Explain the appeal of the A110
Discussion
I finally got a short test drive of the A110 last weekend, and was underwhelmed. This was a massive disappointment as I was seriously considering buying one.
I'm not posting here to criticise the car, but to invite owners to explain the kind of driving that makes the car come alive. Maybe if I understand that I'll arrange a longer test and give it another go.
For context: I have no particular driving talent and haven't owned many nice cars, though I currently own a 991.1 GT3 RS. Before that, the most fun cars I had were a Caterham Fireblade, MX-5, Mini Cooper S, and a couple of Model 3s (sorry, but they are fun as a daily driver IMO). This small selection but which covers several relevant points of reference: naturally aspirated vs forced induction, manual vs auto, light weight, road and track focused.
Having watched the Intercooler podcast on the A110, I was expecting to immediately love it. They made some point about it feeling immediately right in the first 50 metres. I didn't get that. I thought it rode and steered fine but there was no magic and it didn't feel like an event to drive.
I got out on to a stretch of bumpy country road, did a couple of roundabouts, and headed back a bit nonplussed (I had been held up for various reasons, the dealer was closing and didn't seem keen to let me have it for longer).
My overwhelming impression was of neutrality, but I found the combination of auto box and turbocharging made it feel really laggy, like it had two modes of operation: cruising and "on it", with a sharp transition between the two. The engine sounded bad but I wasn't expecting much and that never really bothered me in the MX5 or Mini.
Every single motoring journo whose opinion I trust has said that it's brilliant. Gordon Murray owns one. What the hell is wrong with me?
Is it a car that needs to be driven at 8-10/10ths and on twisty B-roads to feel great? This is how I felt with the Mini. Evo raved about it but I lived on the outskirts of London at the time and I just remember the awful throttle response.
I know there are good engineering reasons why it doesn't have a manual but I can't help thinking it would be a completely different car with one, there would be more interaction at all speeds. The 3RS is auto but its PDK feels much better than the Alpine's, and the throttle response is incomparable. Maybe EVs have also spoiled my expectations for "throttle" response.
Overall I feel like the A110 might well be one of the very best new cars on sale, but that there might be more fun elsewhere for under £55k, like a well maintained TVR or a Rocketeer MX5.
What do you love about the car?
I'm not posting here to criticise the car, but to invite owners to explain the kind of driving that makes the car come alive. Maybe if I understand that I'll arrange a longer test and give it another go.
For context: I have no particular driving talent and haven't owned many nice cars, though I currently own a 991.1 GT3 RS. Before that, the most fun cars I had were a Caterham Fireblade, MX-5, Mini Cooper S, and a couple of Model 3s (sorry, but they are fun as a daily driver IMO). This small selection but which covers several relevant points of reference: naturally aspirated vs forced induction, manual vs auto, light weight, road and track focused.
Having watched the Intercooler podcast on the A110, I was expecting to immediately love it. They made some point about it feeling immediately right in the first 50 metres. I didn't get that. I thought it rode and steered fine but there was no magic and it didn't feel like an event to drive.
I got out on to a stretch of bumpy country road, did a couple of roundabouts, and headed back a bit nonplussed (I had been held up for various reasons, the dealer was closing and didn't seem keen to let me have it for longer).
My overwhelming impression was of neutrality, but I found the combination of auto box and turbocharging made it feel really laggy, like it had two modes of operation: cruising and "on it", with a sharp transition between the two. The engine sounded bad but I wasn't expecting much and that never really bothered me in the MX5 or Mini.
Every single motoring journo whose opinion I trust has said that it's brilliant. Gordon Murray owns one. What the hell is wrong with me?
Is it a car that needs to be driven at 8-10/10ths and on twisty B-roads to feel great? This is how I felt with the Mini. Evo raved about it but I lived on the outskirts of London at the time and I just remember the awful throttle response.
I know there are good engineering reasons why it doesn't have a manual but I can't help thinking it would be a completely different car with one, there would be more interaction at all speeds. The 3RS is auto but its PDK feels much better than the Alpine's, and the throttle response is incomparable. Maybe EVs have also spoiled my expectations for "throttle" response.
Overall I feel like the A110 might well be one of the very best new cars on sale, but that there might be more fun elsewhere for under £55k, like a well maintained TVR or a Rocketeer MX5.
What do you love about the car?
