Top Gear Botswana Cars ^hot^ -

(The Backup) : This car served as the penalty for any presenter whose car failed completely. It was painted in a bright "backup" color to humiliate the driver. What Happened to Them?

James May, known as "Captain Slow," went for the logical choice: a W123 chassis Mercedes-Benz 230E. This is widely considered one of the most reliable cars ever built. It was a tank—heavy, over-engineered, and comfortable. While Clarkson sweated in the Lancia and Hammond bounced around in the Opel, May sat in air-conditioned comfort, listening to classical music. It was a masterclass in buying a car for reliability rather than excitement. top gear botswana cars

The setup was simple but genius. The three presenters were tasked with buying a car for less than £1,500 (approximately $3,000 at the time) in the UK. Once purchased, they were told to ship the cars to Africa, where they would drive across Botswana. The final destination was the border with Namibia, but to get there, they had to cross the Makgadikgadi Pan—a massive salt flat that becomes a treacherous, dusty bog in the dry season—and the dense scrub of the Kalahari Desert. (The Backup) : This car served as the

"Right," Jeremy said, sweating through his shirt. "The rules of the salt pan: Do not stop. Do not turn sharply. And for the love of God, do not crack the sump." James May, known as "Captain Slow," went for

Per the show's rules, if a presenter's car broke down beyond repair, they would be forced to drive the "backup" car—a Volkswagen Beetle