Alpine A110 to be axed?

[nuttywobbler]

I’m an enthusiast and have always been into cars, but if I was lucky enough to be able to blow £50k on a car, I wouldn’t even consider an Alpine.

It just doesn’t do it for me. The drivetrain simply doesn’t sound special enough - a 1.8 4 cylinder from a Megane with an auto box? I know it doesn’t have much weight to haul around, but that recipe just doesn’t make my mouth water.

Then there’s the looks - subjective of course, but to me it’s never quite liked right.

Then there’s the brand - I maintain that this is a major sticking point, even for so-called enthusiasts. It’s a car that almost nobody has ever heard of, and it won’t impress your friends or neighbours like like a Porsche or M2 will.

I know this car is all about ‘the chassis’ but I’m afraid when sinking £50k on a car... in the real world, for me, there are other considerations beyond this.

Then add in the £50k+ price, and I’m not surprised at all that the sales in the UK have been so poor.

Edited by nuttywobbler on Friday 22 May 06:46

Edited by nuttywobbler on Friday 22 May 06:47

[DeejRC]

It looks st and costs £50k. End of.

I am the very definition of the Alpine’s target demographic. Kam and I are or have been part of that even smaller sub demographic from Donkey’s post of being the blokes who only run small impractical sports cars as our only cars. I’ve known the Alpine brand for nearly 40yrs and I can happily talk Alpine 110s on the Monte.

And it looks st and costs £50k.

Most of you are fairly average drivers. You are, you just don’t want to admit it. You wouldn’t know the difference between “a drivers car” and “not a drivers car” unless someone told you one was and another wasn’t. If that’s true for most car enthusiasts then think how true it is for the rest of the car buying demographic?

Cars are not bought for their “drivers car’ness”. Even drivers cars are not bought for that. They aren’t because A) most of you aren’t good enough to exploit the bit about the “drivers cars” which make them good “drivers cars” in the fairly limited context of where and when most of you drive. And B) because the vast vast majority of blokes with the disposal dosh to spend on a £50k sports car have wives & families expect them not to tt about exploiting the chassis characteristics of said motor when they should be doing more husband/dad stuff.
And you wife just asked Why the fk did you buy something that looks st? AND YOU SPENT HOW fkING MUCH??? WHAT DO YOU BLOODY MEAN ITS FRENCH???

Of course now I’m fat old and married I just do what Donkey says and run an SUV with my sports car. I have some of the best roads in the U.K. and during the last 2 months of the golden age of driving the roads have been perfectly clear of the rest of you fkwits. What did I take to the shops? The SUV. Because it’s just less hassle. And unlike 99.5% of you on this thread I just put 50,000 miles on my carbon fibre mid engined extremely impractical sports car in the last two years. But then my car looks like Sophia Loren giving blow jobs at 10yrds away. The Alpine looks st.

[kambites]

You don't need to be a "good driver" to appreciate a decent chassis and controls, you just need to be interested in the mechanics of driving. I certainly don't consider myself to be a particularly good driver, at least in terms of car control but can appreciate what the A110 offers over something like a Cayman.

I rather like the styling of the Alpine too. Certainly more than the Cayman, the 4C or indeed my own Elise.


ETA: I don't think of myself as really being the target demographic for the Alpine though. I'm married with a child so we need a family car; I also need (or at least want) a car for my short cross-country commute and fun driving which needs space for me and a laptop. The A110 is too sensible for one and too impactical for the other. If I was 25 and single I'd probably consider one, espeecially if I had a longish commute (not that I could afford one when was I 25); when I'm 70 with a dodgy hip so I can't get in and out of the Elise or operate a clutch I might consider one.

Edited by kambites on Friday 22 May 07:58

[Butter Face]

fk me, that was some peak PH posting right there

[Venisonpie]

DeejRC said:

It looks st and costs £50k. End of.

I am the very definition of the Alpine’s target demographic. Kam and I are or have been part of that even smaller sub demographic from Donkey’s post of being the blokes who only run small impractical sports cars as our only cars. I’ve known the Alpine brand for nearly 40yrs and I can happily talk Alpine 110s on the Monte.

And it looks st and costs £50k.

