As an owner of an Alpine A110 for nearly 2 years i can honestly say it is breathtaking. It takes many people by surprise with its pace, handling and ability while also being a real "poster car". In a world of sedans, saloons and sports cars with lesser counterparts that look exactly the same, aside from engine power, alloys and some body panels (M, RS & AMG cars etc), the Alpine really does stand out in the visual department. While having an engine that doesn't require a lot of fuel, parts that aren't expensive to replace and insurance that isn't pathetically priced... For me, if you want a genuinely fast, capable and most importantly, UNIQUE car... GET ONE. You will NOT regret it
I'd be tempted for the chassis rigidity and better feel, but the Abarth 124 Spider comes as manual and is a roadster. It's also Italian instead of French, which is a big plus (doesn't really matter, but)... Unfortunately not available as new anymore, but can be found in great condition and they're really reliable.
Do love the Alpine as it's so niche and such an excellent drivers car, I sold my A110 PE around 2.5 years back and really considering getting the A110s again. Massively underrated
Great review of this lovely sportscar once again! I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new A110 GT in 2 months’ time. Why did I go for this one and not the obvious competitor, the Cayman? Because I think the A110 is much more agile than the Cayman or Cayman S, it’s better equipped for a similar price and it feels that you need to spec up the Cayman with more expensive options (like the Chrono Pack and the Ceramic brakes). But mainly because with the Cayman or Cayman S, it feels like you’re missing part of the sensation of a Porsche because you don’t have the 6-cylinder. I know that the A110 is also a 4-cylinder, but that one sounds a lot better that the one in the Cayman. Of course you could go for the Cayman GTS or the GT4, but that is waaay more expensive. Not only the car, but also the taxation, because it’s a 4 liter. The yearly tax in Belgium is times 12, when comparing the A110 with the GTS, with the car being around 40 to 50 k€ more expensive if you spec it right. And why the A110 GT and not the A110 S? Mainly because of how I will be using it. I want to cross Europe on grand tours, and won’t be using it on the track. Plus you still have the 300 HP engine and the specs that I want, like the sports exhaust and the leather adjustable seats. I also have an old Carrera 3.2 from 1989, and the driving experience from the A110 is remarkably similar to the old aircooled Porsches...
Waiting for mine too. In the Uk. Ordered a GT because it's got the higher power but I'm never going to be near a track so the extra comfort sold it for me. Decided against the Porsche because I wanted something you don't see every day. I wouldn't describe the Cayman as common but you definitely see a lot more of them. Since ordering mine in January I've only seen 2 others on the road.
@@Goingplaces110 The Alpine is indeed extremely rare. I live near one of only 2 Alpine Centers in Belgium, so I see one on a test-drive every now and then, but other then that, here also I see less than one a month. Even in France you hardly see any. I drove through France on ski-holiday a month ago, and didn't see even one! I really can't imagine that Renault earned anything out of the Alpine. A custom-made chassis that is not used for any other model in the group and that is hand-built with around 3000 cars a year, doesn't sound very profitable to me. The Volkswagen group scrapped the Scirocco and the Beetle that are based on the Golf and sold around 100.000 cars a year, so I find it cool that they even took this into production. I will be very careful with my Alpine once I get it, 'cos that is definitely a keeper...
Like 90% of prospective A110 buyers, I really loved it and convinced myself I could live with a few Renault Clio buttons and switches. Then it came to wallet-out time and I bottled it and ordered a Boxster instead.
@@EssexTuscan oh dear, confusing special with rare. Live with one, or an a110 and compare the experience to being in most other cars and any self respecting petrol head will tell you that both are special. I’m not particularly into attributing value only on the basis or rarity. Sometimes there’s a very good reason for that
Nice review. I have had Cayman, 911, and recently M2 Competition (great car) and the Alpine is just so different. Fun and exciting to drive, much more than most other sports cars.
