RE: Alpine A110 | PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
Smudge1664 said:
Fair, bur you could argue the cayman is forever compared to the alpine( granted that’s not a gt4) I’d be interested to know how many average punters (like me who own between 1 and 3 cars, not a fleet) would purchase alpine above a cayman. I’m sure Google and sales figures could give me a clue but this has taken me far too long to type when I’m two bottles of white down to check
Who cares about what the average punter would do? The popularity of a car isn’t always reflective of how good it is.The Cayman is forever compared as that is the market segment.
As an Alpine owner I don’t have an issue with people choosing other cars- that is their right. Likewise I can accept other people don’t like the car. Who cares.
I do object to the same old trolls constantly spouting crap on any Alpine thread. By choosing an Alpine there were many other cars I didn’t choose but I didn’t set up an alarm in order to slate those cars every time they were mentioned in a forum. That is what I object to as it interferes with the discussion.
Smudge1664 said:
SidewaysSi said:
Err...Not quite the same types of car are they?
Fair, bur you could argue the cayman is forever compared to the alpine( granted that’s not a gt4) I’d be interested to know how many average punters (like me who own between 1 and 3 cars, not a fleet) would purchase alpine above a cayman. I’m sure Google and sales figures could give me a clue but this has taken me far too long to type when I’m two bottles of white down to check I have driven an Alpine and owned a GT4. For road use in the UK - Alpine for me. I found the GT4 dull to be honest.
Though in reality I would probably go in a different direction entirely.
Average punter here. 3 cars. Had convinced myself that I was going to buy a Cayman after a lot of thought and consideration, several dealer visits and way too many hours on the configurator. 30 min test drive in an A110 and Alpine got my order. Hands down the more exciting and interesting purchase decision.
I am pleased there aren't too many Alpines around I would hate to drive one of those common as muck Porsche's where no one lets you out at junctions.
I find no end of people letting me in so they can have a second look or giving me the thumbs up.
You see its cool without being in your face.
I find no end of people letting me in so they can have a second look or giving me the thumbs up.
You see its cool without being in your face.
[quote=Mysstree]It’s a good looking car and yet ugly depending from the viewing angle. I like it.
Still think i would go for a Cayman as Porsche build quality, fit and finish has been pretty good for some years now whereas this (Alpine) is still a Renault and it would make me wonder whether a few years down the line
I moved out of a 982 Cayman S into an Alpine A110S and will never look back. I love the looks, performance, handling and sound of the Alpine so much that I’d accept a couple of niggles, IF they occur.
I also like driving something a little and not as common as a Porsche.
Still think i would go for a Cayman as Porsche build quality, fit and finish has been pretty good for some years now whereas this (Alpine) is still a Renault and it would make me wonder whether a few years down the line
I moved out of a 982 Cayman S into an Alpine A110S and will never look back. I love the looks, performance, handling and sound of the Alpine so much that I’d accept a couple of niggles, IF they occur.
I also like driving something a little and not as common as a Porsche.
One of my mates had a deposit on a Cayman GTS(the turbo version) a few years ago, and he cancelled the deposit and purchased the A110 instead. He is a really big Renaultsport fan though and he's had a couple of Clio Trophys/Megane RS over the years.
To my surprise he did tell me that he actually preferred the Clio Trophy over the A110 though, and I wasn't expecting that in fairness. I think that is because he prefers FWD to RWD though, and I personally can't understand that way of thinking to be fair!
To my surprise he did tell me that he actually preferred the Clio Trophy over the A110 though, and I wasn't expecting that in fairness. I think that is because he prefers FWD to RWD though, and I personally can't understand that way of thinking to be fair!
springfan62 said:
I am pleased there aren't too many Alpines around I would hate to drive one of those common as muck Porsche's where no one lets you out at junctions.
I find no end of people letting me in so they can have a second look or giving me the thumbs up.
You see its cool without being in your face.
I find no end of people letting me in so they can have a second look or giving me the thumbs up.
You see its cool without being in your face.
and they say Porsche is a cult. If you’re the sort of person who needs the affirmation of other road users to help you feel good about yourself then there you go.
As I said, the handling of the A110 is great, but to me, the nasty little 1.x L 4 pot is a joke in a £50k car. Not having a manual in a ‘drivers car’ which is supposed to be engaging and involving (and not nearly fast enough to justify cutting these interactions out) makes zero sense. I think it looks horrid, as do many modern re-takes of 60’s & 70’s cars. The interior quality in the one I drove was low-budget and the infotainment screen reminded me of a seat-back TV on a US airliner. It has 2 very poor boots, and the rear one gets hot.
