Re : The Alpine A110 (finally) cometh | PH Fleet

[Hungrymc]

100 OCTANE said:

Hungrymc said:

That’s another example of how we like different things, or even the same things for different reasons. I love those scorpions, but not for their performance, I like the quirky-ness of single back wheel.

What attracted you to that over a more conventional 7 type car?

Because, I suppose I have the ability to think and do things out side of the box, however it can be challenging dealing with people who think inside the box.

Part of life's rich tapestry Octane. Maybe its a shame to find dealing with people who have different views challenging. Other peoples perspective can bring other factors into consideration, as has been evident through a lot of this thread.

I think the Grinnall is a fantastic thing and it sounds like yours was very sorted. I certainly wasn't challenging / questioning your choice. Was only interested in how you came to decide on one from the field of very low weight cars..... That you enjoy its unconventional / outside the box approach is as good a reason as any (which I think is what you are saying). They're certainly a car I'd like to own for a spell.

[DoubleD]

Hungrymc said:

That’s another example of how we like different things, or even the same things for different reasons. I love those scorpions, but not for their performance, I like the quirky-ness of single back wheel.

What attracted you to that over a more conventional 7 type car?

Yep, different people like different things. Nobody is wrong in what type of car they like, but also nobody is better than someone else who likes different things to them. It all comes back to choice and more choice is always a good thing.

[100 OCTANE]

Hungrymc said:

100 OCTANE said:

Hungrymc said:

That’s another example of how we like different things, or even the same things for different reasons. I love those scorpions, but not for their performance, I like the quirky-ness of single back wheel.

What attracted you to that over a more conventional 7 type car?

Because, I suppose I have the ability to think and do things out side of the box, however it can be challenging dealing with people who think inside the box.

Part of life's rich tapestry Octane. Maybe its a shame to find dealing with people who have different views challenging. Other peoples perspective can bring other factors into consideration, as has been evident through a lot of this thread.

I think the Grinnall is a fantastic thing and it sounds like yours was very sorted. I certainly wasn't challenging / questioning your choice. Was only interested in how you came to decide on one from the field of very low weight cars..... That you enjoy its unconventional / outside the box approach is as good a reason as any (which I think is what you are saying). They're certainly a car I'd like to own for a spell.

Yes your exactly right, most people can’t see beyond the three wheels. The single rear wheel only limitation is grip, but this only applies to the type of tyre and its size, other than that it works very well, this is because the rear of the car has a perfect lateral weight distribution and differential.

[anonymous-user]

100 OCTANE said:

The single rear wheel's only limitation is grip

Plus it's impossible to

• Straddle speed bumps, or
• Avoid potholes.

[DoubleD]

rockin said:

100 OCTANE said:

The single rear wheel's only limitation is grip

Plus it's impossible to

• Straddle speed bumps, or
• Avoid potholes.

I would imagine it would have limited traction as well?

But if its fun then that's all that matters, rather than if its technically the best, a bit like I find for manual gearboxes (yes yes groan that again) over automatics.

[100 OCTANE]

DoubleD said:

rockin said:

100 OCTANE said:

The single rear wheel's only limitation is grip

Plus it's impossible to

• Straddle speed bumps, or
• Avoid potholes.

I would imagine it would have limited traction as well?

But if its fun then that's all that matters, rather than if its technically the best, a bit like I find for manual gearboxes (yes yes groan that again) over automatics.

Using Grinnall’s dog box with flat shift was so much fun, it was mental shifting at 10,000 rpm and it only took 30ms to complete, a tad quicker than a manual.

[DoubleD]

100 OCTANE said:

DoubleD said:

rockin said:

100 OCTANE said:

The single rear wheel's only limitation is grip

Plus it's impossible to

• Straddle speed bumps, or
• Avoid potholes.

I would imagine it would have limited traction as well?

But if its fun then that's all that matters, rather than if its technically the best, a bit like I find for manual gearboxes (yes yes groan that again) over automatics.

