RE: Alpine A110: Driven

[anonymous-user]

The more I think about this car the more I really want to try one.

[Didzz]

In France, customer tests drive and deliveries have started and we're starting having real customers' feedback which is shared
on FAR forum, one of most famous french Alpine forum. For me, it's even more relevant than press test drive.
I google translate the feedback of 2 future customers who tried the car :

1
As promised and planned and afternoon I had the chance to drive the Alpine through my dealer in Valencia, I also thank Baptiste who was top and made me a crazy course over 60 km!
So already to see the 3 PE three colors aligned it feels good! Good I stay on my choice of the white! As for the numbers, the white number is 686.

Well let's go to the tests I first rolled 10 km in normal mode, and I can already tell you that it is ultra comfort with a touchdown sport but no noise or stop on the fittings, for the engine part, the noise is good, present by the admission and the West spoils the turbo ... nice without being intrusive, and from outside we can hear the exhaust which is really nice to stuck to the sporty image of the car !! the box is soft and is made forget .... big feeling of lightness that changes me compared to all that I had and that I currently have (Audi r8 v8 ttrs Megane cup rs m135i or m235i) car that flies over the road and is located like a motorcycle ...
Sport mode: exhaust noise that changes Radically, hoarse and fizz has thrown gas ... top (mandatory optional), hears less westgate blow .... it goes well and must be metered gases to get the best progressivity and acceleration and it goes fast and well, braking and hop ultra tight turn and we go again and so on with pop pops, brouaaap, finally sport and fun .... and we realize that I go quickly compared to the other and I would say that the Alpine hides a bit the speed at which we evolve .... so be careful a stretch after a sharp turn or we pass like a ball because we do not move the trajectory and we do not load tires or excessively rolling trains, and hop 2 then 3 then 4 and hoooo it is a 1 .. good anymore would not really good ... but sincerely it goes with security and huge margin. .. really bluffing..alor it is not a lambo eh but on secondary road it will have to contain ... e t more on these road a lambo would have well sweated !!! and there I had conditions of crazy 15 degrees veiled sun..the top if joined l arrived at the neck.

Here I am super happy with this test flying in hand and I can not wait to have it!
Again thank you to Baptiste who received me very well and we see that he puts personal interest in his work in addition to that ask by his post!


2
Hello everyone,
I owned a 1600S in 1973, demo car bought 30 000 francs at the dealer Renault du Havre, car with which I traveled 80 000 km before reselling. I must admit that among all the cars that I had after, it was the Alpine that left me the most moving memory, pleasure of driving, precision of the direction, etc ...
I had planned to try to find a 1600S once retired, but all my research did not give an acceptable result, either at the level of the state of the car or at the price, which began to revolve around 100k €.
Having missed the possibility of retaining an EP in December 2016, I waited for the Geneva Motor Show and on March 7th I reserved the number 3148 ...
Also this morning, I was able to try a beautiful blue PE with Baptiste, manager of Alpine Valence, with the same courses as that of Vincent last Saturday, leading to the Col des Limouches.
The weather was beautiful. At standstill the driving position is ideal, even in the absence of Sabelt adjustment. A special mention for the excellent readability and finesse of both screens, as well as the softness of the controls.
Departure in normal mode, very pleasant driving, no jerking, sporty sound but not too invasive, surprising suspension of comfort, in short a car really usable daily, on a gas net, even in 7th.
Press the button sport and there is a whole other music: accelerations accompanied by the sound of the exhaust released are truly mesmerizing (I said having owned a Catheram CSR200 and a 911S) and I had the impression that the Pleasure was still superior, probably felt problem. The revs are impressive and the downshift phases with the exhaust ratatouillis enjoyable. As for handling in the pins of the collar, incredible, even in pins with full visibility, so with the ability to use the entire width of the road, no way to have it unhooked. Well, it was the first time I drove it and I remember the accident of Trappes! and I had a passenger ...
On my way home, calmly, I was proud that Alpine was able to produce such a car ...
Thanks again to Baptiste for this very nice essay.
And like many others, I'm waiting for the moment to place the order ...

Edited by Didzz on Friday 6th April 08:11

[bcr5784]

While it's good to get the reaction of Joe Public, unfortunately I gleaned very little real insight from those reports (which I'd already read on the FAR websight) . Google translate is at least partly to blame (especially in the first report) - but all I really got from it was that they both liked the car. Reassuring but hardly analytical. Hopefully we'll get more reports as demonstration cars get delivered to all of the continental dealers.

[Didzz]

It's good to see those who tried the car were enthusiastis.
The dealer from Valence said he had only 5 or 6 test drives mostly with customers of the FE.
He said they all went down the car with the banana...

