Another new owner (to be)
Discussion
I’ve been lurking on Pistonheads for what seems like a large chunk of my adult life and am finally getting around to posting.
I have been considering an Alpine for about a year and a half, ended up with a TT in December because I convinced myself I needed the rear seats and space. Spoiler: I didn’t. I’ve researched this car to death and watched every single thing I can about it, read every review and translated French forums to read more. But this forum has been utterly amazing in helping me become better informed about the ins and outs of this car, model/spec/MY differences etc. So thank you to everyone for contributing. I think I’ve read pretty much most of the posts but haven’t been able to trawl through the Alpine A110 Owners thread, in its entirety, for obvious reasons!
So yesterday I agreed a deal on an ex demo black GT with GP alloys, paid the deposit, had finance approved (4.9%) and I cannot express how excited I am about getting it on Wednesday.
Model - started thinking older S/GT would be fine but small things like CarPlay - which I use all the time - made me look at newer. Then, considered base model which I’m positive would have been good enough but I ‘wanted’ the 300bhp. Seeing 4.9% on demos made older cars less sense. Then it was all about researching differences between S and GT and while I felt a lot of the S models I saw were lust-worthy (flame red/black for instance), I think the GT was more me and I liked the fact that it had the softer suspension. I’ve only ever briefly seen one Alpine since release and I love how good the car looks in real life.
Storage - There is no storage pack but I was very pleasantly surprised how much room there is behind the seats, which I don’t think gets mentioned often enough in reviews. Of course, that’s height dependent but, for me, it’s a very useful extra space and completely allayed my fears about an absence of interior storage space. Sure, no glovebox or door pockets but I don’t need that. I’ll be keeping a small bag or similar behind the passenger seat for my odds and ends and think a decent size bag can sit there for longer journeys, if ever needed. I’m stopping myself from buying 44l cabinmax bags and every accessory I can right now and just see what my needs are as I drive it.
Seats - tried them out in an S and while the buckets were incredibly comfortable (more so than comforts, IMO), my back can play up every now and again and I just knew I would need the angle adjustment of the comfort seats.
Colour - Alpine blue looks amazing in real life, I was not so keen previously. So much so that it really made me consider it but in the end, I fell hard for black. I really liked Abyss Blue as well.
Interior - brown with blue stitching. Love it. If I was speccing the car myself, I would have added the blue Alpine logo on the steering wheel. From a quality perspective, I think it would take something pretty special to be better than the TT’s interior and it hasn’t done that. Yes, there are Renault bits noticeable but I genuinely don’t feel the interior is low rent in any way. Pleasantly surprised again.
Infotainment - car is October 23 so will have CarPlay but I forgot to check whether it is wireless and salesman isn’t sure. Thanks to this forum - again - if it isn’t, I’ll know what to do to enable it. TBH, even when I’ve had wireless CarPlay, I practically always plug in my phone so it isn’t something which will be a pain point for me.
I’m now 51 and I’ve had so many cars but this one feels like the first I’m buying which is just for me. No family considerations needed. The only thing which feels similar is when I was buying motorbikes in my 20s. God, I’m old.
Anyway, that’s it. Thanks again to all contributors and I hope to be able to add my own contributions - in the appropriate threads - when I get the car in a few days.
I have been considering an Alpine for about a year and a half, ended up with a TT in December because I convinced myself I needed the rear seats and space. Spoiler: I didn’t. I’ve researched this car to death and watched every single thing I can about it, read every review and translated French forums to read more. But this forum has been utterly amazing in helping me become better informed about the ins and outs of this car, model/spec/MY differences etc. So thank you to everyone for contributing. I think I’ve read pretty much most of the posts but haven’t been able to trawl through the Alpine A110 Owners thread, in its entirety, for obvious reasons!
So yesterday I agreed a deal on an ex demo black GT with GP alloys, paid the deposit, had finance approved (4.9%) and I cannot express how excited I am about getting it on Wednesday.
Model - started thinking older S/GT would be fine but small things like CarPlay - which I use all the time - made me look at newer. Then, considered base model which I’m positive would have been good enough but I ‘wanted’ the 300bhp. Seeing 4.9% on demos made older cars less sense. Then it was all about researching differences between S and GT and while I felt a lot of the S models I saw were lust-worthy (flame red/black for instance), I think the GT was more me and I liked the fact that it had the softer suspension. I’ve only ever briefly seen one Alpine since release and I love how good the car looks in real life.
Storage - There is no storage pack but I was very pleasantly surprised how much room there is behind the seats, which I don’t think gets mentioned often enough in reviews. Of course, that’s height dependent but, for me, it’s a very useful extra space and completely allayed my fears about an absence of interior storage space. Sure, no glovebox or door pockets but I don’t need that. I’ll be keeping a small bag or similar behind the passenger seat for my odds and ends and think a decent size bag can sit there for longer journeys, if ever needed. I’m stopping myself from buying 44l cabinmax bags and every accessory I can right now and just see what my needs are as I drive it.
Seats - tried them out in an S and while the buckets were incredibly comfortable (more so than comforts, IMO), my back can play up every now and again and I just knew I would need the angle adjustment of the comfort seats.
Colour - Alpine blue looks amazing in real life, I was not so keen previously. So much so that it really made me consider it but in the end, I fell hard for black. I really liked Abyss Blue as well.
Interior - brown with blue stitching. Love it. If I was speccing the car myself, I would have added the blue Alpine logo on the steering wheel. From a quality perspective, I think it would take something pretty special to be better than the TT’s interior and it hasn’t done that. Yes, there are Renault bits noticeable but I genuinely don’t feel the interior is low rent in any way. Pleasantly surprised again.
