Soon to be new owner introduction - Ordered a new A110
Discussion
All being well I will be the proud owner of an Alpine blue A110 pure by mid May. Deposit paid last week on a car that has already been built and, luckily, was within a whisker of the spec I would have chosen from the configurator 
.A few LIFE110 mods already planned for the future like shift paddles, wheel spacers, possibly a front splitter and GEO - I'll drive it for a while first to acclimatise but the Life 110 fast road settings sound like they will improve the only slight dynamic issue I found with he car, the steering. (I'm coming from 14 years of Lotus ownership -Excel and Esprit - so to be fair the bar was set high!) Being a Lotus fan I drove an Evora 410 Sport and also considered the Emira before choosing the Alpine, I also briefly flirted with the idea of a Cayman but that didn't last long! I was after a weekend / road trip / fun car that would be more usable than the Esprit and although the Evora was fantastic to drive, I felt the Alpine matched it for character and was nearly as involving whilst also being more refined and comfortable. Nearly as rare as an Evora too!
One great thing with Lotus ownership was the community so I'm hoping to now get involved with the Alpine community, I'm up for any meet ups, breakfast clubs, run outs etc ( I Live near the coast in Hampshire ) - it would be great to meet some fellow owners.
Finally, for those of you familiar with the Life 110 website, the wheel spacers are showing as 'sold out' as is the front splitter. Does this just mean they are temporarily out of stock or have I missed the boat on those particular products?
Shaun
.A few LIFE110 mods already planned for the future like shift paddles, wheel spacers, possibly a front splitter and GEO - I'll drive it for a while first to acclimatise but the Life 110 fast road settings sound like they will improve the only slight dynamic issue I found with he car, the steering. (I'm coming from 14 years of Lotus ownership -Excel and Esprit - so to be fair the bar was set high!) Being a Lotus fan I drove an Evora 410 Sport and also considered the Emira before choosing the Alpine, I also briefly flirted with the idea of a Cayman but that didn't last long! I was after a weekend / road trip / fun car that would be more usable than the Esprit and although the Evora was fantastic to drive, I felt the Alpine matched it for character and was nearly as involving whilst also being more refined and comfortable. Nearly as rare as an Evora too!One great thing with Lotus ownership was the community so I'm hoping to now get involved with the Alpine community, I'm up for any meet ups, breakfast clubs, run outs etc ( I Live near the coast in Hampshire ) - it would be great to meet some fellow owners.
Finally, for those of you familiar with the Life 110 website, the wheel spacers are showing as 'sold out' as is the front splitter. Does this just mean they are temporarily out of stock or have I missed the boat on those particular products?
Shaun
Waiting for a new car is exciting, isn’t it? I ordered mine a while ago, and it should arrive in the UK this week after delays at the French port.
I spec’d mine on the configurator, then put a deposit on one that was very similar as was already being built.
Like you, I plan to get Life110 paddles and geo. I’ll wait until the engine is mostly run-in.
I don’t know if the Alpine community is anything like the Lotus community. But I have noticed A110s turning up at Lotus On Track trackdays. I suspect a lot of buyers will have previously owned a Lotus of some flavour.
I spec’d mine on the configurator, then put a deposit on one that was very similar as was already being built.
Like you, I plan to get Life110 paddles and geo. I’ll wait until the engine is mostly run-in.
I don’t know if the Alpine community is anything like the Lotus community. But I have noticed A110s turning up at Lotus On Track trackdays. I suspect a lot of buyers will have previously owned a Lotus of some flavour.
My sports car history Excel, Evora NA, Evora 400, Alpine. 23 years in total.
The Excel won’t hold a candle to the capability of the Alpine, but the Alpine doesn’t handle as well as the Evoras. A few Life 110 tweaks got it close to the NA but the newer Evoras sacrifice some comfort for performance.
The social side of Lotus can’t be matched. I’m on SELOC and TLF and still do Lotus events and maintain my friendship with a lot of those owners, some of whom have also moved on. I personally know 3 other ex lotus owners now in Alpines.
The Excel won’t hold a candle to the capability of the Alpine, but the Alpine doesn’t handle as well as the Evoras. A few Life 110 tweaks got it close to the NA but the newer Evoras sacrifice some comfort for performance.
The social side of Lotus can’t be matched. I’m on SELOC and TLF and still do Lotus events and maintain my friendship with a lot of those owners, some of whom have also moved on. I personally know 3 other ex lotus owners now in Alpines.
Colin P said:
My sports car history Excel, Evora NA, Evora 400, Alpine. 23 years in total.