[Gad-Westy]

bcr5784 said:

While it's good to get the reaction of Joe Public, unfortunately I gleaned very little real insight from those reports (which I'd already read on the FAR websight) . Google translate is at least partly to blame (especially in the first report) - but all I really got from it was that they both liked the car. Reassuring but hardly analytical. Hopefully we'll get more reports as demonstration cars get delivered to all of the continental dealers.

Nonsense. I learned that it's located like a motorcycle.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Friday 6th April 09:53

[Prestonese]

Didzz said:

It's good to see those who tried the car were enthusiastis.
The dealer from Valence said he had only 5 or 6 test drives mostly with customers of the FE.
He said they all went down the car with the banana...

Say what? I hope that's just Google translate being mischievous!

[Didzz]

Having the banana is an expression telling you're smiling from ear to ear
But you can also understand having the banana elsewhere, though.

[Toltec]

bcr5784 said:

While it's good to get the reaction of Joe Public, unfortunately I gleaned very little real insight from those reports (which I'd already read on the FAR websight) . Google translate is at least partly to blame (especially in the first report) - but all I really got from it was that they both liked the car. Reassuring but hardly analytical. Hopefully we'll get more reports as demonstration cars get delivered to all of the continental dealers.

Google translate may have mangled parts, however "downshift phases with the exhaust ratatouillis" is still pretty evocative.

[blueg33]

Unfortunately, I suspect that the car won't sell is big numbers in the UK, too many people with £50k to spend on a car want the badge Porsche or Audi and/or pub bragging about 0-60mph. They will miss out on what is probably an very good drivers car, but I also suspect that the same people wouldn't know how to experience it at its best.

Edited by roops.mod on Saturday 7th April 15:05

[bcr5784]

blueg33 said:

Unfortunately, I suspect that the car won't sell is big numbers in the UK, too many people with £50k to spend on a car want the badge Porsche or Audi and/or pub bragging about 0-60mph. They will miss out on what is probably an very good drivers car, but I also suspect that the same people wouldn't know how to experience it at its best.

I think you are right unless Porsche align their prices with their continental ones, or Alpine use the exchange rate which existed before Brexit caused the pound to fall. That was around 1.30 and would make the Alpine around 15% cheaper - or around £41500 for the Pure or quite a lot cheaper than a PDK Cayman, as well as being better equipped. A similarly equipped Base Cayman is over £48000. With that sort of differential I think quite a few people would forego the badge. The UK dealers are in France for their induction course this weekend, I'm hoping that a UK price will be announced - only the French (and I assume Euro area) plus the Swiss Franc prices have been announced so far, and the prices for options have not been announced at all. It would put a PE at £45000 vs £58000 for a similar spec Cayman. Now that really would make me happy!

Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 6th April 12:33

Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 6th April 12:42

[wst]

Toltec said:

bcr5784 said:

While it's good to get the reaction of Joe Public, unfortunately I gleaned very little real insight from those reports (which I'd already read on the FAR websight) . Google translate is at least partly to blame (especially in the first report) - but all I really got from it was that they both liked the car. Reassuring but hardly analytical. Hopefully we'll get more reports as demonstration cars get delivered to all of the continental dealers.

Google translate may have mangled parts, however "downshift phases with the exhaust ratatouillis" is still pretty evocative.

I propose a motion that the crackling and banging out of any French car exhaust henceforth be referred to as "ratatouille". Say it angrily out loud... try it.

[Helicopter123]

rockin said:

blade7 said:

Why would someone plonk down £50k+ for this french clutter, when they could buy a better Lotus?

Presumably because they've forgotten Renault's last attempt, the Renault Sport Spider, was blown out of the water when Elise was launched. However, that was 20 years ago and Lotus think they can now charge £100k for a warmed-over version of fundamentally the same car. This £50 Renault Alpine might just cut the mustard although, as ever, 50 pages of internet enthusiasm won't amount to a row of beans unless punters actually buy the cars. We all know what happened to Toyota GT86 and Alfa 4C.

Renault did have another bash after the SS

[Toltec]

Helicopter123 said:

Renault did have another bash after the SS

If the engine and drivewheels had been at the right end that could have been a fun car.

[HTP99]

Toltec said:

Helicopter123 said:

Renault did have another bash after the SS

If the engine and drivewheels had been at the right end that could have been a fun car.

TBF it is a fun car, it just looks hideous and is called "Wind"

[apex_mb]

DaveGB said:

Just caught up with this thread after TG episode.

Find it funny that everyone keeps going in about perfomance figures vs Cayman, when Alpine from day one have constantly stated the car is not about 0-60 or track times, but more about the fun factor, All the reviews I have seen have confirmed they have achieved this to a great success,

I feel the Alpine is closer to Lotus in terms philosophy of weight reduction, fun factor etc. Not surprising then as a Lotus owner I have the PE on order.

