RE: Alpine A110: Driven
Discussion
Speaking as someone who sells both Renault and Dacia (but not Alpine) I should imagine Alpine have the same system that we use to track orders; from build right the way through to the car arriving at the dealership.
I don't belive for one minute that dealers don't know who's car is who's or where in the build stage a car is until it pops up one day at the dealership on the back of a transporter.
[/quote]
Except that is what some of them are saying...some of the dealers seem genuinely uninterested.
bcr5784 said:
bcr5784 said:
1. From the look of the (French) specs for Pure and Legende it looks like the power is unchanged but the emission figure goes up to 144 under WLTP (which would cost French buyers and an extra 1000 Euro in "malus" - emission tax)
2. A 280 bhp remap is already available - but I'd be very wary of doing anything which increased the torque beyond the current level - 320nm is the design maximum for the gearbox. You could still get 280bhp by extending the torque curve beyond 5000, which, if the image below is more than a pipedream, should be possible - the fact that it shows torque as 350nm as standard does cast its credibility in doubt.
Personally I actually like the fact that torque is limited in the standard car - it means that the transition off to on boost should be more gradual, and the longer it can be maintained the more likely you are to use the upper part of the rev range. The oft quoted "like a diesel" jibe leveled at turbo engines is much more appropriate for the modified engine where there is little point revving beyond 5000 than it is to the standard car. I would find simply extending peak torque by a 1000 revs, but not increasing the maximum, a very attractive mod.
Enquired about this and, for me, it's a non-starter. Not possible without a reinstall (at cost) to remove prior to a service and not possible to just have the mod at high revs - keeping torque within gearbox design limits.2. A 280 bhp remap is already available - but I'd be very wary of doing anything which increased the torque beyond the current level - 320nm is the design maximum for the gearbox. You could still get 280bhp by extending the torque curve beyond 5000, which, if the image below is more than a pipedream, should be possible - the fact that it shows torque as 350nm as standard does cast its credibility in doubt.
Personally I actually like the fact that torque is limited in the standard car - it means that the transition off to on boost should be more gradual, and the longer it can be maintained the more likely you are to use the upper part of the rev range. The oft quoted "like a diesel" jibe leveled at turbo engines is much more appropriate for the modified engine where there is little point revving beyond 5000 than it is to the standard car. I would find simply extending peak torque by a 1000 revs, but not increasing the maximum, a very attractive mod.
Edited by bcr5784 on Tuesday 31st July 10:36
SirTK said:
Drove it, loved it, can't wait.
I've been "promoted" to a PE which must be registered before the end of this month. The blue looks fantastic in the showroom.
Just in time for my 75th birthday!
TK
Congratulations! Did you managed to switch your order to a PE after another buyer had pulled out? Or did you have a special relationship with the dealer from a long history of buying lots of run of the mill Renaults and Dacias? :-PI've been "promoted" to a PE which must be registered before the end of this month. The blue looks fantastic in the showroom.
Just in time for my 75th birthday!
TK
Prestonese said:
SirTK said:
Drove it, loved it, can't wait.
I've been "promoted" to a PE which must be registered before the end of this month. The blue looks fantastic in the showroom.
Just in time for my 75th birthday!
TK
Congratulations! Did you managed to switch your order to a PE after another buyer had pulled out? Or did you have a special relationship with the dealer from a long history of buying lots of run of the mill Renaults and Dacias? :-PI've been "promoted" to a PE which must be registered before the end of this month. The blue looks fantastic in the showroom.
Just in time for my 75th birthday!
TK
No long history unless it was that Renault 4 I had in the '70s. Still a bit disappointed the Alpine doesn't have a gear lever sticking out of the dash...........
I understand that the dealers have each been provided with 4 PE cars which are not allocated to buyers or on any list.
They presumably need to have a showroom car and a demo but they can dispose of these to whoever they like so its worth asking.
Personally I am after a Pure so I am happy to wait till next year.
They presumably need to have a showroom car and a demo but they can dispose of these to whoever they like so its worth asking.
Personally I am after a Pure so I am happy to wait till next year.
springfan62 said:
Personally I am after a Pure so I am happy to wait till next year.
All things being equal I'd prefer to start with a Pure too- the PE has stuff I'm not fussed about (folding mirrors, telematics and probably the big brakes) and the sports exhaust which I would prefer to do without (since it's not switchable). But the PE is about £4k less than a Pure to the same spec. I'm not sure what kudos the PE has because of its limited edition status (none to me), but all in all I think the PE represents a better "investment". And having waited 18 months, and already sold my Cayman another year doesn't appeal. It's all a bit like the 981 Cayman GTS vs the Cayman S. The GTS is, effectively an S with popular ( to some) options included like big wheels sports exhaust and sport chrono (read telematics) and some ( to me) minor trim differences. I opted for an S since I didn't want or wasn't fussed about the extras. But I was wrong - GTS residuals are far higher than those of the S and so the cost of ownership is less. Go figure..... Will history repeat - who knows?
Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 13th August 19:59
Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 13th August 20:10
KTF said:
I was under the impression that the GTS was the ‘sweet spot’ in any of the Porsche model ranges which seems to reflect your experience.
Undoubtedly that this the impression of many (not me). But a GTS will fetch around at least £10k more than an S with a similar set of options, which makes no sense rationally, hence my comparison with the PE.Fully concur with the above I have 2 mates with fully optioned 981S .... I couldn’t bring myself to pay 10k more than their Brilliant specced S for a GTS particularly as they’ve both got the GTS rear “diffuser” fitted. They are with the exception of the Spyder the best looking 981- but difficult to justify.
I think for the PE to have been considered truly special it needed to have some trim features that are not available on the Pure/Legende ... I think that’s only true of the wheels.
I think for the PE to have been considered truly special it needed to have some trim features that are not available on the Pure/Legende ... I think that’s only true of the wheels.
Edited by Torsby on Monday 13th August 23:00
[quote=Torsby
I think for the PE to have been considered truly special it needed to have some trim features that are not available on the Pure/Legende ... I think that’s only true of the wheels.
[/quote]
You're probably right. And the GTS has the kudos of being the last (and many will argue the best) of the non-GT NA cars.
In addition over time there will be upgrades to the A110 which may make the PE a less attractive buy. Trim, safety and power upgrades seem likely - but with the ever present danger of dluting it's USP of lightness.
I think for the PE to have been considered truly special it needed to have some trim features that are not available on the Pure/Legende ... I think that’s only true of the wheels.
Edited by Torsby on Monday 13th August 23:00
[/quote]
You're probably right. And the GTS has the kudos of being the last (and many will argue the best) of the non-GT NA cars.
In addition over time there will be upgrades to the A110 which may make the PE a less attractive buy. Trim, safety and power upgrades seem likely - but with the ever present danger of dluting it's USP of lightness.
Edited by bcr5784 on Tuesday 14th August 09:09
bcr5784 said:
the sports exhaust which I would prefer to do without (since it's not switchable).
Inoxline already propose a switchable one, but it's quite expensive though, close to 1500€.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrMmmmCT-kQ
Didzz said:
Inoxline already propose a switchable one, but it's quite expensive though, close to 1500€.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrMmmmCT-kQ
I'd be happy to simply disable it on my PE - the only worry would be that the valve would get stuck. I would expect that on start up the valve would be excercised to stop that happening - So I wouldn't want to stop that.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrMmmmCT-kQ
SirTK said:
Drove it, loved it, can't wait.
I've been "promoted" to a PE which must be registered before the end of this month. The blue looks fantastic in the showroom.
Just in time for my 75th birthday!
TK
Congrats. Can I ask where you drive the demo car as my local dealer still can’t register cars with DVLA. Excitement is fast dwindling with the whole experience tbh. I've been "promoted" to a PE which must be registered before the end of this month. The blue looks fantastic in the showroom.
Just in time for my 75th birthday!
TK
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