Using Grinnall’s dog box with flat shift was so much fun, it was mental shifting at 10,000 rpm and it only took 30ms to complete, a tad quicker than a manual.

Well, whatever you find more fun is the most important thing.

[Franzino]

100 OCTANE said:

They could have fitted a lighter main battery.

https://lithiumax-batteries.eu

[Franzino]

bcr5784 said:

Explain HOW? As far as I am concerned they made the right commercial choices.

True...

[Franzino]

DoubleD said:

For me, a sports car needs to have a manual gearbox, but others are happy with an automatic. Thats fine, but its not for me, so that is why I think they could have made a better sports car than what they ended up with.

They are a dying breed the manual sport cars....

[bcr5784]

Franzino said:

https://lithiumax-batteries.eu

I think that is probably the most cost effective way of reducing weight, without taking out infotainment, carpets, sound insulation or trim. That would probably save about 6kg. Still around £100 for every kg saved.

[Onehp]

bcr5784 said:

I think that is probably the most cost effective way of reducing weight, without taking out infotainment, carpets, sound insulation or trim. That would probably save about 6kg. Still around £100 for every kg saved.

When my non-A110 car battery needs replacing, one of those will save 17kg (MQB EA888) .. And if it actually last longer as they claim, total cost won't be more over the lifetime of the car... Some say they don't hold they charge so well, so oddly should make more sense on a daily.

[100 OCTANE]

bcr5784 said:

Franzino said:

https://lithiumax-batteries.eu

I think that is probably the most cost effective way of reducing weight, without taking out infotainment, carpets, sound insulation or trim. That would probably save about 6kg. Still around £100 for every kg saved.

Would it work with the high demand and deep-cycling for the stop/start system? Would it require a different charging rate from the alternator? Would the on board electronics recognise it as foreign? I have limited knowledge of electrics and electronics.

[bcr5784]

Onehp said:

When my non-A110 car battery needs replacing, one of those will save 17kg (MQB EA888) .. And if it actually last longer as they claim, total cost won't be more over the lifetime of the car... Some say they don't hold they charge so well, so oddly should make more sense on a daily.

17kg sounds like a lot. I don't know the actual weight of the battery Alpine use, but a 40AH Yuasa one only weighs 9.3kg to start with.

[Onehp]

bcr5784 said:

17kg sounds like a lot. I don't know the actual weight of the battery Alpine use, but a 40AH Yuasa one only weighs 9.3kg to start with.

22kg original on my 'regular' car.

As for electronics, at least on my VAG car, one must set the ECU to the battery type (ready setting, modern stuff are prepared for them it seems)...

[100 OCTANE]

https://twitter.com/alpinecarsuk/status/1225390208...

[Onehp]

Porsche always win in Ger... Oh wait!

[100 OCTANE]

Onehp said:

Porsche always win in Ger... Oh wait!

On the basis of like to like, I think the Alpine will always be more agile due to its light weight. Porsche won’t be able to compete with this, because they are too entrenched with the way they produce cars

[Helicopter123]

Franzino said:

DoubleD said:

For me, a sports car needs to have a manual gearbox, but others are happy with an automatic. Thats fine, but its not for me, so that is why I think they could have made a better sports car than what they ended up with.

They are a dying breed the manual sport cars....

I think the manual supercar is all but dead, but most sports car manufacturers still cater for the enthusiast.

Maybe the A110 will be fitted with one in the future?

[cerb4.5lee]

Helicopter123 said:

Franzino said:

DoubleD said:

For me, a sports car needs to have a manual gearbox, but others are happy with an automatic. Thats fine, but its not for me, so that is why I think they could have made a better sports car than what they ended up with.

They are a dying breed the manual sport cars....

I think the manual supercar is all but dead, but most sports car manufacturers still cater for the enthusiast.

Maybe the A110 will be fitted with one in the future?

I can't see them bothering to be fair. The A110 is a thoroughly modern sports car(in a positive way) with a turbo engine/electric steering/twin clutch gearbox/no LSD. A manual gearbox would be classed as too old hat I reckon.