The Liana was the perfect SIARPC as it was not too powerful, had forgiving handling without being dull and not too much grip. It rewards good technique and punishes stupidity. The fact it did all that and it was totally against it's image (a proper pensioner's saloon) made it so lovable! It really doesn't need any mods, just keep it maintained and running sweet!
For GOD'S SAKE don't mod this car. It's a piece of TV and pop culture history. It's not supposed to be modified, just preserved and kept alive. Fix it up and keep it going.
Don't do upgrades except for the sway bar, toughened engine & gearbox mounts. Replace the suspension with a new standard suspension, replace the gearbox, replace the brake rotors like for like. Upgrading everything else will be a waste & lap times will have to be done again. Ben, seriously mate you could do a whole series on this with the Liana getting TH-camrs & other celebrities to race at the old Dunsfold track. PLEASE DO THIS!!!!
Literally a dream going around that track, in that car with The Stig instructing.. I was the biggest Top Gear geek when Jeremy, Hammond and James were at the helm.. I even knew Ben was the stig back when Hammond had his crash in the Vampire Dragster (Rocket Car). I read the police report and it said that Ben was the Top Gear driving instructor. Good on the TH-camrs.. Always putting a smile on my face.. PS.. When I have a near death experience, your lives flash in front of my eyes!!! 😂
@@ripvanwinkle2002 He did a few.. Parachute into the convertible, had his helmet off before they raced the motor homes, car football… Prob a few more that I dont remember now.. Def read his book dude, it’s brilliant!!
Had to have been a magical experience for him. I'm sure Tavarish was watching Top Gear ~15 years ago with this car going around this track. To actually do it for real is something else.
I Just love that Ben is embracing his role, and bringing us all along on these new adventures!!!! Viva la Stig!!! Also Freddy, you freaking rock! Also, where is the BOP? Freddy is a big dude.... you have to account for that.
aww you guys are having such a good time!! maybe some folks would want to be on top gear. id rather be right here doing this with these guys.. thanks for repping the USA with a remarkable time Freddie!
It's always a pleasure to see Freddy appearing on Uk car youtube. Should have more Americans crossing over to do the odd bit with the UK car scene, would like to see someone like Jason Camissa and other US youtube personalities coming over to see the car scene in UK, europe, do a lap round the nurburgring etc.
Just love the videos like these of you lot just having fun and living life. Keep going guys. Ben I'm so happy to see you back on my Screen, almost full time.
Dang i've only just found this channel but this & the lads in the scene now really stepped up after top gear lost its prime, Loving this content!!! Keep it up you mad cats x)
Great content Ben and great driving Freddy 🙂 What an amazing opportunity to drive around the Top Gear test track in the reasonably priced car with the Stig. That would be a dream come true. Maybe replace the car though with a Porsche then that really would be a dream come true.
Just needs to be put back as was, the idea was to have everyone driving the same vehicle, so a good time was down to good driving……..and dry,no wind,etc etc!
Would love to see this come back! Although it would be great either way,Don't upgrade it just fix all the issues and keep the lap times as close and as fair to previous! Cant wait to see some more!
Have to say Ben Collins is a bloody fantastic presenter and personality and is comparable to the big 3 in Top Gear! It was a bit of a question in my mind since his Top Gear time was all behind the helmet.
Would love to see a track prepped version of this car, don’t like the idea of forced induction personally but would love to see you get creative and squeeze some more power from the little 1.6. Keep the bones the same just upgrade what you have sort of thing. 👌🏻
To: Tavarish! You are not lucky, you put yourself there. You are dedicated and have worked very hard making sacrifices along the way. You put yourself there. Well done sir!
Just saying, Ben Collins, Mike (from Drivetribe) and Tavarish would make a solid host team. They have charisma and a broad range of motoring interests.😂
Looking at the lap times on the fandom site, 1.49.85 is faster than these stars that came in at exactly 1.50.0; Martin Clunes, Jeremy Clarkson, Lionel Richie, Cliff Richard, Patrick Stewart, Jamie Oliver, & Gordon Ramsay! The person ever so slightly faster than Freddy is Roger Daltrey that came in at 1.49.7! Way to go Freddy!
Just a refresh without trying to modify it. The idea was being a reasonably priced car. Throwing a bunch of aftermarket parts at it is basically just the easy way and takes away the challenge and charm of the car.
