RE: Alpine A110 | PH Used Buying Guide

RE: Alpine A110 | PH Used Buying Guide

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Discussion

PH User

22,154 posts

109 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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Well this is all getting rather dull!

jimbo761

378 posts

83 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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greenarrow said:
Hmm, I am not sure the residuals of 718 Cayman are as good as the Alpine. The, Alpine remember, generally came with NO extras, so the A110 Premier Edition tested by EVO in 2018 for example was £51805 as tested. The Cayman S on the other hand was £74,277 as tested by them and I would suggest most Cayman models are a fair bit more expensive than basic list price. But yes, residuals of the 718 Cayman S and 981S before it are definitely very good.

As for fuel economy, well for most folks it is a factor. The EVO test mpg of their 718 Cayman S was 24.6 MPG, the Alpine 34.4 MPG. Quite a difference for two four cylinder models I am sure you would agree!
To liven up the discussion, here's the MPG from my base 718 when driven sensibly:



You don't need options, I just added parking sensors (now standard) and bought new. Residual is incredibly high, as is the whole market right now, at current values it's been five years of depreciation free motoring.

Venisonpie

3,315 posts

83 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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I remember my 6 cylinder Cayman being pretty good on fuel, one of the benefits to the long gearing perhaps. In fact better than the Alpine bizarrely.
It was my daily driver so spent quite a lot of time on motorways which might be a factor where as the Alpine tends to get a more thorough exercise.

ddom

6,657 posts

49 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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Re: Alpine A110 Used Buying Guide.

Isn’t there a Porsche forum elsewhere?

Venisonpie

3,315 posts

83 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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ddom said:
Re: Alpine A110 Used Buying Guide.

Isn’t there a Porsche forum elsewhere?
Fair point.

bcr5784

7,121 posts

146 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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Venisonpie said:
I remember my 6 cylinder Cayman being pretty good on fuel, one of the benefits to the long gearing perhaps. In fact better than the Alpine bizarrely.
It was my daily driver so spent quite a lot of time on motorways which might be a factor where as the Alpine tends to get a more thorough exercise.
I think that's a bit of an anomally. I averaged just on 30 over the time I had the 981S (not bad I'd agree). Even spirited motoring in the A110 gives mid 30s and 40+ is the norm on motorways (I've seen very nearly 50, but I was trying to be economical.) . I don't think I have ever averaged less than 35 on a tank in the A110.

Venisonpie

3,315 posts

83 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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bcr5784 said:
I think that's a bit of an anomally. I averaged just on 30 over the time I had the 981S (not bad I'd agree). Even spirited motoring in the A110 gives mid 30s and 40+ is the norm on motorways (I've seen very nearly 50, but I was trying to be economical.) . I don't think I have ever averaged less than 35 on a tank in the A110.
Yeah, agree. The Alpine has averaged 36.6 over 4,200 miles and iirc the Cayman was 38 over 24,000 miles in 9 months which tells the story.

BarryGibb

335 posts

148 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Royal Jelly said:
but to me, the nasty little 1.x L 4 pot is a joke in a £50k car.
In what way? The warble under load at medium revs reminds me of a Renault 5 turbo with a custom exhaust - puts a smile on my face. I think it suits the car.


anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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A lot of snobbery in the Porsche forums about four pots.

The 1.8 is a great little unit by accounts, and very effective, as is my 2.0.

Some of these F6 dinosaurs really need to get with the times... wink

greenarrow

3,632 posts

118 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Schmed said:
A lot of snobbery in the Porsche forums about four pots.

The 1.8 is a great little unit by accounts, and very effective, as is my 2.0.

Some of these F6 dinosaurs really need to get with the times... wink
Quite. So the 1.8L 4 pot in the Alpine is nasty, but the 2L/2.5L 4 pot in the Cayman/Boxster 718 isn't?! I think an awful lot of motoring journos would have an opinion on that, judging by the reviews I have seen !!

It is fascinating how triggered (some, not all, to be fair) Cayman owners are by the Alpine that they need to keep popping onto a buying guide for the car and bashing it. It wouldn't be so bad if the criticisms were constructive, but they generally aren't.

Edited by greenarrow on Wednesday 8th September 18:42

anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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greenarrow said:
Schmed said:
A lot of snobbery in the Porsche forums about four pots.

The 1.8 is a great little unit by accounts, and very effective, as is my 2.0.

