RE: Alpine A110 | PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
voram said:
Hmmm, three year old Alpine or a brand new Porsche for the same money. I think I can guess which will be the more popular choice.
You can get a very lightly used 1 year old S for £57k - can you get a similar spec Porsche brand new for that?(I have no beef in the game as I own neither brands)
otolith said:
voram said:
Hmmm, three year old Alpine or a brand new Porsche for the same money. I think I can guess which will be the more popular choice.
Which will have lost more value when you move it on?PH User said:
howardhughes said:
PH User said:
Not my kind of car, buy I'm glad they exist.
Never saw the appeal TBH and certainly not at £50k either. Audi TT over this all day long.Interesting thread and actually not riddled with as much trolling as usual, which is rare in an Alpine thread. Strange comment from one contributor about Alpine owners being nasty. Strange because the cars are so rare, the likelihood of coming across an Alpine owner on the road is extremely rare, I would suggest! Most of the Alpine owners who have contributed to this and other threads seem fairly rationale to me.
This car is on my radar but probably 2-3 years away from being in a position to buy one. Assuming the second hand cars advertised at around the £48K mark are actually selling, the residuals are some of the best out there. Reminds me a bit of the BMW 1M, a car which has barely depreciated at all in the 10 years since its production. I like those too!
This car is on my radar but probably 2-3 years away from being in a position to buy one. Assuming the second hand cars advertised at around the £48K mark are actually selling, the residuals are some of the best out there. Reminds me a bit of the BMW 1M, a car which has barely depreciated at all in the 10 years since its production. I like those too!
greenarrow said:
This car is on my radar but probably 2-3 years away from being in a position to buy one. Assuming the second hand cars advertised at around the £48K mark are actually selling, the residuals are some of the best out there. Reminds me a bit of the BMW 1M, a car which has barely depreciated at all in the 10 years since its production. I like those too!
While I don't think cost of ownership will be top of the list when buying cars in this class. but the fact that pretty much every cost of ownership metric is lower than all the competing cars, is rather comforting for A110 owners. Depreciation is lowest in class. economy best in class, and and due to the (lack of) weight, pads and tyres all end up costing less than the competition.
As per usual, I am late to a fascinating PH thread. I've got a good excuse, though. I'm on vacation in Tuscany in my Cayman, which can pack two large duffel bags and a trolley, and also whizz through those verdant hills.
To use a term somebody used upthread, the little Cayman is a sports GT, and it's my only car, which is why I'd never buy an Alpine even though I like the looks (I see them often in Switzerland) and believe Dan Prosser et al. on the handling.
Then there's the money issue, which does matter. A year ago you could get a good ten-year-old 997.2 for the price of a used Alpine. There's no way I wouldn't choose the 997.2 as my only car.
To use a term somebody used upthread, the little Cayman is a sports GT, and it's my only car, which is why I'd never buy an Alpine even though I like the looks (I see them often in Switzerland) and believe Dan Prosser et al. on the handling.
Then there's the money issue, which does matter. A year ago you could get a good ten-year-old 997.2 for the price of a used Alpine. There's no way I wouldn't choose the 997.2 as my only car.
Fink-Nottle said:
Then there's the money issue, which does matter. A year ago you could get a good ten-year-old 997.2 for the price of a used Alpine. There's no way I wouldn't choose the 997.2 as my only car.
As I explain above the cost of ownership of an A110 is EXTREMELY low. The high secondhand prices contribute, rather than detract from that. By your argument a Caterham or Morgan would be expensive to own - whereas they are probably cheaper to run than practically anything in their price bracket.I'm also a bit late to this thread... Alongside my Alpine PE I have a manual 2.9 Cayman (which my son mostly uses). In the past I also had a Cayman S Sport.
Both are a real pleasure to drive, more than quick enough for UK roads, and I like the sound both make although the 6 cylinder Cayman ultimately sounds better up the rev range. The Cayman has a short shift gearchange which is really satisfying.
But the Alpine is more special, the ride is more supple, it's ability to absorb mid corner bumps is uncanny, and it is - and feels - so much lighter. The paddle shift is superb and the auto just makes the car so relevant for the dismal traffic conditions we get in the South East. It's the first non-manual car where I genuinely don't miss a clutch pedal and gear lever. Plus it's quieter - particularly tyre noise - and the seats are brilliant. The infotainment is its weakest link but Waze is better than any satnav I have used, and I can hear the music so that's not decisive. I do like the digital oil temp display though.
