RE: Alpine A110 vs. Porsche 718 Cayman

[DeejRC]

bcr5784 said:

DeejRC said:

Sigh, why do daft things get said?


I only have one comment on the Alpine and that’s the access issue Harry raised. As a bloke who does use this stuff as a daily driver - that would drive me nuts!!!

What access issue? The A110 is exceptional in that respect - especially for a car with bucket seats. The only access issue I am aware of is the rear boot where the opening is very small. Not really that much of a problem (unlike the similar issue on the Elise) since you have the front boot as well.

The getting to the engine to check stuff bit?
As I said...I use this stuff as my daily, Ive put 24,000 miles on my 4C in the last yr. Some of the "access" issues that the Italians come up with as "solutions" drive me potty!

To most ppl they aren't really a problem, because they aren't a consideration. Taking a leisurely hour or so checking these things every Sunday morning is a fun thing, part of the experience. To me, its niggles like this that are annoying, because it invariably ends up being something you have to do at 6am Monday morning at Leigh Delamere services, when all I want to do is get to work without falling asleep.

I freely admit this is not a consideration for most folks. It is however, for me.

[DeejRC]

Helicopter123 said:

Schmed said:

Depreciation in that example is 26,520 on the Alpine vs 12,672 on the Cayman, i.e. over double. That's a huge saving on the Porsche because they got the Alpine pricing wrong imo. It's also a lot of unnecessary options, since in truth the basic 718 is quite well specced these days compared to the 981, you even get nav and bluetooth as standard. Personally I'd rather have the flexibility to spec it how I want rather than being forced to pay more for options I don't value.

I think it’s too early to say how the Alpine will depreciate but I think Renault will want to produce and sell as many as they can, no different to Porsche. The 4c was a commercial flop so limited numbers and the bespoke materials could see it as the best long term investment of the three.

Well this is an interesting point of itself.

What is the Renault intention with Alpine? Has the 110 been launched to be a standalone commercial success, or is the intention for it to be an re-introduction, loss leading "highlight" exercise? Do La Regie have a greater product plan in the pipeline where they expect to make the dosh? I freely admit, I have no idea what or if anything they have communicated on this.

The 4C was always stated to be loss making. Sergio canned it twice in development because he didnt think the strategy was right and had to be persuaded each time and the business case changed to make it fit. It was only once its place in the Alfa strategy of spearheading the re-entry into the US market was sorted, did he green light it fully.

If Renault have say 2 more Alpines in the pipeline of a genuine brand product portfolio that they can cost share over, etc, then I think they may well have played a blinder with the brand! A 110 Spyder and say a 610-esque 911 chaser, sharing 60% of the chassis with the 110 and then a Spyder or something version of that and suddenly you have 3-4 models and a much better amortised cost.
Wonder where we have heard of that before...?

[bcr5784]

DeejRC said:

The getting to the engine to check stuff bit?
As I said...I use this stuff as my daily, Ive put 24,000 miles on my 4C in the last yr. Some of the "access" issues that the Italians come up with as "solutions" drive me potty!

To most ppl they aren't really a problem, because they aren't a consideration. Taking a leisurely hour or so checking these things every Sunday morning is a fun thing, part of the experience. To me, its niggles like this that are annoying, because it invariably ends up being something you have to do at 6am Monday morning at Leigh Delamere services, when all I want to do is get to work without falling asleep.

I freely admit this is not a consideration for most folks. It is however, for me.

Accepting that it isn't an elegant solution by a long chalk, it really only takes 2 minutes at most. Given that the car tells you whether it's low on oil or water it's something you will rarely need to do. Every car has the odd sillyness.

[Miserablegit]

Some good coverage of the A110 in the latest TopGear - I downloaded the issue for the video extras.

[craigjm]

back in the U.K. now and want to try one on U.K. roads and the Orpington dealer is being as about responsive as a dead person. Poor show. I am going to have to go and doorstep them. Awful customer service not answering basic questions

[Miserablegit]

Can you not try another dealer ? I appreciate Orpington might be nearest but if they are poor at responding now they are unlikely to improve once they have your money. Vote with your feet - it is the only thing that works - don’t forget to the handbrake turn on the forecourt when you’ve purchased elsewhere as it seems obligatory to do this according to ph.

[craigjm]

Miserablegit said:

Can you not try another dealer ? I appreciate Orpington might be nearest but if they are poor at responding now they are unlikely to improve once they have your money. Vote with your feet - it is the only thing that works - don’t forget to the handbrake turn on the forecourt when you’ve purchased elsewhere as it seems obligatory to do this according to ph.

I’m not far from Solihull next week so I will pop in there.

[bcr5784]

Can't claim vast experience of St Albans - I didn't buy from there - but they were quick to reply to some questions I had despite that, so may be worth a try.

[springfan62]

There is an interesting comparison with Cayman S and TT in Evo magazine.

Cayman S wins it by a smidgeon, but it has £22k of options on, including ceramics.
https://www.evo.co.uk/supertest/21777/alpine-a110-...

Not a very realistic comparison really but I suspect Porsche send out of their press cars with a load of extras and hope the journo's don't notice.

[Simon Owen]

craigjm said:

back in the U.K. now and want to try one on U.K. roads and the Orpington dealer is being as about responsive as a dead person. Poor show. I am going to have to go and doorstep them. Awful customer service not answering basic questions

Poor show indeed, Manchester super helpful and arranged an open day in the countryside so pukka test drive can be had !!

[springfan62]

Simon Owen said:

craigjm said:

back in the U.K. now and want to try one on U.K. roads and the Orpington dealer is being as about responsive as a dead person. Poor show. I am going to have to go and doorstep them. Awful customer service not answering basic questions

Poor show indeed, Manchester super helpful and arranged an open day in the countryside so pukka test drive can be had !!

+1 for Manchester

[Kelria]

Hello dear UK friends,

Looking for Alpine tests and comparaisons throughout the web I found this thread.
Reading it with a bit of hindside after now a few months of reviews is quite ... well, interresting.
So much contempt about how ugly it fell, how much overpriced, how much this was a ridiculus price for a Renault,...

It's been a surprising reading. For me you guys always loved your cars to be "different". Fun cars, light cars, cars that bring joy for less, crazy cars.
So what was the problem with the new Alpine ???

I hope more of you will try the car. With all due respect to Renault, it is not a Renault.
It's so different from actual mainstream which always push for more bhp. Alpine managed to produce a real mordern lightweight workable sports car. 4c and Elise are great cars, but probably not what you would want to use on a daily basis. The A110 manage that.

I switched from Porsche after having had two 911's. Imho the A110 is worth every penny, if anything, with the amount of pleasure it delivers at any speed, it's probably quite underpriced

Just try it, then we talk

[RJG46]

Well said.

[CABC]

haven't driven one yet but i fully applaud what Dieppe have done. their focus on weight is admirable, all enthusiasts should be happy Alpine exists.
the journalists here love it, forums will always bring out the negativity.

[Hitch]

CABC said:

i fully applaud what Dieppe have done.

Please Whoosh me, please.