Car Review of the Nissan Leaf by The Stig (Ben Collins)

[Anoush13]

Some say... he knows two facts about ducks, and they're both wrong...

[hambone9119]

Some say this car is as usefull as disposeable Razors and batteries, Some say this car will last 5 years some say this car is sardine death trap. Some say no manual transmission is a lazy mans car, all we know is this is Cheap garbage.

[AuraStudios]

@hambone9119 what makes you say that? what "some say"?

[TehEpicNumber17]

@AuraStudios It's on Top Gear..They say it...along with something Ridiculous when they introduce the stig and do the power lap

[sayrith]

@hambone9119 you're just saying that because its electric. 

[simow06]

@hambone9119 What are you on about? This car is an amazing piece of engineering, it will redefine the car as we know it as much as Henry Fords mass production line did. You really haven't got a clue, you've even proved it with such a stupid comment.

[MarsManatee]

Clarkson was right... listening to a race driver talk about cars is one of the most boring things in the world. They have absolutely nothing interesting to say!

[simow06]

@MarsManatee Clarkson and the gang just talk complete and utter shit about cars. At least this man knows what he's talking about and isn't reading a script looking for laughs.

[hambone9119]

@simow06 dude im taking the piss out of him, if they can electrify a land rover defender sign me up, oh and fuck the hummer off worse 4x4 ever. you know the one they have made for over 50 years with the same exterior but modern interior, tough go any where 4x4, and if it was electric that would be sweet no gas guzzling. although, for places like the australian outback and africa petrol powerded cars should still be available dude to long distances and lack of charge points,

[cngogogo]

nuclear powered LEAF, yeah !

[EthanJM]

Electric cars will be a novelty of the past in enough time, hydrogen is the future, not batteries. Too impractical. They are cool though.

[camaroberlinette86]

0-60 in 1 hour short life really people get a car that your not gonna look like a douche driving can a front wheel drive nissan leaf do a burnout doubt it part of having a car is having fun when u can id like to own one of these so i can just drive it off a cliff!

[garciada88]

Some say his t shirt has a picture of t shirt on it.

[Jasonjays122]

Nissan all the way! :D Nice driving btw

[dude157]

Also it is significantly more expensive than a regular car, takes 13 hours to charge, speedy charge points are no where to be found, and like your laptop and iphone, the batteries wont last, and if you do manage to find a speedy charge point it will shortern the life of the battery further.The production of batteries is not exactly environmentally friendly either.

As stated on ben's old show, better off with a VW bluemotion and you will get more miles for your money.

Or wait for Hydrogen cars

[hambone9119]

@dude157 i really dont know why they dont make cars run on hyrogen or even plant based fuels, sustaianable clean and it works, My mate has one smells like a fish shop.

[451Johny]

Great review. I'm glad something good (Ben) has come out of the Top Gear idiot franchise.

[alinstoi]

@451Johny they're idiots indeed!

[grandcarriage1]

Um...hawt. Him, not the car.

[epajrgolf]

Great review....

[billdale1]

Cheers, stig! You've stirred up a hornet's nest by doing the sensible thing-- supporting sensible vehicles that will soon dominate our highways, whether the Luddites like it or not.

There will always be those that are terrified of change, of stepping outside their comfort zone. If we continue to try to rely on fossil fuels, we're doomed.

Ignore the dogs nipping @ your heels, fireman: you have blazes to tend to... hehe...

[thepopesmybitch]

he was a better presenter on top gear he was not as nervous and people wanted him to talk not to shut the fuck up drearing on and on and on.

-Hammond

[MMGWsceptic]

Would be interested to know the minimum range with 3 passengers + luggage on a cold day. Methinks <60m. The leaf is only good as a rich person's 2nd car for short journeys. Wouldn't it be better for the environment just to have one car with a decent range?

If you're rich enough to afford £28K for a 2nd car, why should taxpayers be forced to pay you a £5000 grant towards it - particularly at a time of austerity and cuts. It's plain wrong. A regressive stealth tax.

[Mandragara]

@MMGWsceptic Subsidizing emerging technologies so they can be somewhat competitive.

[MMGWsceptic]

@Mandragara Why? If they were competitive they wouldn't need subsidy. You think handing £5K of poor taxpayers money to rich people so they can buy an expensive 2nd car is going to have any affect on the weather?