If you’re building a car with the lotus ethos of lightness, do it properly. It doesn’t dynamically achieve what lotus can.
That leaves the A110 in no-man’s land. objectively, a cayman does pretty much everything the Alpine can do better, more comfortably, practically, faster, more reliably etc. That’s why they’re more common.
It aims to be both an Elise and a cayman and it hasn’t managed either..
Edited by Royal Jelly on Monday 6th September 08:35
Royal Jelly said:
and they say Porsche is a cult. If you’re the sort of person who needs the affirmation of other road users to help you feel good about yourself then there you go.
As I said, the handling of the A110 is great, but to me, the nasty little 1.x L 4 pot is a joke in a £50k car. Not having a manual in a ‘drivers car’ which is supposed to be engaging and involving (and not nearly fast enough to justify cutting these interactions out) makes zero sense. I think it looks horrid, as do many modern re-takes of 60’s & 70’s cars. The interior quality in the one I drove was low-budget and the infotainment screen reminded me of a seat-back TV on a US airliner. It has 2 very poor boots, and the rear one gets hot.
If you’re building a car with the lotus ethos of lightness, do it properly. It doesn’t dynamically achieve what lotus can.
That leaves the A110 in no-man’s land. objectively, a cayman does pretty much everything the Alpine can do better, more comfortably, practically, faster, more reliably etc. That’s why they’re more common.
The A110 is quicker to 82 than a Cayman S
All of these Porsche fanboys - did you buy a 718 instead of an Alpine? I’m sure most of those who did are perfectly happy and don’t feel the need to jump into an Alpine thread.
blade7 said:
craigjm said:
blade7 said:
Boring engine, boring gearbox, quite a few nasty owners.
really?Hence someone's earlier "predictable troll is predictable" comment, which was spot-on.
Miserablegit said:
That’s an opinion that you’re entitled to but the long gearing of the Porsche means you’ve basically got a CVT if you choose a manual box…2nd will take you from start to 82….
The A110 is quicker to 82 than a Cayman S
All of these Porsche fanboys - did you buy a 718 instead of an Alpine? I’m sure most of those who did are perfectly happy and don’t feel the need to jump into an Alpine thread.
Indeed, my opinion only. The A110 is quicker to 82 than a Cayman S
All of these Porsche fanboys - did you buy a 718 instead of an Alpine? I’m sure most of those who did are perfectly happy and don’t feel the need to jump into an Alpine thread.
No - I looked at 718 CS and 981 variant, and for the same reason (engine) I went for the 981. To me (again) the engine & gearbox are too big a part of a car to overlook.
The manual box in a cayman is a beautiful thing. Yes, 2nd is long but I manage to wring it out plenty, with the theatre that a fun car should provide. If I want straight line speed, then there are many, many better options.
The point I’m attempting to make is that the Cayman is (as are all cars) a compromise. It is a successful one as a well-priced, mid engined, hugely practical, quick, well made comfortable everyday car.
An Elise is magnificent at what it does, for all of it’s compromises as a daily.
To me, the Alpine tries to be both and has missed the marks on either end.
Don’t get me wrong - I loved driving it for a day. The handling is a scream. But it is a niche car that (to me) doesn’t win in either category - and thus a harder sell for more people - hence you see far more Caymans.
If it’s niche is something which some people want, then great. I’m glad the alpine exists and I hope more manufacturers enter this space.
Edited by Royal Jelly on Monday 6th September 08:57
Royal Jelly said:
That leaves the A110 in no-man’s land. objectively, a cayman does pretty much everything the Alpine can do better, more comfortably, practically, faster, more reliably etc. That’s why they’re more common.
Are you sure? I'll concede more practical but the rest of that is wrong. The Alpine is faster than an equivalent Cayman, more refined, rides way better and I'd guess more reliable. The key element you missed but did acknowledge previously is fun. It's the Cayman's achilles heel - unless you're travelling at huge speeds it doesn't engage.Edited by Royal Jelly on Monday 6th September 08:35
Good on you for driving one though and nice roads by the sound of it.
Venisonpie said:
Are you sure?
Good on you for driving one though and nice roads by the sound of it.
No - it’s all opinion. I disagree with much of what you said - but that’s absolutely fine.Good on you for driving one though and nice roads by the sound of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, VP. Great roads, great cars (we’re splitting hairs just having this discussion) and great weather and a great meal and plenty of beer at the end. Days don’t get much better.
