Looking to buy, where to start!?

Looking to buy, where to start!?

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Discussion

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
I’m now more than half interested in an alpine.

So looking around with intent. Prices seem to be coming down, looks like £55k would get me a 2022/3 S?

I’m also slightly taken by the aerokit, although not a deal breaker. Are they a pain on the road?

What’s the focal audio like?

What should I look for?

Anything to avoid?

johnnyreggae

3,001 posts

167 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
You've asked a very big question - drive one and see what you like - in the big owners thread there's just been a what spec discussion https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
and scroll through this section and see what threads already answer some of your queries

There seems to be a bit of dealer new stock with more negotiable prices recently

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 27th December 10:37

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all

domrusty

267 posts

46 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
Frankychops said:
That colour looks great with the aero kit and carbon fibre roof…

jimmyslr

805 posts

280 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
Frankychops said:
I’m now more than half interested in an alpine.

So looking around with intent. Prices seem to be coming down, looks like £55k would get me a 2022/3 S?

I’m also slightly taken by the aerokit, although not a deal breaker. Are they a pain on the road?

What’s the focal audio like?

What should I look for?

Anything to avoid?
I’ve been watching quite closely for the last couple of months since I test drove one. The price of the S seems a little softer than the equivalent GT. Also the last month has seen softening prices plus more stock come to market - very little has shifted. I think a ‘22 S could be bought for 50k in Jan; there are already some at 52k from memory. If you want a rarer option such as the carbon aero I suspect it will be trickier as there won’t be many to choose from.

It also looks to me as if private sellers aren’t factoring in a dealer spread when they’re pricing. To help you, look closely at Collecting Cars and also put some reg plates into WBAC and see what they come back with. It’s a big delta versus asking prices which I’m not saying you can achieve, but is part of the negotiation.

Whaleblue

381 posts

95 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
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Frankychops said:
Confusingly the full description mentions Enstone Edition (inc. UJ roof emblem), which was only available this summer and came in one of two tones of grey/silver.

fuzzy-si

39 posts

26 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
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I've just bought my second Alpine, after my first was written off.

The starting point for me was the seats. I just dont like the comfort seats, my shoulder blades are right where they seem to tighten, so I was always fidegty in the seat.

So that meant bucket seats, which I find very comfortable, which means a Pure or an S.

The next decision then was is the firmer suspension of the S something I can live with as a daily driver.

For me they are the fundamentals. Everything else is then an option that you need to decide if you want or not.

In the end I went with an S, my first car was a Pure.

So go and sit in some and go for a drive and figure out which are your must haves and see whats available.

Good luck!

Simon

Edited by fuzzy-si on Wednesday 27th December 15:42

Colin P

459 posts

150 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
I agree there are few things that you can’t get through the model range. Most you can achieve another way, but the one thing most difficult to source to change is the seats and these are something only you can decide on. Whilst the last poster needed the fixed buckets my absolute must was the comfort seats and that ruled out most of the cars for sale at the time. The fixed buckets sat too high for me so I needed to have the comfort seats which you can adjust to lower your eyeline, they had the benefit of enabling my wife to drive the car too (by raising them).

Suspension and aero and increased power can be sorted via Life110. In fact the life 110 sills are much nicer than the factory ones. Prefer the factory wing though.

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
Thanks all. 100% buckets.

I like the aero kit as it adds a 'bit'. i'd not pay extra for none factory aero or really want one.

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
jimmyslr said:
Frankychops said:
I’m now more than half interested in an alpine.

So looking around with intent. Prices seem to be coming down, looks like £55k would get me a 2022/3 S?

I’m also slightly taken by the aerokit, although not a deal breaker. Are they a pain on the road?

What’s the focal audio like?

What should I look for?

Anything to avoid?
I’ve been watching quite closely for the last couple of months since I test drove one. The price of the S seems a little softer than the equivalent GT. Also the last month has seen softening prices plus more stock come to market - very little has shifted. I think a ‘22 S could be bought for 50k in Jan; there are already some at 52k from memory. If you want a rarer option such as the carbon aero I suspect it will be trickier as there won’t be many to choose from.

It also looks to me as if private sellers aren’t factoring in a dealer spread when they’re pricing. To help you, look closely at Collecting Cars and also put some reg plates into WBAC and see what they come back with. It’s a big delta versus asking prices which I’m not saying you can achieve, but is part of the negotiation.
I like the one linked, WBAC say £40k. I think as a private sale, 20% over WBAC? or 10% over? or is it a £50k car?

worldwidewebs

2,538 posts

257 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
Ignore WBAC valuations. Their owner, Constellation Automotive Group, is in deep do-do so they've gone from 'buy everything' to 'buy nothing'

Olivera

7,671 posts

246 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
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Frankychops said:
Lovely. That would be what, over 70k to buy new now?

7en

281 posts

18 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
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The Focal audio system is really good, with road noise etc I find I'm far from getting to fully appreciate how good it really is on the move, but if you have to ask the answer is a resounding yes.

I think for the road the standard suspension is great, I enjoy the way the standard car bobs around over bumps, with the nose lifting on acceleration and diving on braking and rolls a little in the corners, it feels more playful. The S is still quite compliant but feels a bit more serious.

Whaleblue

381 posts

95 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
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In addition WBAC essentially ignore all options in their valuations

Olivera

7,671 posts

246 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
I like this at my local dealer, nice colour/wheel combo:

https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/alpine/a110/...

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
This looks great value.....

https://www.hwm.co.uk/used-cars/16965226-alpine-a1...

I'd forego buckets for the saving.

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
Frankychops said:
This looks great value.....

https://www.hwm.co.uk/used-cars/16965226-alpine-a1...

I'd forego buckets for the saving.
have put that spec in the config, its showing a £70k+ list price.

7en

281 posts

18 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
It also has front end PPF, milltek exhaust (loud), zunsport grille... which is at least a couple of grand of extras fitted.

It's a killer deal if that's what you're after, would be one of the meanest A110 GTs out there.

Colin P

459 posts

150 months

Wednesday 27th December 2023
quotequote all
worldwidewebs said:
Ignore WBAC valuations. Their owner, Constellation Automotive Group, is in deep do-do so they've gone from 'buy everything' to 'buy nothing'
WBAC are and have always been way out on anything specialist and price so that no one will take them up on the offer. They are only really interested in cars that are essentially white goods.

Frankychops

Original Poster:

988 posts

16 months

Thursday 28th December 2023
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its a nightmare to pin down values. To see that they've lost 20k inside 18months is normal. however how far they'll go is the unkown that worries a little.