RE: Alpine A110 vs. Porsche 718 Cayman
Discussion
Schmed said:
More mid engine sports cars, good.
But actually buying a 50 grand ‘Renault’ ? No chance.
Alpine styling is awful as well imo.
Just can’t see it selling anywhere near as many units as the Cayman.
I don't think they look that bad. The Cayman isn't what I'd call pretty either. The 987 was awful looking in my view. The 981 looked great from certain angles but it didn't seem entirely cohesive. The 718 looks a bit more anodyne and the front and rear a bit too fussy.But actually buying a 50 grand ‘Renault’ ? No chance.
Alpine styling is awful as well imo.
Just can’t see it selling anywhere near as many units as the Cayman.
You can pick faults on the looks of plenty of cars but I would hardly say one is blatantly prettier than the other in this test. I would say the styling of the Alpine is bolder than the Porsche though.
I suspect Renault - who make enough money anyway - haven't done this as a massive money making exercise.............
I wouldn't cross the road to look at a modern Porsche - who would these days? I would cross the road to look at this. I quite like it. The fact that it's not one of only 6 million Porsches on the road is part of the appeal. Not everyone will get it. It won't be on a company car list down with BMW and Merc/Audi toss and it probably won't sell to image conscious PCP Look At Me types who s
t themselves over residuals, but for those who actually have 50 grand it'll be a winner.
I wouldn't cross the road to look at a modern Porsche - who would these days? I would cross the road to look at this. I quite like it. The fact that it's not one of only 6 million Porsches on the road is part of the appeal. Not everyone will get it. It won't be on a company car list down with BMW and Merc/Audi toss and it probably won't sell to image conscious PCP Look At Me types who s
t themselves over residuals, but for those who actually have 50 grand it'll be a winner.
I enjoyed reading the review however, I need to insist that this paragraph is contradictory with the review in general and its conclusion.
"Before getting carried away with what the A110 may or may not be, however, it's worth getting reacquainted with the Cayman. Because, let's not forget, this was a 10 outta 10, gold star, sell-your-organs-to-fund-one sports car back in 2013, and isn't much less special with a flat-four - despite what you may have heard."
Back in the days, the only real, genuine, upgrade to the 981 Cayman GTS which was worth the extra money (if you had it) was a 458 Coupe.
The statement that this car (and the 981 in general I suppose) 'was' a 10 out of 10 car coupled with the conclusion that the 781 can now be beaten by Renault with a 1.8L 4-pot engine rather than trading blows with exotica does not make it 'slightly less special' (my wording).
This is a complete turn-around for Porsche whom now seem content with providing a 7 or 8 out of 10 car and then pointing to cars that you are locked out of ordering to provide some illustration of their glory days.
Many publications and vloggers have stuck the boot into Porsche for what they have done to the Cayman and I do not know whether the Alpine being so good is a relief or simply heaps on the dismay of past and current Cayman owners. Probably both.
Once Alpine chop the roof off this car I can see this situation building up to a point where Porsche leak serious numbers of Cayman and Boxster enthusiasts, like they did when Nissan came along with the GT-R.
Expect the Porsche PR machine to do into damage limitation mode on this, I would expect an up-tick of leaked shots of future cars and paid shills to be doing their work on the forums.
Carl_Manchester said:
I enjoyed reading the review however, I need to insist that this paragraph is contradictory with the review in general and its conclusion.
"Before getting carried away with what the A110 may or may not be, however, it's worth getting reacquainted with the Cayman. Because, let's not forget, this was a 10 outta 10, gold star, sell-your-organs-to-fund-one sports car back in 2013, and isn't much less special with a flat-four - despite what you may have heard."
Back in the days, the only real, genuine, upgrade to the 981 Cayman GTS which was worth the extra money (if you had it) was a 458 Coupe.
The statement that this car (and the 981 in general I suppose) 'was' a 10 out of 10 car coupled with the conclusion that the 781 can now be beaten by Renault with a 1.8L 4-pot engine rather than trading blows with exotica does not make it 'slightly less special' (my wording).
This is a complete turn-around for Porsche whom now seem content with providing a 7 or 8 out of 10 car and then pointing to cars that you are locked out of ordering to provide some illustration of their glory days.
Many publications and vloggers have stuck the boot into Porsche for what they have done to the Cayman and I do not know whether the Alpine being so good is a relief or simply heaps on the dismay of past and current Cayman owners. Probably both.