Some of these F6 dinosaurs really need to get with the times... wink
Quite. So the 1.8L 4 pot in the Alpine is nasty, but the 2L/2.5L 4 pot in the Cayman/Boxster 718 isn't?! I think an awful lot of motoring journos would have an opinion on that, judging by the reviews I have seen !!
.
In fairness to him I don’t think RJ is a fan of the Porsche four pot either. Never mind, his loss.

ddom

6,657 posts

49 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Schmed said:
A lot of snobbery in the Porsche forums about four pots.

The 1.8 is a great little unit by accounts, and very effective, as is my 2.0.

Some of these F6 dinosaurs really need to get with the times... wink
Can’t see the point of a 4 cylinder Boxster, it’s heart is a free reviving NA 6 pot. A cost driven choice.

Sporky

6,425 posts

65 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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I do get the 6 thing, and the 8 (never tried more), but I love the Alpine's gurgle at lower revs, and I really love the emergent consequences of keeping the weight low.

Obviously it's easy to say that anyone who owns one is biased, but to my mind that's looking at it backwards. I was basically down to choosing between a 2-year-old Evora 400 or a new Alpine. The Alpine won, and I loved the Evora I tried. I honestly didn't think I'd prefer the Alpine, but I did. It is that good.

Royal Jelly

3,689 posts

199 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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ddom said:
Can’t see the point of a 4 cylinder Boxster, it’s heart is a free reviving NA 6 pot. A cost driven choice.
Correct, the 718 engine was purely a budgetary compromise. That’s why 911s and higher level Caymans/Boxters still have the 6.

The comparison between the ‘gurgling’ 1.8 and a Renault 5 says it all. The R5T/205GTI etc were a hoot. I had one, and I’m actually looking for another! Angry little 4 pot turbos were great for it, but (in my opinion) have no business in a 50k mid-engined sports car.

Having thoroughly enjoyed a couple of hours of good, quick driving in the A110, I’d love to experience it with a 6 cylinder.

springfan62

838 posts

77 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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The Alpine doesn’t need a 6 cylinder engine, that would compromise its lightness.

My Alpine is the most fun car I have owned since my 205GTi, it’s lightness that makes the car entertaining not the power output.


anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Royal Jelly said:
Correct, the 718 engine was purely a budgetary compromise.
Incorrect. Primary motivation was to get them into the Chinese market where anything >2.0 is subject to excessive tax.

That said it is absolutely a great engine, as fours can be. I even swapped my F6 for it as the torquey acceleration really impressed me and I still have it.

The four in the Alpine certainly seems to suit the lightweight ethos of the car.

Royal Jelly

3,689 posts

199 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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springfan62 said:
The Alpine doesn’t need a 6 cylinder engine, that would compromise its lightness.

My Alpine is the most fun car I have owned since my 205GTi, it’s lightness that makes the car entertaining not the power output.
Glad you like it. I came away thinking any free-revving NA would complement it hugely, rather than forced induction. Hence the 6 idea, because you’d struggle to get the power from a 4 because it’s not ultra light-weight. It’s 1.5 elises.

Perhaps you’re right though, and the sole reason they put the 4cyl in was weight wink

Edited by Royal Jelly on Wednesday 8th September 19:45

craigjm

18,008 posts

201 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Royal Jelly said:
springfan62 said:
The Alpine doesn’t need a 6 cylinder engine, that would compromise its lightness.

My Alpine is the most fun car I have owned since my 205GTi, it’s lightness that makes the car entertaining not the power output.
Glad you like it. I came away thinking any free-revving NA would complement it hugely, rather than forced induction. Hence the 6 idea, because you’d struggle to get the power from a 4 because it’s not ultra light-weight. It’s 1.5 elises.

Perhaps you’re right though, and the sole reason they put the 4cyl in was weight.
The difference between the 4 and 6 cylinder 718 is 70kg

anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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craigjm said:
The difference between the 4 and 6 cylinder 718 is 70kg
Admittedly, as with the Emira, the ethos of those cars certainly isn’t weight. wink

ddom

6,657 posts

49 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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springfan62 said:
The Alpine doesn’t need a 6 cylinder engine, that would compromise its lightness.

My Alpine is the most fun car I have owned since my 205GTi, it’s lightness that makes the car entertaining not the power output.
For sure, but, and to further divert an Alpine thread into discussion about Porsche the core of them is a flat 6, always will be. The 4 is just a ginger stepchild. On the other hand the Alpine comes from 4 cylinders smile