I have the 21 model Legende which has the base model power with the GT interior. In Black. I agree on normal road driving which is 99.999% of most peoples ownership, you don't need more to have a blast. Its comfy, fast and looks good getting plenty of attention wherever its parked.
@@lollypop9580 because its quite rare and people that know what it is are interested in seeing one in the flesh and those that don’t know what it is are intrigued by it.
Amis anglais j’ai une alpine a 110 première édition depuis mai 2018 , une des toutes premières construites , ça fait donc quatre ans et je me régale tous les jours avec ! c’est mon achat le meilleur possible de toute ma vie, un vrai karting cette voiture, un régal, je l’adore 🇫🇷😎👍
I love the alpine , good price , looks cool and I’d almost say the replacement for a lotus in recent years lotus have become really quite expensive for what they are in comparison to the days of the s1/s2 and I think they’ve done that to themselves trying to compete to hard with the Porsche market which IMO they’ll never match in terms of build quality whilst retaining that light weight edge This fills a nice gap in the market Relatively “cheap” (I know it isn’t” but still a nice place to sit for the price point , light weight and really Pretty damn good on fuel and running costs in the grand scheme of things !
Great review! I’ve got a new GT due to arrive imminently, and I’m so excited! For me I like a car that’s a bit quirky and that’s why I’ve chosen it over the competition. I had a premiere edition a few years ago, and I’ve missed it ever since. Fab cars with wicked personality
This car is pure pleasure to drive! To get more sensations you will probably have to pay double the price. And his look! A French class that will never go out of style like the first Alpine.
This car definitely! Base model and then take it to litchfield or Pook for upgrades! Only car that came close for me at the price when the A110 came out was the last gen M2 Comp. looks fab, sounds great and is rarer than any Lamborghini in the UK! Great review Joe on Harry Ms road again !!
I know the Porsches probably are better cars in almost every regard, however many tests have proven that the A110’s are more fun, and I would simply have one as I find them timelessly beautiful and much more rare than any 718/boxer/cayman! Such a shame this will be the only A110 and thus discontinued… Great video as always mate!
Had d 718s Cayman and Boxster and now driving the standard a110. All great vars but lightness always wins in terms of fun. Porsches are great, well built and almost too fast and they are fun too but you have to drive faster for getting the fun which is a bad thing on regular streets in my opinion
In a "tick the spread sheet boxes" the Porsche had the edge. But for real enjoyment on public roads the Alpine wins. I replaced my 991.2 for a A110 GT recently and would not go back. It's different, it's special, it's unique. It dances over the road, the 991.2 wrestled the road. Mid engine, 97% made of aluminum, double wishbones all around, 1100 kg.............. ; built from enthusiasts for real petrol heads. It has to be experienced to be fully appreciated. The perfect second car.
I think the base car is a great proposition, so many tuning / improvement tweak options too. I’ve had a deposit on Emira, but in first edition spec they’re too expensive for me. Also eying up used M2C and the new M240i for something more rounded as a daily car in the price bracket. Or I just keep on with my 987 and spend the rest on good booze and women
@@neilturner6749 I’ve had ago in a 981, didn’t think it moved the game on enough (through a today lens), I prefer the 718 to that. The older cars without PSE don’t (IMO) sound so great to justify the haters of the 4 cylinder when the car is dynamically and aesthetically improved
Good review Joe. Think it's refreshing to have a relatively light weight model along the same lines as Lotus, although I don't see many on the road. At £72k for that particular S, I'd be wanting to try the new Emira or Boxter GTS, both available in manual..... 👍
@@relentlesspursuit6894 The Cayman starts at £46k. The A110S as tested was £72k, £8k more than a Cayman GTS before options. The 2L Emira is expected to be under £60k.....