[Mandragara]

@MMGWsceptic Emerging technologies are usually noncompetitive, so they need to be subsidised in the beginning of their adoption. Also you would be surprised how many things are given a government subsidy to remain competitive against cheaper overseas goods. The goal is for electric cars to eventually be advanced and cheap enough for a working class family to be able to buy one. Also I do believe that widespread adoption of the electric car would have a MASSIVE impact on the climate around cities

[MMGWsceptic]

@Mandragara

> "Emerging tech is usually uncompetiitve and needs subsidy".

I dispute that. Name one example outside the loopy climate change industry?

Did ipods need a gov subsidy when they replaced CDs? LCDs when they replaced CRTs? How about mobile phones? iPads? Cars when they replaced the horse and cart? Nope. No subsidies needed: In each case the new technology was either cheaper or more convenient. Electric cars are neither.

[Mandragara]

@MMGWsceptic The National Broadband Network in Australia is being subsidized to encourage initial uptake of the network. More environmentally friendly farming industries in the U.S. receives massive subsidies to remain competitive against regular foods. The idea is to introduce the electric car & all the accompanying infrastructure before it becomes a competitive product due to skyrocketing fuel prices.

[hambone9119]

@MMGWsceptic yes but when cars replaced the horse and cart, people where not getting payed Black dirt gold, today the gov and corps love the MONEY and tax from oil companies only reason smoking is not banned, and mass production of electric cars does not exist, Tom Hanks had one from 1990 to 2000.

[MMGWsceptic]

@hambone9119 Huh? Smoking isn't banned because we live in a free country (They tried alcoho prohibition and it didn't work too well). And the reason electric cars are not popular is because they cannot compete with gas/diesel on price, nor range, nor refuelling time. The only 'gov & corps' conspiracy happening at the moment is the conspiracy to waste of $billions of other peoples money subsidizing these daft noddy cars.

[bored1980]

I want an electric sport's dog.

[gadgetguy4000]

i dont like where the car industry is going i still really like gas and diesel powered vehicles...screw u toyota for making the prius then influencing other car manufacturers to make hybrids, now electric, then hydro, then air...etc. i wish the car industry stayed the same dont u?

[denmark1533]

@gadgetguy4000 i'm a really big tuner fan but if there's no earth to drive cars on ... it's sort of pointless no. At some point it has to change but i'm all for stretching it as far as possible

[tdavies456]

@gadgetguy4000 its not all a question of fun though is it? what do we do when the oil runs out?

[gadgetguy4000]

@tdavies456 i guess your right :/

[torker24]

16 people drive Hummers.

[SherryProducations]

I WANT A ELECTRIC SPORTS CAT WITH SPORTY SOUND EFFECT!!

[chihupa]

@SherryProducations You want an electric sports cat?

[rkan665]

thumbs up if u think that top gear has the best car reviews



[paf1980]

just wonder how much he gained for no critisicism at all of that car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[parsizaban]

If you're unlucky to live in Australia like I am, you never see any of these electric cars in your life let alone owning one. I beg someone to bring and destribute these cars to us convicts. Our rich people believe we don't deserve to have these cars because we are convicts.

[argebarse]

@parsizaban Tesla are going to be selling the Model S beginning mid-2013 apparently.

[celtictigerr]

There are only 100 problems with the Leaf. Thumbs up for anyone who can guess?

[dahwugui]

Top Gear colleagues that are really pissed should be ashamed of themselves... they should really look at this guy. He is just being real and getting his life on track... I dont suppose you'd be happy when you are part of a super show when you aint paid as much as your counterparts... they shoulda just paid the stig as much as the rest of those bad mouthing wankers ...

[smokinjoesixpack]

holy fucking shit. is that really the stig, i haven't been this disappointed since darth vader was unmasked.

[paintballgundown8]

ugly, 100 miles, slow, drive it with a pinky and a toe.....no thanks

[grahamatter]

@paintballgundown8 yeah but cheap as chips to run, no good for travelling but perfect for buzzing round the city.

[nikothecrazygreek]

hey stig

[ascpgh1]

I am surprised that an electric car without back up power has electric windows.

