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Cheap Porsche Challenge is a second cheap challenge that was featured in the sixth episode of the fifth series of Top Gear UK. It involves the presenters to purchase cheap Porsche with £1,500.

Challenge synopsis[]

The presenters were each given the said money and told to buy any Porsche they liked. Jeremy bought a 1983 Porsche 928, Hammond bought a 1980 Porsche 924 and James bought a 1984 Porsche 944.

Challenge 1 - Car condition[]

The first challenge, there be driven from London to Brighton. The points deduct each time the bonnet's up. James' 944 gets a puncture and Jeremy's 928 breaks down seven times due to overheating and leaking.

Challenge 2 - Advertisement[]

On next challenge, the presenters were task making ads that mentioned their cars in a lonely hearts column and would gain 5 points for each reply. James received 3 replies, Richard received none and Jeremy, who placed his ad in a “Men seeking Men” column, received 2 replies. 

Challenge 3 - Modification and Power Laps[]

After their making advertisement, the presenters were told to spend the change from the £1,500 they spent on their cars to modify and improve them, with their modifications being judged by a member of the Porsche Owners Club. Upon after a disappointed judging their modification. The Stig have to lap the three cars, points deduct for every second over 1:35 and gain a point for every second under. Jeremy's 928 did it in 1:45, James' 944 did it in 1:43 and Richard's 924 did it in 1:44.

Challenge 4 - Skid marking[]

On fifth challenge, each car should try to make the longest skid marks when setting off, making a number 11 on the track. James' 944 makes a 31ft long eleven and Richard's 924 makes a 35ft long eleven. Jeremy, though, because his car could not make a smoking start, made random marks on the road and claimed it was a Chinese number 11.  

Challenge 5 - Resale[]

In the sixth and final challenge, they had to sell their cars and would lose 1 point for each £1 under the original price of £1,500 and gain 1 point for each £1 over. Richard failed to sell his 924 which resulted in him recieving -1500pts and put him out of the running. James and Jeremy meanwhile we're successful in selling their cars with James managing to sell his car for £1,400 (£500 more than what he paid for the car) & dispite his car being the worst Jeremy managed to sell his 928 for £1,800. This being as he didn't sell it as a car, but as a spares donor. He succeeded in selling parts including the wings and doors earning £1,200 in total but was still short of £1,500 so he turned the seats and the V8 engine into chairs and a table, he succeeded in selling these for £600 (this resulted in him paying back the entire amount he spent on the car but made a £300 profit). 

Trivia[]

  • This is the first and only time one of the presenters laugh during their commentary, in this case, is Jeremy. During when James saw his ruined engine after the lap times, Jeremy laughed when he was doing his commentary.

Verdict[]

Jeremy wins the challenge.

Presenter Porsche Bonnet Up Fuel Lonely Hearts Elevenses Lap Concours Sell Total
Jeremy 928 -35 -90 10 0 -10 3 300 178
James 944 -5 0 15 15 -8 10 -100 -73
Richard 924 0 10 0 20 -9 8 -1500 -1471
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