Alpine GTAs

[NiceCupOfTea]

Are they any good? Looked round a few at the Bromley Pageant this summer and they look rather nice - V6 turbo too, do they go well?

Saw this in the classifieds - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/248941.htm

Is that cheap or about right? Seems an interesting leftfield choice for a reasonably powerful RWD coupe!

[pbirkett]

Could be wrong but i remember looking at some performance stats for them and thinking that they werent as quick as I thought they might be, guess thats with them being an older car, but I think they are pretty much on par with todays best hot hatches performance wise...

Mind you, they look gorgeous IMO and if I could afford to run it I would easily have one over any hot hatch any day of the week.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Are they pricey to run? They look pretty simple to me. I like them, cool in an 80s sort of way How's the handling? Controllable tail happy RWD, or is the mid engined layout a bit snappy? 0-60 seems to be mid 6s which is pretty respectable (supposedly 200bhp after a bit of research), but I suppose with a little boost tweaking that could be upped fairly safely!

[djmojo]

Out of the box they're meant to do 60 in 5.5ish, but usually in the 6's. It's actually rear engined, not mid, so they can be a bit of a handful in the wet, but in the dry you'd have to be very bad to lose grip and spin out, especially on the road. I have a turbo, and I'm currently adding a T38 turbo (standard is a T3) and a chargecooler. This is expected to boost power to around 240-250 bhp ish, but that's irrelevant as the car only weighs around 1100kg (body is polycarbonate) so power to weight is very good. Also having the engine over the driving wheels gives very good mechanical grip when trying to make a fast start. I'd recommend having the fuel tank as close to full as possible to even out weight distribution though!

Check out the owners club website at www.renaultalpineownersclub.com

Edited by djmojo on Monday 22 October 12:47

[AlpineAndy]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[plasticpig]

I have always liked them. However spares can be difficult to get hold of and expensive.

[crugbun]

Well Clarkson has always liked them, though if you watch the trailer for his new video you'll see his opinion may have changed. Watch carefully, blinnk or you'll miss it. This was a concours model, just 50K miles and immaculate. Only 70 RHD models made... one less now.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

[Simes205]

Hello!

I like them.
They never sold well here which is a ashame as they are pretty good.
A good 'unique' musicians car

[NiceCupOfTea]

Simes205 said:

Hello!

I like them.
They never sold well here which is a ashame as they are pretty good.
A good 'unique' musicians car

How's things with you?

[NiceCupOfTea]

crugbun said:

Well Clarkson has always liked them, though if you watch the trailer for his new video you'll see his opinion may have changed. Watch carefully, blinnk or you'll miss it. This was a concours model, just 50K miles and immaculate. Only 70 RHD models made... one less now.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

Linky broken :

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

Why did he do it?

[bigbadcerbie]

hi guys!

just to say that if you are considering buying one of these do,i have owned 4 of them and they are fantastic cars,
i have had three turbos the first one was er......very very problomatic,

ive had two other turbo's which where fantastic to drive and suprisingly economical in all manners

my current g reg car is one of the best left,40000 genuine miles and just runs perfect,

if you need any advice on them ,feel free to email or call me on 07824 664 052

all the best!

lee

[flattotheboards]

a neighbour of mine a few years ago had a red one and apparently it was putting out 400bhp.

[Ralph Wiggum]

NiceCupOfTea said:

crugbun said:

Well Clarkson has always liked them, though if you watch the trailer for his new video you'll see his opinion may have changed. Watch carefully, blinnk or you'll miss it. This was a concours model, just 50K miles and immaculate. Only 70 RHD models made... one less now.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

Linky broken :

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

Why did he do it?

Because he is an arsehole.

Stupid car to blow up!

[AlpineAndy]

flattotheboards said:

a neighbour of mine a few years ago had a red one and apparently it was putting out 400bhp.

I think that the 400bhp comment needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. It's difficult to get 300bhp from them and I've never actually seen a 'non-works' car with more.
Having said that, it's the torque that makes them quick rather than the bhp.

Edited by AlpineAndy on Sunday 11th November 18:03

[djmojo]

Ralph Wiggum said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

crugbun said:

Well Clarkson has always liked them, though if you watch the trailer for his new video you'll see his opinion may have changed. Watch carefully, blinnk or you'll miss it. This was a concours model, just 50K miles and immaculate. Only 70 RHD models made... one less now.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

Linky broken :

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fqIGXZmJ0

Why did he do it?

Because he is an arsehole.

Stupid car to blow up!

That car was one of the best examples left in the country. Approximately 65 RHD ever built, and that one lived in a carpeted garage and wanted for nothing. If he was gonna do it, why not wreck a tired one instead of a concourse one! Clarkson is a big tosser that can't drive properly. How anyone rates his advice is nonsensical!


Can you tell I'm a little bitter about that?!?!

[crugbun]

All very odd as he puts the A610 in his 'top 100 cars' book of a few years ago. Also did a rave review of one on top gear a few years back.
And all very annoying as it is so rare... why not trash a rusty 911 of the same age, or a 944... would make the same point... though why anyone needs to see a demonstration of a car being smashed into a concrete wall at speed I don't know.
tosser