Top Gear Middle East Special — Fresh & Top

They reach the Dead Sea, lowest point on Earth. They try to drive along the shore but get stuck in mud. James attempts to float in the sea (wearing a tweed jacket, naturally). They then head to Petra, the ancient Nabatean city.

They drive through spectacular mountain scenery. James’s BMW continues to misbehave (coolant loss, dodgy electrics). Jeremy’s Fiat has a tiny trunk, so he carries his luggage in the passenger seat. Richard’s Mazda is reliable but boring – “a hairdresser’s car in a war zone.” top gear middle east special

James’s BMW finally dies completely (head gasket failure). The trio push it into a garage in the middle of the Syrian desert. A local mechanic fixes it with scrap metal and wire for $20. They reach the Dead Sea, lowest point on Earth

In Syria, they drive through the ancient ruins of Palmyra and cause minor trouble by joking about “terrorist modifications” (roof-mounted machine guns). They are followed briefly by secret police but escape without incident. They then head to Petra, the ancient Nabatean city