The WORST episodes of Top Gear (1978)

#1 - Episode 14

Season 40 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/10/1998

Back in the seventies the BMW 3.0, Fiat 130 and Peugeot were the coupes to be seen in-glamorous, rare and expensive. Steve Berry learns what made these models the must-haves of days gone by, while Quentin Wilson drives the new, high-tech Mercedes Benz S Class.

#2 - Episode 6

Season 40 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/1998

Owing to concerns over safety the Mercedes A-class was withdrawn shortly after its launch earlier this year. Jeremy Clarkson test-drives the new, modified version. On a weekend break, Vicky Butler-Henderson gets to drive a Formula One car.

#3 - Episode 7

Season 40 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/22/1998

Featuring reports from the British International Motor Show in Birmingham. Rover are hoping to steal the limelight with the 75, their first new car since BMW bought the company, while Jaguar are optimistic that their new, smaller S-type will be as well received as their XK8 sports car, which won many fans.

#4 - Episode 8

Season 40 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/29/1998

The Ford Puma was such a hit with the Top Gear team that they voted it their Car of the Year for 1997. Now Ford has followed it up with a bigger coupe, the radically designed Cougar, but will it see off the competition?

#5 - Episode 9

Season 40 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/5/1998

Volkswagen's Golf GTi first came to Britain in 1976 and soon became the choice of the fashionable set. Over the years model changes blunted the sharp edges of this original hot hatch but now, with the emergence of an all-new Golf, there's also a new GTi. Jeremy Clarkson asks whether this latest version can beat the competition.

#6 - Episode 10

Season 40 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/12/1998

As the latest manufacturer to enter the sports-car market, Audi hopes to take on rivals Porsche and BMW with the new TT, which goes on sale in the spring. Jeremy Clarkson asks if the TT's good looks and high build quality are enough to help Audi see off the competition.

#7 - Episode 11

Season 40 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/19/1998

The appearance of the luxuriously equipped V8-engined Seville STS marks the return of the Cadillac name to the British market. But will it tempt buyers away from more established makes, such as BMW and Lexus, as well as next year's Jaguar S-type? Jeremy Clarkson test-drives it to see whether it offers a viable star-spangled alternative.

#8 - Episode 12

Season 40 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/26/1998

Steve Berry travels to Seattle to look at Jeep's new Grand Cherokee, which is huge and available for the first time in right-hand drive. In contrast Vicki Butler-Henderson considers the tiny tear away Tommy Kaira ZZ sports car, an open-top two seater which is Japanese but made in Norfolk.

#9 - Episode 13

Season 40 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/3/1998

Tony Mason looks back at two of Britain's failed attempts to infiltrate the US market during the postwar years: the 1949 Austin Atlantic, which was considered overpriced in relation to its power, and the 1950 Triumph Mayflower, an unpopular miniature variation on the Rolls-Royce. Plus a review of the latest version of the Subaru Legacy, a four-wheel drive with an urban appearance.

#10 - Episode 5

Season 40 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/8/1998

Alfa Romeo are hoping to put past design problems behind them with their new saloon models. Tiff Needell test-drives the latest offering-the Executive Express - which goes on sale in Britain early next year and replaces the much-loved, if slightly quirky, 164.

#11 - Episode 15

Season 40 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/17/1998

In the concluding episode of the current series, Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell, Quentin Wilson and Vicki Butler-Henderson select their favourite cars of the year. Last year it was the Ford Puma that won the plaudits for its overall performance. Can the team find common ground to agree on the best of 1998?

#12 - Blood, Salt and Tears - Years of the Land Speed Record

Season 40 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/21/1998

A special edition of the motoring magazine tracing the history of attempts to break the land speed record. Highlights include a look at the thirties rivalry between British drivers John Cobb, Sir Malcolm Campbell, Sir Henry Segrave and Captain George Eyston. Presented by Tiff Needell, with contributions from driver Craig Breedlove, designers Bill Summers and Ron Eyres, and current record holder Andy Green.

