Is there a better all-round sports car?
Discussion
don logan said:
Hi
I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
I thought Winchester was good for that - the A31 has interesting bits and there are some good wiggly roads nearby too. The chap was quite happy for me to do another "lap" and seemed keen I try the pedals fairly thoroughly.I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
Not quite as "have fun, don't get arrested" as the Lotus place, but a good attitude.
Sporky said:
nickfrog said:
That's my view. However I would say the M2 is more versatile than the A110, it will do more jobs. But it won't do the "sports car" job as well.
I suspect that's right - back seats and a more substantial boot I'd think. Also same rear leg room as the (contemporary) hatch.
Sporky said:
don logan said:
Hi
I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
I thought Winchester was good for that - the A31 has interesting bits and there are some good wiggly roads nearby too. The chap was quite happy for me to do another "lap" and seemed keen I try the pedals fairly thoroughly.I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
Not quite as "have fun, don't get arrested" as the Lotus place, but a good attitude.
I had been spoiled by having a friend in the used car market who would let me take cars for a few hours alone
It worked for both of us because I bought about 10 cars from him over the years
nickfrog said:
Sporky said:
nickfrog said:
That's my view. However I would say the M2 is more versatile than the A110, it will do more jobs. But it won't do the "sports car" job as well.
I suspect that's right - back seats and a more substantial boot I'd think. Also same rear leg room as the (contemporary) hatch.
Shame about the extra weight :-)
domrusty said:
don logan said:
I think the Alpine has a really interesting induction sound
Almost carburetoresque
Especially with the Life110 foam air filter fitted Almost carburetoresque
As to comfort I spent a month driving thru France and around Spain, as well as sticking it on the boat to Tenerife.
Perfect for those 7 hour drives on some of the days, and great fun on the mountain roads up to Teide on Tenerife.
My test drive when I bought it was great, as the salesman took me to some twisties he knew and told me to go for it.
Even telling me to go faster when I thought I was already traveling pretty fast
Edited by croyde on Monday 16th June 12:07
Sporky said:
don logan said:
Hi
I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
I thought Winchester was good for that - the A31 has interesting bits and there are some good wiggly roads nearby too. The chap was quite happy for me to do another "lap" and seemed keen I try the pedals fairly thoroughly.I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
Not quite as "have fun, don't get arrested" as the Lotus place, but a good attitude.
Is that because I’m an old man with a grey beard who looks like he should be pottering about in a Kia of some kind?
SpudLink said:
Sporky said:
don logan said:
Hi
I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
I thought Winchester was good for that - the A31 has interesting bits and there are some good wiggly roads nearby too. The chap was quite happy for me to do another "lap" and seemed keen I try the pedals fairly thoroughly.I ve driven one
Unfortunately it was the most pointless, unsatisfying test drive I ve ever done
The main dealer sales guy was perfectly nice but quite young and he took me on a route around town and a brief stretch of dual carriageway
I could tell that the car felt very different but it was like shaking hands with it
I couldn t be bothered to ask for a more in depth test drive because I got the feeling he would have assumed that meant gettting lairy
Not quite as "have fun, don't get arrested" as the Lotus place, but a good attitude.
Is that because I m an old man with a grey beard who looks like he should be pottering about in a Kia of some kind?
Progressed from selling Capturs and and was treating the test drive as if it was a Diablo
I don’t want to go mental, I just need a bit of freedom to feel the car
I know where 2 live near me and I make detours just to look at them
Sporky said:
I think if you think the M2 is a great sports car then you probably won't like a sports car.
Not knocking the M2; I've never tried one. Just that it's a completely different ethos.
I think that is fair what you're saying here. I struggled a bit at first with my view on the A110, because as a general rule a "sporty car" should be analogue for me(NA/manual gearbox/LSD etc), but the A110 has none of those, and it is a bit more digital if you know what I mean?(Turbo/DCT etc). Not knocking the M2; I've never tried one. Just that it's a completely different ethos.
However in saying that, it's lightweight properly impresses me, plus it rides the road so fluently too from what i read(not something you can always say about an M2/M4 is comparison for example).
One of my mates had an A110 and he absolutely loved it, I got to sit in it, but sadly I didn't get the opportunity to drive it though. He had to get rid of it through covid because he lost his job, and I did feel really sorry for him at the time regarding that. He was always a big Renaultsport fan, and he's had a couple of Clio Trophy's and a Megane RS as well over the years.
cerb4.5lee said:
I think that is fair what you're saying here. I struggled a bit at first with my view on the A110, because as a general rule a "sporty car" should be analogue for me(NA/manual gearbox/LSD etc), but the A110 has none of those, and it is a bit more digital if you know what I mean?(Turbo/DCT etc).