If I had to choose between them I would take the Alpine (I don't play golf). It genuinely is pleasing even at low speed, and magical when pressing on. Everyone who tries it loves it, and those that can afford it go and buy one.
Both are a real pleasure to drive, more than quick enough for UK roads, and I like the sound both make although the 6 cylinder Cayman ultimately sounds better up the rev range. The Cayman has a short shift gearchange which is really satisfying.
But the Alpine is more special, the ride is more supple, it's ability to absorb mid corner bumps is uncanny, and it is - and feels - so much lighter. The paddle shift is superb and the auto just makes the car so relevant for the dismal traffic conditions we get in the South East. It's the first non-manual car where I genuinely don't miss a clutch pedal and gear lever. Plus it's quieter - particularly tyre noise - and the seats are brilliant. The infotainment is its weakest link but Waze is better than any satnav I have used, and I can hear the music so that's not decisive. I do like the digital oil temp display though.
If I had to choose between them I would take the Alpine (I don't play golf). It genuinely is pleasing even at low speed, and magical when pressing on. Everyone who tries it loves it, and those that can afford it go and buy one.
bcr5784 said:
While I don't think cost of ownership will be top of the list when buying cars in this class. but the fact that pretty much every cost of ownership metric is lower than all the competing cars, is rather comforting for A110 owners. Depreciation is lowest in class. economy best in class, and and due to the (lack of) weight, pads and tyres all end up costing less than the competition.
The only cost of any consequence amongst those is depreciation, which is not the best in class - it’s no different to a 718 Cayman S which also sells for list, despite being 4 years old. No idea on the TT/4C.Hell, I just got an offer out of the blue (from a Porsche specialist) for my my 8 year old 981CS. It was 8% under list.
I wouldn’t over-egg that pudding.
As for economy - well yes, it’s a 1.8 four pot. It would be very concerning if it was less efficient than the competition. Apparently my 3.4 F6 can get decent economy on a cruise? Who knew - I spend the entire time in Sport+, generally driving in a ‘spirited’ way and my economy is atrocious. Doesn’t even cross my mind.
Edited by Royal Jelly on Tuesday 7th September 05:51
A cayman wouldn't be on my radar, much as it's a v good car. I can totally see why it makes the most sense to some though - including the badge. (and I don't mean that negatively)
Alpine or Lotus is the question for me, and I find the Alpine much more usable, and in particular is a great daily driver whereas the Lotus isn't. So, you end up getting more unplanned opportunities to have some fun in it. Lotus generally involves planning to take it somewhere for a blast, so ends up being used less.
it is not perfect, but it's more engaging than almost all modern stuff, and it fills a niche between Porsche and Lotus. Not a direct competitor for either, imo.
A niche almost by definition means it will have fewer people who want/get it, and more who don't. No shame in that!
Alpine or Lotus is the question for me, and I find the Alpine much more usable, and in particular is a great daily driver whereas the Lotus isn't. So, you end up getting more unplanned opportunities to have some fun in it. Lotus generally involves planning to take it somewhere for a blast, so ends up being used less.
it is not perfect, but it's more engaging than almost all modern stuff, and it fills a niche between Porsche and Lotus. Not a direct competitor for either, imo.
A niche almost by definition means it will have fewer people who want/get it, and more who don't. No shame in that!
Royal Jelly said:
bcr5784 said:
While I don't think cost of ownership will be top of the list when buying cars in this class. but the fact that pretty much every cost of ownership metric is lower than all the competing cars, is rather comforting for A110 owners. Depreciation is lowest in class. economy best in class, and and due to the (lack of) weight, pads and tyres all end up costing less than the competition.
The only cost of any consequence amongst those is depreciation, which is not the best in class - it’s no different to a 718 Cayman S which also sells for list, despite being 4 years old. No idea on the TT/4C.Hell, I just got an offer out of the blue (from a Porsche specialist) for my my 8 year old 981CS. It was 8% under list.
I wouldn’t over-egg that pudding.
As for economy - well yes, it’s a 1.8 four pot. It would be very concerning if it was less efficient than the competition. Apparently my 3.4 F6 can get decent economy on a cruise? Who knew - I spend the entire time in Sport+, generally driving in a ‘spirited’ way and my economy is atrocious. Doesn’t even cross my mind.
Edited by Royal Jelly on Tuesday 7th September 05:51
As for fuel economy, well for most folks it is a factor. The EVO test mpg of their 718 Cayman S was 24.6 MPG, the Alpine 34.4 MPG. Quite a difference for two four cylinder models I am sure you would agree!
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