Where to start?
Discussion
I'm considering an A110 of some sort, and could do with a few pointers.
The idea is to replace my Audi RS3, since I am often driving solo in it as we tend to do family miles in our daily Golf GTD or VW Transporter.
What I'm really trying to decide is whether it's better value to go straight for a new car, or to explore used? And whether it's worth going for the higher or lower output engine? If I do go down the used route, is there anything to watch out for?
The car will be garaged and used sparingly, most often for longer distance business miles or visiting my mum at weekends. I had an Audi TTS before the RS3 (my second) and I enjoyed the style of a sports coupe. My car history started with a load of hot Renaults including a Williams.
Thanks in advance.
The idea is to replace my Audi RS3, since I am often driving solo in it as we tend to do family miles in our daily Golf GTD or VW Transporter.
What I'm really trying to decide is whether it's better value to go straight for a new car, or to explore used? And whether it's worth going for the higher or lower output engine? If I do go down the used route, is there anything to watch out for?
The car will be garaged and used sparingly, most often for longer distance business miles or visiting my mum at weekends. I had an Audi TTS before the RS3 (my second) and I enjoyed the style of a sports coupe. My car history started with a load of hot Renaults including a Williams.
Thanks in advance.
Read some of the threads answering the same questions over the past couple of years then drive both and make your own mind up
eg https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
eg https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As for which model, start with you want the sport or regular suspension. Personally for road use, and certainly B road use I found the regular suspension the best. Then decide if you want the bucket seats or comfort seats. This will basically decide if you end up with the higher tuned engine (it just a map, the engine is identical) or the regular tune. Either is fine.
I bought new in March 2024 as at the time the 0% finance offer with a bit of a discount off the list price made it more affordable for me than a used car, plus it had the reassurance of a proper manufacturers 3 year warranty.
Not sure what the current new car deals are though.
If you are buying used then the better infotainment came in during 2022 I think? This gives you Carplay and Android Auto if that matters to you.
Not sure what the current new car deals are though.
If you are buying used then the better infotainment came in during 2022 I think? This gives you Carplay and Android Auto if that matters to you.
Derek182 said:
I bought new in March 2024 as at the time the 0% finance offer with a bit of a discount off the list price made it more affordable for me than a used car, plus it had the reassurance of a proper manufacturers 3 year warranty.
Not sure what the current new car deals are though.
If you are buying used then the better infotainment came in during 2022 I think? This gives you Carplay and Android Auto if that matters to you.
Zero % finance available until the end of March 2025. Not sure what the current new car deals are though.
If you are buying used then the better infotainment came in during 2022 I think? This gives you Carplay and Android Auto if that matters to you.
Once I'd decided I wanted one (and I see you liked French cars in the past, so you're in a good place already) it was really just a decision between bucket v comfort seats. I picked bucket. Regular or sports suspension. I picked the regular.
The only regret I have in speccing my car was that I should have gone with the bigger brakes, as I just can't get on with the pads / feedback / strength mix of the standard ones. It's not a deal breaker, but that's the one change I would make.
Otherwise, it's ace, it's like a grown up version of my old Clio 182 with all the magic that Renualt Sport can sprinkle on a chassis and all the oddity that being French brings.
The only regret I have in speccing my car was that I should have gone with the bigger brakes, as I just can't get on with the pads / feedback / strength mix of the standard ones. It's not a deal breaker, but that's the one change I would make.
Otherwise, it's ace, it's like a grown up version of my old Clio 182 with all the magic that Renualt Sport can sprinkle on a chassis and all the oddity that being French brings.
The French car history was also part of me getting an Alpine, initially Peugeot with a 205 GTi and a 106 Rallye S2 but then many Renaultsports including two 182 Cups, a 172 Cup, a 200 Cup and a Megane 250 Cup.
As a big fan of lightweight French cars, once a bit of man maths had proved I could afford an Alpine it was the obvious choice.
I would have gone for an S but when I was looking the deals were better on the GT so that's what I have and am very happy with it.
As a big fan of lightweight French cars, once a bit of man maths had proved I could afford an Alpine it was the obvious choice.
I would have gone for an S but when I was looking the deals were better on the GT so that's what I have and am very happy with it.
Hi Cardinal,
A while back in April 2022 Dan Prosser - who also owned a base A110 - wrote in The Intercooler about his testing all three of what was then the new Alpine model line up: the base A110, the A110 GT and the A110S.
Dan's bottom line was that the best bet in terms of everyday fun on British B roads was the base A110, unless you really wanted to do lots of track stuff in which case the S with more power and stiffer suspension was the one to get. From his point of view after testing all three cars, the GT fell in the middle with its extra power but similar suspension (to the base model) meaning a hefty additional cost over the base model
Going for the base A110 as the best choice for road work has been widely supported elsewhere; the choice of course is yours so let us know what your impressions are after you test all three!
A while back in April 2022 Dan Prosser - who also owned a base A110 - wrote in The Intercooler about his testing all three of what was then the new Alpine model line up: the base A110, the A110 GT and the A110S.
Dan's bottom line was that the best bet in terms of everyday fun on British B roads was the base A110, unless you really wanted to do lots of track stuff in which case the S with more power and stiffer suspension was the one to get. From his point of view after testing all three cars, the GT fell in the middle with its extra power but similar suspension (to the base model) meaning a hefty additional cost over the base model
Going for the base A110 as the best choice for road work has been widely supported elsewhere; the choice of course is yours so let us know what your impressions are after you test all three!
Hi Cardinal, I had a A110S for 4 years from 2020 which I preferred to the base car and the GT back then as I had come from 3 Lotus models previously and liked the stiffer suspension and the styling (shallow I know!). 4 years later (last March) I traded it in for a new GT and I have no regrets. I don’t track my cars and I use it as my everyday transport. For me the slightly softer suspension makes driving on the UK roads more bearable. In addition I preferred the larger brakes, compared to the base model, and the other options on the GT which is a fantastic tourer and can be a hooligan when you want it to be.
As per previous advice I would suggest trying the different models and buy the one that suits your driving style/needs best.
Happy hunting
As per previous advice I would suggest trying the different models and buy the one that suits your driving style/needs best.
Happy hunting
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