You can have any rules you want for a "sporty car" - though yours exclude your own M4 - but the A110 is definitely a sports car. Small, light, quick, designed around being fun to drive.Petrol Only said:
Seen a fair few Alpines whilst I ve been thrashing round the French alps in my M2 the last few days.
Do they have any sole to the engine note? Big part of the OGM2 experience is the noise it makes.
Took a look at the price of the things yesterday evening. 60k for a 1.8 4 pot seems bonkers to me.
Maybe I need a drive in one.
I like it when they spell the cliché incorrectly. Do they have any sole to the engine note? Big part of the OGM2 experience is the noise it makes.
Took a look at the price of the things yesterday evening. 60k for a 1.8 4 pot seems bonkers to me.
Maybe I need a drive in one.
Sporky said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I think that is fair what you're saying here. I struggled a bit at first with my view on the A110, because as a general rule a "sporty car" should be analogue for me(NA/manual gearbox/LSD etc), but the A110 has none of those, and it is a bit more digital if you know what I mean?(Turbo/DCT etc).
You can have any rules you want for a "sporty car" - though yours exclude your own M4 - but the A110 is definitely a sports car. Small, light, quick, designed around being fun to drive.shaunwap said:
Can't comment about the Cayman as I haven't even sat in one but disagree that the Emira is a more comfortable place to be. The seats in the Alpine ( the bucket ones ) felt far superior in comfort and support to me and in my opinion the driving position is better too. I thought I'd end up with an Emira when I sold my Esprit but although the looks are dramatic, it left me a bit cold and felt quite generic inside in terms of design. The Alpine somehow felt more special even though the material quality in the Emira was superior. I surprised myself preferring the Alpine to be honest having been a Lotus fan since childhood, but the Alpine won me over heart and head. I Do agree though that if a charismatic engine is your top priority the Alpine, although sounding good for a four pot, probably wont be the car for you.
When I mentioned the Cayman and Emira are a more comfortable place to be, this is in comparison to an old Lotus. The A110 strikes a balance between them - comfortable place to be for long drives but still lightweight.Petrol Only said:
Maybe I really do need to look at one then. Do wish the M2 was lighter. But it s been the best of all worlds sports car I have owned so far. Can sit in it for hours on the motorway and get out feeling fresh.
Not trying to throw shade. Just curious where I go next from the M2 as the wife hates the image of Porkers which seem a natural progression to me.
If it helps any, prior to my A110, I had a manual F87 M2 Comp (via a slight diversion with an i3). My M2 was fab, but it only really came alive at excessive speeds, even with the manual gearbox. I did max it at an indicated 265km/h on the Autobahn once, and several track days but there was always a nagging sense I was never getting the best out of it. Not trying to throw shade. Just curious where I go next from the M2 as the wife hates the image of Porkers which seem a natural progression to me.
I test drove an A110S during Covid when I had my M2, so I was lucky the dealer wasn’t allowed to sit in the car with me and I was simply given the keys for an hour. The A110 feels like a totally different car. It was the first car I can ever think of driving where the suspension seemed to be genuinely working. You could see the bumps in the road but it never came through in the car. It doesn’t have the same raw power of an M2 once you start going quicker but the car feels alive in a way my M2 rarely did. Even with the DCT of the Alpine, the car is quite short geared, so you do get to use the paddles a fair amount.
The M2 is of course significantly more practical, I wouldn’t be able to justify the Alpine without having something practical like the i3 on the side.
The Alpine also gets significantly more attention from passers by, something I don’t notice but my partner does! I think it’s mostly people looking at it trying to work out what it is though
Scott-R said:
If it helps any, prior to my A110, I had a manual F87 M2 Comp (via a slight diversion with an i3). My M2 was fab, but it only really came alive at excessive speeds, even with the manual gearbox. I did max it at an indicated 265km/h on the Autobahn once, and several track days but there was always a nagging sense I was never getting the best out of it.
I test drove an A110S during Covid when I had my M2, so I was lucky the dealer wasn t allowed to sit in the car with me and I was simply given the keys for an hour. The A110 feels like a totally different car. It was the first car I can ever think of driving where the suspension seemed to be genuinely working. You could see the bumps in the road but it never came through in the car. It doesn t have the same raw power of an M2 once you start going quicker but the car feels alive in a way my M2 rarely did. Even with the DCT of the Alpine, the car is quite short geared, so you do get to use the paddles a fair amount.
