RE: McLaren 720S Spider meets Alpine A110 Pure
Discussion
acalex said:
Surely it's a bit like comparing, oh I don't know but say a little Kia, whatever that may be called, with a £75k BM/Mercedes/Jaguar/something else......
The McLaren is 5 times the price for heaven's sake! The price of an average house maybe.
As said, in the real world the little Alpine ticks boxes. In the unreal world the McL no doubt rules.
The wondeful thing about cars is that unlike most other goods, a higher price doesn't always translate into a better product. Especially when assessed against criteria related to driver engagement that cannot be quantified. You know this because the law of physics, heft, dimensions, control delicacy, ergonomics etc come into play with comparisons like this. So I have no doubt that for a lot of people, the Alpine could well be the better car regardless of the price difference.The McLaren is 5 times the price for heaven's sake! The price of an average house maybe.
As said, in the real world the little Alpine ticks boxes. In the unreal world the McL no doubt rules.
Edited by C.MW on Saturday 6th April 17:00
C.MW said:
The wondeful thing about cars is that unlike most other goods, a higher price doesn't always translate into a better product. Especially when assessed against criteria related to driver engagement that cannot be quantified. You know this because the law of physics, heft, dimensions, control delicacy, ergonomics etc come into play with comparisons like this. So I have no doubt that for a lot of people, the Alpine could well be the better car regardless of the price difference.
Not sure about that. Certainly the Alpine could be considered better value, more car for the money you pay as such but I don't think many would think it the better car out of those two. Edited by C.MW on Saturday 6th April 17:00
Haven't driven one though so it's just my opinion and I do love the look of the Alpine.
Seems a ludicrous comparison.
On British roads... If a car can do above the NSL, whats the point? It's not like you can truly exploit it without fear of the BiB or some random event jumping out in front of you.
Not that I'm saying every single person drives the speed limit all the time; far from it. But the best place to test these to their limits surely is a track.
At 70mph, neither of these cars will get away from the other, regardless how many killerwasps advantage, or however much Jenny Craig has worked her magic, nor how much more one pays over the other.
In saying that, I'd still suggest a good way to measure these cars is fitness of purpose. We know that the Mac is quicker / faster. And you would expect it to be. But comparing against each other directly, only confirms that. Maybe you should compare the Mac against other similarly targeted cars, and then give it a rating out of 10. Same goes for the Alpine.
I think you'd find the Alpine has a better chance in ratings terms (I reckon it's a 10/10), whereas I reckon the Mac is more a 9.5/10.
On British roads... If a car can do above the NSL, whats the point? It's not like you can truly exploit it without fear of the BiB or some random event jumping out in front of you.
Not that I'm saying every single person drives the speed limit all the time; far from it. But the best place to test these to their limits surely is a track.
At 70mph, neither of these cars will get away from the other, regardless how many killerwasps advantage, or however much Jenny Craig has worked her magic, nor how much more one pays over the other.
In saying that, I'd still suggest a good way to measure these cars is fitness of purpose. We know that the Mac is quicker / faster. And you would expect it to be. But comparing against each other directly, only confirms that. Maybe you should compare the Mac against other similarly targeted cars, and then give it a rating out of 10. Same goes for the Alpine.
I think you'd find the Alpine has a better chance in ratings terms (I reckon it's a 10/10), whereas I reckon the Mac is more a 9.5/10.
Motorsport3 said:
20 smth years ago or so when the first elise was launched i recall a test against a Lamborghini Diablo on a track. In some ways this is a contemporary equivalent.
On that Lambo, the A110 has roughly the same quarter mile time - beyond that, speeds aren't appropriate for any road use... Yet here the A110 is denoted as the 'slow' car. How perspective can be warped... 
Iamnotkloot said:
The engine was designed over 27 years ago. Twenty seven years. Think of the improvements in materials and design in that time; you could make it compliant and more powerful if you wanted. If I had the greatest engine ever made in my back catalogue, I’d make damn sure to keep it.