Edited by HundredthIdiot on Saturday 13th September 13:01
When I test drove one a few years ago, the Winchester dealer let me take it out for a couple of hours. I spent them driving the car on some fine roads in the South Downs. Like you, after reading the glowing reports, I expected to be grabbed by it immediately. I wasn't, but still recognised it as good driving car. I thought the hype around the car created false expectations for me. After a couple weeks I went back for another drive. Different test car. It felt better (I understand they do feel quite different if things like the geo, tyre pressures etc are not right).
I liked it more on the second drive, and ordered a new car, the base A110. Don't know why I did, because I still wasn't 100% with the car. That was four years ago. When the car arrived in 2022, I liked it but it still didn't grab me emotionally. I think initially I was more attracted by it looks than its driving enjoyment. Also at the time, I had another car I enjoyed and used more.
However after the first year, the more I drove it the more liked it. It revealed it capabilities slowly to me, a sort of acquired taste. Now, having driven it for 3 three years I absolutely love it. Driven it on multiple road trips in Europe, where Ive enjoyed driving it more than any other car on the same road. But, it's not only there, or 9/10ths on a B road, just driving it to Tescos or on the M25,it's enjoyable. It just feels different to anything else. All ive done with the car is had the Life110 geometry done. Now it's out of warranty I may do further upgrades.
Based on what you've said, you may be like me, and take a while to get to know and love this great car? I think all the initial hype maybe created false expectations for me initially, but now I see the journalists were spot on.
I liked it more on the second drive, and ordered a new car, the base A110. Don't know why I did, because I still wasn't 100% with the car. That was four years ago. When the car arrived in 2022, I liked it but it still didn't grab me emotionally. I think initially I was more attracted by it looks than its driving enjoyment. Also at the time, I had another car I enjoyed and used more.
However after the first year, the more I drove it the more liked it. It revealed it capabilities slowly to me, a sort of acquired taste. Now, having driven it for 3 three years I absolutely love it. Driven it on multiple road trips in Europe, where Ive enjoyed driving it more than any other car on the same road. But, it's not only there, or 9/10ths on a B road, just driving it to Tescos or on the M25,it's enjoyable. It just feels different to anything else. All ive done with the car is had the Life110 geometry done. Now it's out of warranty I may do further upgrades.
Based on what you've said, you may be like me, and take a while to get to know and love this great car? I think all the initial hype maybe created false expectations for me initially, but now I see the journalists were spot on.
Reggid85 said:
When I test drove one a few years ago, the Winchester dealer let me take it out for a couple of hours. I spent them driving the car on some fine roads in the South Downs. Like you, after reading the glowing reports, I expected to be grabbed by it immediately. I wasn't, but still recognised it as good driving car. I thought the hype around the car created false expectations for me. After a couple weeks I went back for another drive. Different test car. It felt better (I understand they do feel quite different if things like the geo, tyre pressures etc are not right).
I liked it more on the second drive, and ordered a new car, the base A110. Don't know why I did, because I still wasn't 100% with the car. That was four years ago. When the car arrived in 2022, I liked it but it still didn't grab me emotionally. I think initially I was more attracted by it looks than its driving enjoyment. Also at the time, I had another car I enjoyed and used more.
However after the first year, the more I drove it the more liked it. It revealed it capabilities slowly to me, a sort of acquired taste. Now, having driven it for 3 three years I absolutely love it. Driven it on multiple road trips in Europe, where Ive enjoyed driving it more than any other car on the same road. But, it's not only there, or 9/10ths on a B road, just driving it to Tescos or on the M25,it's enjoyable. It just feels different to anything else. All ive done with the car is had the Life110 geometry done. Now it's out of warranty I may do further upgrades.
Based on what you've said, you may be like me, and take a while to get to know and love this great car? I think all the initial hype maybe created false expectations for me initially, but now I see the journalists were spot on.
That's really insightful, thanks!I liked it more on the second drive, and ordered a new car, the base A110. Don't know why I did, because I still wasn't 100% with the car. That was four years ago. When the car arrived in 2022, I liked it but it still didn't grab me emotionally. I think initially I was more attracted by it looks than its driving enjoyment. Also at the time, I had another car I enjoyed and used more.
However after the first year, the more I drove it the more liked it. It revealed it capabilities slowly to me, a sort of acquired taste. Now, having driven it for 3 three years I absolutely love it. Driven it on multiple road trips in Europe, where Ive enjoyed driving it more than any other car on the same road. But, it's not only there, or 9/10ths on a B road, just driving it to Tescos or on the M25,it's enjoyable. It just feels different to anything else. All ive done with the car is had the Life110 geometry done. Now it's out of warranty I may do further upgrades.
Based on what you've said, you may be like me, and take a while to get to know and love this great car? I think all the initial hype maybe created false expectations for me initially, but now I see the journalists were spot on.
I guess maybe the journos have such fine-tuned car-dar that they can see the potential immediately.
What differences did the Life110 geo make?
The Life110 geo made the steering feel a little more "stable" at higher speeds on motorway. That was the main benefit, and I'm led to believe, at all speeds and cornering, but im not an accomplished enough driver have noticed it that much. I may do now that Im used to the car.
Also, as you have/had a Porsche and some other great drivers cars, you are used to, or expect great driving dynamics, so yet another great drivers car like the A110, will perhaps take longer to reveal its qualities to you? At least I thought that was a factor in my case, having driven or owned Porsches, caterhams, Ariels etc.
The motoring journalists, it's their living so "get it" straight away. Although, some normal car buyers can as well. I envy them, I take a while. Especially if its a significant financial commitment
Also, as you have/had a Porsche and some other great drivers cars, you are used to, or expect great driving dynamics, so yet another great drivers car like the A110, will perhaps take longer to reveal its qualities to you? At least I thought that was a factor in my case, having driven or owned Porsches, caterhams, Ariels etc.
The motoring journalists, it's their living so "get it" straight away. Although, some normal car buyers can as well. I envy them, I take a while. Especially if its a significant financial commitment
Edited by Reggid85 on Saturday 13th September 14:19
I found the main benefit of the Life110 geometry was improved resistance to understeer and sharper turn in. It does also help with higher speed stability.
I had a GT for a year then bought an S. I prefer the more tied down feeling but the main ‘specialness’ of both is the lightweight chassis response.
I came from an F80 M3 Competition, so it was completely different driving experience that made it easy to enjoy the Alpine.
I use mine as my daily and really enjoy it every day.
I’d think it would be pretty hard to feel special next to a GT3 RS though.
Why not give an A110 R a go, might be a better comparison as a more occasional use car
I had a GT for a year then bought an S. I prefer the more tied down feeling but the main ‘specialness’ of both is the lightweight chassis response.
I came from an F80 M3 Competition, so it was completely different driving experience that made it easy to enjoy the Alpine.
I use mine as my daily and really enjoy it every day.
I’d think it would be pretty hard to feel special next to a GT3 RS though.
Why not give an A110 R a go, might be a better comparison as a more occasional use car
It's OK not to like it.
I liked it pretty much straight away; I'd test driven a Morgan Roadster (fantastic fun but not really much use for me) and an Evora S a few weeks before, and was expecting to end up with an Evora.
For me the A110 rode nicely - firm but not harsh - and was a better pootler than either of the above (the Morgan required constant steering adjustments to stay in a straight line, which is great when you're "out for a drive" but a bit much when you're just going somewhere, the Lotus was a bit noisy and the constant chatter from the steering got old).
It's a nice midway between a stripped-out Elise type thing and a normal car, but has all the amenities of a modern supermini. In normal mode it'll pootle around town easily, in sport mode it's a lot sharper. When you push it a bit it does feel light - it's not bludgeoning the road, it's a bit floatier without being vague.
But, as I say, it's OK not to like it. I was going to say "not to get it" but I think that might have suggested that anyone who doesn't like it is somehow deficient, and that's not how I feel. Personally I don't think it'd be better with a manual - if both had been offered I'd have tried both and bought whichever I had more fun in - I suspect it'd be the auto.
I liked it pretty much straight away; I'd test driven a Morgan Roadster (fantastic fun but not really much use for me) and an Evora S a few weeks before, and was expecting to end up with an Evora.
For me the A110 rode nicely - firm but not harsh - and was a better pootler than either of the above (the Morgan required constant steering adjustments to stay in a straight line, which is great when you're "out for a drive" but a bit much when you're just going somewhere, the Lotus was a bit noisy and the constant chatter from the steering got old).
It's a nice midway between a stripped-out Elise type thing and a normal car, but has all the amenities of a modern supermini. In normal mode it'll pootle around town easily, in sport mode it's a lot sharper. When you push it a bit it does feel light - it's not bludgeoning the road, it's a bit floatier without being vague.
But, as I say, it's OK not to like it. I was going to say "not to get it" but I think that might have suggested that anyone who doesn't like it is somehow deficient, and that's not how I feel. Personally I don't think it'd be better with a manual - if both had been offered I'd have tried both and bought whichever I had more fun in - I suspect it'd be the auto.
Gassing Station | Alpine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff