Alpine A110: an owner’s experience
Discussion
Kananga said:
Meonstoke said:
There you go, and like I said, there are always nuances / unknowns...
You bought the car from a non-Alpine dealer who may well have known there were issues with the fuel pump, and possibly even knew about stalling issues - who knows? And where were they in all of this?
Given the trials and tribulations, and that it was not a car you bought from them, it is certainly not surprising that the local Alpine dealer you were dealing with did not offer the best offer to buy the car! And clearly the Alpine Dealer you sold it too were unaware of the stalling issues...
I see your reasoning - "it's a damn Alpine issue, so let them sort it out!". Not so sure everyone would have taken the same tack TBH. Now some poor soul is stuck with a lemon...
I don’t think there is any issue with buying from a non-Alpine dealer. Before purchase, I was actually able to track down the original owner (and spoke to them in detail). The first owner decided they wanted a change, and bought a Supra, the Alpine was traded in as a p/x. I genuinely don’t think they were aware of the broader fuel pump issues at the time, and (as I’ve mentioned), the stalling issue only began after the pump change. You bought the car from a non-Alpine dealer who may well have known there were issues with the fuel pump, and possibly even knew about stalling issues - who knows? And where were they in all of this?
Given the trials and tribulations, and that it was not a car you bought from them, it is certainly not surprising that the local Alpine dealer you were dealing with did not offer the best offer to buy the car! And clearly the Alpine Dealer you sold it too were unaware of the stalling issues...
I see your reasoning - "it's a damn Alpine issue, so let them sort it out!". Not so sure everyone would have taken the same tack TBH. Now some poor soul is stuck with a lemon...
Yes, I did contact the Toyota dealer too and they were of no help whatsoever; basically just kept insisting that it was an issue that Alpine needed to fix as a warranty repair.
As for selling the car, i basically had two choices:
- sell the car
- keep sending it back to Alpine who seemed unable to fix it
Based on your comments, I guess you’d have taken the latter option but after ~5 months owning a car that i couldn’t really use, i gave up.
No worries Kananga, you were undoubtedly in a tight spot and upset, fully understandable that you decided to cut your losses and hand the problem back to Alpine. You did indeed have some rotten luck! That you managed to do so for such a small loss of ~9% for 6 months ownership and via an official dealer is most definitely a "win" - although the new owner may not quite see it that way. And is it really a loss, at the end of the day? I'll wager you've come out stronger, wiser, and happier with two great replacements... And maybe, deep down, the A110 was never meant to be. So, fate perhaps...
It's up to you what you do next - but even if you have legal insurance and a claim would cost you nothing in financial terms, there is always a price to pay for going down that route. Do you really need to stay in a negative loop? I'd move on, and "let it go" - and, as you say, you can dine off this comedy of errors for many years to come! Life's too short...
Kananga said:
I threw the towel in because I’m a little time poor and life is too short !
Yet you are taking time to take legal actionThe fuel pump issue seemed to be handled OK by the Spanish dealer
The stalling issue was handled badly by Alpine UK but would be surprised if there is a case / need for legal action
The financial loss - no way is there a legal claim - you bought a car and sold it 6 months later for less than you paid - thats sadly a fact of life
Hope you enjoy the Porsche and GR86 - both great cars but I'm happy with my A110
moto63 said:
Thank you Kananga for a full and honest ownership report. I know own said Lemon and it’s the best car I ever bought even with its little problems. The car stalled on me on the drive home from collecting from the dealer and over the next 2 or 3 months stalled again about 6 times. It’s not a big deal just start button, D and away. Has not stalled for the last 3k miles now although I still see the revs dip in Normal, hoping it has sorted itself. My larger issue is wet braking. Can’t fault the brakes dry but after a wet m27 without using them they are awful first stab at the pedal. Why no back plates on the front to help keep the water off?
Easily the worst thing about ownership though is my service dept visit where I mentioned the brakes and stalling to be told after 2 hrs no fault with either. IE your brakes are fine in dry conditions ( er, I know that) and stalling is stop start!! Fobbed off and treated like a Burke is not what I expected.
Will be trying a different dealer but expecting more of the same.
Sorry mate! At least we now know what you call her from now on, going forward! But great to hear you're enjoying the car, service quality excepted. I do think the electrics / software of the Alpine are somewhat flakey - best to chalk it up to the car's Gallic character, and "They all do that, Sir"! For example, my stop start function is bloody minded about when it decides to come on - and with no perceptible trend that I can figure. Fortunately, it mostly prefers to stay off. Fine by me!! And my bluetooth connection also decided "Non!" right from the moment I drove "Lulu" back from my dealer with her new fuel pump fitted. Go figure....Easily the worst thing about ownership though is my service dept visit where I mentioned the brakes and stalling to be told after 2 hrs no fault with either. IE your brakes are fine in dry conditions ( er, I know that) and stalling is stop start!! Fobbed off and treated like a Burke is not what I expected.
Will be trying a different dealer but expecting more of the same.
Meonstoke said:
Sorry mate! At least we now know what you call her from now on, going forward! But great to hear you're enjoying the car, service quality excepted. I do think the electrics / software of the Alpine are somewhat flakey - best to chalk it up to the car's Gallic character, and "They all do that, Sir"! For example, my stop start function is bloody minded about when it decides to come on - and with no perceptible trend that I can figure. Fortunately, it mostly prefers to stay off. Fine by me!! And my bluetooth connection also decided "Non!" right from the moment I drove "Lulu" back from my dealer with her new fuel pump fitted. Go figure....
Stop / Start only operates under very specific situations in all cars. It looks at battery voltage, coolant temperature, oil temperature, ambient temperature, whether climate control is on and many more parameters. On a typical car Stop / Start will activate only approx. 40% of the time because of the parameters it works withinMy A110 has suddenly stopped releasing its handbrake automatically, probably user error but I actually prefer to release it myself anyway, two or three times the interior drivers door handle has not worked, a quick bang on the door just above and in front of the handle has always done the trick - issues or character traits - I prefer the latter and feel its re4placed the Tuscan in this respect
Edited by Andy665 on Saturday 30th March 10:38
Edited by Andy665 on Saturday 30th March 10:41
Edited by Andy665 on Saturday 30th March 11:15
Andy665 said:
Stop / Start only operates under very specific situations in all cars. It looks at battery voltage, coolant temperature, oil temperature, ambient temperature, whether climate control is on and many more parameters. On a typical car Stop / Start will activate only approx. 40% of the time because of the parameters it works within
Thanks Andy, I wasn't aware of that TBH. Learn something new everyday! Edited by Andy665 on Saturday 30th March 10:41
Andy665 said:
Yet you are taking time to take legal action
The fuel pump issue seemed to be handled OK by the Spanish dealer
The stalling issue was handled badly by Alpine UK but would be surprised if there is a case / need for legal action
The financial loss - no way is there a legal claim - you bought a car and sold it 6 months later for less than you paid - thats sadly a fact of life
Hope you enjoy the Porsche and GR86 - both great cars but I'm happy with my A110
Took 5m to file the claim and didn’t cost much. The fuel pump issue seemed to be handled OK by the Spanish dealer
The stalling issue was handled badly by Alpine UK but would be surprised if there is a case / need for legal action
The financial loss - no way is there a legal claim - you bought a car and sold it 6 months later for less than you paid - thats sadly a fact of life
Hope you enjoy the Porsche and GR86 - both great cars but I'm happy with my A110
@moto63: I’m happy to get them to send me the £150 voucher which was offered, and give to you if you want it.
Kananga said:
Andy665 said:
Yet you are taking time to take legal action
The fuel pump issue seemed to be handled OK by the Spanish dealer
The stalling issue was handled badly by Alpine UK but would be surprised if there is a case / need for legal action
The financial loss - no way is there a legal claim - you bought a car and sold it 6 months later for less than you paid - thats sadly a fact of life
Hope you enjoy the Porsche and GR86 - both great cars but I'm happy with my A110
Took 5m to file the claim and didn’t cost much. The fuel pump issue seemed to be handled OK by the Spanish dealer
The stalling issue was handled badly by Alpine UK but would be surprised if there is a case / need for legal action
The financial loss - no way is there a legal claim - you bought a car and sold it 6 months later for less than you paid - thats sadly a fact of life
Hope you enjoy the Porsche and GR86 - both great cars but I'm happy with my A110
@moto63: I’m happy to get them to send me the £150 voucher which was offered, and give to you if you want it.
moto63 said:
Has not stalled for the last 3k miles now although I still see the revs dip in Normal, hoping it has sorted itself. My larger issue is wet braking. Can’t fault the brakes dry but after a wet m27 without using them they are awful first stab at the pedal. Why no back plates on the front to help keep the water off?
Easily the worst thing about ownership though is my service dept visit where I mentioned the brakes and stalling to be told after 2 hrs no fault with either. IE your brakes are fine in dry conditions ( er, I know that) and stalling is stop start!! Fobbed off and treated like a Burke is not what I expected.
Will be trying a different dealer but expecting more of the same.
The tickover IS higher in Sport than Normal - it means that if you want to get swiftly off the mark you are better off in Sport. Re wet weather braking - I have never had a problem. Mine is a PE so has the big brakes, not sure if the smaller ones feel different. Might be worth checking if non standard pads have been fitted.Easily the worst thing about ownership though is my service dept visit where I mentioned the brakes and stalling to be told after 2 hrs no fault with either. IE your brakes are fine in dry conditions ( er, I know that) and stalling is stop start!! Fobbed off and treated like a Burke is not what I expected.
Will be trying a different dealer but expecting more of the same.
Sorry to hear about your experience Kananga. Thanks for sharing.
I feel for you with the frustrations too. Car troubles can be so stressful, especially when you have just bought it. I think those that are playing it down are delusional if they wouldn’t be as aggrieved as your self if they had a similar experience.
Hopefully you get on better with the new cars and regain some confidence to tackle another Euro trip soon.
I feel for you with the frustrations too. Car troubles can be so stressful, especially when you have just bought it. I think those that are playing it down are delusional if they wouldn’t be as aggrieved as your self if they had a similar experience.
Hopefully you get on better with the new cars and regain some confidence to tackle another Euro trip soon.
bcr5784 said:
The tickover IS higher in Sport than Normal - it means that if you want to get swiftly off the mark you are better off in Sport. Re wet weather braking - I have never had a problem. Mine is a PE so has the big brakes, not sure if the smaller ones feel different. Might be worth checking if non standard pads have been fitted.
Yes a 1000rpm vs 800 in normal. Mine comes down to about 650 then either stalls or climbs back up. Getting less prevalent now though so can live with it. PaulJC84 said:
Sorry to hear about your experience Kananga. Thanks for sharing.
I feel for you with the frustrations too. Car troubles can be so stressful, especially when you have just bought it. I think those that are playing it down are delusional if they wouldn’t be as aggrieved as your self if they had a similar experience.
Hopefully you get on better with the new cars and regain some confidence to tackle another Euro trip soon.
I'm certainly not playing it down but look at the elements:I feel for you with the frustrations too. Car troubles can be so stressful, especially when you have just bought it. I think those that are playing it down are delusional if they wouldn’t be as aggrieved as your self if they had a similar experience.
Hopefully you get on better with the new cars and regain some confidence to tackle another Euro trip soon.
1. Fuel pump failed and is sorted whilst in another country - can't see a problem there
2. Stalling issue not handled at all well and OP has every right to be hacked off
3. Car sold for less than price paid - nothing to see there
Still wondering who OP is taking to court and on what grounds?
Andy665 said:
I'm certainly not playing it down but look at the elements:
1. Fuel pump failed and is sorted whilst in another country - can't see a problem there
The problem is that many people planned expensive roadtrips or trackdays and then can’t participate due to the failing pump (I also lost around 500€ because my fp failed on the way to the track). Alpine played that down way too long and the recalls are also going slow af. For me they should have either reacted way faster or at least compensate their customers for their lost expenses.1. Fuel pump failed and is sorted whilst in another country - can't see a problem there
Oh, and by compensate I mean real money. Nobody wants a stupid voucher for overpriced merchandise of a brand that they probably hate in that moment.
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