Alpine A110 owners
Discussion
[quote=Sporky][quote=Miserablegit] ... so I ordered a Pure for the smaller wheels, but in the brief window when you could have heated comfort seats in a Pure. Alpine WInchester have a used Pure with heated seats listed for sale at the mo, so they're not quite as rare as I'd thought.
[quote=Miserablegit]
I'm drawn to the smaller wheels. Every review has the larger ones though and the A110 I test drove was thus equipped - did you try the 18's and have a view on the difference with 17" 's? I assume the rave review of brake power and feel from the upgraded brakes also applies to the standard brakes that I understand are the only option with 17" 's, especially for regular road driving.
With so few A110's sold, I've wondered what % of cars sold have owners contributing on here. It must be pretty high compared to many other cars! All brilliant information and experiences shared though.
[quote=Miserablegit]
I'm drawn to the smaller wheels. Every review has the larger ones though and the A110 I test drove was thus equipped - did you try the 18's and have a view on the difference with 17" 's? I assume the rave review of brake power and feel from the upgraded brakes also applies to the standard brakes that I understand are the only option with 17" 's, especially for regular road driving.
With so few A110's sold, I've wondered what % of cars sold have owners contributing on here. It must be pretty high compared to many other cars! All brilliant information and experiences shared though.
Very similar reasons for purchase here. Several years of sub 600kg Caterham ownership highlights the benefits of low mass down a typical Blighty B road !! Appreciate the 7 is quite basic but everything else really does feel like a backward step from a pure drivers perspective and it makes ‘moving on’ a difficult choice. Particularly the way the market has gone if you want something lightweight but with some decent practicality thrown in.
As others have said the A110 slots nicely into a ‘gap’ between say Elise and Cayster. I decided I could live with the blown 4 pot, yes it’s not amazing but it’s ok and actually does the job well. As for the auto box I would have loved a manual but decided to embrace the DCT as something new to try, it’s still a lot of fun to punt along due to the way the ratios work etc.
Finally I like the slight “less is more” approach with performance, grip, tyre size etc ... the way the car moves around a bit slows me down which I see as a positive for road use. I had a day in a Boxter T last year, really nice package, super precise, great steering but jeez did it have some grip, I got home wondering if I still had a licence !! I’m not saying the A110 is slow or lacking grip, far from it but fun just seems to come at a lower pace for some reason.
As others have said the A110 slots nicely into a ‘gap’ between say Elise and Cayster. I decided I could live with the blown 4 pot, yes it’s not amazing but it’s ok and actually does the job well. As for the auto box I would have loved a manual but decided to embrace the DCT as something new to try, it’s still a lot of fun to punt along due to the way the ratios work etc.
Finally I like the slight “less is more” approach with performance, grip, tyre size etc ... the way the car moves around a bit slows me down which I see as a positive for road use. I had a day in a Boxter T last year, really nice package, super precise, great steering but jeez did it have some grip, I got home wondering if I still had a licence !! I’m not saying the A110 is slow or lacking grip, far from it but fun just seems to come at a lower pace for some reason.
biggles330d said:
I'm drawn to the smaller wheels. Every review has the larger ones though and the A110 I test drove was thus equipped - did you try the 18's and have a view on the difference with 17" 's? I assume the rave review of brake power and feel from the upgraded brakes also applies to the standard brakes that I understand are the only option with 17" 's, especially for regular road driving.
I test drove a Legende with 18s, and did Piste Bleue at Goodwood in a PE with 18s, but first drove my car several months afterwards, so I've never done a back-to-back test to be sure about my impressions.The car is brilliant on 18s, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I think the 17s do add a bit more compliance still, and I like how they look (they still look huge - in a good way - on such a small car). As I think I've said before I still regard the A110 as being pretty firm, but it's that compliance that makes the difference - it does seem to glide over expansion joints and general road roughness, there's no harshness there. My Golf Alltrack is on 17s with much bigger sidewalls and has far more suspension movement; it's softer, but it's actually not as compliant, you do feel road imperfections more in the Golf.
The standard brakes are very effective - the pedal is firm but there's a very natural relationship between foot pressure and how fast speed is shed. I don't intend to ever track mine; it's possible that the bigger brakes are worthwhile for that. It's a very light car though so just doesn't need huge dinnerplate discs, there's less energy to dissipate.
Short answer is that I have no regrets about sticking with the 17s. They're a chunk less expensive, they look good, the ride and handling are great. That said I don't think there's a bad wheel choice - even the standard Legende ones have grown on me.
