TV season

Series 2

2003-05-11

The second series of the television series Top Gear began on 11 May 2003, and concluded on 27 July 2003. The series featured 10 episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" episode, charting the best moments from Series 1 and 2. The series was the first to be recorded with James May, as the first series featured motoring enthusiast Jason Dawe.

Episodes

Episode 1

2003-05-11 • 59 min

REVIEWS: Smart Roadster • Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet • Bowler Wildcat • Bentley T2 CHALLENGE: Drag racer jet engine incinerates Nissan Sunny In the seemingly never-ending quest to destroy as many caravans as possible, Richard uses a drag racer to rid the roads of Britain of yet another one. A Nissan Sunny - the car Richard hates more than any other is also destroyed in the same manner. James May makes his first appearance on 'new' top Gear: he shows us his Bentley T2 and tells us why it’s a nightmare to own. Richard Drives the Bowler Wildcat and declares himself: “a driving god!” The Smart Roadster and the McLaren F1 are also featured.Vinnie Jones in the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

Episode 2

2003-05-18 • 60 min

Jeremy Clarkson immerses himself in the world of luxury with the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, while Richard Hammond takes the stately Rover P5B for a drive. Elsewhere, the Audi S4 and BMW M3 go head-to-head in a battle of performance saloons, and the team stages a race to discover which British political party is the fastest. Actor Chris Barrie argues that the Jaguar E-Type is the greatest car ever made, while Jamie Oliver attempts the entirely sensible task of making a salad in the back of a moving camper van driven by the Stig before setting a lap time as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Episode 3

2003-05-25 • 60 min

Jeremy Clarkson tests the Volkswagen Touareg to find out whether any SUV is really worth £50,000, before taking the BMW Z8 Alpina for a drive and finding an unexpected reason not to buy one. Richard Hammond samples the Lexus SC430, James May reviews the Perodua Kelisa, and the Hyundai Coupé also comes under scrutiny. Elsewhere, a Jaguar XJS receives a nitrous-powered performance boost, and the team sets out to discover which country builds the fastest supercar. David Soul is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, with predictably destructive results.

Episode 4

2003-06-01 • 60 min

Jaguar takes centre stage as Jeremy Clarkson explores the marque's past, present and future. He drives the Aston Martin DB7 GT and Jaguar XKR-R, while the striking Jaguar R-Coupé concept offers a glimpse of what may lie ahead. James May gets behind the wheel of the legendary Jaguar C-Type, and the team investigates a vital question: just how far can you drive in a Jaguar XJR before boredom sets in? Elsewhere, A.A. Gill makes the case for the London taxi as the greatest car ever made, and Boris Johnson attempts to survive a lap in the reasonably priced car.

Episode 5

2003-06-08 • 59 min

In a programme devoted to all things blokey, Jeremy Clarkson compares the Porsche 911 Turbo with its more sensible sibling before sampling what he calls the ultimate bloke hatchback: the Renault Clio V6. James May takes a Triumph TR6 for a drive, Richard Hammond investigates a man who keeps a car in his kitchen, and the Ford StreetKa also comes under scrutiny. Elsewhere, the Ford World Rally Team's mechanics take on four women preparing for a night out in a race against the clock, Richard nominates the Land Rover as the greatest car of all time, and Anne Robinson is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Episode 6

2003-06-15 • 59 min

Jeremy Clarkson settles the latest chapter in the Subaru Impreza WRX STi versus Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII rivalry, while also putting the Peugeot 206 GTi and Vauxhall VX220 Turbo through their paces. James May is tasked with setting a new land-speed record for towing a caravan — an endeavour that goes about as well as you'd expect. Elsewhere, Richard Hammond samples the fearsome Palmer Jaguar at a track day, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason champions his choice for the greatest car ever made, and Richard Whiteley is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Episode 7

2003-06-22 • 53 min

The astonishing 655bhp Koenigsegg CC8S arrives at the Top Gear test track, setting a blistering straight-line speed and raising the question of whether it can also claim the fastest lap. Jeremy Clarkson samples the enormous Hummer H2, while Richard Hammond takes an even less sensible approach to transport by driving a Talon riot-control vehicle straight through a portacabin. Elsewhere, the Renault Mégane undergoes a crash test with a very real occupant, the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage makes its debut, Stuart Hall champions the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud as the greatest car ever made, and Neil Morrissey is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Episode 8

2003-07-06 • 46 min

James and Richard enjoy camping in the wettest part of the UK so they can test a variety of Cabriolets, while Jeremy tests the Alpha Romeo 147 GTA, and Jodie Kidd is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Episode 9

2003-07-13 • 59 min

Jeremy Clarkson tests Volvo's claim that the new S60 R can challenge the BMW M3 before attempting to drive a Vauxhall Signum from the back seat using little more than string and garden equipment. James May investigates the futuristic, hydrogen-powered GM Hy-Wire concept, while Richard Hammond takes the extraordinary tilting Vandenbrink Carver for a spin and tries to decide whether it's a car, a motorcycle, or something in between. Elsewhere, Graeme Le Saux champions the Audi Quattro as the greatest car ever made, and Patrick Stewart is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Episode 10

2003-07-20 • 59 min

Jeremy Clarkson assesses Volkswagen's ambitious Phaeton luxury saloon before sampling an Overfinch-tuned Range Rover with enough power to alarm nearby continents. Richard Hammond puts the TVR T350C to the test alongside a Harrier jump jet, while The Stig settles a heated debate by taking both the TVR and a Noble around the track to determine which is truly faster. Elsewhere, James May gets behind the wheel of the colossal Cadillac Sixteen concept, the team meets Britain's fastest disabled driver, and Alan Davies is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.