Re : The Alpine A110 (finally) cometh | PH Fleet

[Sharon-coizu]

yonex said:

saxy said:

Honestly if I wanted a small sports car, an MX5 with a long warranty, 180hp, nothing I need more honestly.

Until you’re unable to keep a lukewarm hatchback honest then it goes a bit wrong in tinted glasses world.

Which is only an issue if you're a willy waver...also only an issue if you're not a very good driver as the only thing that's overtaken me in the last 3 months was an RS5, which proceeded to hold me up in every bend for the next 10 miles!

[aclassofitsown]

Yes Dan!! The biggest decision you had to make in 2019 but absolutely the best one!.. Well, apart from not adding the sport exhaust system. Now, we're going to have to talk about that a little bit later on!

I have fallen head over heels for the A110 and it is definitely one of those cars that you either completely get and become an enthusiast or you don't. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion and I'm glad that not everyone feels the same. That combined with the limited number of cars Alpine sell in the UK each year
keeps them rare. I've still not seen one of these out on the road and for me, that just adds to the appeal.

Lots of people talk about the looks and the front lights. James May's review followed that tone stating that stretching modern legislation over 1960s design language, leaves you with a slightly lame tribute act but I think it looks fantastic! The traditionalist in me though would have to have one in Alpine blue, with the calipers which all of course pushes up the total price of purchasing one.

I rocked up to my closest dealer in St. Albans like a bit of a fan boy but like you realised that the finance package is potentially just about manageable. The fact that you now own one along side the likes of Chris Harris, James May who purchased one after reviewing it and a bunch of other names who know a thing or two about the automotive world, can not be a bad sign at all!

I can't wait to join you all one day in the recherché group of Alpine owners!

[anonymous-user]

Sharon-coizu said:

Which is only an issue if you're a willy waver...also only an issue if you're not a very good driver as the only thing that's overtaken me in the last 3 months was an RS5, which proceeded to hold me up in every bend for the next 10 miles!

Or if you like the feel of quicker cars. Always someone faster or more stupid....

[Prestonese]

yonex said:

Personally I’d be more worried about the steering, but no getting away from the fact that the MX isn’t very quick at all.

Again, this is something most MX5 drivers don't care about.

Not sure what you mean about the steering either. It lacks feel but it is still better than a lot of hot hatches.

[nickfrog]

Sharon-coizu said:

Which is only an issue if you're a willy waver...also only an issue if you're not a very good driver as the only thing that's overtaken me in the last 3 months was an RS5, which proceeded to hold me up in every bend for the next 10 miles!

I always find that on the road the limiting factors are line of sight, traffic and licence/freedom preservation rather than skill so you probably only came across drivers who perhaps were less "committed", ie the vast majority on the open road, thankfully.

[Sharon-coizu]

nickfrog said:

I always find that on the road the limiting factors are line of sight, traffic and licence/freedom preservation rather than skill so you probably only came across drivers who perhaps were less "committed", ie the vast majority on the open road, thankfully.

This is essentially my point, where in the UK can you really exploit a car quicker than an MX5 without risking your own life or worse still other people?

[CABC]

great car Dan.
Look forward to many more reviews, especially side by side pieces with other cars as you test them (Cayster, Lotus, MX5, hatches, anything really, i think this can be cross-shopped with a lot of things).

Heritage to one side i think the front and side look wonderful. very resolved in a manner that has escaped many other manufacturers recently. Germans need to employ more Italian designers rather than dumper truck builders.

I haven't driven one yet, but keyboard warriors have to reflect on the fact that a lot of credible drivers have bought one. Get real if you're a petrolhead that this car clearly does something right. Dan, that's why many here look forward to your experiences and comparisons.

[Tannedbaldhead]

only1ian said:

but then nobody ever got someone into bed by telling them “I drive a Mazda!”

Wanna make a bet?

[DoubleSix]

CABC said:

great car Dan.
Look forward to many more reviews, especially side by side pieces with other cars as you test them (Cayster, Lotus, MX5, hatches, anything really, i think this can be cross-shopped with a lot of things).

Heritage to one side i think the front and side look wonderful. very resolved in a manner that has escaped many other manufacturers recently. Germans need to employ more Italian designers rather than dumper truck builders.

I haven't driven one yet, but keyboard warriors have to reflect on the fact that a lot of credible drivers have bought one. Get real if you're a petrolhead that this car clearly does something right. Dan, that's why many here look forward to your experiences and comparisons.

So if you don’t like it your not a ‘real’ petrolhead...

Pfft! Ok mate

[Sharon-coizu]

DoubleSix said:

CABC said:

great car Dan.
Look forward to many more reviews, especially side by side pieces with other cars as you test them (Cayster, Lotus, MX5, hatches, anything really, i think this can be cross-shopped with a lot of things).

Heritage to one side i think the front and side look wonderful. very resolved in a manner that has escaped many other manufacturers recently. Germans need to employ more Italian designers rather than dumper truck builders.

I haven't driven one yet, but keyboard warriors have to reflect on the fact that a lot of credible drivers have bought one. Get real if you're a petrolhead that this car clearly does something right. Dan, that's why many here look forward to your experiences and comparisons.

So if you don’t like it your not a ‘real’ petrolhead...