Re price, take away the badge snobbery, look at the spec of the car build and then the fact it’s sold out with large waiting lists , it’s hard to argue the car represents good value to those who want one,

Lastly the like / dislike for the car shows how subjective cars are for us all. No one is right or wrong . We all like different cars and thank god for that otherwise the roads and cars meets would be boring

Agree wholeheartedly with this. As a long time reader of PH and with a massive interest in all things automotive/motorsport, albeit this being my first post, I've been reading the reactions to the Alpine with intrigue.

Here's a car that has, on the evidence so far, been genuinely and passionately been developed to put fun and driver enjoyment much higher on the priority list than is typically the norm. It looks great in the metal (to my eyes), is easy to get in and out of (a necessity for my garage), has a good blend of capabilities for road trips and occasional track days and given the components, chassis design etc, appears to be thoroughly engineered by people that knew what they wanted to achieve. Yes, you need to see beyond the badge and some of the interior fit and finish to swallow the price, but I'm very excited to try something that isn't always the default choice, that is a bit more unique and different and will be bought by like minded people, not those that put the badge first, largest wheel size second.

With the Top Gear fire, the departure of senior team members, the delivery delays and the lack of a confirmed UK price - and one that inevitably puts it right in the middle of Cayman territory - it's obvious that Alpine have their work cut out to gain traction over here. We can all try and second guess whether the UK sales volume will be enough, whether their future model roadmap comes to fruition and has market appeal, whether the roll out of dealerships increases, whether the A110 will be reliable etc and what all of that will do to future values (perhaps my biggest concern!). But ultimately, as a lover of fun, fast-ish, attainable-ish cars, it is great to have a new option to choose from.

I missed out on a PE but do have a reservation for one of the next models - I might see sense during the now 12-15 month waiting list, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy watching these debates playout until I drive it for myself.

[nickfrog]

Helicopter123 said:

Renault did have another bash after the SS

And look what the Wind did to that poor bloke's hair.

[blueg33]

nickfrog said:

Helicopter123 said:

Renault did have another bash after the SS

And look what the Wind did to that poor bloke's hair.

Seat appears to be set a tad high

[blearyeyedboy]

Helicopter123 said:

Renault did have another bash after the SS

That's rather like saying that Porsche had a go before releasing the Cayman, isn't it?

[Toltec]

blueg33 said:

nickfrog said:

Helicopter123 said:

Renault did have another bash after the SS

And look what the Wind did to that poor bloke's hair.

Seat appears to be set a tad high

Tiller steering is different too.

[Blayney]

apex_mb said:

DaveGB said:

Just caught up with this thread after TG episode.

Find it funny that everyone keeps going in about perfomance figures vs Cayman, when Alpine from day one have constantly stated the car is not about 0-60 or track times, but more about the fun factor, All the reviews I have seen have confirmed they have achieved this to a great success,

I feel the Alpine is closer to Lotus in terms philosophy of weight reduction, fun factor etc. Not surprising then as a Lotus owner I have the PE on order.

Re price, take away the badge snobbery, look at the spec of the car build and then the fact it’s sold out with large waiting lists , it’s hard to argue the car represents good value to those who want one,

Lastly the like / dislike for the car shows how subjective cars are for us all. No one is right or wrong . We all like different cars and thank god for that otherwise the roads and cars meets would be boring

Agree wholeheartedly with this. As a long time reader of PH and with a massive interest in all things automotive/motorsport, albeit this being my first post, I've been reading the reactions to the Alpine with intrigue.

Here's a car that has, on the evidence so far, been genuinely and passionately been developed to put fun and driver enjoyment much higher on the priority list than is typically the norm. It looks great in the metal (to my eyes), is easy to get in and out of (a necessity for my garage), has a good blend of capabilities for road trips and occasional track days and given the components, chassis design etc, appears to be thoroughly engineered by people that knew what they wanted to achieve. Yes, you need to see beyond the badge and some of the interior fit and finish to swallow the price, but I'm very excited to try something that isn't always the default choice, that is a bit more unique and different and will be bought by like minded people, not those that put the badge first, largest wheel size second.

With the Top Gear fire, the departure of senior team members, the delivery delays and the lack of a confirmed UK price - and one that inevitably puts it right in the middle of Cayman territory - it's obvious that Alpine have their work cut out to gain traction over here. We can all try and second guess whether the UK sales volume will be enough, whether their future model roadmap comes to fruition and has market appeal, whether the roll out of dealerships increases, whether the A110 will be reliable etc and what all of that will do to future values (perhaps my biggest concern!). But ultimately, as a lover of fun, fast-ish, attainable-ish cars, it is great to have a new option to choose from.

I missed out on a PE but do have a reservation for one of the next models - I might see sense during the now 12-15 month waiting list, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy watching these debates playout until I drive it for myself.

Good opening post and welcome to forums (although it sounds like you're a silent veteran!).

Please do a readers cars thread if you go through with the purchase. I'd love to read about the ownership experience of one of these lovely cars.

Edited by Blayney on Saturday 7th April 10:52