Infotainment - car is October 23 so will have CarPlay but I forgot to check whether it is wireless and salesman isn’t sure. Thanks to this forum - again - if it isn’t, I’ll know what to do to enable it. TBH, even when I’ve had wireless CarPlay, I practically always plug in my phone so it isn’t something which will be a pain point for me.
I’m now 51 and I’ve had so many cars but this one feels like the first I’m buying which is just for me. No family considerations needed. The only thing which feels similar is when I was buying motorbikes in my 20s. God, I’m old.
Anyway, that’s it. Thanks again to all contributors and I hope to be able to add my own contributions - in the appropriate threads - when I get the car in a few days.
I think ex-demos are the best deals around - nearly new, plenty of warranty period left, low miles, looked after by a dealer and the first year depreciation isn't at your expense.
While aftermarket infotainment options are finally seeing the light of day, they're not easy obtained, so I also think having the OEM >22MY system is worth a premium.
If you like using the space behind the seats, the storage pack can get in the way so it's more trouble than it's worth imho. An example is when I go camping I like to take a chair, the only way to get it in the car is by putting it behind the passenger seat but entering from the driver's side, as even with the passenger seat slid forward there's no room to get it in from that side. You can tilt the GT seats, but they have no quick release handle to tilt forward, so sliding forward or coming in from the opposite side is the still the easiest way. Unless you're precious or have a particular use you don't need special bags, again when going camping I used standard 'bag for life' shopping bags to squish my clothes in the front. I could fit a considerable amount in there too - 4 days of all weather clothes, cooking gear, mattress, tent. I even ended up putting the tent behind the passenger seat, not because it wouldn't fit in the front, but for weight distribution.
The angle adjust of the GT seats does help to get your eye line a touch lower and fine tune sitting position, as to do so in the buckets beyond low/medium/high means modification.
I love the A110 and find all the colours interesting, but black is one of the few I would actually want to own, particularly on an R. I feel it's an underrated colour.
Wireless CarPlay depends on build date more than registration date; if built March 23 onwards you have a chance, if not, as you say no reason to fret as you can enable it yourself.
Welcome to the club.
While aftermarket infotainment options are finally seeing the light of day, they're not easy obtained, so I also think having the OEM >22MY system is worth a premium.
If you like using the space behind the seats, the storage pack can get in the way so it's more trouble than it's worth imho. An example is when I go camping I like to take a chair, the only way to get it in the car is by putting it behind the passenger seat but entering from the driver's side, as even with the passenger seat slid forward there's no room to get it in from that side. You can tilt the GT seats, but they have no quick release handle to tilt forward, so sliding forward or coming in from the opposite side is the still the easiest way. Unless you're precious or have a particular use you don't need special bags, again when going camping I used standard 'bag for life' shopping bags to squish my clothes in the front. I could fit a considerable amount in there too - 4 days of all weather clothes, cooking gear, mattress, tent. I even ended up putting the tent behind the passenger seat, not because it wouldn't fit in the front, but for weight distribution.
The angle adjust of the GT seats does help to get your eye line a touch lower and fine tune sitting position, as to do so in the buckets beyond low/medium/high means modification.
I love the A110 and find all the colours interesting, but black is one of the few I would actually want to own, particularly on an R. I feel it's an underrated colour.
Wireless CarPlay depends on build date more than registration date; if built March 23 onwards you have a chance, if not, as you say no reason to fret as you can enable it yourself.
Welcome to the club.
Edited by 7en on Saturday 17th August 17:13
Thanks for the welcome!
I’ve spent literally hours going through chunks of the original thread last night and this morning. Have downloaded the Alpine app, downloaded both car and infotainment manuals to my phone and feel like the proverbial kid at Christmas. Wednesday cannot come soon enough.
I’ve spent literally hours going through chunks of the original thread last night and this morning. Have downloaded the Alpine app, downloaded both car and infotainment manuals to my phone and feel like the proverbial kid at Christmas. Wednesday cannot come soon enough.
FYI - There’s a big meet at Oulton Park, Autos Des France on Saturday 12th October. Aiming for 110x A110’s. You can display your car, link here: https://www.oultonpark.co.uk/2024/october/autos-de...
James Elmer said:
FYI - There’s a big meet at Oulton Park, Autos Des France on Saturday 12th October. Aiming for 110x A110’s. You can display your car, link here: https://www.oultonpark.co.uk/2024/october/autos-de...
Many thanks for the heads up! Stablinski said:
Thank you! 
Woke up today and it feels like Christmas morning. Unfortunately, I have my busiest day of the week to contend with first. Will be getting the car at the end of play today.
Have a superb day yourself!
Enjoy it - don't worry though, the 100th drive will be every bit as special as the firstWoke up today and it feels like Christmas morning. Unfortunately, I have my busiest day of the week to contend with first. Will be getting the car at the end of play today.
Have a superb day yourself!
croyde said:
How is it going? or are you still out on the road 
Well, I’ve called it an extended familiarisation run. Was out for a bit on a mix of roads. What a car. I absolutely love it. Initial thoughts, in no particular order:
- pops and bangs - jury is out
- no wireless CarPlay but I’ll fix that soon
- loads of space behind the seats.
- will almost certainly need a cup holder of some sort
- ride is lovely
- it’s more than fast enough
- handling and grip was difficult to assess as it started raining and the roads were pretty greasy so I took it easy.
- the car had the acceleration problem as described in another thread. Will let the dealer know tomorrow and keep an eye on it
- seats are comfortable
- on the evidence of this one trip, seems to generate ‘I want to race you’ vibes from Golf GTi’s and Audis of various hues
- the best bit is that it has met with universal acclaim from wife, children and my elderly parents!
I am over the moon with the purchase, going to plan a trip for the BH weekend.
Edited by Stablinski on Wednesday 21st August 23:18
Gassing Station | Alpine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff