RE: Alpine A110 | PH Fleet

[Miserablegit]

Prestonese said:

Am I still allowed to come along?

Of course - you can be my navigator

[Nerdherder]

It is funny to see how a small sporty French Berlinette seems to trigger really crap behaviour with some folks.

[Sporky]

springfan62 said:

I have never owned or been a fan of Renaults but I love my Alpine!

Same here. No burning rage towards the motherbrand, but I can't remember any that have much captured my imagination. Alpine seem a very separate thing to me, though I do feel some warmth towards Renault for the initial bankrolling and providing some switches and buttons and engine and do on.

[Sporky]

Nerdherder said:

It is funny to see how a small sporty French Berlinette seems to trigger really crap behaviour with some folks.

I do wonder if I'm not doing this wrong. If there's a car I don't like I tend not to have much to do with it - should I be hunting down threads about such and making sure everyone knows my feelings? That sounds like a lot of effort.

[rick.e]

Sporky said:

springfan62 said:

I have never owned or been a fan of Renaults but I love my Alpine!

Same here. No burning rage towards the motherbrand, but I can't remember any that have much captured my imagination. Alpine seem a very separate thing to me, though I do feel some warmth towards Renault for the initial bankrolling and providing some switches and buttons and engine and do on.

Me too, my Alpine is the best car I've ever owned, and I've owned some nice cars, but I've never before considered anything from the Renault family. Having said that, I don't really understand why people raise it as an issue. Nobody buying a GT-R would make comparison, favourable or otherwise, with a Micra. Nobody buying a GT40 would make comparison with a Ka. And I doubt you will hear many Ferrai owners saying "I've never owned a Fiat before".

[ant leigh]

rick.e said:

Me too, my Alpine is the best car I've ever owned, and I've owned some nice cars, but I've never before considered anything from the Renault family. Having said that, I don't really understand why people raise it as an issue. Nobody buying a GT-R would make comparison, favourable or otherwise, with a Micra. Nobody buying a GT40 would make comparison with a Ka. And I doubt you will hear many Ferrai owners saying "I've never owned a Fiat before".

I love my Alpine (almost everything about it) but I also loved my RS Megane so I already knew what Renaultsport could do to create an exceptional handling car.

[springfan62]

I have tended to buy German cars but my two favourite cars I have ever owned are my Alpine and my 205 GTi( back in the day). So whilst French cars may miss something in their competence they certainly have flair.

The German cars have been very fast and effective but rarely memorable.

[apex_mb]

Bit late to the party on this thread...

Julian Thompson said:

Lardy and awful?

Pretty sure that was me driving, first go of one on the manufacturer day at Goodwood FoS last year. Effectively my only test drive before picking up the PE in August, well after placing the order. I think the white looks great, and even more so with the darker S wheels. Mine is still blue though!

springfan62 said:

Back on topic, anyone know when the press reviews of the S are going to be coming out,

It’s probably not for me but I am interested to find how it compares to the standard A110.

Should be this week I believe. Looks like they have an event at Estoril now.

I'm at nearly 8k now, a significant proportion spent on a trip to the Dolomites and Austrian Alps last month, not to mention various trips everywhere from the Scottish Borders to the Cotswolds. I've commuted in it, I've been to the shops in it, I've done long motorway slogs in it. And I love it. Character, personality, and fun - with genuine ability and an ideal size on the road. I'll be measuring residuals by those factors...

Back on topic, great spec Dan. It looks great in grey, and the silver Fuchs wheels suit it perfectly with the grey calipers. Looking forward to hearing how you get on, what it's like without the sport exhaust and the brilliant drives you'll have. Just get used to lots of people asking about it! Enjoy!

[bcr5784]

apex_mb said:

I'll be measuring residuals by those factors...

While residuals aren't a prime driver in buying a car such as this, the fact that they are good and economy is outstanding does rather make the car feel like a bargain because of the low cost of ownership. As the Harry's garage report says, the economy makes you feel that you are cheating the system

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 23 October 08:29

[Emeye]

Black S2K said:

The two I saw were in French blue and Surrender white and I thought both looked lovely.

It is a well-done pastiche of the original.

That 'stretch' is reminiscent of the Borgward Isabella proposal. Let's hope there's a future for that shape instead of today's wrinkly boxes.

Do they do a Monkey green too?

[bcr5784]

Emeye said:

Do they do a Monkey green too?

Regretably they don't have any striking colours - no yellow, no red either. Alpine blue is the most "radical" colour they do. I suppose we have been spared the almost inevitable silver.

[apex_mb]

bcr5784 said:

While residuals aren't a prime driver in buying a car such as this, the fact that they are good and economy is outstanding does rather make the car feel like a bargain because of the low cost of ownership. As the Harry's garage report says, the economy makes you feel that you are cheating the system

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 23 October 08:29

Absolutely. Low running costs were as expected with the lightweight and engine choice, but lots of other positive aspects of ownership maybe less so at the time, of only for the fact so much was unknown. I genuinely can't think what car I'd replace it with, that does what it does in the way it does if that makes sense.

[100 OCTANE]

Congratulations Dan, I’m very much looking forward to reading your future stories about your Alpine A110.
My Alpine A110S is due in at Southampton on 28th October, starting to get a little excited now. I ordered mine with the carbon roof, so IMO, the colour had to be iridescent white with orange brake calipers and trim.

Edited by 100 OCTANE on Thursday 24th October 15:43

[Sporky]

Nice - did you get a chance to try the A110S before ordering, and if so, did you compare it with the standard A110?

[springfan62]

100 OCTANE said:

Congratulations Dan, I’m very much looking forward to reading your future stories about your Alpine A110.
My Alpine A110S is due in at Southampton on 28th October, starting to get a little excited now. I ordered mine with the carbon roof, so IMO, the colour had to be iridescent white with orange brake calipers and trim.

Edited by 100 OCTANE on Thursday 24th October 15:43

Lovely, enjoy and full report required once you have it!

[RH-D]

Good article Dan thanks. A lot resonated with my own experience in May, same Ian same colour.
I mostly kept to the running in advice, including not constant steady motorway speed. I went for an extra oil change at 2K miles, Mechanic Ian agreed it would be useful, £204! The Ians were both very helpful and patient with all my many questions and queries. The car does seem to have loosened up a bit over its now 3K miles. Before purchase I was fortunate to be able to compare it with the also great Cayman S on both my local roads and track. Still happy with my choice.
Best self discovered tips. Two Flybe max sized roller cabin bags by Rexel just fit the front luggage space and there is loads of space behind the front passenger seat easily accessible as I did not opt for the between seat storage box.
I struggled with the stop start function for a while, even when the battery was charged and the air con off, it seemed to have a mind of its own, but now I have it figured. I was keen to minimise fuel wastage and wear and tear and also reduce brake light glare to the vehicle behind, so when I anticipate a long pause say at traffic lights, same as best practice in a manual, its handbrake on then gear in neutral. If the stop start function has kicked in, I increase the pressure of the foot brake slightly as the handbrake engages and the engine stays off.
Also as Honest John reckons tyre foam inflators usually don’t work on punctures, I save a bit of weight and only take mine on long journeys and the case forms a handy storage box alongside the driver’s seat.
Option regrets. I went for the Pure, small standard wheels and brakes. It was the correct choice for me using it mostly on local rough roads, brakes, comfort and handling all sweet. So only one regret I could have saved a bit of money by not having the sports exhaust as the other engine sounds provide plenty to enjoy.
Cheers
Rod

Edited by RH-D on Thursday 24th October 17:08

[unsprung]

Those here who've wondered aloud about more strident or retro-inspired colours are on to something. The size and particular lines of the A110 are ideally suited to some colours that we know from the 1960s and 1970s.

One must concede that, at the moment, it may make commercial sense for Alpine to offer only the handful of sensible colours that it has --- more than half either black or a form of grey alongside two whites and a clear blue. Greater simplicity. Lower overheads. Perhaps better, or at least more predictable, resale value. And so on.

It would nevertheless be interesting to imagine the A110 in a version of some of these:





Note: I am not suggesting that each and every colour, above, is suited to the A110. But you get the point.

[bcr5784]

RH-D said:

Good article Dan thanks. A lot resonated with my own experience in May, same Ian same colour.
I mostly kept to the running in advice, including not constant steady motorway speed. I went for an extra oil change at 2K miles, Mechanic Ian agreed it would be useful, £204! The Ians were both very helpful and patient with all my many questions and queries. The car does seem to have loosened up a bit over its now 3K miles. Before purchase I was fortunate to be able to compare it with the also great Cayman S on both my local roads and track. Still happy with my choice.
Best self discovered tips. Two Flybe max sized roller cabin bags by Rexel just fit the front luggage space and there is loads of space behind the front passenger seat easily accessible as I did not opt for the between seat storage box.
I struggled with the stop start function for a while, even when the battery was charged and the air con off, it seemed to have a mind of its own, but now I have it figured. I was keen to minimise fuel wastage and wear and tear and also reduce brake light glare to the vehicle behind, so when I anticipate a long pause say at traffic lights, same as best practice in a manual, its handbrake on then gear in neutral. If the stop start function has kicked in, I increase the pressure of the foot brake slightly as the handbrake engages and the engine stays off.
Also as Honest John reckons tyre foam inflators usually don’t work on punctures, I save a bit of weight and only take mine on long journeys and the case forms a handy storage box alongside the driver’s seat.
Option regrets. I went for the Pure, small standard wheels and brakes. It was the correct choice for me using it mostly on local rough roads, brakes, comfort and handling all sweet. So only one regret I could have saved a bit of money by not having the sports exhaust as the other engine sounds provide plenty to enjoy.
Cheers
Rod

Edited by RH-D on Thursday 24th October 17:08

Would be good to hear your views on the standard wheels and brakes. I suspect many, in the absense of any reviews have gone for the big brakes and had to specifiy larger wheels as a result. Us PE guys had no choice. One guy on FAR seemed very happy with his choice after a track day (albeit on a track that wasn't that tasking on the brakes. What is your view?

[Julian Thompson]

The one I drove on standard brakes felt perfectly acceptable and I came away thinking the brake kit would be unnecessary overkill, probably even for simple track days, when I think a more aggressive pad and some decent fluid will do the trick....

[Nerdherder]

unsprung said:

Those here who've wondered aloud about more strident or retro-inspired colours are on to something. The size and particular lines of the A110 are ideally suited to some colours that we know from the 1960s and 1970s.

One must concede that, at the moment, it may make commercial sense for Alpine to offer only the handful of sensible colours that it has --- more than half either black or a form of grey alongside two whites and a clear blue. Greater simplicity. Lower overheads. Perhaps better, or at least more predictable, resale value. And so on.

It would nevertheless be interesting to imagine the A110 in a version of some of these:





Note: I am not suggesting that each and every colour, above, is suited to the A110. But you get the point.

I'd propose some of these for the retro color chart.