Royal Jelly said:
Indeed, my opinion only.
No - I looked at 718 CS and 981 variant, and for the same reason (engine) I went for the 981. To me (again) the engine & gearbox are too big a part of a car to overlook.
The manual box in a cayman is a beautiful thing. Yes, 2nd is long but I manage to wring it out plenty, with the theatre that a fun car should provide. If I want straight line speed, then there are many, many better options.
The point I’m attempting to make is that the Cayman is (as are all cars) a compromise. It is a successful one as a well-priced, mid engined, hugely practical, quick, well made comfortable everyday car.
An Elise is magnificent at what it does, for all of it’s compromises as a daily.
To me, the Alpine tries to be both and has missed the marks on either end.
Don’t get me wrong - I loved driving it for a day. The handling is a scream. But it is a niche car that (to me) doesn’t win in either category - and thus a harder sell for more people - hence you see far more Caymans.
If it’s niche is something which some people want, then great. I’m glad the alpine exists and I hope more manufacturers enter this space.
Pah. Everyone knows people buy Caymans because they can't handle a real Porsche.. No - I looked at 718 CS and 981 variant, and for the same reason (engine) I went for the 981. To me (again) the engine & gearbox are too big a part of a car to overlook.
The manual box in a cayman is a beautiful thing. Yes, 2nd is long but I manage to wring it out plenty, with the theatre that a fun car should provide. If I want straight line speed, then there are many, many better options.
The point I’m attempting to make is that the Cayman is (as are all cars) a compromise. It is a successful one as a well-priced, mid engined, hugely practical, quick, well made comfortable everyday car.
An Elise is magnificent at what it does, for all of it’s compromises as a daily.
To me, the Alpine tries to be both and has missed the marks on either end.
Don’t get me wrong - I loved driving it for a day. The handling is a scream. But it is a niche car that (to me) doesn’t win in either category - and thus a harder sell for more people - hence you see far more Caymans.
If it’s niche is something which some people want, then great. I’m glad the alpine exists and I hope more manufacturers enter this space.
Edited by Royal Jelly on Monday 6th September 08:57
Royal Jelly said:
No - it’s all opinion. I disagree with much of what you said - but that’s absolutely fine.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, VP. Great roads, great cars (we’re splitting hairs just having this discussion) and great weather and a great meal and plenty of beer at the end. Days don’t get much better.
Amen.I thoroughly enjoyed it, VP. Great roads, great cars (we’re splitting hairs just having this discussion) and great weather and a great meal and plenty of beer at the end. Days don’t get much better.
Royal Jelly said:
The point I’m attempting to make is that the Cayman is (as are all cars) a compromise. It is a successful one as a well-priced, mid engined, hugely practical, quick, well made comfortable everyday car.
An Elise is magnificent at what it does, for all of it’s compromises as a daily.
To me, the Alpine tries to be both and has missed the marks on either end.
I don't think that's unfair, but you can make the same argument about lots of combinations - the Elise is, by the same argument, between a Caterham/Atom and the A110, and fails at both - nothing like as raw to drive as the former, nothing like as civilised as the latter.An Elise is magnificent at what it does, for all of it’s compromises as a daily.
To me, the Alpine tries to be both and has missed the marks on either end.
For me the A110 is the sweet spot; all the stuff you'd expect in a modern supermini, and a lot easier to get into and out of than an Elise, but rarer, quirkier, and to my mind more fun than a Cayman. While still being civilised enough to use every day and for motorway slogs.
Mine is my "daily", not that I actually drive every day. I think it's just down to where each person's balance point sits.
otolith said:
Unfortunately, now that the Elise is dead the Alpine is as light as you are going to get in this sort of serious but usable sportscar. An MX-5 is lighter but not as focused.
but you can easily and reliably mod it to be far more focused than a Cayman. I know that's a modding argument, but as we're looking at "sports cars" now being fat beyond belief it's a path more should consider. I tracked a mk1 5 with chassis bracing, bbk, Meisters, bucket seat and charged to 200hp. Awesome, even if it looked liked s**t! Next time I'll take a ND, nasp mod it to 225 and some other things and it'll be way better than a Cayman for less £. If people really want a useable sports car then they should get past the hairdresser jibes! I'd happily take the Cayman, but it would be a 'sports GT' car with a glorious 6 rather than a B road blaster. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff