Suspension and config A110 vs A110 GTS
Suspension and config A110 vs A110 GTS
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SeS

Original Poster:

2 posts

Tuesday 16th September
quotequote all
I am thinking/planning to buy an Alpine A110. I am an owner of BMW M3 E46 (manual) with 19" wheels.

I visited the Alpine dealer, and I was surprised that only the A110 S or the A110 GTS were available as a test car. I started to call other Alpine dealers near me, and finally I was informed that they are allowed to have only the S or GTS version as a test car. 

Thus, I tested GTS with comfort seats and the S version with Sport seats. 

Alpine A110S  is a bit softer, and it is filtering potholes and speed bumps a bit better than my M3 - maybe due to the 18" wheels. 
However, many reviews, topics and opinions here are recommending a standard version as a proper version. In Luxembourg, where I am living, tuning of the car (including suspension changing) requires TUV certificates and a lot of administrative papers, so it is better to buy a proper configuration. 

Does someone have experience with both versions of suspensions: A110/A110 GT vs A110 S/A110GTS? 
What is the difference between Sabelt SPORT seats in A110 and Sabelt RACING seats in A110 GTS (+3000€)? They are different from seats in the R version. 
Any difference in the Focal vs Focal PRO system, excluding the sub?



S600BSB

6,757 posts

123 months

Tuesday 16th September
quotequote all
SeS said:
I am thinking/planning to buy an Alpine A110. I am an owner of BMW M3 E46 (manual) with 19" wheels.

I visited the Alpine dealer, and I was surprised that only the A110 S or the A110 GTS were available as a test car. I started to call other Alpine dealers near me, and finally I was informed that they are allowed to have only the S or GTS version as a test car. 

Thus, I tested GTS with comfort seats and the S version with Sport seats. 

Alpine A110S  is a bit softer, and it is filtering potholes and speed bumps a bit better than my M3 - maybe due to the 18" wheels. 
However, many reviews, topics and opinions here are recommending a standard version as a proper version. In Luxembourg, where I am living, tuning of the car (including suspension changing) requires TUV certificates and a lot of administrative papers, so it is better to buy a proper configuration. 

Does someone have experience with both versions of suspensions: A110/A110 GT vs A110 S/A110GTS? 
What is the difference between Sabelt SPORT seats in A110 and Sabelt RACING seats in A110 GTS (+3000 )? They are different from seats in the R version. 
Any difference in the Focal vs Focal PRO system, excluding the sub?
I drove a few and opted for a GT. IMHO the more powerful engine combined with standard suspension is the sweet spot. It also had the spec I was seeking. I have got the Focal system with sub behind the passenger seat. Sound quality is pretty good.

SeS

Original Poster:

2 posts

Tuesday 16th September
quotequote all
S600BSB said:
I drove a few and opted for a GT. IMHO the more powerful engine combined with standard suspension is the sweet spot. It also had the spec I was seeking. I have got the Focal system with sub behind the passenger seat. Sound quality is pretty good.
Do you have experience with other sport cars?

Today it is not possible to configure standard suspension with stronger engine.
1. Standard edition: standard suspension, standard 252hp engine, standard Focal audio
2. GTS: sport suspension, sport 300hp engine, premium Focal system

In the GTS it is also possible to have Akrapovic exhaust system which has deeper (more natural) sound and less pops and bangs. It is not possible (at the moment) to buy this separately.




Edited by SeS on Wednesday 17th September 09:03

Maxym

2,506 posts

253 months

Tuesday 16th September
quotequote all
The S and GTS have the same ‘sports’ suspension. The GT (which I have) has standard suspension. My car is perfect for me. Bumps are well absorbed, it’s supple but it’s still very controlled with no roll on corners.

If you liked the S, maybe you’d love the base model or the GT (which is no longer available). I rate the comfort seats: comfortable because they’re adjustable.

erics

2,703 posts

228 months

Tuesday 23rd September
quotequote all
in my mind a great shame they dropped the GT, was the best combo by far. Or San Remo or Tour de Corse for that matter as largely the same cars as GT with the better seats

A110Wienerwald

26 posts

3 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Just my personal experience!
After testing S, GT and owning Pure since 3 months, it is quite easy:
S suspension is a must for track use and nice to have for really fast road use as it is more precise. For all other occasions I prefer the normal Pure/GT suspension as it is at least equal fun to drive but providing much more comfort.
The higher power of S and GT is provided at higher revs, so again useful for the track, but not the burner for frequent B-road use.
As for the seats, the comfort-Sabelts with easy height adjustment is - same as the whole car - a perfect compromise between sport and comfort.
As a conclusion I would choose S suspension and buckets for track use.
For all normal and fast road use I believe that Pure/GT suspension + comfort seats are perfect.
A GTS modell might be an answer to a question nobody asked?

s111dpc

1,468 posts

246 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
A110Wienerwald said:
Just my personal experience!
After testing S, GT and owning Pure since 3 months, it is quite easy:
S suspension is a must for track use and nice to have for really fast road use as it is more precise. For all other occasions I prefer the normal Pure/GT suspension as it is at least equal fun to drive but providing much more comfort.
The higher power of S and GT is provided at higher revs, so again useful for the track, but not the burner for frequent B-road use.
As for the seats, the comfort-Sabelts with easy height adjustment is - same as the whole car - a perfect compromise between sport and comfort.
As a conclusion I would choose S suspension and buckets for track use.
For all normal and fast road use I believe that Pure/GT suspension + comfort seats are perfect.
A GTS modell might be an answer to a question nobody asked?
This is a pretty good summary. I owned an S for 4 years but traded it in for a GT 18 months ago. I loved the S originally as I’d come from Lotus, but the suspension was a little too stiff for me after a while (poor roads don’t help) and I don’t track my cars, so the GT was an excellent compromise, albeit the buckets seats are the most comfortable in my opinion.

Mickea64

14 posts

77 months

Good summary

Just moved from Pure to a S and already miss the silky smooth road manners of my pure.

Need to decide fairly quickly between trying the Life springs, waiting for restock of Road Life AST Coilovers or even sourcing some standard Pure springs.

Currently reading historical discussions to help clarify...

Mickea64

14 posts

77 months


Found the answer I was looking for from Life110

Now awaiting stock....

·
A number of you have asked what my perfect road car spec will be and there’s actually two. I’ll be going for a weekend road blast and occasional trip and a trackday or two spec, which is what is in the pic. There is another road spec I’d do which would be an everyday plus long distance plus weekend fun, and still a trackday or two. I’d base that on a GT but I don’t really need that, I already have an everyday car.
So the spec I’ll be going for will be:
AST Road kit
S ARBs
Carbon aero
Performance road brake pads plus hoses
Shift paddles (of course)
EVO Corse Cup wheels with Michelin PS4s

If I did a GT I’d go for:
Sports springs plus Bilstein dampers
Standard ARBs
Rear lip spoiler
Shift paddles (of course)
EVO Corse Cup wheels with Michelin PS4s

TimRV57

111 posts

90 months

That sounds sensible to me. I went AST track but even then with the dampers set a bit softer it definitely rode better than the standard S setup, with far more composure.