Once Alpine chop the roof off this car I can see this situation building up to a point where Porsche leak serious numbers of Cayman and Boxster enthusiasts, like they did when Nissan came along with the GT-R.
Expect the Porsche PR machine to do into damage limitation mode on this, I would expect an up-tick of leaked shots of future cars and paid shills to be doing their work on the forums.
Good post. Three things for me that make the Alpine stand out above the Porsche are the weight, the gearing and the styling. I can forgo the interior quality - it's the drive that gets me going. Great option to have."Before getting carried away with what the A110 may or may not be, however, it's worth getting reacquainted with the Cayman. Because, let's not forget, this was a 10 outta 10, gold star, sell-your-organs-to-fund-one sports car back in 2013, and isn't much less special with a flat-four - despite what you may have heard."
Back in the days, the only real, genuine, upgrade to the 981 Cayman GTS which was worth the extra money (if you had it) was a 458 Coupe.
The statement that this car (and the 981 in general I suppose) 'was' a 10 out of 10 car coupled with the conclusion that the 781 can now be beaten by Renault with a 1.8L 4-pot engine rather than trading blows with exotica does not make it 'slightly less special' (my wording).
This is a complete turn-around for Porsche whom now seem content with providing a 7 or 8 out of 10 car and then pointing to cars that you are locked out of ordering to provide some illustration of their glory days.
Many publications and vloggers have stuck the boot into Porsche for what they have done to the Cayman and I do not know whether the Alpine being so good is a relief or simply heaps on the dismay of past and current Cayman owners. Probably both.
Once Alpine chop the roof off this car I can see this situation building up to a point where Porsche leak serious numbers of Cayman and Boxster enthusiasts, like they did when Nissan came along with the GT-R.
Expect the Porsche PR machine to do into damage limitation mode on this, I would expect an up-tick of leaked shots of future cars and paid shills to be doing their work on the forums.
ben5575 said:
Great article Matt.
Alpine for me every time. Light, quick, engaging, very pretty, different. If only it had the new engine...
I don't get the '£50k Renault' thing either. Surely that's no worse than the 'poor man's 911' cliche which is true and actually more embarrassing?
Totally agreed. Alpine for me every time. Light, quick, engaging, very pretty, different. If only it had the new engine...
I don't get the '£50k Renault' thing either. Surely that's no worse than the 'poor man's 911' cliche which is true and actually more embarrassing?
"a sense of boundless, zesty acceleration"
Neither car appeals in the slightest to me but it's good to see Renault (or indeed anyone) managing to genuinely compete with Porsche.
For me at least the Alpine is the better looking car of the two although the Porsche would be massively helped by knocking two inches off the wheel size. I still think the Alpine would be the better looking car though, it just looks more... taught.
For me at least the Alpine is the better looking car of the two although the Porsche would be massively helped by knocking two inches off the wheel size. I still think the Alpine would be the better looking car though, it just looks more... taught.
Edited by kambites on Saturday 1st September 11:25
Great article. So chuffed the Alpine came out on top!
I'm amazed by the amount of negative comments on here regarding the Alpine's styling. The Cayman certainly isn't ugly but I saw the Alpine up close at Beaulieu a few weeks ago and was blown away by it. I literally wandered off to see other stuff then kept coming back for another look at the Alpine. I'll admit that the novelty factor plays a part but it really does look classy in the flesh, inside and out. Quirky without being annoying or jarring in any way. By contrast two other cars I'd not seen in the flesh before, the new TVR and the new Vantage, held my interest for a couple of minutes only. And I say that as a "current" Griffith owner and lifelong Aston fan.
All subjective though of course.
I'm amazed by the amount of negative comments on here regarding the Alpine's styling. The Cayman certainly isn't ugly but I saw the Alpine up close at Beaulieu a few weeks ago and was blown away by it. I literally wandered off to see other stuff then kept coming back for another look at the Alpine. I'll admit that the novelty factor plays a part but it really does look classy in the flesh, inside and out. Quirky without being annoying or jarring in any way. By contrast two other cars I'd not seen in the flesh before, the new TVR and the new Vantage, held my interest for a couple of minutes only. And I say that as a "current" Griffith owner and lifelong Aston fan.
All subjective though of course.
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