RE: Alpine A110: Driven
Discussion
And Autocar here https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alpine/a110/f...
Both very positive reviews though (typically) Top Gear are a bit silly about the small (but still useful for more than CDs) front boot. A couple of (common) issues seem to be arising - not too stable on motorways and a bit nervous on typically rutted English roads.
Both very positive reviews though (typically) Top Gear are a bit silly about the small (but still useful for more than CDs) front boot. A couple of (common) issues seem to be arising - not too stable on motorways and a bit nervous on typically rutted English roads.
Very good review in this months Evo vs Cayman S and TT RS on UK roads - 4.5 stars FWIW.
Cayman just won despite its engine.
“Yet the idea of finding the small, lithe Alpine on your driveway each morning is quite compelling, as are its unique, almost classic car dynamics. It feels special, a car you’d enjoy taking out on high days and holidays, but which you could use every day.”
Interesting that it was weighed at 1094kg (9kg UNDER claimed). Cayman S 1449kg (1355kg claimed) despite PCCB in it’s £20k+ of extras. TT RS almost 400kg more than the A110.
Tempted to put £1k down for a Pure and see if I can find the rest in the meantime!
Cayman just won despite its engine.
“Yet the idea of finding the small, lithe Alpine on your driveway each morning is quite compelling, as are its unique, almost classic car dynamics. It feels special, a car you’d enjoy taking out on high days and holidays, but which you could use every day.”
Interesting that it was weighed at 1094kg (9kg UNDER claimed). Cayman S 1449kg (1355kg claimed) despite PCCB in it’s £20k+ of extras. TT RS almost 400kg more than the A110.
Tempted to put £1k down for a Pure and see if I can find the rest in the meantime!
Great review in Car too, a combined piece with the new Fiesta ST.
"It is nothing short of sensational" about the steering and quotes like "the Alpine's appetite for soaking up back roads gives you licence to press on hard... ".
All very positive really, including the Pistonheads article...
"It is nothing short of sensational" about the steering and quotes like "the Alpine's appetite for soaking up back roads gives you licence to press on hard... ".
All very positive really, including the Pistonheads article...
Edited by apex_mb on Monday 14th May 21:50
Auto Express report is a tad disappointing. Not just that they rate the 718 higher (I can understand that taking a spreadsheet approach the 718 would score higher) but, unlike most others they don't really seem to get what the car is about. I suppose no car is going to float everyone's boat.
On the other hand the Autocar report made (to me) the most compelling reason to buy the Alpine when they said (of the Elise Cup 250 of all cars!) "Doesn't get it's teeth into you like the A110" . That, to me, is some compliment of the Alpine's achievement.
On the other hand the Autocar report made (to me) the most compelling reason to buy the Alpine when they said (of the Elise Cup 250 of all cars!) "Doesn't get it's teeth into you like the A110" . That, to me, is some compliment of the Alpine's achievement.
bcr5784 said:
Auto Express report is a tad disappointing. Not just that they rate the 718 higher (I can understand that taking a spreadsheet approach the 718 would score higher) but, unlike most others they don't really seem to get what the car is about. I suppose no car is going to float everyone's boat.
On the other hand the Autocar report made (to me) the most compelling reason to buy the Alpine when they said (of the Elise Cup 250 of all cars!) "Doesn't get it's teeth into you like the A110" . That, to me, is some compliment of the Alpine's achievement.
I have seen the word "beguiling" used by a few reviewers. I don't recall that word being applied for a Porsche review before. I suspect the adoration for the Alpine is down to it's quirkiness and that has appeal in some camps.On the other hand the Autocar report made (to me) the most compelling reason to buy the Alpine when they said (of the Elise Cup 250 of all cars!) "Doesn't get it's teeth into you like the A110" . That, to me, is some compliment of the Alpine's achievement.
Did you confirm your order?
Edited by Prestonese on Friday 18th May 10:18
Prestonese said:
I have seen the word "beguiling" used by a few reviewers. I don't recall that word being applied for a Porsche review before. I suspect the adoration for the Alpine is don't to it's quirkiness and that has appeal in some camps.
Did you confirm your order?
I will confirm it after I have driven ta test car in June/July. "My" car will be built whatever and will be reallocated if I choose not to buy (though I can't see that is likely). I haven't seen anything yet that would put me off. The only thing I can't quite figure is why lag seems quite noticeable. Looking at torque curves and boost levels it ought to be far less noticeable than the 718. Something easy to test since the display can be configured to show a boost gauge.Did you confirm your order?
Confirmed order for my blue launch/premier edition car this week
Still a few things to confirm - I see the accessories page on the website includes an alarm - dealer can't confirm yet whether the car actually comes with one ! Will be more than a little miffed if it doesn't given that it's almost certainly an insurance requirement
https://alpinecars.com/en/accessoires/alarm/
Still a few things to confirm - I see the accessories page on the website includes an alarm - dealer can't confirm yet whether the car actually comes with one ! Will be more than a little miffed if it doesn't given that it's almost certainly an insurance requirement
https://alpinecars.com/en/accessoires/alarm/
Prestonese said:
I have seen the word "beguiling" used by a few reviewers. I don't recall that word being applied for a Porsche review before. I suspect the adoration for the Alpine is down to it's quirkiness and that has appeal in some camps.
Not sure that is a fair picture. I'd translate beguiling as engaging rather than just quirky. Indeed what I hope for (and reports seem to confirm) is a car that sucks you in, grabs you by the balls in the way a Caterham does - rather than one that you can say is objectively great but doesn't tug at the emotions quite so much. You buy a family car with your head primarily (or at least I do) but surely a sports car needs to appeal to emotions primarily - albeit tempered with (to a greater or lesser degree) with an eye on practicality.Edited by Prestonese on Friday 18th May 10:18
The standout word for me is "fun" - also not so much mentioned with respect to the Cayman.
Edited by bcr5784 on Friday 18th May 19:44
bcr5784 said:
Just seen the price of options (for Pure and Legend) on the FAR website. Looks like about 8800 Euro (say £7500) to configure a Pure similar to the PE. That is going to be a hard sell!!!
Yup. The paint, wheels, exhaust and brakes are certainly eye opening prices for the continent. Some options fitted to the PE may be a bit superfluous in my opinion, but I'm very intrigued at what the base price of the Pure and Legend comes out at over here. I think a basic and as light as possible Pure on 17s with just the sport exhaust would be a very appealing option... Like you say, potentially a hard sell when you start adding the options.apex_mb said:
Yup. The paint, wheels, exhaust and brakes are certainly eye opening prices for the continent. Some options fitted to the PE may be a bit superfluous in my opinion, but I'm very intrigued at what the base price of the Pure and Legend comes out at over here. I think a basic and as light as possible Pure on 17s with just the sport exhaust would be a very appealing option... Like you say, potentially a hard sell when you start adding the options.
I agree. If I hadn't got a deposit on a PE I'd be thinking of a low spec Pure. I'm not generally a fan of sports exhausts so I might give that a miss too, but I'd have to have rear parking sensors at least, perhaps a camera. Rear visibility is dire. Small wheels are fine as far as I'm concerned - but if I was tracking the car much (I won't be) I'd want the bigger brakes which would (I assume) force 18" wheels to be used. Sports exhaust might be a liability on UK tracks - shame it's not switchable. bcr5784 said:
I agree. If I hadn't got a deposit on a PE I'd be thinking of a low spec Pure. I'm not generally a fan of sports exhausts so I might give that a miss too, but I'd have to have rear parking sensors at least, perhaps a camera. Rear visibility is dire. Small wheels are fine as far as I'm concerned - but if I was tracking the car much (I won't be) I'd want the bigger brakes which would (I assume) force 18" wheels to be used. Sports exhaust might be a liability on UK tracks - shame it's not switchable.
Agree about small wheels - though I'd find it hard not to resist the non diamond cut Fuchs wheels! I read somewhere that the engineers have been quoted as saying it drives even better on the small wheels (no surprise) and at that weight I'd hope the smaller brakes would still do a pretty decent job. Like you say though, parking sensors and the 'smaller 'things (storage pack, Focal speakers,...) will soon add up.Re the exhaust, here's hoping it isn't a liability for UK tracks, or most of them at least... Wonder if they'll be able to share the dB levels?
Is rearward viz dire for parking or generally? I like to know what is behind when I'm driving so I can plan ahead. Not keen on driving a van! Will find out in the test drive in July...
Off to Le Mans shortly but didn't go for the Alpine "hospitality" as it wasn't worth €2300 to me! had hoped Alpine would have offered some hospitality at a reduced rate for those waiting but nevermind.
Off to Le Mans shortly but didn't go for the Alpine "hospitality" as it wasn't worth €2300 to me! had hoped Alpine would have offered some hospitality at a reduced rate for those waiting but nevermind.
Miserablegit said:
Is rearward viz dire for parking or generally? I like to know what is behind when I'm driving so I can plan ahead. Not keen on driving a van! Will find out in the test drive in July...
Off to Le Mans shortly but didn't go for the Alpine "hospitality" as it wasn't worth €2300 to me! had hoped Alpine would have offered some hospitality at a reduced rate for those waiting but nevermind.
I've only sat in the car so can't be that sure, but, because the rear window isn't deep and has a shallow slope, you are looking through a letterbox opening which isn't great either vertically or horizontally. It's not useless (like an Evora 410 for example) but it is pretty poor - much worse than my Cayman. No wash wipe either.... As you say we'll know better in July. Off to Le Mans shortly but didn't go for the Alpine "hospitality" as it wasn't worth €2300 to me! had hoped Alpine would have offered some hospitality at a reduced rate for those waiting but nevermind.
I thought that Porsche were mean money grabbers - with ludicrously expensive options - but Alpine seem to think they can get away with it too. At least with Porsche you get a free day at the Porsche experience centre.
I think I might to change my handle to miserablegit_2
My email from Dieppe only tells me that I missed out on a PE and says;
"Your Reservation number is a confirmation code related to your reservation of a non numbered car". Which I guess must have lost something in the translation.
The dealership (St Albans) told me I'll get a Legende but I'll probably spec it up a bit anyway. So long as it's blue, it'll do.
Hope it's not too long coming, I'll be 75 in September.
"Your Reservation number is a confirmation code related to your reservation of a non numbered car". Which I guess must have lost something in the translation.
The dealership (St Albans) told me I'll get a Legende but I'll probably spec it up a bit anyway. So long as it's blue, it'll do.
Hope it's not too long coming, I'll be 75 in September.
UK prices announced for Pure and Legende. £46905 and £50805 respectively. These make them about a £1000 cheaper relative to the PE in the UK than they are in France (the Legende was the same price as the PE). Interestingly the Autocar article says that the Legende has a more forgiving chassis set-up. That's a new one on me. The article is here https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-gen...
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