Most of you are fairly average drivers. You are, you just don’t want to admit it. You wouldn’t know the difference between “a drivers car” and “not a drivers car” unless someone told you one was and another wasn’t. If that’s true for most car enthusiasts then think how true it is for the rest of the car buying demographic?

Cars are not bought for their “drivers car’ness”. Even drivers cars are not bought for that. They aren’t because A) most of you aren’t good enough to exploit the bit about the “drivers cars” which make them good “drivers cars” in the fairly limited context of where and when most of you drive. And B) because the vast vast majority of blokes with the disposal dosh to spend on a £50k sports car have wives & families expect them not to tt about exploiting the chassis characteristics of said motor when they should be doing more husband/dad stuff.
And you wife just asked Why the fk did you buy something that looks st? AND YOU SPENT HOW fkING MUCH??? WHAT DO YOU BLOODY MEAN ITS FRENCH???

Of course now I’m fat old and married I just do what Donkey says and run an SUV with my sports car. I have some of the best roads in the U.K. and during the last 2 months of the golden age of driving the roads have been perfectly clear of the rest of you fkwits. What did I take to the shops? The SUV. Because it’s just less hassle. And unlike 99.5% of you on this thread I just put 50,000 miles on my carbon fibre mid engined extremely impractical sports car in the last two years. But then my car looks like Sophia Loren giving blow jobs at 10yrds away. The Alpine looks st.

Despite having great driving roads it doesn't seem to be making you happy.

[Gad-Westy]

DeejRC said:

It looks st and costs £50k. End of.

And yet you go on... That was one strange post.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Friday 22 May 08:10

[Butter Face]

DeejRC said:

I. But then my car looks like Sophia Loren giving blow jobs at 10yrds away. The Alpine looks st.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think the 4C looks like a knock off kit car ferrari replicant with bug eye headlights.

And I’m a st driver so I can’t even appreciate the drivers car dynamics!

[Miserablegit]

Sophia Loren is 85 years of age!!!!
Won’t be taking advice from you anytime soon.

[Miserablegit]

nuttywobbler said:

I’m an enthusiast and have always been into cars, but if I was lucky enough to be able to blow £50k on a car, I wouldn’t even consider an Alpine.

It just doesn’t do it for me. The drivetrain simply doesn’t sound special enough - a 1.8 4 cylinder from a Megane with an auto box? I know it doesn’t have much weight to haul around, but that recipe just doesn’t make my mouth water.

Then there’s the looks - subjective of course, but to me it’s never quite liked right.

Then there’s the brand - I maintain that this is a major point, even for so-called enthusiasts. It’s a car that almost nobody has ever heard of, and it won’t impress your friends or neighbours like like a Porsche or M2 will.

I know this car is all about ‘the chassis’ but I’m afraid when sinking £50k on a car... in the real world, for me, there are other considerations beyond this.

Then add in the £50k+ price, and I’m not surprised at all that the sales in the UK have been so poor.

Edited by nuttywobbler on Friday 22 May 06:46

Edited by nuttywobbler on Friday 22 May 06:47

You say you are an enthusiast but then say:
“
Then there’s the brand - I maintain that this is a major point, even for so-called enthusiasts. It’s a car that almost nobody has ever heard of, and it won’t impress your friends or neighbours like like a Porsche or M2 will.”

Much as I’d like to disagree with you I’m sure a lot of buyers in the UK do feel the same as you. That’s not a good thing as, in my opinion, it shows a level of insecurity.

Alpine buyers might not feel the need to shout that they’ve spent £50k on a car. They might not have any neighbours they need to impress.

They might have wanted the best car at the price. It easily outperforms a Boxster, is quicker to 80 than an S and feels alive at UK speeds. That might not be important to all buyers but it should tick the box for enthusiasts - I think they are even offering contrasting trim options...



Clearly buying a 4c risks making the owner a very angry gerontophile.

[springfan62]

Miserablegit said:

Clearly buying a 4c risks making the owner a very angry gerontophile.

People in glass houses, the 4c, the nearly car.

I quite like the look of the 4c but there are so many more reasons why I wouldn't buy one.