Upgrades can be discussed, but I firmly believe that they should stay as a theoretical. Repair and restore parts, but upgrades would tarnish the legacy of the car. Freddy pulled a good time, given the state the car was given to him.
Toober in a reasonably priced Kart could be fun. karts could spank a very expensive car around some UK circuits. I'm just down the road from PFI and Worked For Teddy Wilsons Dads Karting empire ;)
If there's one car in the world you can't modify, it's this. I'd honestly rather be in the Liana, going around Dunsfold, than the newest Lambo, Aston, Ferrari, etc.
Don’t upgrade the car .. just fix 2nd gear and let these TH-camrs try to beat the “stars in the reasonable priced car” times
only problem is that the track wont be around for to much longer due to a construction project
They just bought a stock Liana on Drivetribe (Ben still works with them). Modify that, fix these 2 cars. Best of both worlds!
Matt already beat them all lol
Mod it and it loses any point driving it!
Mod it? Noooo. Repair it maybe a little yea. Its a piece of history! I did giggle at Drivel Tribe getting one and 'passing it off' kinda. Slackers!
I would pay damn good money to spend 30 - 60 minutes with Ben Collins on that track in that car.
A literal childhood dream.
Same
@BenCollinsDrives that's 64 of us now. Where do we send the money?
@@alexUKguymake that 79
What car do you drive ?
@@BenCollinsDrives mk1 focus would love to take it to the track
Stig is back!!! And back to teaching laps!
This is the best thing ever how lucky are we all to have this back again!
The Liana was the perfect SIARPC as it was not too powerful, had forgiving handling without being dull and not too much grip. It rewards good technique and punishes stupidity. The fact it did all that and it was totally against it's image (a proper pensioner's saloon) made it so lovable! It really doesn't need any mods, just keep it maintained and running sweet!
I agree with that. Put the car back in great shape and leave as it is.
Didn't LIANA stand for something, like Life In A Naff Automobile?
Any car rewards good technique and punishes stupidity.
Yes but… it would be kinda funny to put a V8 in one
I do think that Mr. Armstrong disproved this comment somewhat. The Liana loves stupidity. Seen it happen many times before.... :D
For GOD'S SAKE don't mod this car. It's a piece of TV and pop culture history. It's not supposed to be modified, just preserved and kept alive. Fix it up and keep it going.
Here here
Apologies i should have explained the idea of doing this with a donor not the originals 😅
@@BenCollinsDrives Just transmission swap it, keep the oringnal in a box as part of the history. Or rebuild it
@@BenCollinsDrives thank God, in that case put some nitrous in it for the straights 😂
Don't do upgrades except for the sway bar, toughened engine & gearbox mounts. Replace the suspension with a new standard suspension, replace the gearbox, replace the brake rotors like for like. Upgrading everything else will be a waste & lap times will have to be done again.
Ben, seriously mate you could do a whole series on this with the Liana getting TH-camrs & other celebrities to race at the old Dunsfold track. PLEASE DO THIS!!!!
😂
Im trying - soon as we get 2nd gear fixed its game on
Love the way you got all the OG Top Gear camera angles, top work Team. And well done Freddy! 👊
I love these great TH-cam Crossover episodes!
Literally a dream going around that track, in that car with The Stig instructing.. I was the biggest Top Gear geek when Jeremy, Hammond and James were at the helm.. I even knew Ben was the stig back when Hammond had his crash in the Vampire Dragster (Rocket Car). I read the police report and it said that Ben was the Top Gear driving instructor. Good on the TH-camrs.. Always putting a smile on my face.. PS.. When I have a near death experience, your lives flash in front of my eyes!!! 😂
ben drove with no helmet on top gear when it was the evo vs the down hill skateboarder
@@ripvanwinkle2002 He did a few.. Parachute into the convertible, had his helmet off before they raced the motor homes, car football… Prob a few more that I dont remember now.. Def read his book dude, it’s brilliant!!
@@jacohattingh9546 i never said it was only once did i?
@@ripvanwinkle2002Easy buddy.. I was just saying and agreeing with you.. Def wasn’t arguing.. ✌🏼
@@jacohattingh9546 ah my bad, cheers!
Had to have been a magical experience for him. I'm sure Tavarish was watching Top Gear ~15 years ago with this car going around this track. To actually do it for real is something else.