Sporky said:
I test drove a Legende with 18s, and did Piste Bleue at Goodwood in a PE with 18s, but first drove my car several months afterwards, so I've never done a back-to-back test to be sure about my impressions.
The car is brilliant on 18s, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I think the 17s do add a bit more compliance still, and I like how they look (they still look huge - in a good way - on such a small car). As I think I've said before I still regard the A110 as being pretty firm, but it's that compliance that makes the difference - it does seem to glide over expansion joints and general road roughness, there's no harshness there. My Golf Alltrack is on 17s with much bigger sidewalls and has far more suspension movement; it's softer, but it's actually not as compliant, you do feel road imperfections more in the Golf.
The standard brakes are very effective - the pedal is firm but there's a very natural relationship between foot pressure and how fast speed is shed. I don't intend to ever track mine; it's possible that the bigger brakes are worthwhile for that. It's a very light car though so just doesn't need huge dinnerplate discs, there's less energy to dissipate.
Short answer is that I have no regrets about sticking with the 17s. They're a chunk less expensive, they look good, the ride and handling are great. That said I don't think there's a bad wheel choice - even the standard Legende ones have grown on me.
Thanks - thats really insightful. As others have mentioned its the sort of car where 'less is more' seems right and the 17's and standard brakes as I understand are the lightest (most pure!) combination you can have. I like the slightly more fulsome sidewall look - original A110's very much had the balloon tyre look after all! The car is brilliant on 18s, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I think the 17s do add a bit more compliance still, and I like how they look (they still look huge - in a good way - on such a small car). As I think I've said before I still regard the A110 as being pretty firm, but it's that compliance that makes the difference - it does seem to glide over expansion joints and general road roughness, there's no harshness there. My Golf Alltrack is on 17s with much bigger sidewalls and has far more suspension movement; it's softer, but it's actually not as compliant, you do feel road imperfections more in the Golf.
The standard brakes are very effective - the pedal is firm but there's a very natural relationship between foot pressure and how fast speed is shed. I don't intend to ever track mine; it's possible that the bigger brakes are worthwhile for that. It's a very light car though so just doesn't need huge dinnerplate discs, there's less energy to dissipate.
Short answer is that I have no regrets about sticking with the 17s. They're a chunk less expensive, they look good, the ride and handling are great. That said I don't think there's a bad wheel choice - even the standard Legende ones have grown on me.
I'll chip in and agree with the other owners, lightweight, fun at low speeds, well equipped, refined, low running costs. I like the funky alternative brand too.
Previous cars are Tuscan, 981, Elise S. This is the best all rounder and the one I really love. The Elise is epic on the right road, the Tuscan an event just not always the right one, the Porsche competent but starchy.
The one stat that reinforces how special this car is - it's 355kg lighter than a Cayman on 20 inch wheels..
Previous cars are Tuscan, 981, Elise S. This is the best all rounder and the one I really love. The Elise is epic on the right road, the Tuscan an event just not always the right one, the Porsche competent but starchy.
The one stat that reinforces how special this car is - it's 355kg lighter than a Cayman on 20 inch wheels..
Sporky said:
That said I don't think there's a bad wheel choice - even the standard Legende ones have grown on me.
I agonised over the slightly mad looking standard Legende wheels, though I’m now very happy I stuck with my hunch that this was the wheel the designers *intended* for the car, as a nod to the original...The other wheel designs are all good looking, but somehow just standard modern sports-car fare.
I’ve since found this pic of an early A110:
I can't see why we have this Pure/Legende distinction at all. Legende wheels and comfort seats on the Pure or 17" wheels on the Legende. By all means have a Legende GT or Pure GT with most of the popular options and some trim to differentiate them from "lesser" models (as Porsche do with GTS). Perhaps a GTS with the softer suspension of standard car and the uprated engine.
While there were loopholes a while ago, you can't now have comfort seats or the Legende wheels on a Pure, and you can't have buckets or 17s on a Legende so there's more differentiation now than there used to be.
I'd agree though that the differentiation seems a bit "thin", as does GT trim (which seems to just be a specific colour). I'd just have standard or S engine and/or suspension, then choose your colour, wheels, seats, and options to taste.
I'd agree though that the differentiation seems a bit "thin", as does GT trim (which seems to just be a specific colour). I'd just have standard or S engine and/or suspension, then choose your colour, wheels, seats, and options to taste.
One of Life110's customers had their resprayed in Liquid Yellow - and yeah, it looks fantastic.
(I might have mentioned this before, but three colours have been dropped from the Atelier range; Acropolis Orange, Jaune RDL and one of the greens - Jaune RDL was perhaps closest to Liquid Yellow. They were great colours, so presumably sold out, or difficult to get right in production.)