[springfan62]

nuttywobbler said:

Then there’s the brand - I maintain that this is a major sticking point, even for so-called enthusiasts. It’s a car that almost nobody has ever heard of, and it won’t impress your friends or neighbours like like a Porsche or M2 will.

Do you really prioritise a car by its ability to impress neighbours, how sad and insecure.

Have you ever considered just buying what you want?

Actually the fact no one has heard of the Alpine appeals to me.

[Miserablegit]

As I’ve said before- I love the look of the 4c if it has the proper headlamps but the interior was too low-rent for me - carbon tub great but plastic paddles / plastic wheel and Halfords radio did not make it feel special enough. Alpine’s infotainment is not the best - soundwise it is great but touch screen interface is poor. That’s a small price to pay - and the additional stereo controller from a Clio does the job very well!

[blueg33]

Prestonese said:

blueg33 said:

You missed my point, probably because I didn’t quote everything.

I have driven the Alpine a few times, I cancelled my order for a premier because it was late and the Evora I wanted came up.

Those who put the car down almost certainly haven’t driven one, and are missing out. Their loss

But I can see that the badge is an issue judging by what people say on these forums, any none enthusiasts that may buy a Cayman or a TT probably have zero awareness as the marketing has been minimal.

That wasn't aimed at you. I was referring to the other two comments - unfortunately, I think you got caught up in the crossfire!

[nickfrog]

DeejRC said:

Most of you are fairly average drivers. You are, you just don’t want to admit it.

Or maybe you are a fairly average driver. Who knows?

[maz8062]

Miserablegit said:

nuttywobbler said:

I’m an enthusiast and have always been into cars, but if I was lucky enough to be able to blow £50k on a car, I wouldn’t even consider an Alpine.

It just doesn’t do it for me. The drivetrain simply doesn’t sound special enough - a 1.8 4 cylinder from a Megane with an auto box? I know it doesn’t have much weight to haul around, but that recipe just doesn’t make my mouth water.

Then there’s the looks - subjective of course, but to me it’s never quite liked right.

Then there’s the brand - I maintain that this is a major point, even for so-called enthusiasts. It’s a car that almost nobody has ever heard of, and it won’t impress your friends or neighbours like like a Porsche or M2 will.

I know this car is all about ‘the chassis’ but I’m afraid when sinking £50k on a car... in the real world, for me, there are other considerations beyond this.

Then add in the £50k+ price, and I’m not surprised at all that the sales in the UK have been so poor.

Alpine buyers might not feel the need to shout that they’ve spent £50k on a car. They might not have any neighbours they need to impress.

They might have wanted the best car at the price. It easily outperforms a Boxster, is quicker to 80 than an S and feels alive at UK speeds. That might not be important to all buyers but it should tick the box for enthusiasts - I think they are even offering contrasting trim options...



Clearly buying a 4c risks making the owner a very angry gerontophile.

The best car for what exactly? For track work perhaps? For country road blasting at legal speeds perhaps? The question is what percentage of prospective owners even consider this? Not many I'd argue, and in the real world, these cars are much of muchness given the number of cars on the road and the heavy policing.

For example, I have 2 cars: A MY18 Tiguan for the family and an MY15 SLK 350 for "play" and occasional trips for work. The SLK has a V6 na engine with about 320bhp, sounds glorious and the roof comes off. The other day I looked at my trip meter for the last 1500 miles or so in the SLK: average mpg 26, average speed 20 mph! If I bought an Alpine how would the figure be different? mpg perhaps, but average speed, no. So why not consider a cheaper GT86/370z, or at this price point a Cayman or TTRS?

I come back to the marketing of this car. I think that is where it has gone wrong. Perhaps if they'd offered the car on a *special* lease deal at say 6x24 @ £300 per month - just to get punters into the car to appreciate its dynamics and spawn forums and the like waxing lyrical about how good the car is, how to make it go faster and what wheels to buy, etc. Alfa did precisely that for the 4c (although I'm not sure of the pricing)

Again for me, this car is not on my radar - I'm not tracking prices like I am with BMW 1m's or Alfa 4C's. Regardless of what the motoring press says, it is not a car that I'm hankering after nor do I think it ever will be. My loss I guess.

[SidewaysSi]

DeejRC said:

It looks st and costs £50k. End of.

