Now seriously thinking

[croyde]

Damn you! Pistonheads been a member since 987 Boxster ownership in 2005 and this darn forum has convinced me to blow hard earned on various cars, watches and other bits and pieces.

Just had two weeks off work with Covid and have mainly read the Alpine forum here and watched countless videos on YouTube.

I only bought an new Abarth 695 Competizione a few months ago yet now I think I want an Alpine.

Just spent the morning at a nearby dealers as I have seen only one on the road and boy! are they lovely in the flesh.

Comfortable to sit in and a nice place to be. Sadly I just can't get comfy in my Abarth although I love it's handling and speed.

I am having a test drive next week and although I have always said that I would never want an autobox, what with an arthritic left toe and a lot of driving in town, maybe it is time.

I certainly won't be buying new but initially the dealer has offered a part ex price for my Abarth, that doesn't make me feel like I'm being bent over, against a '23 base model at a big saving over new.

Comes with mirror pack, reverse camera and sensors, contrast blue stitching and in Alpine Blue.

Couldn't work out if it had Android Auto/Car Play. It also has 18ins wheels, not sure if that was standard in '23.

Hopefully I won't be swayed by the test drive and I'll keep my Abarth, and my bank balance

They are pretty looking cars mmmmm

[fossett]

Hi

To distinguish a version 2 car;

- Does it have A110 on the back?
- Does the rightmost paino key type button in the console work the display rather than be a blank?

Edited by fossett on Wednesday 7th August 16:07

[domrusty]

I’d be surprised if a test drive dampens your enthusiasm… it had the opposite effect on me.

Don’t be put off by the auto - it’s an excellent unit and in manual mode it’s pretty much as engaging as a three-pedal. But changes gear much quicker.

Good luck! Will be interested to hear what you make of it.

[croyde]

fossett said:

Hi

To distinguish a vision 2 car;

- Does it have A110 on the back?
- Does the rightmost paino key type button in the console work the display rather than be a blank?

It did have a pictogram of a screen (I think) above it and A110 on the back. Cheers.

[johnnyreggae]

Lots of dealer stock base 252 ps cars came with 18 in Seracs in 22/23/24 and all would be Carplay

Not all came with Sports Exhaust and/or big brakes: you need to decide how important that is for your use

[ThisInJapanese]

Don't think! Just do it!

I wanted to buy a Boxster GTS and an Emira before I bought my Alpine, and hand on heart, it's the best car I've ever owned and there is nothing out there like it. You won't regret it.

[biggles330d]

Mine doesn't have sports exhaust nor big brakes (and is on 17's). Unless you are frequently tracking the car I'd suggest the standard brakes are totally fine. Very firm pedal, plentyful stopping power (there's not a lot of car to stop!) and not overly assisted so a nice feel. They don't look as pretty perhaps but are considerably lower cost to replace if thats a longer term ownership concern.

I tried a sports exhaust car and almost all the reviews seem to have it. It makes all the in-cabin noises and adds some obvious pop pop pops. The standard exhaust is much less intrusive as it does without the sound pipe into the cabin which I've appreciated for longer road trips where a comfortable and quiet cabin is welcomed. You still get the pop pops but they are far, far more subtle and I think much more authentic, triggered only when you're on it and not just every time you back of the throttle. I like that as I don't feel like such a tit in traffic and when I do make it happen is a bit of a reward for pressing on! Horses for courses though and some much prefer the louder exhaust which is undeniably more 'sporty' making its presence known.

Utterly brilliant car though. Just back from 3,000 miles around Europe and can confirm it makes a great 'mini' GT car for road trips just as much as something for a sunday morning blast.

[neon_fox]

Serial Pork owner here, had both 986 Box and 981 Cayman (and a host of others) and have to say I've only good things to report so far from my A110.
Take the test drive and see what you think.

[croyde]

Doing the ol' man maths last night

New cars are 0% currently so makes sense to leave my money earning interest and buy new not secondhand

Another avenue could be PCP as that'll leave more money in the bank. Never bought a car this way before.

What happens if say life changes after a year, two years etc, can you just pay off what's owing and then sell?

[johnnyreggae]

Others will know better but if there's a chance of needing to sell early PCP is not for you as it's never your car

[Andy665]

johnnyreggae said:

Others will know better but if there's a chance of needing to sell early PCP is not for you as it's never your car

Incorrect

PCP is Hire Purchase with a different payment profile

Deposit

Monthly payments

Final payment

2 key differences to HP, one is annual mileage, lower it is the final payment increases and monthlies go down, mileage higher then vice versa. Second is that you have a safety net to protect against a collapse in residual values

Final payment - you know on day 1 what its going to be

At end of agreement you have 3 options:

1. Pay the final payment and car is yours (exactly the same as when you make the last payment of a HP agreement). Exceeding agreed mileage and vehicle condition is irrelevant. Most finance providers provide the option of being able to re-finance the Final Payment

2. Part exchange the car (anywhere), if the car is worth more than the Final Payment then any surplus is yours to use as deposit against your new car, if there is a shortfall then you go to option 3. If part exchanging then excess mileage / vehicle condition is dealt with as per any other car

3. Return the car to finance house with nothing more to pay, subject to car not having done excess mileage and being within BVRLA condition guidelines. The Final Payment actually acts as a safety net, if the car is worth less than the Final Payment then you as the customer are protected from that drop in value

In essence PCP is very simple - if car is worth more than the Final payment you take / keep the profit (equity). if there is a loss then its the finance house loss and you can simply return and walk away.

You can pay off / settle / terminate in exactly the same way as any HP agreement, termination is often more of an issue as the 50% total amount payable termination point is often much closer to the end of the agreement than a traditional HP agreement

I took the PCP option on mine as I like the safety net against a collapse in residual values but intend to make the Final Payment and keep the car at the end

[Michael-tcxzm]

Andy665 said:

Incorrect

PCP is Hire Purchase with a different payment profile

Deposit

Monthly payments

Final payment

2 key differences to HP, one is annual mileage, lower it is the final payment increases and monthlies go down, mileage higher then vice versa. Second is that you have a safety net to protect against a collapse in residual values

Final payment - you know on day 1 what its going to be

At end of agreement you have 3 options:

1. Pay the final payment and car is yours (exactly the same as when you make the last payment of a HP agreement). Exceeding agreed mileage and vehicle condition is irrelevant. Most finance providers provide the option of being able to re-finance the Final Payment

2. Part exchange the car (anywhere), if the car is worth more than the Final Payment then any surplus is yours to use as deposit against your new car, if there is a shortfall then you go to option 3. If part exchanging then excess mileage / vehicle condition is dealt with as per any other car

3. Return the car to finance house with nothing more to pay, subject to car not having done excess mileage and being within BVRLA condition guidelines. The Final Payment actually acts as a safety net, if the car is worth less than the Final Payment then you as the customer are protected from that drop in value

In essence PCP is very simple - if car is worth more than the Final payment you take / keep the profit (equity). if there is a loss then its the finance house loss and you can simply return and walk away.

You can pay off / settle / terminate in exactly the same way as any HP agreement, termination is often more of an issue as the 50% total amount payable termination point is often much closer to the end of the agreement than a traditional HP agreement

I took the PCP option on mine as I like the safety net against a collapse in residual values but intend to make the Final Payment and keep the car at the end

Excellent summary. Still to this day people have this deep/nagging suspicion over the PCP model - but it really is that simple.

If done right you will ONLY pay what the vehicle has devalued over the period you have used it - plus any interest charges on the loaned amount (in this case 0%!).

[biggles330d]

Andy665 said:

I took the PCP option on mine as I like the safety net against a collapse in residual values but intend to make the Final Payment and keep the car at the end

As did I. Fully intend to pay the final sum on my '21 model as it's a keeper. I know I'm going to end up paying overall what the value the car was, but I stumped up a larger initial payment as I had the cash and have enjoyed some very low monthlies in the last 3 years and the final payment is considerably less equivalent cars for sale today because the residuals have been so good. Psychologically, I'm calling that a win! Finance boffins will mutter about the lost opportunity of having that money tied up in a depreciating asset but frankly I don't care.

[Derek182]

I bought my 2024 GT on Alpine's 0% PCP deal.
In rough figures it was a £60k car, I'm paying £24k to own it for 3 years with a GFV/final payment of £36k.
Best case scenario - it's worth over £40k in 3 years time, I pay the final payment and keep the car, sell it and pocket the equity or use it as a deposit on the new electric Alpine hatchback!
Worse case scenario- it's worth £30k in 3 years time, I hand it back happy to have paid £8k a year to own an amazing car.
Either way the financial risk to me is minimal, particularly as it's a new car with a 3 year warranty and as I put down £10k as a deposit if some personal financial disaster does strike and I have to sell early I'm hopeful that I won't ever be in negative equity on it.

[Soloman Dodd]

croyde said:

Doing the ol' man maths last night

New cars are 0% currently so makes sense to leave my money earning interest and buy new not secondhand

I got a quote yesterday and it was 2.9%, PCP and HP.

After following these A110 threads for months I finally got round to testing what I thought would be my next car.

It was a GT, a stiff kidney rattler with comfort seats! (I thought these had supple suspension) with a sports exhaust.

The engine note was never going to be brilliant, but I had fond memories of my old Cooper S so I could get used to it, but the pops and bangs were intrusive and annoying accompnied by the wastegate opening when you lifted off.

Cabin noise was loud plus an interior rattle, then the satnav froze at one village.

It made me appreciate the engine and comfort of my M240i on the drive home, so the search for a replacement will continue, but at a more leisurely pace.

[croyde]

Interesting. I do need an excuse to not get rid of my Abarth and after a pretty insulting part ex offered yesterday by the Alpine dealer, I might have to seriously stop thinking.

I'd still like to scratch the itch somehow but I can't find anywhere that hires them out. Even the Shrewsbury place seems to have stopped renting out cars.

A few days hire at my cost would be much more preferable to a quick hour round the block with the salesperson for company.

It's how I bought my 987. Had a week with a 986 rental in order to make up my mind.

Then whilst waiting 5 months for my order, the dealer sent me out on a short road trip with a Touring Car Racer to the test track and skidpan at Chobham.

Do dealers still treat buyers and potential buyers of sports cars like that?

[lilwashu]

When I was looking at cars the Alpine dealer in Winchester let me have a demo for a day including overnight so I could take it shopping etc.

[croyde]

lilwashu said:

When I was looking at cars the Alpine dealer in Winchester let me have a demo for a day including overnight so I could take it shopping etc.

I was thinking of trying Winchester as it's a nice drive out, unlike getting from Kingston to Brentford

Did you buy one in the end?

[biggles330d]

croyde said:

Interesting. I do need an excuse to not get rid of my Abarth and after a pretty insulting part ex offered yesterday by the Alpine dealer, I might have to seriously stop thinking.

I'd still like to scratch the itch somehow but I can't find anywhere that hires them out. Even the Shrewsbury place seems to have stopped renting out cars.

A few days hire at my cost would be much more preferable to a quick hour round the block with the salesperson for company.

It's how I bought my 987. Had a week with a 986 rental in order to make up my mind.

Then whilst waiting 5 months for my order, the dealer sent me out on a short road trip with a Touring Car Racer to the test track and skidpan at Chobham.

Do dealers still treat buyers and potential buyers of sports cars like that?

Ha, in a word... not really. I got mine from Arnold Clark in Glasgow and having never been pandered to by a Porsche dealer at my own expense I didn't really have a benchmark. But the team were knowledgable, were totally fine for an extended test drive, the deal was done efficiently and communications were good during the wait. Functionally, the transaction was as seamless as you'd expect from a big dealer group but they are in the market of shifting volume of more everyday cars. I can understand why some buyers of sports and luxury cars are rather more used to deep pile and fancy coffee to secure the sale of expensive and exclusive metal and make the buyer feel special. I tend to take the view that that's great, but you're paying for it in outrageous markups somewhere along the line and if you've decided to buy, your buying the product and not the marketing and selling it to you.

If you're near Scotland, Knockhill race circuit has a fleet of A110s as track experience cars. They are close to me but not yet booked a day to throw one around the track.

[lilwashu]

croyde said:

I was thinking of trying Winchester as it's a nice drive out, unlike getting from Kingston to Brentford

Did you buy one in the end?

Yes I did, I bought a pre reg specced up base model, have had it a year and am very happy with it.