusiastic about the exaggerated damage.

“We have no appetite for automotive Jackass" the spokesman for one of the damaged brands made it clear. Why would they encourage it given that luxury cars required total re-sprays due to the flying stones and lesser brands complained about the damage made for the SBS TV series, which is unofficially confirmed for a second series in Australia in 2009?

What's more striking, the most expensive repairs were necessary for a Lamborghini thought to have sustained about $25,000 damage during the show and some Holden Astras that needed $30,000 to be restored after they were used in a game of “lawn bowls.” Keeping that in mind, no surprise Holden spokeswoman, Kate Lonsdale complained about the Astra bowls stunt: "All we will say is that it turned out to be a very expensive test drive."

Wild stunts and eager driving might be entertaining but the bill of repairs goes far beyond what car companies would have expected. Unfortunately, the Top Gear team isn't satisfied with some bald tires from slides and burn-outs. Or is it just the eternal race for audience? No matter the case, at least as far as the damaged brands are concerned "when they revisit series two, they will encounter a lot of shut doors" said another spokesman for one of the affected brands. Looks like Australian Top Gear team should pay more attention to the tricky stunts in case they still want to have what to drive...