I am the very definition of the Alpine’s target demographic. Kam and I are or have been part of that even smaller sub demographic from Donkey’s post of being the blokes who only run small impractical sports cars as our only cars. I’ve known the Alpine brand for nearly 40yrs and I can happily talk Alpine 110s on the Monte.

And it looks st and costs £50k.

Most of you are fairly average drivers. You are, you just don’t want to admit it. You wouldn’t know the difference between “a drivers car” and “not a drivers car” unless someone told you one was and another wasn’t. If that’s true for most car enthusiasts then think how true it is for the rest of the car buying demographic?

Cars are not bought for their “drivers car’ness”. Even drivers cars are not bought for that. They aren’t because A) most of you aren’t good enough to exploit the bit about the “drivers cars” which make them good “drivers cars” in the fairly limited context of where and when most of you drive. And B) because the vast vast majority of blokes with the disposal dosh to spend on a £50k sports car have wives & families expect them not to tt about exploiting the chassis characteristics of said motor when they should be doing more husband/dad stuff.
And you wife just asked Why the fk did you buy something that looks st? AND YOU SPENT HOW fkING MUCH??? WHAT DO YOU BLOODY MEAN ITS FRENCH???

Of course now I’m fat old and married I just do what Donkey says and run an SUV with my sports car. I have some of the best roads in the U.K. and during the last 2 months of the golden age of driving the roads have been perfectly clear of the rest of you fkwits. What did I take to the shops? The SUV. Because it’s just less hassle. And unlike 99.5% of you on this thread I just put 50,000 miles on my carbon fibre mid engined extremely impractical sports car in the last two years. But then my car looks like Sophia Loren giving blow jobs at 10yrds away. The Alpine looks st.

You obviously don't know a driver's car from the centre of his ass if you drive a 4C. I would rather be shot at than drive 25k miles in one.

What a joke.

[DonkeyApple]

springfan62 said:

nuttywobbler said:

Then there’s the brand - I maintain that this is a major sticking point, even for so-called enthusiasts. It’s a car that almost nobody has ever heard of, and it won’t impress your friends or neighbours like like a Porsche or M2 will.

Do you really prioritise a car by its ability to impress neighbours, how sad and insecure.

Have you ever considered just buying what you want?

Actually the fact no one has heard of the Alpine appeals to me.

The power of branding is so strong that it even creates the anti-brand which is the exact same type of person as the brand consumer, ie making a purchase based on the brand!!!!!

We are a consumer society and premium goods purchases require brand power and some consumer crave consuming the brand that other consumers don’t know, don’t like or are scared of. That’s still a premium consumer purchase decided on by branding.

[blueg33]

DeejRC said:

It looks st and costs £50k. End of.

I am the very definition of the Alpine’s target demographic. Kam and I are or have been part of that even smaller sub demographic from Donkey’s post of being the blokes who only run small impractical sports cars as our only cars. I’ve known the Alpine brand for nearly 40yrs and I can happily talk Alpine 110s on the Monte.

And it looks st and costs £50k.

Most of you are fairly average drivers. You are, you just don’t want to admit it. You wouldn’t know the difference between “a drivers car” and “not a drivers car” unless someone told you one was and another wasn’t. If that’s true for most car enthusiasts then think how true it is for the rest of the car buying demographic?

Cars are not bought for their “drivers car’ness”. Even drivers cars are not bought for that. They aren’t because A) most of you aren’t good enough to exploit the bit about the “drivers cars” which make them good “drivers cars” in the fairly limited context of where and when most of you drive. And B) because the vast vast majority of blokes with the disposal dosh to spend on a £50k sports car have wives & families expect them not to tt about exploiting the chassis characteristics of said motor when they should be doing more husband/dad stuff.
And you wife just asked Why the fk did you buy something that looks st? AND YOU SPENT HOW fkING MUCH??? WHAT DO YOU BLOODY MEAN ITS FRENCH???

Of course now I’m fat old and married I just do what Donkey says and run an SUV with my sports car. I have some of the best roads in the U.K. and during the last 2 months of the golden age of driving the roads have been perfectly clear of the rest of you fkwits. What did I take to the shops? The SUV. Because it’s just less hassle. And unlike 99.5% of you on this thread I just put 50,000 miles on my carbon fibre mid engined extremely impractical sports car in the last two years. But then my car looks like Sophia Loren giving blow jobs at 10yrds away. The Alpine looks st.