Collins said everything is designed to be simple and efficient, but how much juice would a kid in the back seat drain from your driving range by fooling with the power window? he admitted to ranges as low as 60 miles if you start driving it like a "car" (you know, like dynamically pre-positioning the car in a curve on its yaw axis for the exit).

[grahamatter]

@ascpgh1 the lights, radio, air con and windows etc would be tiny users of power compared to the motor.

[rosemary145]

The last season Collins was on TG there was so much speculation that he was the stig that his days on TG were probably numbered. So good on him for making the most of a future that was 'iffy' at best on TG.

[rosemary145]

The last season Collins was on TG there was so much speculation that he was the stig that his days on TG were probably numbered. So good on him for making the most of a future that was 'iffy' at best on TG.

[ale03000]

The EMISSION FREE Future :]!! 

[ascpgh1]

@ale03000 Walking always was "EMISSION FREE" and with a leaf used as automobiles have been, owners will be doing more of it.

Perhaps Nissan should heavily promote a bike rack as a dealer option for these; it's a lot more agreeable as a way to get home when the battery is empty.

[euroaaRON1]

he should not be a tv reviewer. such lack of personality

you can clearly tell he was the stig. he sounds and acts like a monotone robot.

[birdfly43]

i personally think 5th Gear is a better car show more detailed better reviews top gear isn't really for car fans is now turned into a entertainment show

i still like top gear but i mean who the fuck can honestly can afford a fucking a half a million dollar super car that's all they show

[MTVVH1sucks]

it has a range of only 100 miles they need to work on that.

[therotaryrocket]

@MTVVH1sucks how many miles do you drive on an average day? what is it like 75% of americans drive less than 30 miles a day.

[MTVVH1sucks]

@therotaryrocket But what about when I want to go to my hometown in Chicago? rent a car? I go several times a year it would end up costing me a fortune.

[ascpgh1]

@MTVVH1sucks That appears to be on flat roads and with serious discipline on the go-pedal; Collins said it'll drop to an indicated 60 miles range with very little normal driving.

The dating opportunities related to picking up the stranded college girls whose daddies bought these for them. The landscape will be littered with these run-out little carts.

[rfcon11]

The point of the stig was racing drivers are dumb shits who cant say anything intelligent so fifth gear hire him as a presenter, good job.

[CJCymru]

Fantastic review Ben. I'm glad someone like yourself reviewed the car as Jermey Clarkson said "battery cars aren't ready yet". And he didn't even mention the Nissan Leaf, which has even won the Car of the Year Award this year.

Also ignore all the comments by bloody 12 year olds ranting about you letting Top Gear fans down for unveiling yourself as the Stig. Couldn't believe when I first saw them here. Very low, childish, pathetic and bloody amusing if you ask me.

[Pheonix5492]

Ben collins you fuckin traitor. You broke all top gear fan's hearts

[Millahtime]

@Pheonix5492 All top gear's fans were dying to know who he was, and then when he finally reveals himself all you kids get butthurt and call him a traitor. Makes no sense. Probably because Clarkson publicly denounced it.

[Pheonix5492]

@Millahtime Ye i suppose you'r right mate. We should probably get over it now

[lukerr87]

Was he actually confirmed as the stig?

[stiksoldier]

@lukerr87 yes

[EdinburghTiger]

STIG!!! Your reviewing is quite pedestrian...

[TKSKS]

Ben Collins opinion is the only one I respect about cars, because he knows what he is talking about. Legend.

[timaustin2000]

Interesting how this thread mainly discusses Collins and not the car. To those with the knee jerk "shitty car" reaction; I trust the Stigs opinion over yours any day! The ride in the Leaf is supposedly as refined as a Bentley; good luck finding one of those for 23k!

[sarzamineiran]

fuck you ben collins.....fuckin traitor have fun gagging on tiff needels cock

[68thelzeppelin]

this shit brakes my heart.

[toleratetruth]

WOW, Collins brings the heart, soul, and production quality of Top Gear to 5th Gear........................NO­T. Hope that book does well, buddy, because Top Gear is leaving you in its dust.

[poskyflyer]

@toleratetruth bud he got fucked over, even if his book doesnt do well hes got racing contracts lined up i just read in car and driver he gets constant contract offers to race in the lemans. hope you get hit by a bus

[zloychechen5150]

now from that you can see what makes a tv presenter a great one which the clarkson's bunch are and collins isn't. no emotion here. this review is just like the car being tested. flour. i like collins as a driver and as a person, i guess, and i am 100% sympathetic with his destigization) he's right. but he should really work on the screen image if this is what he's going to do.

[51235465789]

Ben Collins is a fag

[ec123456789able]

@51235465789 wow your mature, NOT. ben collins was only earning one 40th of what jeremy clarkson earns and yet everyone says he is greedy. i saw a recent episode of top gear where they were being rude about collins and even shooting at cardboard cut outs of the stig. this infentile behaviour only makes me want to side with ben more. from what i see here, ben collins is a better presenter than jeremy clarkson and he also has a greater knowledge of cars and is a better driver.

[stargate302]

@ec123456789able, Jeremy clarkson, is a great presenter, he explains cars on how he and others would see it, some times i 100% agree with him, other times i dont, its up to the individual, where as Ben collins explains everything techinical about the car, but you dont get a feel of what the car is like, which you do when clarkson is presenting it.

[vteckicksarse]

@ec123456789able if collins was unhappy he could of quit as the stig without causing so much controversy, giving the bbc notice so that they could replace him without the public knowing, but no he has to take it to the press and ruin the whole mystery of who the stig is, the whole idea of the stig is that we dont know or what it is, ruining things for the programme and even for younger viewers who were inspired by the stig, hes tried ruining the whole character. he had one of the best jobs ever.

[zo6gtr]

he's better in the suit and not talking at all!!!

[IN2OIL]

Ben Collins is the best! I will watch Fifth Gear from now on! He did an incredible review of the Car!

[VRdublove]

@IN2OIL Agreed, He's not a stick in the mud, very positive and knowledgable chap.

[Fleetfox10]

the genius about the stigs outfit is they could of put anyone behind that helmet and you wouldnt have noticed..like if ben collins was ill,,use someone else..

[bandosnoob15]

he sucks at reviewing cars

[str8out]

@bandosnoob15 Noob! LMAO

[XLHavoc]

Pretty sad that Ben Collins is reviewing crappy electric cars like this on 5th gear when he had the potential to be a formula 1 level driver just not the financial backing.

[kargidesign]

that is why those three earns much more than him. being an excellent presenter is more valuable than being an average race driver.

and now this jerk on 5th gear, I dislike the show much more.

[593OLYMPUS]

@kargidesign

An "average race driver" ?! Rofl. F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso described Ben's driving as " a seriously good driver - I've no idea who he is but he's definately ex-Formula 1". And you call him "average"?! Dream on.

[Bomchilaka]

@kargidesign average race driver? Thats what you think,not what others including fernando alonso think.An excellent presenter is more valuable? Who has to drive round the track? who has to face the dangers of testing the cars like the gumpert which could just go on fire anytime,the presenters i most respect is richard hammond,because he nearly got killed.

[MistaMase102]

he is such a crap presenter, im slowly dying with boredom watching this. and as jeremy would probably say, its like watching your 83 yr old granny trying to hump your dog whilst your dad watches

[rA177vP]

O boyy! when stig speaks it makes sense :)

be it on Top Gear or somewhere else

[rA177vP]

O boyy! when stig speaks it makes sense :)

[o00scorpion00o]

Why do they always have to add music to you tube videos? we want to hear the car in action, not crap music!!!

[timHYPERLITE]

@o00scorpion00o you cant hear the car in action because its electric you prat

[imgonnafuckuup1]

he should go to autocar or evo magazine.

[senornacho101]

why's he wearing a trashbag?

[senornacho101]

why's he wearing a trashbag?

[falloutdude222]

Solid review, well done

[clubmaster101]

sell out

[kanyetin]

anyone knows the song used in this?

[ClinicallyObeseMule]

@hondahp18 maybe because he wrote a biography saying he wad the stig and after years of doing nothing, suddenly just when top gear got a new stig, he's suddenly doing something. that may be a reason

[SummerTheFuzzy]

lol, this was worth leaving topgear for wasnt it lol. Driving electric cars for The Sun newspaper?!?!?! wtf

[Tjechi]

wow this show sucks donkey shit compared to top gear

[hunghuge12]

One of the best yet most overlooked talents on TV. This is where the info used to come from on top gear. Clarkson spoke of greed but if they weren't too greedy to pay him properly they wouldn't have lost him. I think he did the right thing. He could have been making 10 times what he was just doing normal races so he's not greedy.

Lets see more of him on TV now and lets hope he gets into something betetr than this sack of crap. He knows what he's doing in supercars so that's where he should be.

[jwdsnapper]

nah Ben....stick to the fast stuff !

[hondahp18]

this is like the best, most honest, non bias review of a car ive ever seen. he is the god of car reviews

[hondahp18]

why does everyone assume they know hes the stig?wtf

[badman2504]

@hondahp18 because he is....he's released a thing called a book....that tells his story

[F1god04]

Im upset over the fact that the identity of The Stig is out. Sure its cool to know, but it really kills the fun of having The Stig as a presence. I like Collins tho.

[gerico123454]

im glad evryone still likes him =) i was like O NO >.< U DUFFAS evryones gona hate u for saying u r the stig but no =] lol so all good and besides clarkson says he was greedy but :S he was getting rips off compard 2 how much clarkson was getting so realy

[Niche79]

Im only giving this vid a thumbs up because of Collins, cause the car sucks! lol

[Hirotoro4692]

@Niche79 the car pwns

[GuitarForceUnite]

You're my Idol! Can't wait for the man in white book to hit Canada.

[MoH911]

ok let be honest ...

We hate electric cars ... Not Ben Collins !!

[judomanX]

i will still watch ben collins.

i will still watch top gear.

life goes on.

[eldictator1]

Great guy, much less of a bell end than Clarkson and actually a good driver that tests cars based on performance rather than political leanings

[Wiinty]

ben collins = legend... stig or not he's ace!

[Xeyad1]

wow...who thought the Stig would be this lame....I liked him when he was behind the helmet and the white suit!

[vitto]

old stig is dead..who will be the new stig?

[heartlessvietboy]

We must walk to our automobile dealerships and tell them to build electric cars.

[vitessemeister]

quit the bitch talk about the man. If you had been the stig I'm sure you want to show off what car you have been driving but he has been gagged from it. Being in the mask for so long you do want to take it off, breathe and be yourself again. Let him be who he wants to be.

PS: Electric car owns!

[arielatom03]

i hope he goes into bankrupcy for being a greedy twat

[c3vzn]

@arielatom03 yeah well im pretty sure Clarkson wasn't happy with his 1 million pound salary and asked for an increase at some stage, while this guy was reportedly earning 1/10 of that.

[Musicboy1436]

@c3vzn Im pretty sure many people would want a -1/10 salary for the stigs job.

[MustangsCanTurnToo]

@c3vzn Considering Top Gear draws more viewers per week than the Superbowl, Clarkson's $1M salary isn't unreasonable. Meanwhile, The Stig said the most when he said nothing at all. I will not read Ben Collins' book until it is printed in morse code and filled with blank, ominous stares.

[Fleetfox10]

@c3vzn all ben had to do was drive the cars well.he didnt have to do all the presenting work and constantly be witty and funny like clarkson,hammond and may which explains the wage difference...

[iamguitarhero]

Ben is now part of 5th Gear, still respect the guy and glad he found another gig because his driving skills are top notch. Though you know there are going to be people who are absolutely pissed.

[t0rq21]

@iamguitarhero i respect his decision actually.

greed, what greed? Especially clarkson has to say that, LOL

i'm actually rly excited about the new stig and what happens to the show next.

change is good.

new is always better) "Barney

[therotaryrocket]

@iamguitarhero why? 5th gear is better than those biased top gear hosts.

[iamguitarhero]

@therotaryrocket Because he joined Top Gear's competitor...

[AdrianosFidi]

i respect him and dont want to discourage , but he should remain lap time driver

or make television school

[wollscheid]

you quit top gear for this? hahahahahaha

[HUJUism]

I really wish Nissan made a small SUV like rogue all electric.

[mho69]

I'd like to see Leaf's lap time on the track...

[mattchow]

@mho69 I'd like to see your lap-time on your track... douchebag.