#13 - Episode 6

Season 43 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/24/2000

#14 - Episode 8

Season 43 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/9/2000

The team mark the 20th anniversary of the Audi Quattro and test a 1985 model against a Mitsubishi Evo 6. With Vicki Butler-Henderson, Kate Humble, Tiff Needell and Quentin Wilson.

#15 - Episode 14

Season 43 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/20/2000

Motoring magazine, this week looking at racing tips ahead of the weekend's British Grand Prix. With Vicki Butler-Henderson, Kate Humble, Tiff Needell and Quentin Wilson.

#16 - Episode 1

Season 37 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/2/1997

Aston Martin 's story is one of engineering triumph in the face of financial adversity. In a special profile of the company, Jeremy Clarkson has the chance to drive some of its finest cars, including the post-war Atom, a DB4GT, the DB5 used in the film Goldeneye, a DB6 Volante and the latest V12 DB7. He tells the story of the company's decade-long struggle to win Le Mans, and talks to Stirling Moss about what the old racing Astons were like to drive.

#17 - Episode 2

Season 37 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/9/1997

Contestants in last November's Network Q RAC Rally faced some of the worst weather conditions for decades, and more than half the entries failed to finish because of heavy snow and sheet ice. Tiff Needell , who was one of the hardy competitors to complete the 1,100-mile trip around Britain, recounts the inside story of the event.

#18 - Episode 3

Season 37 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/16/1997

Three thousand people have already put money down for the BMW Z3, which is scheduled to hit the road in February. Tiff Needell visits Madeira to test the new six-cylinder version and asks whether buyers should be hanging on even longer for this meaner, faster brother, expected in Britain in the summer. Plus is the Daewoo, Korea's effort at angst-free motoring, all it's cracked up to be? Quentin Wilson gives his verdict.

#19 - Episode 4

Season 40 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/1/1998

Since its launch in 1989, the original Land Rover Discovery has been Britain's best-selling four-wheel drive. Tiff Needell tries out the new model to see what's changed. Andy Wilman climbs aboard Britain's biggest motor home, the American-made Windsor Monaco, while and Jeremy Clarkson and racing driver Damon Hill try out two versions of the new Honda Accord.

#20 - Episode 3

Season 40 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/24/1998

As motor racing returned last weekend to Goodwood in Sussex for the first time since 1966, Tiff Needell tells the story of the circuit's revival and races a Lister Jaguar. Jeremy Clarkson tests the heavyweight contenders in the four-wheel drive market. and Quentin Wilson reports on crash-test research on large cars.

#21 - Episode 12

Season 39 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/7/1998

Why is it so difficult to import cheap cars from the continent? Quentin Wilson attempts to untangle the red tape. Tony Mason helps Land Rover to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and Jeremy Clarkson takes a look at Renault's new Clio.

#22 - Episode 11

Season 39 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/30/1998

Jeremy Clarkson reports on successful women and the cars they drive. Have roadsters and coupes replaced diamonds as a girl's best friend? Quentin Wilson reports from the Turin Motor Show and also test-drives Fiat's new small car, the Seicento, the replacement model for the Cinquecento.

#23 - Episode 10

Season 39 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/23/1998

One-third of the half-a-million cars stolen annually in England and Wales are never recovered. Quentin Wilson reports on evidence that suggests that many are being given the identities of legitimately owned vehicles. How well does the latest Lotus Esprit compare with its illustrious predecessors? Tiff Needell tests the new supercar. And Jeremy Clarkson sees how the new Mercedes M-class fares in the four-wheel-drive market.

#24 - Episode 6

Season 39 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/26/1998

Jeremy Clarkson attempts to prove his assertion that fast cars are the safest, Quentin Wilson looks at prices for a second-hand Saab 900, plus a guide to Swedish car-buying.

#25 - Episode 5

Season 39 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/19/1998

Tiff Needell takes to the track to test road cars with a racing heritage, such as the Porsche 911, Nissan Skyline and Honda NSX. Jeremy Clarkson reports on Vauxhall 's new Astra - can it continue to attract customers despite growing competition?