by "Pixel" (Improbcat)
Published 03/08/2017 at 09:45
by "Pixel" (Improbcat)
Published 03/08/2017 at 09:45
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STARS: 0
Did you ever want to watch a cross between “The Real World”, and the “Top Gear Africa Special?” Then “Wreck Trek” on Netflix is for you. Six trust fund babies fly to Germany, buy three junkers, and attempt to drive them to South Africa.
I am one episode in, and am astounded at the stupidity on display. Of the six, only one has any mechanical skills, and one of them can’t even drive stick (this is discovered after she is assigned to a manual transmission car). Oh, and one of the group flies into Munich instead of Berlin because they didn’t realize it was the wrong German city.
Their prepping of ~200 euro junkers consists of fitting roof racks & spotlights and having a group of spray-paint artists cover them in africa-themed murals. They then rig the lottery for who gets what car because they haven’t set off yet and four of them can’t stand the other two. And one of them gets the largest car because he packed too much luggage and it won’t fit in the other cars.
When they finally set off, they don’t even get to their first stopoff in Germany before massively overheating the engine in one car by running down the autobahn in 3rd gear. Then they get a flat on their support SUV and discover that not only is the spare tire holder rusted in place, but the spare is flat. Because CHECKING THE SPARE on the SUPPORT VEHICLE was apparently less vital than painting the cars to look cool.
While this is going on, the organizer takes great pains to point out that he wants to do this to show how “anyone can do this.” He says this having flown to Germany, bought three cars, arranged a support vehicle, and about to spend a couple of weeks of unpaid time driving across two continents to South Africa, where they plan to abandon the cars they bought and fly home.
(spite watch = show you watch just to yell at the TV about how incompetent the people on it are).
"GUYMANDUDE" (guymandudebro)
03/08/2017 at 10:12, STARS: 1
I was expecting roadkill meets top Gear adventures. I was disappointed. I made it to the part where their “mechanic” was whining at the dealership that they were not going to be able to fix the immobilizer. Then I saw, coming up they paint the cars. That was it for me.
If he pulled up a wiring diagram and bypassed the immobilizer then proceeded to do some free mods to make the cars more badass I would have been in.
"Pixel" (Improbcat)
03/08/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 1
I only got past that because I was yelling at the TV “if it’s cutting the fuel, bypass the thing and rig up a switch for the fuel pump!”
My partner was bored and asked if we could turn it off, until I told her I was only watching it to make fun of the idiots, then she got in the spirit of it and mocked them right along with me.
"GUYMANDUDE" (guymandudebro)
03/08/2017 at 10:49, STARS: 0
I might have to give this show another try, from a new perspective.
Lower expectations. Maybe something like watching a trash fire.
When I finally hear them ask an African local where the nearest citrion dealership is, my day will be complete.
"shthar" (shthar)
03/21/2017 at 21:40, STARS: 0
all the mechanic and lovey want to do is just drive. Experience different cultures? Meet new people? Eat new foods?
FUCK! JUST KEEP MOVING!!!!!
Is this a race? Why the hell is he even here? The only people he has anything to do with in these places are people he already knew. If you don’t like africa, what the hell are you even doing there!?!?!?
If all you want to do is drive, why not just drive around town for 14 hours? Then at least you can sleep in your own bed.
They try to edit it so those two are the heroes and the other 4 are just whiny wimps. Well, they failed. The other four are at least willing to TRY to enjoy something besides driving, and not just bitch and moan about any second that they are not ON THE ROAD!
I Know it’s the journey not the destination, but the journey is not just about driving. At least it shouldn’t be.