RE: Alpine A110: Driven
Discussion
the level of ignorance about the Alpine (Alpine/Caterham) platform is sad but inevitable i guess. Sales would be stronger if it were better understood. i know the first year's production is pre-sold but it needs to sustain more years than that. Hopefully the car will deliver on its promise in driving behaviour and Alpine will thrive from there. The vanilla compromises from most mainstream manufacturers are too easily consumed by most people. Maybe PH should do an article on why the various components of the Alpine are important to help spread awareness not just for this car but others. I'm thinking of weight, double wishbones, track width among others.
Never owned a Renault and have a tiny history of French car ownership, but i have total respect and hope for what these guys are doing.
Never owned a Renault and have a tiny history of French car ownership, but i have total respect and hope for what these guys are doing.
DukeDickson said:
HighwayStar said:
DukeDickson said:
Braver man than me. The negative air-con is one thing, but the strident price as well, while being less than inspiring in other ways would definitely see the cash not leaving the bank.
Needs more IMHO. Either a love of all things French, or something exciting or unique. A messed about Mégane RS in a nice frock isn't enough.
Seriously!!! Needs more IMHO. Either a love of all things French, or something exciting or unique. A messed about Mégane RS in a nice frock isn't enough.
Edited by DukeDickson on Monday 2nd April 01:09
If we were talking about a Golf and an Audi TT then yes but the A110 a messed about Megan on a frock!!! Completely different cars in lay out and construction with only the same 1.8T and a few interior parts...
Totally clueless... D-.
I'm obviously assuming you are fully aware of platform costs
Anyway, down to business. Watch this...
https://youtu.be/-hB2_TnXf4A
Read this:
http://www.evo.co.uk/alpine/a110
So, care to point out the Megane RS platform..??
Now Dick, how much and to what charity?
Helicopter123 said:
Did they not say on top gear that the engine was from a Megan's and that the interior mostly came from the Renault parts bin? I'm sure things like suspension components and electronics would come from Renault too? Not being critical but but to pretend otherwise a little absurd?
Who's pretending otherwise? 
The argument is that the Alpine is a 'Megane in a frock'
If you consider a 'frock' to be a fully bespoke aluminium chassis/shell and bespoke running gear/suspension components with the two cars sharing an engine, some interior parts and some electronics then, hell, he's right
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/7dvHmgRW.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/kFjWkDOb" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kFjWkDOb.jpg)
Handbrake switch is the same as a Kadjar. It's a Kadjar in a dress and no more.From what I've seen, the only shared interior bits are:
- Indicator/wiper stalks, these you will find in a Clio and Captur.
- Stereo remote to the right of the steering column.
- Electronic parking brake switch and cruise control switch set up; Kadjar, Koleos, Megane and Scenic.
- Electric mirror switch, Kadjar, Koleos and the odd Nissan.
DDg said:
HighwayStar said:
Yes I am aware of platform costs, are you? That’s why it’s cost what it does...
Anyway, down to business. Watch this...
https://youtu.be/-hB2_TnXf4A
Read this:
http://www.evo.co.uk/alpine/a110
HighwayStar, stop fighting it - it's just a Megane with the steering column and seats flipped 180 degrees... ;-)Anyway, down to business. Watch this...
https://youtu.be/-hB2_TnXf4A
Read this:
http://www.evo.co.uk/alpine/a110
Share large percentage DNA.
Similar layout of skeleton and organs.
Most dogs live as part of a human family.
Therefore a dog is clearly a human in a furry suit.
Obviously the A110 is not a Megane. Parts sharing is something the car industry has done for many decades. Even identical drivetrain & switchgear does not make car A the same as car B.
Ffs.
It's clearly a megane, obvious when you look at it. Oozes out everywhere, in the same vain it's exactly the same as the Alfa 4c, they took a mito chassis cut it up a bit and charged way to much for it, they all learn from the best the Veyron being a hotted up R8 which in turn is just a modified golf.
The Alpine is wonderful, the interior pictures a few up show that it oozes quality, plus they have a sold out first order book , IIRC the premier edition of 1955 units sold out in 5 days, just goes to show the dreamers and naysayers on here largely don't have any say in day to day car buying. Surely if they did everyone would have around 3 to 4 gt86s each.
It's clearly a megane, obvious when you look at it. Oozes out everywhere, in the same vain it's exactly the same as the Alfa 4c, they took a mito chassis cut it up a bit and charged way to much for it, they all learn from the best the Veyron being a hotted up R8 which in turn is just a modified golf.
The Alpine is wonderful, the interior pictures a few up show that it oozes quality, plus they have a sold out first order book , IIRC the premier edition of 1955 units sold out in 5 days, just goes to show the dreamers and naysayers on here largely don't have any say in day to day car buying. Surely if they did everyone would have around 3 to 4 gt86s each.
