Cheap Car Challenges would 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 a £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
Extremely Cheap Cars
£100
Volvo 760 GLE
Rover 416 GTi
Audi 80 1.8E
Jeremy
Series 5, Episode 6
Cheap Porsches
£1,500
Porsche 928
Porsche 924
Porsche 944
Jeremy
Series 6, Episode 2
Cheap Coupes that Aren't Porsches
£1,500
Mitsubishi Starion
BMW 635CSi
Jaguar XJS
James (Jeremy Claimed Victory)
Series 7, Episode 4
Cheap Italian Supercars
£10,000
Maserati Merak
Ferrari 308 GT4
Lamborghini Urraco
None
Series 8, Episode 8
Cheap Vans
£1,000
Ford Transit
Suzuki Supercarry
LDV Convoy
Richard
Series 9, Episode 5
Tractors
N/A
JCB Fastrac 8250
Case STX Steiger 530
Fendt 930 Vario
None
Series 10, Episode 7
British Leyland
£1,200
Rover SD1
Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Austin Princess
James
Series 11, Episode 1
Police Car Challenge
£1,000
Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
Suzuki Vitara JLX
Lexus LS400
Richard
Series 11, Episode 3
Cheap Alfa Romeos
£1,000
Alfa Romeo 75
Alfa Romeo Spider
Alfa Romeo GTV
Jeremy
Series 11, Episode 5
Presenters own Luxury Cars
N/A
Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser
N/A
Rolls Royce Corniche Fixhead
Jeremy
Series 12, Episode 1
Cheap Lorries
£5,000
Renault Magnum
ERF EC11
Scania P94D
James
Series 13, Episode 2
Teenage Cars
£2,500
Volvo 940 Estate
Hyundai Scoupe
Volkswagen Golf
Jeremy
Series 13, Episode 5
RWD Cars
£1,500
Porsche 944 S2
Nissan 300ZX
Ford Capri 2.8 (Morris Marina)
James
Series 13, Episode 6
Pre-1982 Cars
£3,000
Austin-Healey Sprite
Lanchester LJ 200
Citroen Ami 8
James
Series 15, Episode 2
Track Day Sports Saloons
£5,000
Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth
BMW M3
Mercedes-Benz 190E Cosworth
James
Series 15, Episode 6
British Sports Cars
£5,000
Jensen-Healey
Lotus Elan
TVR S2
All
Series 16, Episode 4
4 Seater Convertibles
£2,000
BMW 325i (1988)
BMW 325i (1987)
BMW 325i (1989)
James
Series 17, Episode 3
Cheap Cars for the same price as a Nissan Pixo
£6,995
Mercedes-Benz CL600
BMW 850CSi
N/A
Both
Series 18, Episode 7
Rallycross Racers
N/A
BMW 328i
Citroen Saxo VTS
Toyota MR2
Richard
Series 21, Episode 1
Cheap Hot Hatches
£800
Volkswagen Golf GTi
Vauxhall Nova SRi
Ford Fiesta XR2i
All
Series 22, Episode 3
Cheap Ambulance Challenge
N/A
Porsche 944 Turbo
Chevrolet G20 Motorhome
Ford Scorpio Cardinal
Richard
Series 22, Episode 8
Classic Car Ownerships
N/A
Fiat 124 Spider
MGB GT
Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet
Richard
Series 22, Episode 8
Cheap SUV'S
£250
Vauxhall Frontera Sport RS
Jeep Cherokee
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 106 GTI
Peugeot 206 GTI
Renaultsport Clio 182 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
N/A
Vauxhall Chevette
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
N/A (Range Rover)*
McGuinness
Series 31, Episode 5
Cheap 70s First Drivers Cars
N/A
Lada Niva
MGB Sebring
Volkswagen Beetle