(I might have mentioned this before, but three colours have been dropped from the Atelier range; Acropolis Orange, Jaune RDL and one of the greens - Jaune RDL was perhaps closest to Liquid Yellow. They were great colours, so presumably sold out, or difficult to get right in production.)
Hoofty said:
One of Life110's customers had their resprayed in Liquid Yellow - and yeah, it looks fantastic.
(I might have mentioned this before, but three colours have been dropped from the Atelier range; Acropolis Orange, Jaune RDL and one of the greens - Jaune RDL was perhaps closest to Liquid Yellow. They were great colours, so presumably sold out, or difficult to get right in production.)
Interesting to hear I'm sure one of the dealers has an acropolis orange one on the way. Can't wait to see the colours start to arrive. (I might have mentioned this before, but three colours have been dropped from the Atelier range; Acropolis Orange, Jaune RDL and one of the greens - Jaune RDL was perhaps closest to Liquid Yellow. They were great colours, so presumably sold out, or difficult to get right in production.)
It's great reading this thread and seeing the enthusiasm. I bought my PE in October 2018. It's done 4k miles and I can't think of anything I would want instead. Now with a short private plate so will age gracefully!
I also treated myself to the Norev 1:18 scale mode of the PE. It was supposedly sold out in 2018 but managed to get one imported from France via eBay. Arrived today and its lovely.
Edited by jcuthell on Friday 26th February 19:20
jcuthell said:
Interesting to hear I'm sure one of the dealers has an acropolis orange one on the way. Can't wait to see the colours start to arrive.
I've seen that some have definitely been made. I think I'm just super interested as Acropolis and RDL were my 'backups' when ordering (I plumped for Bleu de France in the end).Also just realised that the third deleted Atelier colour isn't one of the greens, but Coral Orange.
Didzz said:
Interested to know what was the trigger that made you go for an A110, a PE btw, which means you were one of the first
UK customers, as the car/brand were almost unknown. Just curious.
Many thanks for your replies !UK customers, as the car/brand were almost unknown. Just curious.
Very intersting stories, although Miserablegit's one looked bit like a gamble though...(finally successful)
Glad the question turned to an interesting "gentlemens'" discussion.
As a big Alpine fan myself, I see in all owners, the spirit that gathers the whole Alpine comunity.
Can't wait to see what else will come out of the brand. The partnership with Lotus looks promising to me.
@springfan62 : Really stunning pictures !
Edited by Didzz on Saturday 27th February 10:35
Edited by Didzz on Saturday 27th February 10:36
Edited by Didzz on Saturday 27th February 10:37
K800 RUM said:
An owner from Sweden (sorry forgotten your name) posted some great pics recently. One in particular in a forest in the snow I saved as a screen saver.
Hey that was me! Glad you enjoyed the pictures!I'm doing a photoshoot with the car soon to practice some new photography techniques — if they turn out any good, I'll post some here. It's taken me a week to clean the damn thing in preparation, so I hope at least _some_ are good.
iKenndac said:
K800 RUM said:
An owner from Sweden (sorry forgotten your name) posted some great pics recently. One in particular in a forest in the snow I saved as a screen saver.
Hey that was me! Glad you enjoyed the pictures!I'm doing a photoshoot with the car soon to practice some new photography techniques — if they turn out any good, I'll post some here. It's taken me a week to clean the damn thing in preparation, so I hope at least _some_ are good.
I *hate* cleaning cars but I do feel really guilty if I let the Alpine get too dirty. It just looks so pretty.
K800 RUM said:
Just like seeing them. I've done the various road tests to death on youtube. But if owners don't want to share pics I won't be offended.
An owner from Sweden (sorry forgotten your name) posted some great pics recently. One in particular in a forest in the snow I saved as a screen saver.
Here you go An owner from Sweden (sorry forgotten your name) posted some great pics recently. One in particular in a forest in the snow I saved as a screen saver.
Edited by K800 RUM on Thursday 25th February 19:36
Some pics from in France...
iKenndac said:
Hey that was me! Glad you enjoyed the pictures!
I'm doing a photoshoot with the car soon to practice some new photography techniques — if they turn out any good, I'll post some here. It's taken me a week to clean the damn thing in preparation, so I hope at least _some_ are good.
That should be good!I'm doing a photoshoot with the car soon to practice some new photography techniques — if they turn out any good, I'll post some here. It's taken me a week to clean the damn thing in preparation, so I hope at least _some_ are good.
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