I really like these and enjoyed a test of a Pure but then Lotus announced the Emira so I put a deposit down on that. The new pricing is competitive in Europe (where I am) but I think Lotus is a real contender buying in the UK. I’m actually thinking the A110 is a better buy here as Lotus priced their car so high here. However the Emira is so good looking I think the weight will be overlooked. That will be a good test comparison. I’ll probably end up getting a 981 gt4 😂
This is a very nice review thank you. There are so many A110 reviews but this one is rare in comparing the standard A110, S and GT. My recommendation is to get the A110 Legende and then decide if it delivers enough power. If you really need to then do a stage1 upgrade for 1000 euros.
Amazing car, makes the GR Yaris look like a real bargain, while it's AWD and 60% front weighted, the lower price and added usability dayly makes me never regret buying it. The gr86 is more similar... The alpine is definitely the "luxury version" of it.. although it doesn't offer the mid/rear engine format
The GR can be 70 rear biased at the flick of a switch! At half the price of the A110 it's an absolute steal - I know which I'd have even taking price out of the equation
@@relentlesspursuit6894 I meant 60% of the weight of the car is in the front. That is not changeable 🤣 you will notice when braking heavily... Haven't driven the a110 but I am sure it's a different drive
@@relentlesspursuit6894 it is Rwd so it's much closer to a Porsche, while the GR Yaris is closer to a fwd. Drifting is easier with rwd as well, I enjoyed it when I had a bmw...
@@MT-eb2dx I disagree! The GR is AWD and can send 70% to the rear, if you want to drift the GR will drift, but itl also get you around corners quickly (more quickly than a RWD car in most cases). Porsche over Renault anyway, but for a 50k budget the GR is head and shoulders above the rest and a perfect "weekend toy".
A very well presented review Joe 👏 Super grateful that there's still companies out there that produce a purpose-built lightweight sportscar with an all-aluminium chassis + double wishbone suspension. Speaking of relatively affordable sportscars, since the US journalists+youtubers got their hands on the Toyota GR86 half a year ago, I wish Toyota of UK would hurry up to finally get you guys reviewing that car on UK's bumpy roads too - seeing how much of an improvement in mid-range torque that the 2.4 litre engine makes compared to the outgoing GT86's 2.0 😬 Keep up the great work!
I'm also over 6' and have tried the buckets on the lowest setting, which is as low as they'll go/touching the carpet so no brackets possible unfortunately. You guessed right that they're still a touch too high when sitting properly upright. My eye line/height from headlining with the GT seats on their lowest setting is 0-3" lower than the buckets, all depending on the backrest tilt angle. With a wedge lumbar support in the buckets you can drop ~2" but you lose some of the kidney hugging bolstering.
I was always a must have a manual box but the dct box is still involving with the paddle shifters and also has advantage of being auto if you are just cruising. Best of both worlds.
There is no bad choice with those Alpine, but I still do believed that the S model is a bit of a non-sense. That car was never designed to perform on track, but as the name suggest, on rally stages (or open B roads) where it excels. The "noise" made by firsts reviewers pitching it again the Boxter made Apline changes their roadmap, and I'm still not convinced that they build a good "track car". Base model was, and still is, near perfect, and that make it difficult to follow suit. The GT is a natural step up in the offering range, but maybe not the S.
absolutely stunning car that has fascinated me since its launch, has it all for me...except the manual gearbox. therefore bought an original six-cylinder boxster with low mileage and a stick shift instead when opportunity knocked.
Joe as I listened to your fascinating (as always) thoughts, I kept thinking you were describing my car - a new MX5. Light and so much fun. I live near you. Let me know if you'd like to drive it. You'd be more than welcome. I'd say it delivers 8/10 of the Alpine experience you describe at half the price.
thanks for the updated review of all 3 models. Drove one when the first came out and the only real downside is limited luggage space for making trips so makes it more likely a second car...rather than an only one.
Agree its not a good only car. You have luggage in the front and a small but surprisingly well shaped rear boot, which we have managed a trip to Cornwall (320 miles) in with two dogs. Just wanted to experience it on those narrow roads...perfect. We do have a family 4x4 of course for most daily chores. Happy days.