The M2 is of course significantly more practical, I wouldn t be able to justify the Alpine without having something practical like the i3 on the side.
The Alpine also gets significantly more attention from passers by, something I don t notice but my partner does! I think it s mostly people looking at it trying to work out what it is though
That s a really helpful response, thank you. I test drove an A110S during Covid when I had my M2, so I was lucky the dealer wasn t allowed to sit in the car with me and I was simply given the keys for an hour. The A110 feels like a totally different car. It was the first car I can ever think of driving where the suspension seemed to be genuinely working. You could see the bumps in the road but it never came through in the car. It doesn t have the same raw power of an M2 once you start going quicker but the car feels alive in a way my M2 rarely did. Even with the DCT of the Alpine, the car is quite short geared, so you do get to use the paddles a fair amount.
The M2 is of course significantly more practical, I wouldn t be able to justify the Alpine without having something practical like the i3 on the side.
The Alpine also gets significantly more attention from passers by, something I don t notice but my partner does! I think it s mostly people looking at it trying to work out what it is though
A lot of what you, and everyone are saying resonates with me.
Probably the most fun car I have owned was my mk1 Eunos. On the right road with no traffic, utterly brilliant. Unfortunately they were always a bit too small for me being 6 4 with no rake adjustment and the biggest downside, f
king slow!Fortunately I don t need the practicality of the M2. Have a Swasticar for those duties, so cheap to run helps justify the M2 fuel bill.
Anyway, when I get home you have all convinced me to go check one out, along with the Emira. Seen a few of those last few days as well, absolutely stunning.
Edited by Petrol Only on Monday 16th June 21:48
Petrol Only said:
That s a really helpful response, thank you.
A lot of what you, and everyone are saying resonates with me.
Probably the most fun car I have owned was my mk1 Eunos. On the right road with no traffic, utterly brilliant. Unfortunately they were always a bit too small for me being 6 4 with no rake adjustment and the biggest downside, fking slow!
Fortunately I don t need the practicality of the M2. Have a Swasticar for those duties, so cheap to run helps justify the M2 fuel bill.
Anyway, when I get home you have all convinced me to go check one out, along with the Emira. Seen a few of those last few days as well, absolutely stunning.
Whilst I agree the Emira is a great looking car its not exactly a lightweight, at least 300kg more than an A110, I drove one before buying the A110 and it felt like the Cayman did, there was inertia in its responses due to its weight I just did not feel in the A110 - the way in which Lotus have repaired problematic cars and put them back into circulation is not exactly confidence inspiring eitherA lot of what you, and everyone are saying resonates with me.
Probably the most fun car I have owned was my mk1 Eunos. On the right road with no traffic, utterly brilliant. Unfortunately they were always a bit too small for me being 6 4 with no rake adjustment and the biggest downside, f
king slow!Fortunately I don t need the practicality of the M2. Have a Swasticar for those duties, so cheap to run helps justify the M2 fuel bill.
Anyway, when I get home you have all convinced me to go check one out, along with the Emira. Seen a few of those last few days as well, absolutely stunning.
Edited by Petrol Only on Monday 16th June 21:48
Lucky to have other vehicles, but since buying the 110S in early May I have barely used anything else, everything has just sat in the garage gathering dust..
Have already done a 2 week Alps trip (with my labrador, who actually was very comfortable too in the other bucket), the little Alpine was spectacular in every way. It gets loads of love and appreciation, especially from the French.
Agree it is one of the best current all-round sports cars money can buy.
Have already done a 2 week Alps trip (with my labrador, who actually was very comfortable too in the other bucket), the little Alpine was spectacular in every way. It gets loads of love and appreciation, especially from the French.
Agree it is one of the best current all-round sports cars money can buy.
MaFue said:
Lucky to have other vehicles, but since buying the 110S in early May I have barely used anything else, everything has just sat in the garage gathering dust..
Have already done a 2 week Alps trip (with my labrador, who actually was very comfortable too in the other bucket), the little Alpine was spectacular in every way. It gets loads of love and appreciation, especially from the French.
Agree it is one of the best current all-round sports cars money can buy.
Our Tuscan and V8 Vantage were both disposed of within 6 months of getting our A110SHave already done a 2 week Alps trip (with my labrador, who actually was very comfortable too in the other bucket), the little Alpine was spectacular in every way. It gets loads of love and appreciation, especially from the French.
Agree it is one of the best current all-round sports cars money can buy.
Gassing Station | Alpine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff