Price increase

[Miserablegit]

Pistom said:

They seem to be dropping a fair bit on the used market and cars seem to be sticking around a lot longer. Not sure if dealers are more willing to move on asking prices.

Cheapest alpine on auto trader is a 2018 PE up for 80% of its original price. That’s not bad residuals after nearly 4.5 years and a model update.

[s111dpc]

Just configured my car as a direct comparison to the spec I bought in 2020 and it’s now £4,500 more, so a 7.7% increase in 3 years.

[bcr5784]

Olivera said:

However some of the A110 pricing is just excessive, £1,000 or £1,750 for anything but glacier white. Porsche offers a range of four flat colours for £0, and a range of 6 metallics for £632.

Very fair point - but some of the pricing of the 718 is pushing it. If you want contrasting stitching (and what Porsche owner doesn't!) it is going to cost a fortune - £2600+ - better spec a reversing camera and sensors front and rear for a much more reasonable £464

[Horace985]

Over the last 20 years we are not used to seeing things going up in price so largish increases are more of a shock I suppose but understandable given general cost increases. There will also be a number of companies that will up prices using inflation as an excuse but who have not seen a significant increase in their own costs. No idea if that latter point applies to Alpine or not.

However, there is a point where affordability bites and demand is elastic. I think a contracting money supply, increased finance costs and a general downturn will have more impact on demand than price hikes. These cars (and many like them) are not a sensible choice in an economic downturn and rising interest rates. You can kid yourself that there are strong residuals etc and use man maths but whichever way you cut it they aren't a financially sensible way to get from A to B. Many cars will do 90% of the Alpine's job at well under half the price (and carry 2 or 3 more people). However, historically cheap finance has meant many (most) people drive cars they cant afford to buy for cash and pay the finance houses for the privilege. You only have to look at the profits of the prestige car sellers to see they make no money on the cars but indecently large amounts of money on the finance (usually a linked company).

Like the country, we are living a life that feels like we are successful and wealthy but in reality we are just subsidising stagnant earnings with loads of debt. That was a ridiculously cheap thing to do a couple of years ago. Perhaps not so in future.

PS Having said all of that I own 6 cars - 4 of which are completely impractical (classics) and I am still seriously considering wasting money on an Alpine because they embody the driving fun of a classic without the constant need to keep on top of maintaining them.....

[Olivera]

bcr5784 said:

Olivera said:

However some of the A110 pricing is just excessive, £1,000 or £1,750 for anything but glacier white. Porsche offers a range of four flat colours for £0, and a range of 6 metallics for £632.

Very fair point - but some of the pricing of the 718 is pushing it. If you want contrasting stitching (and what Porsche owner doesn't!) it is going to cost a fortune - £2600+ - better spec a reversing camera and sensors front and rear for a much more reasonable £464

I specced both cars up to how I would like them:

A110 S
£61,990
Alpine Blue
£1,750
Sabelt® Racing one-piece bucket seats (microfiber with orange stitching)
£640
Racing Harness Mount
£260
Microfiber Pack
£1,550
Floormats with Alpine logo, with matching colour stitching
£120
Front Headlights with Blank Inlay
£140
Total price £66,450

718 Cayman GTS 4.0
£68,700.00
Gentian Blue Metallic
£632.00
PDK
£2,303.00
Wheels painted in Satin Aurum
£387.00
LED main headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
£1,077.00
Two-zone automatic climate control
£539.00
Total price £73,638.00

Not much in it price wise. The A110 is significantly lighter, but the Porsche drivetrain is in a different league.

[Miserablegit]

You’d need to add another couple of £000 to the GTS for the “GTS interior” and the bucket seats.

[Miserablegit]

From a friend’s GTS the full GTS interior was about £2700 excluding bucket seats so let’s say another £5700.

So it’s 66k v 78k
Still a significant difference

[Olivera]

Miserablegit said:

From a friend’s GTS the full GTS interior was about £2700 excluding bucket seats so let’s say another £5700.

So it’s 66k v 78k
Still a significant difference

I personally wouldn't spec the bucket seats on the Porsche (nor the GTS interior), but I would on the A110S as they seem a nice option. Also worth noting differences in spec, as it's hard to compare cars directly:

ParkAssist front & rear standard - £315 option on A110
Luggage/cargo nets, £0 front, £67 rear, and £77-£120 for luggage box - £500 option on A110
Painted wheels in Aurum/Gold £387 - £700 option on A110
Locking rear diff, PDLS (dynamic) LED lights, adjustable PSM - not available on A110

Albeit you could say there are things available on the A110 but not on the GTS. Nevertheless I would say they are very much rivals, and would likely both by considered by someone buying in that price range.

[ThisInJapanese]

My September order has gone up by £2k with the following options:

Alpine telemetrics
Mirror pack - A110
Metallic - Abyss blue
Floor mat with Alpine logo
Comfort pack - A110
Sabelt six-way heated comfort seats

£55,600 to £57,600

[bcr5784]

Olivera said:

. The A110 is significantly lighter, but the Porsche drivetrain is in a different league.

While I'd agree the Porsche engine sounds far better - but I'd argue that the gear ratios of A110 are vastly better making its transmission much the better choice. Not a lot in the quality of the gearchanges either - and too much creep on the Porsche, making smooth braking to a standstill unnecessarily difficult.

[essexstu]

Olivera said:

I specced both cars up to how I would like them:

A110 S
£61,990
Alpine Blue
£1,750
Sabelt® Racing one-piece bucket seats (microfiber with orange stitching)
£640
Racing Harness Mount
£260
Microfiber Pack
£1,550
Floormats with Alpine logo, with matching colour stitching
£120
Front Headlights with Blank Inlay
£140
Total price £66,450

718 Cayman GTS 4.0
£68,700.00
Gentian Blue Metallic
£632.00
PDK
£2,303.00
Wheels painted in Satin Aurum
£387.00
LED main headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
£1,077.00
Two-zone automatic climate control
£539.00
Total price £73,638.00

Not much in it price wise. The A110 is significantly lighter, but the Porsche drivetrain is in a different league.

out of interest, why the S over the GT? I drive the S and unless you are doing track days the ride in the GT/base car is much better. GT has the nicer ride of the base car but with the power of the S so best of both worlds IMO

[Olivera]

essexstu said:

out of interest, why the S over the GT? I drive the S and unless you are doing track days the ride in the GT/base car is much better. GT has the nicer ride of the base car but with the power of the S so best of both worlds IMO

I occasionally do track days and go to the Nurburgring, and hence my preference for a sports car is good body control over ride quality. The wayward/sloppy setup in extremis of the standard/GT model isn't to my liking, based on reviews at least.

[essexstu]

Olivera said:

I occasionally do track days and go to the Nurburgring, and hence my preference for a sports car is good body control over ride quality. The wayward/sloppy setup in extremis of the standard/GT model isn't to my liking, based on reviews at least.

ok makes sense. Another option would be to get the GT and get Life110 suspension and geo set up. Watch the videos of David Pook going round various circuits, very impressive set up

[Olivera]

essexstu said:

Olivera said:

I occasionally do track days and go to the Nurburgring, and hence my preference for a sports car is good body control over ride quality. The wayward/sloppy setup in extremis of the standard/GT model isn't to my liking, based on reviews at least.

ok makes sense. Another option would be to get the GT and get Life110 suspension and geo set up. Watch the videos of David Pook going round various circuits, very impressive set up

IIRC Pook's car has the Life110 springs but also the S anti-roll bars retro-fitted. Again IIRC the S anti-roll bars as parts got their price massively jacked up, so it's now at least several grand to retro-fit all this, so not really much point.

[worldwidewebs]

Olivera said:

IIRC Pook's car has the Life110 springs but also the S anti-roll bars retro-fitted. Again IIRC the S anti-roll bars as parts got their price massively jacked up, so it's now at least several grand to retro-fit all this, so not really much point.

That's not true. The springs are £480 and the ARB (if you want it) £492. Add another £500 for fitting and a geo.

I've added both to my base A110 and there very much IS a point in fitting it!

[Olivera]

worldwidewebs said:

Olivera said:

IIRC Pook's car has the Life110 springs but also the S anti-roll bars retro-fitted. Again IIRC the S anti-roll bars as parts got their price massively jacked up, so it's now at least several grand to retro-fit all this, so not really much point.

That's not true. The springs are £480 and the ARB (if you want it) £492. Add another £500 for fitting and a geo.

I've added both to my base A110 and there very much IS a point in fitting it!

On the Life110 website the S anti roll bars are listed as: "‎Out of stock - Price increase - Alpine have realised a pricing error and have corrected it", so I'm not sure if they are still as cheap. My "not really much point" statement was in regards to buying a GT then retro fitting all of this, which wouldn't make a lot of sense to me and would be even more expensive than just buying the S.

[Horace985]

Looked on autotrader at new Alpines that seem to be available to buy now (or due in shortly). A quick count shows 12 GTs 8 Ss and 12 Pures all available to buy now (apparently). Looking prior to Christmas for a 22 year model there was virtually nothing available there and then. Don't know why all these cars don't have owners. Seems a massive punt in the circumstances to order some new ones in the hope of selling them quickly.

I can't but think the dealers involved would be hard pressed to sell that lot any time soon and given so many competing at the same time you'd assume discounts would be in point (some show discounts of a couple of £k but not sure whether that may be simply comparing an old model ordered at the old price with what it would cost to buy now).

I haven't really followed the market much in the last 6 months but I dont recall seeing so many available straightaway?

Bob

[gloomington]

I wouldn't count on those all being available - I'm awaiting my delayed order, dealer showing several 'available' on Autotrader that definitely haven't arrived with them yet.

[Horace985]

That sort of doesn't surprise me but a lot a pictures of an actual car in the showroom so presumably they are all there. I discounted some of the ones with generic photos (unless they said available now). Some said due end of 2022....

[bcr5784]

essexstu said:

ok makes sense. Another option would be to get the GT and get Life110 suspension and geo set up. Watch the videos of David Pook going round various circuits, very impressive set up

The problem with the GT is that you can only get it with "comfort" seats. I would have seriously considered replacing my PE with a GT but for that. Wife would have given me a lot of grief anyway, so probably best that the seats were a deal breaker.