Alpine A110 half term report.
Discussion
MarJay said:
This is going to sound really quite rude in such a positive thread, but the goal is positive, I promise.
What are we reckoning on the depreciation of these? I happen to have a big pot of cash I could use to buy a car, but it's not enough to buy one of these outright. I've recently got a job in London which means I can't use the car to commute, and myself and the GF have an estate car we use as a load lugger. On that basis, something small, light and fun fits the bill.
There is more to it though. My dad is and has pretty much always been a huge Renault fan, and it's down to my Uncle who has had all sorts of Renaults over the years, including a mid 70s Alpine A110 in that gorgeous blue. His house was flooded out, so he had to store it in my parents garage when I was a teenager. I fell in love with it, and to own a newer version would be a dream come true.
Do we think they'll keep their value, or will I be able to pick one up in a couple of years for sensible money?
I suspect it depends on how long the waiting list is in two years. It's currently quoted (possibly optimistically) at 12 months - but production doesn't seem to be quite ramping up to meet that target. So I expect them to be on long delivery for at least a couple of years - as a result I'd expect them to hold their value well for that period. Longer term impossible to say.What are we reckoning on the depreciation of these? I happen to have a big pot of cash I could use to buy a car, but it's not enough to buy one of these outright. I've recently got a job in London which means I can't use the car to commute, and myself and the GF have an estate car we use as a load lugger. On that basis, something small, light and fun fits the bill.
There is more to it though. My dad is and has pretty much always been a huge Renault fan, and it's down to my Uncle who has had all sorts of Renaults over the years, including a mid 70s Alpine A110 in that gorgeous blue. His house was flooded out, so he had to store it in my parents garage when I was a teenager. I fell in love with it, and to own a newer version would be a dream come true.
Do we think they'll keep their value, or will I be able to pick one up in a couple of years for sensible money?
depreciation will be interesting (it's important to any petrolhead as it allows him to drive better cars more often)
apart from production being ramped up it will be interesting to see if other models are released and whether other manufacturers enter this space. Lotus now have investment and the Japs continue to talk about sports cars.
i find it interesting how owners are reporting how comfortable it is, if sports cars don't have to be compromised that opens up a larger market.
apart from production being ramped up it will be interesting to see if other models are released and whether other manufacturers enter this space. Lotus now have investment and the Japs continue to talk about sports cars.
i find it interesting how owners are reporting how comfortable it is, if sports cars don't have to be compromised that opens up a larger market.
DaveCWK said:
Good read OP - thanks for sharing.
I still think it's a massive shame there is no manual option - If there were, this would be the first new car i'd have ever considered in my 'buy & plan to enjoy for 10+ years' pile.
Why not try it. There are lots and lots of punters and pros who would say they would say they MUCH prefer a manual, but having driven the car conclude it doesn't matter - because the cars other characteristics just transend the manual/auto debate. I still think it's a massive shame there is no manual option - If there were, this would be the first new car i'd have ever considered in my 'buy & plan to enjoy for 10+ years' pile.
As bcr says, anyone who is concerned about no manual option should try an Alpine.
I hated autos until I drove a pdk a few years ago. You can’t compare a pdk/dsg style transmission with an ordinary slushbox. Massive benefits of quicker changes whilst hands still on the wheel.
The other thing to remember is that even a good gearbox can be let down by a poor linkage. With engine and transmission behind you that is always a risk as a result of packaging constraints
I hated autos until I drove a pdk a few years ago. You can’t compare a pdk/dsg style transmission with an ordinary slushbox. Massive benefits of quicker changes whilst hands still on the wheel.
The other thing to remember is that even a good gearbox can be let down by a poor linkage. With engine and transmission behind you that is always a risk as a result of packaging constraints
Miserablegit said:
As bcr says, anyone who is concerned about no manual option should try an Alpine.
I hated autos until I drove a pdk a few years ago. You can’t compare a pdk/dsg style transmission with an ordinary slushbox. Massive benefits of quicker changes whilst hands still on the wheel.
The other thing to remember is that even a good gearbox can be let down by a poor linkage. With engine and transmission behind you that is always a risk as a result of packaging constraints
One thing I think the Alpine box does better than PDK is that it is button operated. For parking the DCT gearchange is massively quicker than PDK. For some people like me that is really important as it means quicker shifts for reverse parking!I hated autos until I drove a pdk a few years ago. You can’t compare a pdk/dsg style transmission with an ordinary slushbox. Massive benefits of quicker changes whilst hands still on the wheel.
The other thing to remember is that even a good gearbox can be let down by a poor linkage. With engine and transmission behind you that is always a risk as a result of packaging constraints
Edited by Prestonese on Saturday 3rd November 21:05
bcr5784 said:
Podie said:
An interesting read, but not enough photos!
I don't do selfies or caries. All blue PEs look the same - so how would it help? I could have put some pictures of cargo nets or the seed trays behind the seats I suppose. The coat hooks are rather photogenic ....Each to their own I suppose, but then if I wanted well written journalism i’d stick to car magazines....
Podie said:
No one ever shows you what it’s like sat in a car, or the strange foibles they have.
Each to their own I suppose, but then if I wanted well written journalism i’d stick to car magazines....
There are literally thousands of interior shots of the car on the internet, I've covered the foibles that irk me - and the work arounds. I would add some pictures if they would add information. But I can add information about what it is like to own on a daily basis in words - rather than the narrow view a journalist might have - which is what I have tried to do. If you want to know what journalists think read the mags - if you want to know what owners think.....Each to their own I suppose, but then if I wanted well written journalism i’d stick to car magazines....
Edited by bcr5784 on Sunday 4th November 08:29
Prestonese said:
One thing I think the Alpine box does better than PDK is that it is button operated. For parking the DCT gearchange is massively quicker than PDK. For some people like me that is really important as it means quicker shifts for reverse parking!
You can actually select reverse when still going slowly forward vice versa too with the Alpine - but that would be more useful if they let you press brake and accerator toghether when going forward. The Cayman selector (though fine for changing gears in manual) is heavy and feels a rather agricultural when selecting forward, reverse or neutral.Edited by Prestonese on Saturday 3rd November 21:05
Edited by bcr5784 on Sunday 4th November 08:45
I agree with just about everything said. I've done 2,600 miles as it is pretty much my daily driver.
I absolutely wouldn't want a manual, even though I'm a traditionalist by nature.
I had contemplated buying a Boxster but couldn't bring myself to, as I don't find them exciting enough. And I was prepared to relinquish the attraction of an open car because the Alpine is simply much more attractive as a full package.
Criticism of the trim level is confused because people seem not to realise the PE is a specced up version of the Pure model, the Pure being as basic as Alpine want to make it. The Legende trim level is a better comparison with Porsche.
Comfort of the non-adjustable bucket seats? - I figured I could compromise if necessary, with more stops on longer runs etc. But I drove to Italy and back by myself without any more stopping than I ever did in my E Class Merc and had no discomfort whatsoever (even though I'm not exactly in the first flush of youth). The seat is amazing. And the Lugano to Basel stretch was at 46 mpg, the full run nicely over 40!
Luggage capacity? - of course it's a compromise but is no big deal, you simply have to choose to carry whatever you deem essential, and there are laundries everywhere you are likely to go. Clubs go in the passenger seat if golfing away from home (but you need to rent a trolley). Just adjust, it's worth it.
The audio is really good but the touch-screen controls not so. I'd rather have a knob to turn to select the various options. And I still can't work out how to change the time. The satnav seems to get me close to the hotel I'm looking for, but perhaps not close enough so I'll need to be extra careful about exact location in future.
My best driver's car ever was a Ginetta G4 (2 of them actually) - the Alpine is as good but is much more comfortable and practical as it is bang up to date.
It's not a big deal but I do wish people would stop showing their ignorance by talking about what "Renault could have done". None of the technical aspects of the car are anything to do with the corporate owner. Renault is a large carmaker based in Paris. Alpine is a small carmaker based in Dieppe, some 200 kms distant. The Alpine was designed by, and is produced by - Alpine.
All in all, I remain utterly delighted with my choice and love the fact that so many people want to chat about the car - they become about as excited as I am.
I absolutely wouldn't want a manual, even though I'm a traditionalist by nature.
I had contemplated buying a Boxster but couldn't bring myself to, as I don't find them exciting enough. And I was prepared to relinquish the attraction of an open car because the Alpine is simply much more attractive as a full package.
Criticism of the trim level is confused because people seem not to realise the PE is a specced up version of the Pure model, the Pure being as basic as Alpine want to make it. The Legende trim level is a better comparison with Porsche.
Comfort of the non-adjustable bucket seats? - I figured I could compromise if necessary, with more stops on longer runs etc. But I drove to Italy and back by myself without any more stopping than I ever did in my E Class Merc and had no discomfort whatsoever (even though I'm not exactly in the first flush of youth). The seat is amazing. And the Lugano to Basel stretch was at 46 mpg, the full run nicely over 40!
Luggage capacity? - of course it's a compromise but is no big deal, you simply have to choose to carry whatever you deem essential, and there are laundries everywhere you are likely to go. Clubs go in the passenger seat if golfing away from home (but you need to rent a trolley). Just adjust, it's worth it.
The audio is really good but the touch-screen controls not so. I'd rather have a knob to turn to select the various options. And I still can't work out how to change the time. The satnav seems to get me close to the hotel I'm looking for, but perhaps not close enough so I'll need to be extra careful about exact location in future.
My best driver's car ever was a Ginetta G4 (2 of them actually) - the Alpine is as good but is much more comfortable and practical as it is bang up to date.
It's not a big deal but I do wish people would stop showing their ignorance by talking about what "Renault could have done". None of the technical aspects of the car are anything to do with the corporate owner. Renault is a large carmaker based in Paris. Alpine is a small carmaker based in Dieppe, some 200 kms distant. The Alpine was designed by, and is produced by - Alpine.
All in all, I remain utterly delighted with my choice and love the fact that so many people want to chat about the car - they become about as excited as I am.
SirTK said:
The audio is really good but the touch-screen controls not so. I'd rather have a knob to turn to select the various options. And I still can't work out how to change the time. The satnav seems to get me close to the hotel I'm looking for, but perhaps not close enough so I'll need to be extra careful about exact location in future.
.
It depends exactly what you want to do - but using either voice control (never found them any good before) or the multimedia stalk you can circumvent the touch screen to a significant extent. The range of voice commands is limited and you have to use the right command words but you can tell "her" to play a particular artist or track, (works fine with mp3s on a USB stick), navigate or telephone someone. It's worth learning to speak "her" language. "Her" helpful hints become a bit tedious and "she" is a bit verbose (I haven't found a way to shut her up) - but you can do quite a lot without the screen. Its a pity you can't use the scroll wheel on the multimedia stalk to interact with touch screen for telephone or navigation functions..
To set the time go to the home screen (with no other functions going on) , press the "+" and the then the "cog" and clock.
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