Don't feel the need to upgrade to a newer model
Discussion
TDT said:
bcr5784 said:
The A110 Alpine seems to have a lot of the boxes ticked. Similar real world performance, much nicer sounding than 718 to my ears, 300kg lighter and likely much more agile as a result, and said to be torsionally stiffer than 4C and better riding than Cayman.
This... only possible knock is that it doesn't come with an option for Manual gearbox. It doesn't have the baggage that the Cayman has with the move from N/A-6 to F/I-4.Its more trick than the Cayman as a fundamental platform... suspension set-up, proper underbody aero..flat floor and functional diffuser. Got to be a top choice for real driving in todays climate.
As I have just discovered first hand, there is nothing on the market today in new car terms, that could replace my CGTS. Such a shame I sold it before I realised that.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Ref the aero.. yes i was referring to that more in the lift reduction aspect.. which is what they have targeted in this car and taken across to the new Megane R.S.As for the target market.. you're right..it is a bit curious... for the price.. they needed make sure they offer appropriate performance.. so that may have affected decisions on the powerplant and drivetrain.
They opted not to make a 'cheap and cheerful or rather light/unfiltered and cheerful' in the spirit of say GT86/BRZ... which I think is what people might have been thinking of.. so maybe a missed opportunity in that respect. Cheap and Cheerful wasn't meant as a negative - rather just this type of feeling i think of... car is light on its feet, happy character - revs out nicely, feedback in the steering and chassis - great interface points - brakes, gearshift.
PhantomPH said:
Not much of a looker tho, is it? It could drive like a dream for me and I would still choose a Cayman GTS 981 over an A110 every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
As I have just discovered first hand, there is nothing on the market today in new car terms, that could replace my CGTS. Such a shame I sold it before I realised that.
Looks are very subjective, Most seem happy with them. For me they are just as good as my Cayman and I have got fed up every Porsche (and Golf) looking the same. Let's face it only porsche enthusiasts can tell one generation of Cayster or 911 from another or even a 911 from a Cayster. As I have just discovered first hand, there is nothing on the market today in new car terms, that could replace my CGTS. Such a shame I sold it before I realised that.
Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 18th September 16:40
bcr5784 said:
PhantomPH said:
Not much of a looker tho, is it? It could drive like a dream for me and I would still choose a Cayman GTS 981 over an A110 every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
As I have just discovered first hand, there is nothing on the market today in new car terms, that could replace my CGTS. Such a shame I sold it before I realised that.
Looks are very subjective, Most seem happy with them. For me they are just as good as my Cayman and I have got fed up every Porsche (and Golf) looking the same. As I have just discovered first hand, there is nothing on the market today in new car terms, that could replace my CGTS. Such a shame I sold it before I realised that.
Twinfan said:
PhantomPH said:
As I have just discovered first hand, there is nothing on the market today in new car terms, that could replace my CGTS. Such a shame I sold it before I realised that.
Bugger! Why did you sell it?
As a complete testament to the CGTS, I knew that whatever I chose would be a complete let down, so I wanted to go down the SUV route for a while. You know - something completely different to avoid comparison. Ended up buying a new Audi S5, ha ha. Figured it was comfortable and quick, but far removed enough from the CGTS to mean I didn't compare. If that makes sense?!
TDT said:
Subjective... I think it looks good in the metal - I saw one at the Blenheim Palace Sunday Service... good size and proportions.. but yeah Branding is a real thing. I'd pick the 981 S/GTS over the A110 also.. but we are talking about new cars in current production, so must be excluded from the conversation.
Goes into production in the next month or so and will be available in a similar time period to a 718 so I'm not sure if that's fair. People seem to be ordering GT4s GTSs similarly blind. bcr5784 said:
TDT said:
Subjective... I think it looks good in the metal - I saw one at the Blenheim Palace Sunday Service... good size and proportions.. but yeah Branding is a real thing. I'd pick the 981 S/GTS over the A110 also.. but we are talking about new cars in current production, so must be excluded from the conversation.
Goes into production in the next month or so and will be available in a similar time period to a 718 so I'm not sure if that's fair. People seem to be ordering GT4s GTSs similarly blind. 
I meant 981 vs A110. which is was PhantomPH was referring to.Yes 718 and A110 will be on the market at the same time.
TDT said:
bcr5784 said:
TDT said:
Subjective... I think it looks good in the metal - I saw one at the Blenheim Palace Sunday Service... good size and proportions.. but yeah Branding is a real thing. I'd pick the 981 S/GTS over the A110 also.. but we are talking about new cars in current production, so must be excluded from the conversation.
Goes into production in the next month or so and will be available in a similar time period to a 718 so I'm not sure if that's fair. People seem to be ordering GT4s GTSs similarly blind. I meant 981 vs A110. which is was PhantomPH was referring to.Yes 718 and A110 will be on the market at the same time.
Basically I was saying that for me it would be 981 CGTS over anything (same sector) new.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
The fact that the concept Is neither completely fish or foul - neither as raw and impractical as an Elise Exige or 4C nor as bloated and overweight as Porsches have become - is a strength not a weakness. The fact that 2000 people put their deposits down within a couple of days after it was first shown to the public at Geneva clearly shows that the concept has considerable appeal.
