It's odd, I've been watching bits of top gear most days on Dave, today it was the "ashes" featuring such things as the v8 powered van and racing cars stacked on top of each other.. Yes you know it's scripted most of the time but it just clicks so much better than TGT and for the majority of the time even feels like it isn't scripted. Maybe they're just trying too hard now?
"Budget" challenges have, in my opinion, always been better than the more spectacular trips. With the exception of some of the cross country races.
I'd rather watch the Bolivia or Africa challenges than 3 hypercars