RE: Alpine Premiere Edition open for orders

[JDansey]

JohnGoodridge said:

JDansey said:

From Autocar (http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/alpine-a120-sports-car-leaked-video)

"Autocar understands the engine will be a 1.8-litre unit derived from the turbocharged 1.6-litre used in the Renault Clio RS, although this is also yet to be confirmed. 250bhp is expected, but a 300bhp performance variant is also on the cards, as is a convertible. What we do know is that the car reaches 62mph from a standstill in 4.5sec."

I'm too poor for either, which is a shame as I love the old A110. Worth waiting for the fast one though?

a small l4 is at least in keeping with the A110, although it won't be quite the same screamer as the original of course. Issue for me (were I to be in the market) would be the quality of the DCT box which seems to have plagued enjoyment of the current clio. Personally I like the looks, yes it's derivative, but it is a good riff on the theme.

Totally on the same page as you. Fingers crossed for Alpine and for the A120...

[MustardCutter]

Krikkit said:

Looks cracking to me, want! Love the design cues back to the A110 etc, while retaining the modern elements. Can't wait to see it undisguised now.

Having seen the concept up close at Goodwood it did look rather lovely and these camouflaged prototypes look very similar to me.

[LotusOmega375D]

Funny how they're camouflaging them now, even though we were looking at those blue and white ones on here over 2 weeks ago.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[jonby]

gianlu said:

jonby said:

I managed fine on my iPhone................deposit paid.......it is refundable after all

I'm having problems too...but I'm on Android. Might be just an android issue. Do I need to go and buy an iphone to put a deposit???

I hope not for your sake ! If you did, sod's law would mean android phones are more compatible with the car when it arrives, than an iphone !

I did get stuck on one bit, where you put your card details in - I had to close the app and start it again in the end

But is all working fine now

Quite nice you get to choose your edition number

I suspect using the app isn't helped by the sheer numbers that must be on it today plus, a suspicion that this launched slightly earlier than initially planned

My main reservation is that I suspect I would want to upgrade to the hotter version in time and if so, I hope I wouldn't lose too much on this one on changing, but let's hope the launch edition has enough on it that it carries plenty of extras over the 'regular' versions, especially in the UK where it's launched later so possibly there won't be that many cars in launch spec

I also really hope the interior is somewhere close to the concept, which I think is one of the best features and also distinguishes itself from other manufacturers

[spikyone]

Am I the only one looking at this and thinking "it might be pretty, and RenaultSport have form for a decent chassis, but trying to sell a Renault for Porsche money is bloody insane"? I don't subscribe to the common PH idea that a Porsche is the answer to whatever question is being asked, but this will have to be pretty special to justify that sort of price. £35k at a push...

[dpop]

gianlu said:

jonby said:

I managed fine on my iPhone................deposit paid.......it is refundable after all

I'm having problems too...but I'm on Android. Might be just an android issue. Do I need to go and buy an iphone to put a deposit???

Yep...definitely not working on Android...

[Vee12V]

I'm optimistic but I'd definitely want to see the final spec, interior, etc before even considering ordering one.

[gonzales_turbo]

griffdude said:

lostmotel said:

V8 FOU said:

But what engine etc?

One can only dream it'd be an NA V6 a la Clio V6.

Or A310
Or A610

Which A610 exactly was N/A?

[fph]

The white Alpine concept looked great at Goodwood this year, also amazing how small the 60's original was in comparison.

[j90gta]

spikyone said:

Am I the only one looking at this and thinking "it might be pretty, and RenaultSport have form for a decent chassis, but trying to sell a Renault for Porsche money is bloody insane"? I don't subscribe to the common PH idea that a Porsche is the answer to whatever question is being asked, but this will have to be pretty special to justify that sort of price. £35k at a push...

This is what happened with previous Renault Alpines sold in the U.K.. A GTA handles better than a 911 of the same era and has better traction, even though at the time it seemed to be compared to the 944, yet very few people were willing to pay up to £30,000 for a plastic French car with iffy build quality and dodgy electrics!

[Leggy]

But the Peugeot RCZ was canned recently, is this going to fare any better?

[Kolbenkopp]

spikyone said:

Am I the only one looking at this and thinking "it might be pretty, and RenaultSport have form for a decent chassis, but trying to sell a Renault for Porsche money is bloody insane"? I don't subscribe to the common PH idea that a Porsche is the answer to whatever question is being asked, but this will have to be pretty special to justify that sort of price. £35k at a push...

I wonder if the quoted figure of €55 to €60k includes the French 'malus' car tax on everything even remotely fun? Think it's based on CO2 level and could be up to €8k going by things like previous Caymans.