Commenting for the algorithm. Been looking forward to Fred's lap
This was epic.
Loved every minute of it.
I Just love that Ben is embracing his role, and bringing us all along on these new adventures!!!! Viva la
Stig!!!
Also Freddy, you freaking rock!
Also, where is the BOP? Freddy is a big dude.... you have to account for that.
La Stig??! I'm pretty sure he's a 'Le'!
This channel deserves millions subs! Love the content and the Stig
I love seeing tavarish live the car guy dream!
aww you guys are having such a good time!!
maybe some folks would want to be on top gear.
id rather be right here doing this with these guys..
thanks for repping the USA with a remarkable time Freddie!
It's always a pleasure to see Freddy appearing on Uk car youtube. Should have more Americans crossing over to do the odd bit with the UK car scene, would like to see someone like Jason Camissa and other US youtube personalities coming over to see the car scene in UK, europe, do a lap round the nurburgring etc.
Commenting on 6:40: We did have them in the States! They were badged as the Suzuki Aerio.
I came here to post this.
I would love all the stats on this car. How many miles on the tyres ,. Fuel consumption etc,
Just love the videos like these of you lot just having fun and living life. Keep going guys. Ben I'm so happy to see you back on my Screen, almost full time.
Oh the memories! This proves again and again that Top Gear was one of the greatest and most influential automotive shows on TV. 😎🤘
I remember when this Suzuki was released in Australia we were told that Liana stood for Living In A New Age.
Dang i've only just found this channel but this & the lads in the scene now really stepped up after top gear lost its prime, Loving this content!!! Keep it up you mad cats x)
Great content Ben and great driving Freddy 🙂
What an amazing opportunity to drive around the Top Gear test track in the reasonably priced car with the Stig. That would be a dream come true. Maybe replace the car though with a Porsche then that really would be a dream come true.
This was SO good. Thank you!!
Love the channel and content Ben. Great to see it continue to gain momentum like it has. Cheers! 👍🏻
Ben you need to replicate the TG episode where they had the big celebrity day but with TH-camrs!
And invite the 3 stooges 😂😂
Just needs to be put back as was, the idea was to have everyone driving the same vehicle, so a good time was down to good driving……..and dry,no wind,etc etc!
now this is more like it :) for. 20+ year old car. its not looking so bad!
Ben, I love that you and Freddy are working together! Excellent videos on the track with the guys! I would love to ride along with you in the P1!!!! ❤
Ace Freddie is able to talk and drive laps consistently is pretty good and lets be honest he had the extra weight added by Mat and not removed yet.
The actual Liana has a full cage....
Fantastic - and I just checked and it's quicker than Clarkson's lap!
I guess that's somewhat helped by modern tyres and brake pads, materials have advanced a lot in the last over 15 years. Still, good driving.
Ex-Stig and some quality track time, this would be heaven for me. Great episode, well done lads!
OMG.....chills at Freddy's face when he hears his time. Good on ya.
Never thought wed get to see this again, love it so much!
Finally the motivation i needed to switch my channel to car content! Let me on the track Ben
Thanks…..GOOD SHOW sir👍👍
My fave reasonably priced car. Love that colour too
cant beat all these guys together. all of you need to do a your own topgear like special! would be so bloody funny and epic
Tavarish beith with, and being taught by... The OG Stig... Bit of a dream for all of us really 😏👍
😎🇬🇧
Love this.. my favourite bunch of miss fit TH-camrs
I love it that you both love it, and how to make Freedies day. Look forwards to seeing you both again soon
Would love to see this come back! Although it would be great either way,Don't upgrade it just fix all the issues and keep the lap times as close and as fair to previous! Cant wait to see some more!
Ben is a legend! Congrats Freddy on our dream day man!
Epic Ben and Freddy 🤛👌
Have to say Ben Collins is a bloody fantastic presenter and personality and is comparable to the big 3 in Top Gear! It was a bit of a question in my mind since his Top Gear time was all behind the helmet.
Would love to see a track prepped version of this car, don’t like the idea of forced induction personally but would love to see you get creative and squeeze some more power from the little 1.6. Keep the bones the same just upgrade what you have sort of thing. 👌🏻
Yayyy Stig running Freddy through the gauntlet
To: Tavarish!
You are not lucky, you put yourself there. You are dedicated and have worked very hard making sacrifices along the way. You put yourself there. Well done sir!