Porsche only sell around 10000 Caymans a year, so 3k+ Alpines - which seems entirely plausible - is hardly niche market. Renault have canned Clio RS to ensure capacity is available. Given that press response has so far been wholly positive which contrasts markedly with reaction to the 718, to fail to take the A110 seriously would be naive. I don't think recent upgrades to the 718 spec and better value it represents are unrelated.
What on earth are you talking about? A 110 is a 2 seater mid engined coupe it is "competing" with the Cayman - not the Boxster (on convertibility) or 911 (on price or seats) . If, in future, Alpine brought out a convertible or 4 seater it would be a different matter.
Edited by bcr5784 on Tuesday 19th September 19:54
Edited by bcr5784 on Tuesday 19th September 19:59
I have not looked at the Alpine as it's a 4 pot turbo automatic !
But is it not just an Elise ?
The 3 cars I have no interest in what so ever and really seem a fail to me are>
Alfa 4c was a flop
Fiat 124 Spider is an MX5
and now the ALpine 110 rather buy an Elise.
All the same sort of thing all rather quite odd and unappealing.
But these 3 were punted out as Cayman rivals !
But is it not just an Elise ?
The 3 cars I have no interest in what so ever and really seem a fail to me are>
Alfa 4c was a flop
Fiat 124 Spider is an MX5
and now the ALpine 110 rather buy an Elise.
All the same sort of thing all rather quite odd and unappealing.
But these 3 were punted out as Cayman rivals !
Porsche911R said:
...
Alfa 4c was a flop
Fiat 124 Spider is an MX5
and now the ALpine 110 rather buy an Elise.
...all 3 were punted out as Cayman rivals...
I agree with you that the above 3 are not very appealing at all......but now the Cayman (718) has a 4 pot engine, a HUGE part of the appeal of the Cayman (718) is now gone. Alfa 4c was a flop
Fiat 124 Spider is an MX5
and now the ALpine 110 rather buy an Elise.
...all 3 were punted out as Cayman rivals...
If the 4C had an NA V6 engine and manual gearbox I probably would have bought one.
v8ksn said:
I agree with you that the above 3 are not very appealing at all......but now the Cayman (718) has a 4 pot engine, a HUGE part of the appeal of the Cayman (718) is now gone.
Up until today I would have said you were being a bit precious about what constitutes Porsche-ness. Having had a 944 and 924 in the past, I wasn't overly concerned about the engine.But today I had a couple of hours in a 718, and while it is in many respects a superior car to the 981 or 987, I just couldn't get on with the engine. At best it sounds like a Subaru, at worst, like a 1-series diesel.
Along with the over-servoed brakes and tacky interior, and it's not a car I'd want to buy.
On the positive side I was really happy to get back into my very shabby 2.9 987.
k
Accepting the 4C is widely regarded as very flawed, neither of the others are that much like the elise, both are more civilised. The 124 is simply a turbo MX5 and never as I am aware touted as an Elise competitor.
The A110 is far more plush, far better equipped and much more suitable for a DD than an Elise. As a weekend fun car the Elise has much to offer, as a long distance holiday car it is very lacking.
The A110 is far more plush, far better equipped and much more suitable for a DD than an Elise. As a weekend fun car the Elise has much to offer, as a long distance holiday car it is very lacking.
bcr5784 said:
Accepting the 4C is widely regarded as very flawed, neither of the others are that much like the elise, both are more civilised. The 124 is simply a turbo MX5 and never as I am aware touted as an Elise competitor.
The A110 is far more plush, far better equipped and much more suitable for a DD than an Elise. As a weekend fun car the Elise has much to offer, as a long distance holiday car it is very lacking.
Agree - I drove the 4C and really wanted to love it, hoping there would be a harder alternative to Boxster / Caymans. I was sorely disappointed- the steering at speed is scary! The idea of non assisted steering is wonderful but the reality in this case (probably due to the chassis set up/geo?) is frightening. I was on track and at 120MPH it was twitching all over the place in an unsatisfying way. The exhaust note is a bit dull as well. A real shame as it could have been a step on from an Elise.The A110 is far more plush, far better equipped and much more suitable for a DD than an Elise. As a weekend fun car the Elise has much to offer, as a long distance holiday car it is very lacking.
I want to like the A110, but I am not sure it looks 'special' enough for me. Yes, that's snobery or whatever you want to call it, but I will happily admit that I like to be attracted to the car and feel like I am in something that is worthy of the price tag...as shallow as that is.
If someone told me the A110 was £25k, I wouldn't have any reason to doubt them or be shocked.
It's just like the recent GTR vs 911 argument. I don't care how fast a GTR is - I would still choose the Porsche. A big part of the car world is making a car seem aspirational. The A110 does not fulfil that part of the checkboxes for me AT THE MOMENT!! I may change my mind once I see one in the flesh.
If someone told me the A110 was £25k, I wouldn't have any reason to doubt them or be shocked.
It's just like the recent GTR vs 911 argument. I don't care how fast a GTR is - I would still choose the Porsche. A big part of the car world is making a car seem aspirational. The A110 does not fulfil that part of the checkboxes for me AT THE MOMENT!! I may change my mind once I see one in the flesh.
I saw the Alpine at the Geneva motor show and it did absolutely nothing for me looks wise. The (718) Cayman on the other hand, to me, is one of the best looking cars on the road. After a test drive, I knew it was going to be my next car as it ticks all boxes and before anyone chimes in, I don't mind the noise at all and saw no need to order PSE either. It will do me just nicely.
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