The Excel won’t hold a candle to the capability of the Alpine, but the Alpine doesn’t handle as well as the Evoras. A few Life 110 tweaks got it close to the NA but the newer Evoras sacrifice some comfort for performance.
The social side of Lotus can’t be matched. I’m on SELOC and TLF and still do Lotus events and maintain my friendship with a lot of those owners, some of whom have also moved on. I personally know 3 other ex lotus owners now in Alpines.
Yeah the Evora gt410 is a fabulous car, I so nearly bought one. Just the sound is enough to sell it to any petrol head I would think. The Alpine did feel more like a car I would use more though and that's what I wanted after the Esprit. It got to the point where I didn't want to park it anywhere and so spent most of its time in the garage developing mysterious faults 😂. It did feel like an event when I did get out in it though!The Excel won’t hold a candle to the capability of the Alpine, but the Alpine doesn’t handle as well as the Evoras. A few Life 110 tweaks got it close to the NA but the newer Evoras sacrifice some comfort for performance.
The social side of Lotus can’t be matched. I’m on SELOC and TLF and still do Lotus events and maintain my friendship with a lot of those owners, some of whom have also moved on. I personally know 3 other ex lotus owners now in Alpines.
Congratulations for another ex Lotus owner (Elise x 2 and Exige) 
As mentioned about the FB group is really helpful and friendly. I have found the A110 community to be very friendly and informative, just perhaps not as active as the Lotus community probably due to the fact there are less A110’s on the road.
As mentioned about the FB group is really helpful and friendly. I have found the A110 community to be very friendly and informative, just perhaps not as active as the Lotus community probably due to the fact there are less A110’s on the road.
Spokeyblokey said:
Hi shaunwap
Congrats on the new purchase. I'm guessing you ordered from Martins? I'm just outside Winchester so would be happy to meet up in my A110S and chat 'Alpine' whenever suits you. I'm also rebuilding my '65 S2 Elan so I would imagine we'd have plenty to talk about!
Yes ordered from Martins who were great in my opinion. 5 visits and four test drives in total and no pressure to buy, I dealt with Keith who understood I was torn between Lotus and Alpine and also torn between comfort of bucket seats. Went for buckets in the end as like most people it seems, I found them more comfortable than the comfort seats 😆. Yes would be great to meet up once I have the car, Caffeine and Machine is very conveniently placed about half way between where I live and Winchester 😎Congrats on the new purchase. I'm guessing you ordered from Martins? I'm just outside Winchester so would be happy to meet up in my A110S and chat 'Alpine' whenever suits you. I'm also rebuilding my '65 S2 Elan so I would imagine we'd have plenty to talk about!
shaunwap said:
Spokeyblokey said:
Hi shaunwap
Congrats on the new purchase. I'm guessing you ordered from Martins? I'm just outside Winchester so would be happy to meet up in my A110S and chat 'Alpine' whenever suits you. I'm also rebuilding my '65 S2 Elan so I would imagine we'd have plenty to talk about!
Yes ordered from Martins who were great in my opinion. 5 visits and four test drives in total and no pressure to buy, I dealt with Keith who understood I was torn between Lotus and Alpine and also torn between comfort of bucket seats. Went for buckets in the end as like most people it seems, I found them more comfortable than the comfort seats ??. Yes would be great to meet up once I have the car, Caffeine and Machine is very conveniently placed about half way between where I live and Winchester ??Congrats on the new purchase. I'm guessing you ordered from Martins? I'm just outside Winchester so would be happy to meet up in my A110S and chat 'Alpine' whenever suits you. I'm also rebuilding my '65 S2 Elan so I would imagine we'd have plenty to talk about!
Also close by with a Pure and still have an Elise Sprint 220. I've been looking at Evoras recently (as an Elise rather than Alpine replacement), but other than the noise I can't see really what they get you over the Alpine. 5 years/40k into the Alpine I still don't see anything that could really replace it other than a newer one.
Spokeyblokey said:
Hi shaunwap
Congrats on the new purchase. I'm guessing you ordered from Martins? I'm just outside Winchester so would be happy to meet up in my A110S and chat 'Alpine' whenever suits you. I'm also rebuilding my '65 S2 Elan so I would imagine we'd have plenty to talk about!
I'm ok with a drive out to Winchester too.Congrats on the new purchase. I'm guessing you ordered from Martins? I'm just outside Winchester so would be happy to meet up in my A110S and chat 'Alpine' whenever suits you. I'm also rebuilding my '65 S2 Elan so I would imagine we'd have plenty to talk about!
TX.
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