Love my A110( purchased dec 2021) an incredible drive! It came brand new with 2 flat spot tyres on the front that I had to replace(at my expense) it has broken down twice! (Fuel pump recall issue we believe), and I had to leave it over night at the side of the road before I could restart. It has numerous rattles. Having said all that its a bewitching machine. I think I am used to my other Vw and Audi experience’s and find the quality side a bit of a struggle presently .Some nights I think about selling it. But then will I forever miss it?? Nice review - cheers from Brisbane
So, you too use Harry’s road. It is quite a while since Ive driven in England but apparently there is only one picturesque road there because everyone seems to use the same piece of tarmac. I guess it is the heritage from the EVO mag?
really excellent review Joe :) now the next question is resale value - over here in france the market is quite stable but I think the S has a better chance to sell
So what about the A110 R? 12 more horse, 20 extra Nm and 34kg less than the S. Also £40 000 extra in price which kinda answers the question really but it still needed asking.
Awesome video Joe. I think the 2.0l Lotus Emira could be in a similar bracket to this. Can't wait to see how that car turns out. The Alfa 4C is of course the other competitor and Lotus Elise.
Great review 👍 I seriously wanted to buy one of these, but auto only and (imo) continuous irritating lift off pops I couldn't do it, maybe if they were 10k cheaper all round I would have done it. like many when it came to putting my money where my mouth is, I ordered a Cayman GTS 4.0 in manual, couldn't ignore the superior quality of the Porsche and a proper engine too.
Great review. Gotta say looks like a great little car, my choice would be the A110S as the GT doesn't feel like it offers that much more as a "GT" apart from comfort seats.
The GT also has the softer suspension as opposed to the far stiffer set up in the S. Both great in their own right just depends what you're using it for.
Considering buy one in 🇯🇵 If there’s no much difference, which one do u recommend to buy, used A110 Lineage or new A110 GT? It’s much cheaper to buy the used one…about $12000 difference.
Yes pops only happen in sport or track mode, normal is nice and quiet for a stealth approach :) which I use often when you don’t want to much attention
Does it cone with cup holders now ? Any internal storage? Early cars had nothing. I really want one of these but they are just the wrong side of impractical
I thought you were hitting the cats eyes , until I realised it was the exhaust popping.I would be torn between this and the Cayman as a drivers car and my hackles would be up if the snobs accused it of being a fancy Renault🤔
Downforce increases at the square of speed. So, 150kg at top means no downforce of note at road speeds. Will be a fairly pitiful amount even at, say, 100mph on track through a high speed corner. Please don't just regurgitate the marketing without understanding it.
Great review and I'm pleased they haven't gone big and heavy with the successor like many manufacturers do. Loved the comparison of the different models and the practical conclusion at the end instead of quickest is best mentality 😊👍
Funily enough when i pushed the like button it said 110 likes. Anyway, one of my favorite cars, if I had the moneys I'd takr that GT in Alpine blue in a secons
I really like the A110, pity they don't sell them in Ireland, (they're a bit out of my price range anyway, but one can dream), however the fact that they still don't offer them with a manual gearbox, even if I had the money for a second car or a sports car, I'd still have to go for an MX-5 or a GR86 because they are thankfully still available in manual! (which every car of course should be) . Anyway, all in it is a great car, I beg Renault/Alpine, if in some miracle anyone from the company sees this comment - "please make it a manual!" 😯😂🤘 .
They don't offer manual because there is reason for it. A110 has rear double wishbone suspension if you put manual transmission there is no room and you can't have double wishbone and the whole idea of lightweight fun car is compromised. There is reason this car is expensive bro.
@@cherrymaison7846 That's surely BS! Firstly manual transmissions are lighter than automatics and surely take up no more space! To make the car the best it could be, it should surely be manual! As said, the only reason I heard was financial when they were developed it, which again shouldn't be a problem now! 😯😂🩲😀🤘
@@tanner1ie Nah DCT is lighter because you don't need the tunnel to cabin and the motor is horizontal positioned not front faced. This car is all about that front and rear double wishbone suspension no other car has it as far as I know
@@cherrymaison7846 DCTs might be slightly lighter than torque converter (though more expensive and complex), but they're still heavier than manual gearboxes and not half as fun to use! 😀🤘
@@tanner1ie Gordon Murray once said Project Bugatti Veyron was most pointless practice on Earth before driving the car and said Grand Achievement. Maybe you should test drive one and criticize bro. Car is so agile and glides so fast on corner you will not have time to notice you don't have manual shift. Gordon Murray who designed Mclaren F1 and SLR daily drives this car bro and said It's better than Lotus suspension and handling. And he designed F1 cars and has like 50 different cars in his garage
If you had £50k to spend on a fun weekend car, what would you buy? (Brand new, NOT USED!)
718 cayman
A Porsche 718!
2 Hyundai I20N’s 😂
Definitely an A110 over a 718 Cayman for me!
I do think the a110s would be a fun thing and less common than a 718.
As an owner of an Alpine A110 for nearly 2 years i can honestly say it is breathtaking. It takes many people by surprise with its pace, handling and ability while also being a real "poster car".
In a world of sedans, saloons and sports cars with lesser counterparts that look exactly the same, aside from engine power, alloys and some body panels (M, RS & AMG cars etc), the Alpine really does stand out in the visual department.
While having an engine that doesn't require a lot of fuel, parts that aren't expensive to replace and insurance that isn't pathetically priced...
For me, if you want a genuinely fast, capable and most importantly, UNIQUE car... GET ONE. You will NOT regret it
I'd be tempted for the chassis rigidity and better feel, but the Abarth 124 Spider comes as manual and is a roadster. It's also Italian instead of French, which is a big plus (doesn't really matter, but)... Unfortunately not available as new anymore, but can be found in great condition and they're really reliable.
Do love the Alpine as it's so niche and such an excellent drivers car, I sold my A110 PE around 2.5 years back and really considering getting the A110s again. Massively underrated
Great review of this lovely sportscar once again!
I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new A110 GT in 2 months’ time.
Why did I go for this one and not the obvious competitor, the Cayman? Because I think the A110 is much more agile than the Cayman or Cayman S, it’s better equipped for a similar price and it feels that you need to spec up the Cayman with more expensive options (like the Chrono Pack and the Ceramic brakes). But mainly because with the Cayman or Cayman S, it feels like you’re missing part of the sensation of a Porsche because you don’t have the 6-cylinder. I know that the A110 is also a 4-cylinder, but that one sounds a lot better that the one in the Cayman.
Of course you could go for the Cayman GTS or the GT4, but that is waaay more expensive. Not only the car, but also the taxation, because it’s a 4 liter. The yearly tax in Belgium is times 12, when comparing the A110 with the GTS, with the car being around 40 to 50 k€ more expensive if you spec it right.
And why the A110 GT and not the A110 S?
Mainly because of how I will be using it. I want to cross Europe on grand tours, and won’t be using it on the track.
Plus you still have the 300 HP engine and the specs that I want, like the sports exhaust and the leather adjustable seats.
I also have an old Carrera 3.2 from 1989, and the driving experience from the A110 is remarkably similar to the old aircooled Porsches...
Waiting for mine too. In the Uk. Ordered a GT because it's got the higher power but I'm never going to be near a track so the extra comfort sold it for me. Decided against the Porsche because I wanted something you don't see every day. I wouldn't describe the Cayman as common but you definitely see a lot more of them. Since ordering mine in January I've only seen 2 others on the road.
@@Goingplaces110 The Alpine is indeed extremely rare.
I live near one of only 2 Alpine Centers in Belgium, so I see one on a test-drive every now and then, but other then that, here also I see less than one a month. Even in France you hardly see any. I drove through France on ski-holiday a month ago, and didn't see even one!
I really can't imagine that Renault earned anything out of the Alpine.
A custom-made chassis that is not used for any other model in the group and that is hand-built with around 3000 cars a year, doesn't sound very profitable to me. The Volkswagen group scrapped the Scirocco and the Beetle that are based on the Golf and sold around 100.000 cars a year, so I find it cool that they even took this into production.
I will be very careful with my Alpine once I get it, 'cos that is definitely a keeper...
Like 90% of prospective A110 buyers, I really loved it and convinced myself I could live with a few Renault Clio buttons and switches. Then it came to wallet-out time and I bottled it and ordered a Boxster instead.
It will be interesting to see which out of the two holds it's money best
Shame...
@@EssexTuscan not really both are special cars in today’s world of anodyne unengaging sleep boxes
@@jonfrench7133 over 4200 Boxster 718s in UK plus just under 5000 Cayman 718s. Not really that "special" IMO. They are everywhere.
@@EssexTuscan oh dear, confusing special with rare. Live with one, or an a110 and compare the experience to being in most other cars and any self respecting petrol head will tell you that both are special. I’m not particularly into attributing value only on the basis or rarity. Sometimes there’s a very good reason for that
Nice review. I have had Cayman, 911, and recently M2 Competition (great car) and the Alpine is just so different. Fun and exciting to drive, much more than most other sports cars.
I have the 21 model Legende which has the base model power with the GT interior. In Black. I agree on normal road driving which is 99.999% of most peoples ownership, you don't need more to have a blast. Its comfy, fast and looks good getting plenty of attention wherever its parked.
"getting plenty of attention" Oh God...
@@lollypop9580 not many about so most people don’t know what it is and are intrigued by it.
@@lollypop9580 because its quite rare and people that know what it is are interested in seeing one in the flesh and those that don’t know what it is are intrigued by it.
Amis anglais j’ai une alpine a 110 première édition depuis mai 2018 , une des toutes premières construites , ça fait donc quatre ans et je me régale tous les jours avec ! c’est mon achat le meilleur possible de toute ma vie, un vrai karting cette voiture, un régal, je l’adore 🇫🇷😎👍
I love the alpine , good price , looks cool and I’d almost say the replacement for a lotus in recent years lotus have become really quite expensive for what they are in comparison to the days of the s1/s2 and I think they’ve done that to themselves trying to compete to hard with the Porsche market which IMO they’ll never match in terms of build quality whilst retaining that light weight edge
This fills a nice gap in the market
Relatively “cheap” (I know it isn’t” but still a nice place to sit for the price point , light weight and really
Pretty damn good on fuel and running costs in the grand scheme of things !
Ik ben voor de A110S gegaan en krijg de auto binnenkort via Munsterhuis / Alpine Hengelo geleverd. Zie er echt naar uit hem te gaan rijden.
Great review! I’ve got a new GT due to arrive imminently, and I’m so excited! For me I like a car that’s a bit quirky and that’s why I’ve chosen it over the competition. I had a premiere edition a few years ago, and I’ve missed it ever since. Fab cars with wicked personality
You will love it, fantastic car and puts a smile on your face every time you take it out 👍
This car is pure pleasure to drive! To get more sensations you will probably have to pay double the price. And his look! A French class that will never go out of style like the first Alpine.
Great review(s)as usual, even it was done in a limited time.
Good thing there were no jokes of the "French" origine of the car.
I know this is a year old, Joe. But your videos are just delightful. Very enjoyable throughout.
Thank you very much 🙏
This car definitely! Base model and then take it to litchfield or Pook for upgrades! Only car that came close for me at the price when the A110 came out was the last gen M2 Comp. looks fab, sounds great and is rarer than any Lamborghini in the UK! Great review Joe on Harry Ms road again !!
Just seen Harry's review of the M5.