You have lovely roads yet your sports car is making you angry - I know why, I had one on test for a couple of days, its flaws ruin the enjoyment. The opposite of the Alpine.

Looks are subjective, I like the Alpine, I like the Cayman, I dislike the side view of the 4c and Elise, the 4c especially looks too squat, shame the balled up the headlights too as the front could be stunning.

May people buy sports cars because of the way they feel, the feedback etc, the feeling of cornering faster than you can in an SUV or a focus, you don't need to be a driving god to appreciate those things.

I am fortunate, my wife lets me buy the cars I want with my money, she comes with me in the car, enjoys driving it herself, the only cars she doesn't get are classics. But your argument about the wife and chassis dynamics etc makes no sense, it applies to every single 2 seat sports car ever made whether it cost £5k or £5m, ie equally to an 10 year mx5, your Alfa, the Alpine, a 488, a Chiron.

Your rant is weird, its much like the ones you get from Porsche owners when someone makes a car that handles and drives better than their choice. Defensive and a demonstration of a feeling of inadequacy.

[Miserablegit]

maz8062 said:

The best car for what exactly? For track work perhaps? For country road blasting at legal speeds perhaps? The question is what percentage of prospective owners even consider this? Not many I'd argue, and in the real world, these cars are much of muchness given the number of cars on the road and the heavy policing.

For example, I have 2 cars: A MY18 Tiguan for the family and an MY15 SLK 350 for "play" and occasional trips for work. The SLK has a V6 na engine with about 320bhp, sounds glorious and the roof comes off. The other day I looked at my trip meter for the last 1500 miles or so in the SLK: average mpg 26, average speed 20 mph! If I bought an Alpine how would the figure be different? mpg perhaps, but average speed, no. So why not consider a cheaper GT86/370z, or at this price point a Cayman or TTRS?

I come back to the marketing of this car. I think that is where it has gone wrong. Perhaps if they'd offered the car on a *special* lease deal at say 6x24 @ £300 per month - just to get punters into the car to appreciate its dynamics and spawn forums and the like waxing lyrical about how good the car is, how to make it go faster and what wheels to buy, etc. Alfa did precisely that for the 4c (although I'm not sure of the pricing)

Again for me, this car is not on my radar - I'm not tracking prices like I am with BMW 1m's or Alfa 4C's. Regardless of what the motoring press says, it is not a car that I'm hankering after nor do I think it ever will be. My loss I guess.

If you’re averaging 20mph then I agree a sports car is wasted in those circumstances.
Alpine have been selling well outside the UK and they didn’t feel the need to “do deals” to sell them here unlike Alfa.

I take your point on different views of the best car but this was never pushed as a track car - it’s a daily sportscar. As fluid as a Lotus and almost as practical as a Cayman.
In the UK it means enjoying speed limits of 70 mph (or 202 if you’re in an RS6)

The dealers have not invested a huge amount in branding over here- European dealers are Alpine specific sites. In the UK it merely involved shuffling a few Renaults/nissans/ Dacia to one side and hanging an Alpine banner up. I’d say that was done given the expectation of limited sales in the UK.

[springfan62]

DonkeyApple said:

The power of branding is so strong that it even creates the anti-brand which is the exact same type of person as the brand consumer, ie making a purchase based on the brand!!!!!

We are a consumer society and premium goods purchases require brand power and some consumer crave consuming the brand that other consumers don’t know, don’t like or are scared of. That’s still a premium consumer purchase decided on by branding.

Except not everyone is influenced positively or negatively by brand to the same degree, everyone has their own priorities in terms of brand, some will only buy a "prestige" brand so it limits their choice even if there are more suitable products.

I suspect most Alpine buyers were buying a car that delivered what they wanted rather than being overly influenced by brand and as demonstrated on here that some that would never consider an Alpine because its not a brand they value.

The fact the the lack of brand value appeals does not it any way mean a buying decision is made based on brands, it could be a very minor element in the overall decision( as it was in my case).