Cheap Car Challenges are segments that usually involve the trio being given a certain amount of budget to buy a car before being set a number of challenges in finding out who had the best deal with regards to their purchase, the first being the £100 Car Challenge. Sometimes the challenges would usually involve the trio going against their producers in an attempt to prove that a certain type of car was superior. This segment was passed on during the transition to The Grand Tour.
The earliest execution of this idea dates back to presenter Jeremy Clarkson's 2000 home video release, At Full Throttle, which he presented with then-current Top Gear presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson. Tasked with modifying an older sports car for less than £5,000, Jeremy would purchase a 1979 Rover SD1 whereas Vicki would purchase a 1986 Vauxhall Nova Sport. They would then be tuned by tuning firms associated with their brands for less than the money the presenters had left, and would be raced against one another at the end of the video.
Top Gear (Clarkson-era)[]
| Episode | Challenge | Budget | Jeremy's Purchase | Richard's Purchase | James' Purchase | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 4, Episode 3 (23 May 2004) | Extremely Cheap Cars | £100 | 1988 Volvo 760 V6 GLE | 1991 Rover 416 GTi 16V | 1989 Audi 80 1.8E | Jeremy |
| Series 5, Episode 6 (5 December 2004) | Cheap Porsches | £1,500 | 1983 Porsche 928 | 1980 Porsche 924 | 1984 Porsche 944 | Jeremy |
| Series 6, Episode 2 (29 May 2005) | Cheap Coupes that Aren't Porsches | £1,500 | 1991 Mitsubishi Starion | 1983 BMW E24 635CSi | 1982 Jaguar XJS | James (Jeremy Claimed Victory) |
| Series 7, Episode 4 (4 December 2005) | Cheap Italian Supercars | £10,000 | 1974 Maserati Merak | 1979 (1983 reg) Ferrari 308 GT4 | 1974 Lamborghini Urraco | None |
| Series 8, Episode 8 (30 July 2006) | Cheap Vans | £1,000 | 1992 Ford Transit | 1994 Suzuki Supercarry | 1999 LDV Convoy box van | Richard |
| Series 10, Episode 7 (25 November 2007) | British Leyland | £1,200 | 1981 Rover SD1 3500 SE | 1974 Triumph Dolomite Sprint | 1978 Princess 2200 | James |
| Series 11, Episode 1 (22 June 2008) | Police Car Challenge | £1,000 | 1998 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo | 1994 Suzuki Vitara JLX | 1994 Lexus LS400 | Richard |
| Series 11, Episode 3 (6 July 2008) | Cheap Alfa Romeos | £1,000 | 1989 Alfa Romeo 75 3.0 V6 | 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 | 1996 Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 TwinSpark | Jeremy |
| Series 11, Episode 5 (20 July 2008) | Presenters' own Luxury Cars | N/A | 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser | N/A | 1972 Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixhead | Jeremy |
| Series 12, Episode 1 (2 November 2008) | Cheap Lorries | £5,000 | Renault Magnum | ERF EC11 | Scania P94D | James |
| Series 13, Episode 2 (28 June 2009) | Teenage Cars | £2,500 | 1994 Volvo 940 Estate | 1993 Hyundai Scoupe | 1994 Volkswagen Golf | Jeremy |
| Series 13, Episode 5 (19 July 2009) | Rear Wheel Drive Cars | £1,500 | 1991 Porsche 944 S2 | 1991 Nissan 300ZX | 1983 Ford Capri 2.8 (later the 1977 Morris Marina backup) | James |
| Series 13, Episode 6 (26 July 2009) | Pre-1982 Cars | £3,000 | 1969 Austin-Healey Sprite | 1953 Lanchester LJ 200 | 1977 Citroën Ami 8 Estate | James |
| Series 15, Episode 2 (4 July 2010) | Track Day Sports Saloons | £5,000 | 1989 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth | 1996 BMW E36 M3 | 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth | James |
| Series 15, Episode 6 (1 August 2010) | British Sports Cars | £5,000 | 1974 Jensen-Healey | 1994 Lotus M100 Elan | 1989 TVR S2 | All |
| Series 16, Episode 4 (13 February 2011) | 4 Seater Convertibles | £2,000 | 1988 BMW E30 325i | 1987 BMW E30 325i | 1989 BMW E30 325i | James |
| Series 17, Episode 3 (10 July 2011) | Cheap Cars for the same price as a Nissan Pixo | £6,995 | 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL600 | 1994 BMW E31 850Ci | N/A | Both |
| Series 18, Episode 7 (11 March 2012) | Rallycross Racers | N/A | 1996 BMW E36 328i | 1999 Citroën Saxo VTS | 1992 Toyota MR2 | Richard |
| Series 21, Episode 1 (2 February 2014) | Cheap Hot Hatches | £800 | 1989 Volkswagen Golf GTi | 1992 Vauxhall Nova SRi | 1992 Ford Fiesta XR2i | All |
| Series 22, Episode 3 (8 February 2015) | Cheap Ambulance Challenge | N/A | 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo | 1992 Chevrolet G20 Motorhome | 1996 Ford Scorpio Cardinal | Richard |