But it's isn't a McLaren engine, it's a BMW.And progress isn't a thing? There are no V12 engines currently being used in and of Ferrari, Lamborghini or Aston Martin catalogues that date back that far! Why live in the past? When I think of the improvements in materials and design in the that time, it's highly unlikely that engine would be even considered being used by the very BMW bods who designed it in the first place...
head stalker is alive and well, and taking one comment out of context. Bravo, sAs much as I like the 720s as an object, if I would have to choose one for a drive on the alpine (sic!) roads near where I live, I would go for the A110. For a simple reason: I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing more than 90-100mph on those roads and with the 720s 100mph would mean backing off less than 5 seconds or 300yards after a hairpin. Coitus interruptus after 5 seconds is never fun, not even with the sexiest person on the planet. Long live slower cars!
I’ve had an Alpine Pure for about 5 weeks now. Brilliant little car - good immediately and then it grows on you.
You really do feel the weight benefit, and even the sound is decent, and less contrived/fake than some of the others I’ve owned (hello RS6...)
Yes I’d prefer a manual box, but contrary to expectations, the Alpine is a great ‘daily’ and the auto helps with this. Combining the light weight and the damping, it floats over rubbish city roads, whereas most other things crash into potholes etc. The way it seems to stick its wheels out and grab onto the tarmac reminds me of an Intergrale, but ride is better.
I’ve had various Loti (and a 570), and the Alpine is not as sharp as an Exige, but much more flexible, with a broader range of use. Very very good little car, and amazing first attempt.
My original plan was to use it for the summer then sell, but now I’m struggling to see why. There’s nothing comparable at the moment.
You really do feel the weight benefit, and even the sound is decent, and less contrived/fake than some of the others I’ve owned (hello RS6...)
Yes I’d prefer a manual box, but contrary to expectations, the Alpine is a great ‘daily’ and the auto helps with this. Combining the light weight and the damping, it floats over rubbish city roads, whereas most other things crash into potholes etc. The way it seems to stick its wheels out and grab onto the tarmac reminds me of an Intergrale, but ride is better.
I’ve had various Loti (and a 570), and the Alpine is not as sharp as an Exige, but much more flexible, with a broader range of use. Very very good little car, and amazing first attempt.
My original plan was to use it for the summer then sell, but now I’m struggling to see why. There’s nothing comparable at the moment.
Kevin-sz0nv said:
Love both cars but having been in a few Mclarens I feel the interiors don't justify the price. It's time they changed their Iris sat nav altogether instead of keep updating it, the one I used was a nightmare and the engine is pretty soulless even though it has bombastic acceleration. Using it at normal everyday speeds it's comfy in fairness for a supercar but I personally would like to hear some nice sounds from behind. Mclaren have lent my pal a few now and in this colour they do look stunning. In fairness they've come a long way in such a short time they just need to sort the interior and engine noise out and they have a winner. The Alpine imo is right 1st time a great car.
Foggyyyyyyyyy!Edited by Kevin-sz0nv on Saturday 6th April 09:03
anonymous said:
[redacted]
This is it. The 488 has better tone but still very little volume, the new Aston DBS is similar to my ears. 911 Turbos are straight up quiet. That was somewhat the context of my statement, it doesn't sound too bad versus it's main peer, the 488. Really the only car in this segment that does have the 'right' sound to my ears is the Huracan.
Kevin-sz0nv said:
Love both cars but having been in a few Mclarens I feel the interiors don't justify the price. It's time they changed their Iris sat nav altogether instead of keep updating it,
Never understood this - everyone knows any built in navigation is trash. Just use your phone. Plenty of other more important bits to focus onI disagree there are some great sat nav units in cars nowadays especially the ones with head up displays. Having to use your phone is far from ideal. But it's not just the sat nav in the Mclaren it's all the other things the screen does that makes it so frustrating. Seriously go try one for a day.
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