£30k Alpine A110 | Spotted
£10k less than any other Alpine has to be worth investigating, doesn't it?
While we don't like to repeat ourselves, probably an Alpine A110 should have been on our best used sports cars shortlist. Few cars deserved it more, which is why putting the lists together is always so tricky. But in its final year on sale, it’s easy to understand more excitement around the A110 than ever, new or used. We thought sports cars like the Alpine were mostly done even by the time it went on sale; eight years later and this really is the end.
That much you knew already. What you might not know is that Alpines are now available from £30,000 used - this one is your proof. A110 residuals have always been pretty strong, perhaps as a result of their rarity; as prices have increased over the years and spicier variants have been introduced, so £40,000 or thereabouts has remained the entry point, which is impressive for a car that was from £50,000 new. Almost like a Caterham in fact, it would seem the A110 might cost a bit more to get in the first place, but they don’t budge much.
So this one is all the more interesting. The next most affordable against £29,995 is £38,848, then £40,499; not insignificant amounts when spending £30,000. As you’ll probably have surmised, it’s the mileage that puts this A110 at the price it is, with an impressive 87,000 miles recorded since early 2022. Almost 27,000 miles were accrued between January and December last year, when it passed two MOTs without advisory (which means the current test runs until 2027, too). It is said to benefit from a full Renault history.
Plus, no less importantly, it looks to have lasted really well. There’d really be no way to tell, at least from these images, that this has tens of thousands more miles on it than any other A110. Some of the leather has gone a bit shiny inside, sure, but that’s easily resolved. The chunky bolsters of the Sabelt seats themselves, complete with that slightly OTT quilting, are very much all intact; while the Alpine Blue paint with 18-inch Fuchs wheels is a familiar spec for the A110, it appears as good here as anywhere else. Arguably to be expected given new car tolerances, but there were surely one or two concerns about longevity given the car’s light weight. This still looks brilliant - fit for another 87,000 miles, at least…
It even comes with a couple of desirable options, including the upgraded brakes, sports exhaust and parking sensors. As a ‘basic’ 252hp Pure, this A110 is surely the most sought-after variant (though there’s no such thing as an undesirable one, really). It’s not an example that will put people off with a courageous colour choice, or the Legende spec that kits an Alpine out like a handbag. It’s the A110 as the A110 always should have been, for a lot less than all the others. Told you it was interesting.
The mileage means a whole world of possibilities for the next owner. All that money saved over any comparable car could go towards upgrades to make it even better to drive, or they could continue piling the miles on (they’re pretty comfy and efficient cruisers) to make it to 100,000 and beyond. Even if it's a sports car saved for the summer, this one looks as good (and should drive as well) as any other. Not spending at least £40,000 on one means more money freed up for whatever you were meant to buy instead. And even with the miles on it, the impending demise of the A110 means those super-strong residuals seem unlikely to be harmed. Or you might decide that life’s too short to worry about such concerns - much better just to take full advantage of a great sports car at its lowest price yet…
SPECIFICATION | ALPINE A110
Engine: 1,798cc, 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 252@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 236@2,000-4,800rpm
MPG: 40.4-42.2 (WLTP)
CO2: 152-158g/km
Year registered: 2022
Recorded mileage: 87,028
Price new: £49,905
Yours for: £29,995
A 2018 model with only 37,800 on the clock but very little detail in the advert.
A 2018 model with only 37,800 on the clock but very little detail in the advert.
Plus prices of these seem to be holding firm currently as only a year ago there were always a small handful of cars around the 30K mark, or maybe people are now hanging on to them.
Has anyone with one managed to go away for a weekend 2 up?
Have done several 7-10 day trips with my wife and it's been fine for luggage space - added advantage is that it's a bloody amazing thing to drive so you get a great holiday driving experience 😀
I just don't get the hate for the 'auto' gearbox - around town it just makes it easy to drive and if you stick it in sport or track mode when out on the twisties it's a great gearbox with the paddles, and gives nice crisp upshifts and lovely downchanges with auto-blip
Had mine nearly a year now and they really are as good as all the rave reviews when it was launched, and where else will you be getting a truly lightweight petrol sports car in the future...these will be a nailed-on future classic..
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