| Series 22, Episode 8 (28 June 2015) | Classic Car Ownerships | N/A | 1978 Fiat 124 Spider | 1972 MGB GT | 1974 Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet | Richard |
| Series 22, Episode 8 (28 June 2015) | Cheap SUVs | £250 | 1998 Vauxhall Frontera Sport RS | 1997 Jeep Cherokee | 2001 Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin | Jeremy |
Statistics[]
- James: 7 wins
- Jeremy: 6 wins
- Richard: 5 wins
- Shared: 2 wins
The Grand Tour[]
| Episode Title | Challenge | Clarkson's Purchase | Hammond's Purchase | May's Purchase | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Lessons | Cheap Maseratis | Maserati Biturbo S | Maserati 430 | Maserati Zagato Spyder | Northern France |
| Jaaaaaaaags | Reliable Jaguars | Jaguar XJR | Jaguar Mark X (Jaguar XJ6 Series III) | Jaguar XK8 Convertible (Jaguar XJS) | Colorado, United States |
| Chinese Food for Thought | Luxury Cars | BMW 750iL | Cadillac STS (Fulu) | Mercedes-Benz S600 | Chongqing, China |
| Well Aged Scotch | Italian Classic Investment | Alfa Romeo GTV6 | Fiat X1/9 | Lancia Gamma Coupe | Inverness, Scotland |
| Lochdown | American Luxury Cars | Lincoln Continental Mark V | Buick Riviera Boattail | Cadillac Coupe DeVille | Scotland |
| Lochdown | Terrible American Cars | Chrysler PT Cruiser | Chrysler Voyager | Pontiac Aztek | Scotland |
| Lochdown | Classic American Muscle Cars | Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 | Dodge Charger R/T | Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 | Scotland |
| Carnage A Trois | Weird French Cars | Citroen CX Safari | Matra Murena | Renault Avantime | Wales and England |
| Carnage A Trois | French Family Cars | Citroen Berlingo Multispace | Renaut Scenic | Peugeot 407 | Wales |
| Carnage A Trois | French Hot Hatchbacks | Peugeot 306 GTI | Peugeot 205 GTI | Renaultsport Clio 172 Cup | England |
Top Gear (2016+)[]
S23[]
| Episode | Challenge | Budget | Evans' Purchase | LeBlanc's Purchase | Schmitz's Purchase | Jordan's Choice | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 23, Episode 4 | Best Luxury Alternative to the Orient Express | £8,000 | Jaguar XJ Exec | Honda Gold Wing | Audi A8 | Venice-Simplon Orient Express | Jordan |
S24-26[]
| Episode | Challenge | LeBlanc's Purchase | Harris' Purchase | Reid's Purchase | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 24, Episode 1 | Most Reliable Car | Mercedes-Benz E Class | Volvo V70 | London Taxi | Reid |
| Series 24, Episode 6 | Best Sports Car for Cuba | N/A | Maserati Biturbo | Chevrolet Camaro | Harris |
| Series 25, Episode 3 | Best Japanese Sports Car | Nissan Skyline GTT | Mazda RX-7 | N/A | Harris |
| Series 26, Episode 4 | Best Cheap Luxury Car | Bentley Turbo R | Mercedes-Benz S600 | Rolls Royce Silver Shadow | All |
S27-Present[]
| Episode | Challenge | Budget | Harris' Purchase | McGuinness' Purchase | Flintoff's Purchase | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 27, Episode 1 | Best First Car | £4000 | Mini | Ford Escort Mk2 | Porsche Boxster | McGuinness |
| Series 27, Episode 2 | Creating Electric Cars | N/A | Triumph Spitfire (i3 Batteries) | Nissan Leaf (Modified) | Subaru Brat (Tesla Battery) | Flintoff |
| Series 27, Episode 4 | Best Underated Classic | £6000 | N/A | Matra Bagheera S | Austin Allegro Estate | Flintoff |
| Series 28, Episode 1 | Best Cheap Cabrios | £600 | Mercedes-Benz SLK | Ford Escort Cabriolet | Chrysler LeBaron | McGuinness |
| Series 28, Episode 3 | American Cars in Peru | £5000 | Dodge Dart | Modified Pontiac Firebird (Oldsmobile Cutlass) | Volkswagen Camper | Flintoff |
| Series 29, Episode 2 | Performance Insurance Write Offs | £6000 | Ford Focus RS | Porsche Cayman S | Maserati Quattroporte | All |
| Series 29, Episode 3 | Rental Cars in Cyprus | €30 | Kia Picanto | Ford Focus Cabriolet | Suzuki Jimmy | Harris |
| Series 30, Episode 1 | Cheap 70S Dad's Cars | N/A | BMW 3 Series E21 | Ford Fiesta MK1 | Ford Cortina MK4 | McGuinness |
| Series 30, Episode 4 | Cheap Mid-Life Crisis Cars | £8000 | Vauxhall Monaro | Ferrari F355/Toyota MR2 Kit Car | TVR Chimaera | Flintoff |
| Series 31, Episode 3 | Cheap British Rally Cars in Iceland | £2000 | Vauxhall Chevette | Rolls Royce Silver Shadow | N/A (Range Rover)* | McGuinness |
| Series 31, Episode 5 | Cheap 70s First Drivers Cars | £7000 | Lada Niva | MGB Sebring | Volkswagen Beetle | All |
Statistics
Pre-Harris era
- Evans and Schmitz: no wins
- LeBlanc: one win
- Harris: 2 wins
- Reid: 2 wins (tied with Harris)
Harris-era
- Harris: 3 wins*
- McGuiness: 6 wins*
- Flintoff: 6 wins*
Note: Harris-era needs to be updated up to current series.