On the other hand, not quite sure of the volumes they are trying to shift with Alpine. Let's assume it's closer to the 4C than to the 718. In which case it might seem an ambitious list price, but depreciation factored in -- there's a good chance it will end up cheaper to own than any new non special ed Porsche, at least on the LHD market.

E.g. I regret a bit not pulling the trigger on a launch edition 4C. Spending €50k on a car would have been a very big stretch for me. Not comfortable with that at all so I did not. But looking at the list and used prices now, list is over €60k and there's nothing used available for under €49k. Even if one factors in a €10k dealer markup, that's €3.3k depreciation / year. Nice. Gut feeling is that the Alpine won't be doing *much* worse due to rarity. The 718 is an excellent product, but not super cheap in TCO (depreciation, cost of main dealer maintenance...).

[Boulders]

gonzales_turbo said:

griffdude said:

lostmotel said:

V8 FOU said:

But what engine etc?

One can only dream it'd be an NA V6 a la Clio V6.

Or A310
Or A610

Which A610 exactly was N/A?

The forerunner to the A610, the Alpine V6 Gt was N/A, but you're correct in stating that the A610 was only ever FI.

[andy97]

I hope they build a rally version.

[JohnGoodridge]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yes I agree. In an ideal world it'd have a high-revving NA V6 and a 6MT. Back in our depressing real world, I suspect they've looked at the 718, Alfa 4C, and thought, 'well, as long as we're different/better...'

On the plus side (in my head at least) all the above makes the case for an Elise SC/Exige all the stronger.

[alibabasmart]

There is an email if you're having issues with the Android app. [e-mail]

[chrispj]

spikyone said:

Am I the only one looking at this and thinking "it might be pretty, and RenaultSport have form for a decent chassis, but trying to sell a Renault for Porsche money is bloody insane"? I don't subscribe to the common PH idea that a Porsche is the answer to whatever question is being asked, but this will have to be pretty special to justify that sort of price. £35k at a push...

Mid-engine, rear-drive coupe that will sell in small numbers, it's not going to come out at Ford Focus/Golf GTi money, is it?

Hopefully enough people will be able to look beyond the default Porsche and Audi alternatives that it will be a success. More choice in the segment can only be a good thing.

[jonby]

chrispj said:

spikyone said:

Am I the only one looking at this and thinking "it might be pretty, and RenaultSport have form for a decent chassis, but trying to sell a Renault for Porsche money is bloody insane"? I don't subscribe to the common PH idea that a Porsche is the answer to whatever question is being asked, but this will have to be pretty special to justify that sort of price. £35k at a push...

Mid-engine, rear-drive coupe that will sell in small numbers, it's not going to come out at Ford Focus/Golf GTi money, is it?

Hopefully enough people will be able to look beyond the default Porsche and Audi alternatives that it will be a success. More choice in the segment can only be a good thing.

I'm an Audi fan and run a diesel A7 as my DD, but I like this Alpine because it's not an Audi - I have an Aston as my main sports car but I want something cheaper (to run & to buy) that's still that bit different to the norm, fun, to keep a few miles off the Aston, that I can also do the occasional track day in. I wasn't impressed with the finished execution of the Alfa 4C, the GT4 is a fair bit more expensive and I am put off by the image of an Audi TT. I was actually considering a used Abarth Biposto....

[Quickmoose]

I reckon this will come in almost exactly as the 4C did...maybe a smidge better.
It (for me) doesn't look as nice but it is different, and 'good', pulling on historical sepia toned heart strings.
It'll handle better than the 4C but not quite as good as a Cayman
It will be as fast as either/both
It will have an interesting interior that won't be built quite as well as the Porsche, but hopefully a bit better than the Alfa.
I think it'll be very similar in tone/ethos as the Alfa, with maybe a bit of added practicality/space thrown in.

Nothing to back any of that up, other than opinion and known 'facts'

[tankplanker]

jonby said:

I'm an Audi fan and run a diesel A7 as my DD, but I like this Alpine because it's not an Audi - I have an Aston as my main sports car but I want something cheaper (to run & to buy) that's still that bit different to the norm, fun, to keep a few miles off the Aston, that I can also do the occasional track day in. I wasn't impressed with the finished execution of the Alfa 4C, the GT4 is a fair bit more expensive and I am put off by the image of an Audi TT. I was actually considering a used Abarth Biposto....

I'm intrigued if you considered the Lotus Elise or Exige as this sort of cash would get you into a Exige Sport 350, which is also mid engined, light weight but has a super charged V6. I'd expect the Exige to be considerably faster on the track than the Alpine and sharper to drive.