Pfft! Ok mate

I didn't read it like that. Just that if you are a petrolhead you should be glad it exists and interested in it

[unsprung]

only1ian said:

Great road choice for a first proper drive and I hope it continues to bring you multiple edifying experiences ;-)

Sandpit Steve said:

Great video by the way, PH video team doing a great job with these recently!

samoht said:

Thanks for that Dan, really good to see you enjoying the car and talking about the buying process. I think that video updates from staff on your own cars, like this one, could be a good thing to have more of on PH - I always find e.g. Jay Leno's videos about his own cars the most enthralling, I think it's the insight you get from long term use that makes a video most interesting.

Miserablegit said:

Like a lot of things people either get this car or they don’t.
It’s great we have the choice.

chelme said:

This is a man after my own heart! Great car, expertly presented too!

+1

[DoubleSix]

Sharon-coizu said:

I didn't read it like that. Just that if you are a petrolhead you should be glad it exists and interested in it

Don’t disagree, hopefully one is allowed an opinion/to critique the vehicle too.

[anonymous-user]

Sharon-coizu said:

This is essentially my point, where in the UK can you really exploit a car quicker than an MX5 without risking your own life or worse still other people?

You can exploit most cars for short bursts, it seems that people who own MX5’s are the first to say it’s all everyone needs. In the case of pure performance terms we all only need 40HP, to do 70mph?
I can’t see the comparison with the Alpine and Mx5, worlds apart.

[Sharon-coizu]

DoubleSix said:

Sharon-coizu said:

I didn't read it like that. Just that if you are a petrolhead you should be glad it exists and interested in it

Don’t disagree, hopefully one is allowed an opinion/to critique the vehicle too.

Absolutely! My criticisms of it are:

Not manual, engine not special enough, £10k too expensive.

On the plus side:

Refreshingly not German, lightweight, pretty to my eyes.

[j90gta]

There is so much badge snobbery in the automotive world. Sadly it is something that Renault Alpine have suffered with for a long time. Too many people say "I'm not paying that much for a French car". Alpine have in the past built better handling/riding cars than their German counterparts. The snobs have preconceptions that the Germans will always build something better and will not accept that there is an alternative. Top speeds and 0-60 times are not everything.

[Sharon-coizu]

yonex said:

You can exploit most cars for short bursts, it seems that people who own MX5’s are the first to say it’s all everyone needs. In the case of pure performance terms we all only need 40HP, to do 70mph?
I can’t see the comparison with the Alpine and Mx5, worlds apart.

I'm not an MX5 evangelist but it is enough car for me on public roads. Each to their own. Personally I find it more fun at 9 tenths than anything I have owned since my MK3 MR2 - which was also derided as a "hairdressers car" by people who liked big numbers!

As for the Alpine comparison. My point is that on the A39 east of Lynmouth I doubt an Alpine is twice as fast or twice as much fun as an MX5 but it is twice the price!

[anonymous-user]

Sharon-coizu said:

I'm not an MX5 evangelist but it is enough car for me on public roads. Each to their own. Personally I find it more fun at 9 tenths than anything I have owned since my MK3 MR2 - which was also derided as a "hairdressers car" by people who liked big numbers!

As for the Alpine comparison. My point is that on the A39 east of Lynmouth I doubt an Alpine is twice as fast or twice as much fun as an MX5 but it is twice the price!

I agree the Mx is exceptional value, but the Alpine is really a superior car. One is the go to value convertible, the other is the one of the sweetest handling coupes of recent years.

[CABC]

Sharon-coizu said:

I'm not an MX5 evangelist but it is enough car for me on public roads. Each to their own. Personally I find it more fun at 9 tenths than anything I have owned since my MK3 MR2 - which was also derided as a "hairdressers car" by people who liked big numbers!

As for the Alpine comparison. My point is that on the A39 east of Lynmouth I doubt an Alpine is twice as fast or twice as much fun as an MX5 but it is twice the price!

there are different driving joys to be had.    the MX5 really is one form of driving nirvana, especially with a few well considered mods. it's light and nimble most of all.   that said, an Elise is a different feel altogether.   although a Cayster wouldn't be that much faster over a twisty section, the composed feel is again different and a howling flat 6 a joy on its own.    personally I'd take those 3 together over 100k+ supercar.  

[Browjam]

Hi there,
Great review, I took delivery of my Pure in November as well but I asked the specific question about running the car and was told it wasn’t necessary, I haven’t gone too aggressive on the revs but certainly haven’t always kept them below 3500. Hope the 900 miles I have done so far haven’t cause any long term issues.

I went for the sports exhaust, not a cheap option at £1800 but worth it I’m afraid.

I would love to know where you got the leather footwell storage cases from, are they from Alpine?

I think that is worth mentioning that the cost of the car does seem costly compared to cars like the MX5 but readers need to understand that this is a virtually handmade car and the mid range acceleration is more akin to that of a 911.

This is a modern classic an scarcity means that you get a lot of positivity from other drivers on the road!

Wouldn’t change mine for anything else.

[NewUsername]

Lovely car, an interesting take on the sports car that’s not the usual German norm. Gordon Murray drives on as his daily and reckons its the best everyday road car on sale, that’s good enough for me. More vids please