Is there a better all-round sports car?

[nickfrog]

LE62NDE said:

Long distance travel is not a problem in a 110, so long as you embrace the lightweight ethos when packing. Perhaps James Bond drove an Aston because he needed to take dinner suits, Q's gizmos, ammunition, etc. but lesser mortals get by just fine: one cabin bag and one holdall each, plus sundry small bags. This was yesterday on the St Gotthard Pass.

This is indeed a fantastic photo, particularly from a composition point of view.

[LE62NDE]

nickfrog said:

This is indeed a fantastic photo, particularly from a composition point of view.

Thank you. We had the run of the place when I took it: me, one other car, two motorbikes and a lone cyclist. We didn't take the old road all the way, because a) pavé isn't the smoothest surface and b) I didn't trust the grip on pavé as much as on tarmac. I wasn't being a hooligan, but wanted reliable braking and turn-in!

[croyde]

Last Feb. 3500 miles on land and 1200 miles on ocean.

Luggage capacity fine and taught me not to overpack, which I always do when using a bigger car

Think of it like booking the cheapest ticket on Ryan Air

[biggles330d]

As we're doing hills, at the summit of Mont Ventoux.

[Mr_Toad]

croyde said:

Luggage capacity fine and taught me not to overpack, which I always do when using a bigger car

Fine for one - absolutely - but if packing for two, I think anything more than a few days is a hassle.

[LE62NDE]

That depends on your wardrobe: we will do a day 6 wash tomorrow, and another on day 9, which should see us through to returning home on day 16...

[EastStand]

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 ve looked at possibly hiring one but nobody seems to offer A110s

If you aren’t too far away from Manchester go and have a chat with Ryan. Really good test drive on the roads between Shaw and Huddersfield which give some idea of the cars capabilities.

[don logan]

EastStand 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 ve looked at possibly hiring one but nobody seems to offer A110s

If you aren t too far away from Manchester go and have a chat with Ryan. Really good test drive on the roads between Shaw and Huddersfield which give some idea of the cars capabilities.

Hi

Thanks, no I’m in London unfortunately

[Spokeyblokey]

Book yourself in for the Alpine 1-2-1 at Thruxton. I guarantee you will not regret it and maybe you'll go straight to your local dealer and place an order like I did! I did it for a third time on Friday and came away again amazed at how capable these little cars are. The instructors all love them too, which speaks volumes I think.

[croyde]

I did the same a month ago, courtesy of my Alpine dealer for a small inconvenience with my car.

Really enjoyable day and a calm and excellent instructor.

It did make me enjoy mine a little too much when going home on the A303

Previous track experiences have meant getting out of some exotica and back into the shopping car. It seemed odd to be getting back into the exact same car to drive on normal roads this time

[DSMSMR]

Those 2 inner lights.....NO!

[croyde]

I like the 4 lights. People notice you, as all 4 are DRLs too.

Means people get out of my way on the motorway

And it is supposed to look like it's original back in 1962.

[Spokeyblokey]

croyde said:

I like the 4 lights. People notice you, as all 4 are DRLs too.

Means people get out of my way on the motorway

And it is supposed to look like it's original back in 1962.

100%. It is one of the features that makes the Alpine an Alpine.

[110GT]

I was up with the sparrows this morning and did 100 miles on some of my favourite Scottish roads. I have not done that it in a long time and the car was brilliant. I think its the best car I have owned, on a par with my S2 Elise 111S before I ruined it by fitting sticky rubber and fancy suspension on it.

I have chased more power in the past with a Evora S, Cup 250, Exige 350 and a Mac 570s. My comparison is with those and for me the A110 beats them all hands down. I cant believe its taken me this long to get one. Though it has taken me two months to discover the scroll wheel on the back of the volume control doh!

I had a test drive in the standard car and knew I needed to get one. Its a car that appears to fit my mood, should that be a bimble to the shops or a dawn raid like today and everything in between bar a run to the tip LOL. Its not a cheap car to buy but I don't feel its going to bankrupt me like running a baby supercar did. During the running in I though the fuel gauge was broken as it hardly moved but its going down a bit faster now. :-) Appearing so small and dinky to other road users it appears they are willing to let you pass with a cheerful wave rather than aggressive headlight flashing which is nice.

The only thing I would change would be the ability to lower the windows without starting the engine and I will need to get some kind of cup holder sorted. A water bottle is fine between the seats so a minor inconvenience.

[SpudLink]

croyde said:

Previous track experiences have meant getting out of some exotica and back into the shopping car. It seemed odd to be getting back into the exact same car to drive on normal roads this time

In 1998 I had my first track experience at Silverstone. Drove there in my Elise, learned how to drive an identical car with an instructor, then home again.
I’ve done supercar and single seater experiences since, but it turns out I much prefer using a car I’m familiar with.

[croyde]

SpudLink said:

In 1998 I had my first track experience at Silverstone. Drove there in my Elise, learned how to drive an identical car with an instructor, then home again.
I ve done supercar and single seater experiences since, but it turns out I much prefer using a car I m familiar with.

So true.

I did a track try out with an Aston, a Ferrari and something else.

The fourth car was a 996 Turbo which once sat inside was exactly like my 986 Boxster that I'd arrived in.

That Turbo was the car that I drove best, and was happiest in.

[Terminator X]

110GT said:

I was up with the sparrows this morning and did 100 miles on some of my favourite Scottish roads. I have not done that it in a long time and the car was brilliant. I think its the best car I have owned, on a par with my S2 Elise 111S before I ruined it by fitting sticky rubber and fancy suspension on it.

I have chased more power in the past with a Evora S, Cup 250, Exige 350 and a Mac 570s. My comparison is with those and for me the A110 beats them all hands down. I cant believe its taken me this long to get one. Though it has taken me two months to discover the scroll wheel on the back of the volume control doh!

I had a test drive in the standard car and knew I needed to get one. Its a car that appears to fit my mood, should that be a bimble to the shops or a dawn raid like today and everything in between bar a run to the tip LOL. Its not a cheap car to buy but I don't feel its going to bankrupt me like running a baby supercar did. During the running in I though the fuel gauge was broken as it hardly moved but its going down a bit faster now. :-) Appearing so small and dinky to other road users it appears they are willing to let you pass with a cheerful wave rather than aggressive headlight flashing which is nice.

The only thing I would change would be the ability to lower the windows without starting the engine and I will need to get some kind of cup holder sorted. A water bottle is fine between the seats so a minor inconvenience.

The windows will lower with ignition off as long as you don't open the doors first.

TX.

[110GT]

Terminator X said:

The windows will lower with ignition off as long as you don't open the doors first.

TX.

Cool, will give that a go.

[Andy665]

Was at a cars and coffee meet this morning, parked next to 2 Evoras and the A110 had more interest shown in it, there was an Emira there too, looked stunning but also huge in comparison to the A110, would I have as much fun around the twisties in Mid and North Wales - I doubt it very much

[Sporky]

I've seen a couple of Emiras now - they do look great, but in a "generic supercar" way. The Evora had more character, though that might be why it didn't sell as well...