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Alex Eckford went to meet the power-sliding lasagne-loving legend at his Hampshire home, and found out why he hasn’t owned a car for 24 years.

"We're going to the pub. We'll take your car."

I've just arrived at Tiff Needell's Hampshire home, nestled away on a quiet, tree-shrouded road, and suddenly a man whose motoring history reads like a what's what of motor sport is sitting in the passenger seat of my car. It's like J.K. Rowling asking you to read her the story you've written about wizards, or Stephen Hawking quizzing you about the cosmos. No pressure.

"They've sent you the long way round," says Tiff, eyeing the printouts from route-finding websites I've brought with me to help me find his house. "No, they've definitely sent you the wrong way, there," says Tiff. At least it's distracting him from my driving.

Lasagne

We arrive at our destination in one piece, and ask if they're still doing food. Tiff opts for a pint of Ringwood and the lasagne and chips, asking the bar staff how runny it is ("I like to dip my chips in it").

We settle down to talk about all things auto-related. I ask what car Tiff owns at the moment.

"I haven't owned a car since 1982. I don't need to - I've always got a test car to drive. People always ask me what I've got in my garage - I've got nothing! I built myself a garage, but the only things in it are a lawnmower and a quadbike," says Tiff.

Fifth Gear

The new series of Channel 5's motoring show Fifth Gear has started. I ask Tiff how filming of the new series is going.

"Brilliant - we're all up and running. I'm getting to drive some great cars - I've just filmed a piece with an Evo, which was good, but they're a little more prone to understeer than they used to be. I've driven a Ferrari 599. But the fastest I've been this series was 171mph - on a bike," says Tiff.

One notable change to the series (apart from the new venue – the Ace Café) is the addition of Soccer AM presenter Tim Lovejoy as Tiff's co-host.

"It's very nice to have him onboard. He's a nice chap, but I haven't met him yet," says Tiff. "I film all my pieces out in the field - Vicki and Tim do all their pieces seperately."

Famously, Tiff was presenter of Top Gear throughout the 90s. After the show's cancellation in 2001, and before the BBC announced they would be resurrecting the show, Tiff and the show's producers went to Channel Five, and put a deal on the table. Fifth Gear was born, and has gone on to be a roaring success - the new series is the show's tenth.

Jeremy Clarkson

We drive back to Tiff's house, and I park my comparatively yawnsome estate next to a Tiff's (loaned) BMW 550 on the gravel driveway. Sophie the family dog greets us like long-lost relatives as we arrive.

We retire to the stone-slab floored kitchen. Tiff makes us a coffee, and we get onto the subject of Tiff's former co-presenters, and I ask how often he sees Jeremy Clarkson now they're working on different shows.

"Not enough, I don't think I've seen him since Christmas. I still read everything he writes, though. He's the only reason I buy the Sunday Times," says Tiff.

My anecdote sense is tingling.

"Jeremy has this great idea about replacing Parliament with three blokes who make decisions on everything. They'd decide everything on a best out of three basis. On everything. Need to build a bypass? Best out of three. Brilliant," says Tiff.

Tiff comes across as a likeable character onscreen, and I'm pleased to report he's just as affable in real life. As I accelerate away from his house, I (quite accidentally) do a little wheel spin, disturbing some of his gravel. It's my little nod to the greatest co-driver I'm ever likely to have in my car.

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Read our interview with Tiff's co-star Vicki Butler-Henderson.