I'm at a loss to understand why people complain about the switchgear when comparing it with a Cayman. There is no doubt that in the showroom the swithchgear of the Cayman looks more upmarket - but drive the car and it's a different story. The heater controls are obscured by gearlever/selector, many switches cause the driver to divert his gaze from the road much too far. Some switches - the indicators, in particular, have a horrid springy action that would be unacceptable in a Dacia. The "mode" switch on the steering wheel could have come out of a Kinder egg. To cap it all the handbrake is ideally situated if you have a 9 inch limb growing out of your right kneecap.
Perhaps I exaggerate a little ( it is only a little) but I would be amazed if the switchgear in the Alpine wasn't easier and more pleasant to use.
Perhaps I exaggerate a little ( it is only a little) but I would be amazed if the switchgear in the Alpine wasn't easier and more pleasant to use.
Edited by bcr5784 on Sunday 8th April 11:06
DDg said:
Jokes aside, I think it'll be great, and I can understand why it's not going to be a cheap car, but I always scratch my head at claims it was sold out in days / weeks. When I used the Alpine App fairly late on last Summer, there were quite a few PE slots still available. Now, if I had gone through with it at the time I might well have been contacted to say "sorry Monsieur, but le app is a bit merde and is ne pas correct", but I have a small feeling I might still be offered a PE slot to replace my standard car deposit as one or two waverers may drop out, although I'm looking to keep the price as low as possible. Just being realistic.
The 5 days wasn't entirely true - but I believe the LHD allocation did sell out that quickly. The RHD cars were still available at the beginning of the 2017 Geneva show but were, to my certain knowledge all gone before the end of the show. Maybe there has been the odd cancelled order - the delivery delays have certainly frustrated quite a lot of buyers.
[sarcasm]
Michelin makes the tyres for the A110. You can buy Michelin tyres for any car...
And the window are made of glass instead of some other see-through composite!
As for aluminium, tsk, I have saucepans made of that common muck.
So much for "bespoke"! I demand that Renault deliver me a properly made bespoke sportscar, tailored for me purely from unobtainium and running on tyres made of ostrich feathers. Oh, and because they're French I demand they recognise that I would be doing them a favour to buy it. In fact, they should pay me to sully myself by having to sit in something that's not made in Germany.
Renault should just give up and make, er, Twingos while crying about how beautifully the Germans make cars like the VW Polo that they never could.
[ /sarcasm]
Michelin makes the tyres for the A110. You can buy Michelin tyres for any car...
And the window are made of glass instead of some other see-through composite!
As for aluminium, tsk, I have saucepans made of that common muck.
So much for "bespoke"! I demand that Renault deliver me a properly made bespoke sportscar, tailored for me purely from unobtainium and running on tyres made of ostrich feathers. Oh, and because they're French I demand they recognise that I would be doing them a favour to buy it. In fact, they should pay me to sully myself by having to sit in something that's not made in Germany.
Renault should just give up and make, er, Twingos while crying about how beautifully the Germans make cars like the VW Polo that they never could.
[ /sarcasm]
blearyeyedboy][sarcasm said:
Michelin makes the tyres for the A110. You can buy Michelin tyres for any car...
And the window are made of glass instead of some other see-through composite!
As for aluminium, tsk, I have saucepans made of that common muck.
So much for "bespoke"! I demand that Renault deliver me a properly made bespoke sportscar, tailored for me purely from unobtainium and running on tyres made of ostrich feathers. Oh, and because they're French I demand they recognise that I would be doing them a favour to buy it. In fact, they should pay me to sully myself by having to sit in something that's not made in Germany.
Renault should just give up and make, er, Twingos while crying about how beautifully the Germans make cars like the VW Polo that they never could.
[ /sarcasm]
kers, I'm no longer quite so impressed. DDg said:
Anyone else noticed how the two faces of Alpine have departed - David Twohig to Chinese company, Byton, and Michael Van der Sande to Jaguar Land Rover? Surprises me a little, especially a move to JLR...
There was some debate on FAR (rather spoiled by moderator intervention) as to whether this be related to the delays in deliveries - and presumably escalation in costs - or whether they were capitalising on a well received product. We'll probably not find out soon and by the time we do we will be no longer interested.HTP99 said:
From what I've seen, the only shared interior bits are:
Even skipping past the deeply amusing bits of this thread, nothing imho.- Indicator/wiper stalks, these you will find in a Clio and Captur.
- Stereo remote to the right of the steering column.
- Electronic parking brake switch and cruise control switch set up; Kadjar, Koleos, Megane and Scenic.
- Electric mirror switch, Kadjar, Koleos and the odd Nissan.
As you say they cost an absolute fortune, and just isn't worth adding the cash onto the price when you have perfectly decent ones in the parts bin.
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