A Liana being thrashed round Dunsfold is an iconic thing to see. We need a “TH-camrs Lap Board” to become a thing, see how they compare to the Celebs.
So cool seeing Freddy being so happy :D F-yeah
I wouldn't "mod" the car much. Just do full OEM fresh parts. And a stig bobblehead.
That was a fun show, classic stuff 😂😂
At last, been waiting for this one.
6:40 Yes we had them in the states, they were called Suzuki Aerio or Esteem.
If you have ever seen Top Gear, you need to subscribe now! This is so much fun.
Ben, your the best. Keep growing the channel 🏎️
Great stuff....more please
Love Freddy to bits, what a great guy 12/10
That was fantastic Ben !
Couda, Wouda, Shouda. Great vid guys
The Freddy and Ben bromance is exactly what the internet needed!
That’s valuable instruction and a good time!
Tavarish is awesome isn't he.
Na, awesome people don't walk out on his wife and newborn, while cheating with the fiance of someone who was supposedly a friend.
@@jamiemilinerWhat a role model 😂
Just saying, Ben Collins, Mike (from Drivetribe) and Tavarish would make a solid host team. They have charisma and a broad range of motoring interests.😂
TV dreams unlocked and Freddy crushing those times!! Let’s go!!!
Modifying this car should be a crime against humanity
Very nice.
How's the manual swap SL55 going?
This has to BECOME A SERIES. PLS GET HOOVIES AND VINWIKI NEXT
Ben is is such an awesome idea, keep the good work
this would be good show - Ben C, Matt, Freddy, they have decent vibe and are all good in front of cam.
Definitely a supercharger! Sway bars! Bigger tires! 🏁
I agree with every one else. Don’t modify it. New brakes clutch transmission and redo the suspension leave it standard.
Freddie stealing "Back to the studio" was glorious! Hail May!
I feel like this channel should have 2 million more subs at least !
Looking at the lap times on the fandom site, 1.49.85 is faster than these stars that came in at exactly 1.50.0; Martin Clunes, Jeremy Clarkson, Lionel Richie, Cliff Richard, Patrick Stewart, Jamie Oliver, & Gordon Ramsay! The person ever so slightly faster than Freddy is Roger Daltrey that came in at 1.49.7! Way to go Freddy!
6:38 I don't know if they were sold in the states (I think they did) but they were sold in Canada as Suzuki Aerio.
I loved the back to the studio😂
Looks like great fun. Wish I could attend...
Don’t modify it, just restore it. It’s too important and special to be modifying.
What a dream come true! So cool!
Tom Cruise did 1.44 in that same car.. so that Freddy made 1.49.. is amazing.
Just a refresh without trying to modify it. The idea was being a reasonably priced car. Throwing a bunch of aftermarket parts at it is basically just the easy way and takes away the challenge and charm of the car.
This brings back memories
Dont modify it, just refresh it to be a brand new car. Buy a separate one to modify.
Great vid!
That was so funny 😅
WTG Tavarish 👍👍
😎😎😎👍👍👍🤣🤣🤣
Love this content 👌🏻
Upgrades can be discussed, but I firmly believe that they should stay as a theoretical.
Repair and restore parts, but upgrades would tarnish the legacy of the car.
Freddy pulled a good time, given the state the car was given to him.
Toober in a reasonably priced Kart could be fun. karts could spank a very expensive car around some UK circuits. I'm just down the road from PFI and Worked For Teddy Wilsons Dads Karting empire ;)
I had Ted come visit me at my place to fix his sim rig @Ben You raced Praga with him I think??
....and on that bombshell......legend😂
Bwhaha love the little burnout lol 2:51
Please just fix the car, don't modify it. The thing is a historic car at this point.
Freddy should buy a liana and upgrade it, you should get this one fully refurbed & see how much faster he can be.
This thing lived an exciting life for over 20 years, now time has come to beef this bad boy up to 90s supertourer level.
Nice one!
Ben. You legend ❤
Love this 👍
If there's one car in the world you can't modify, it's this. I'd honestly rather be in the Liana, going around Dunsfold, than the newest Lambo, Aston, Ferrari, etc.
Suzuki Liana is the successor of 2nd gen Geo Metro in the US. GM went with Aveo instead of sourcing from Suzuki.