Surprised he wasn't out in the Alpines also
I know the Porsches probably are better cars in almost every regard, however many tests have proven that the A110’s are more fun, and I would simply have one as I find them timelessly beautiful and much more rare than any 718/boxer/cayman! Such a shame this will be the only A110 and thus discontinued…
Great video as always mate!
Had d 718s Cayman and Boxster and now driving the standard a110. All great vars but lightness always wins in terms of fun. Porsches are great, well built and almost too fast and they are fun too but you have to drive faster for getting the fun which is a bad thing on regular streets in my opinion
In a "tick the spread sheet boxes" the Porsche had the edge. But for real enjoyment on public roads the Alpine wins. I replaced my 991.2 for a A110 GT recently and would not go back. It's different, it's special, it's unique. It dances over the road, the 991.2 wrestled the road. Mid engine, 97% made of aluminum, double wishbones all around, 1100 kg.............. ; built from enthusiasts for real petrol heads. It has to be experienced to be fully appreciated. The perfect second car.
I think the base car is a great proposition, so many tuning / improvement tweak options too. I’ve had a deposit on Emira, but in first edition spec they’re too expensive for me. Also eying up used M2C and the new M240i for something more rounded as a daily car in the price bracket. Or I just keep on with my 987 and spend the rest on good booze and women
If you’d said 981 I’d have said “keep it” but the 987s a little long in the tooth now, so forego those women and booze my friend!
@@neilturner6749 I’ve had ago in a 981, didn’t think it moved the game on enough (through a today lens), I prefer the 718 to that. The older cars without PSE don’t (IMO) sound so great to justify the haters of the 4 cylinder when the car is dynamically and aesthetically improved
If you don't want to stretch to an Alpine, the M2C is a great car.
Swift sport, mx5 and this... What a nice lightweight garage. ❤️
About the seats…the bucket seats in the base model and the S can be set in a couple of fixed positions, maybe they were not in the lowest position,
Good review Joe. Think it's refreshing to have a relatively light weight model along the same lines as Lotus, although I don't see many on the road. At £72k for that particular S, I'd be wanting to try the new Emira or Boxter GTS, both available in manual..... 👍
And both heavier.... Not the same category
Stretching the budget a bit - it's 50k, not 70k+ 🤣
@@relentlesspursuit6894 The Cayman starts at £46k. The A110S as tested was £72k, £8k more than a Cayman GTS before options. The 2L Emira is expected to be under £60k.....
@@colinw1591 Cayman at 46k is a steal then
I really like these and enjoyed a test of a Pure but then Lotus announced the Emira so I put a deposit down on that. The new pricing is competitive in Europe (where I am) but I think Lotus is a real contender buying in the UK. I’m actually thinking the A110 is a better buy here as Lotus priced their car so high here. However the Emira is so good looking I think the weight will be overlooked. That will be a good test comparison. I’ll probably end up getting a 981 gt4 😂
This is a very nice review thank you. There are so many A110 reviews but this one is rare in comparing the standard A110, S and GT.
My recommendation is to get the A110 Legende and then decide if it delivers enough power. If you really need to then do a stage1 upgrade for 1000 euros.
Amazing car, makes the GR Yaris look like a real bargain, while it's AWD and 60% front weighted, the lower price and added usability dayly makes me never regret buying it. The gr86 is more similar... The alpine is definitely the "luxury version" of it.. although it doesn't offer the mid/rear engine format
The GR can be 70 rear biased at the flick of a switch! At half the price of the A110 it's an absolute steal - I know which I'd have even taking price out of the equation
@@relentlesspursuit6894 I meant 60% of the weight of the car is in the front. That is not changeable 🤣 you will notice when braking heavily... Haven't driven the a110 but I am sure it's a different drive
@@MT-eb2dx I'm sure it is a different drive, but is the A110 "better" - no, no its not
@@relentlesspursuit6894 it is Rwd so it's much closer to a Porsche, while the GR Yaris is closer to a fwd. Drifting is easier with rwd as well, I enjoyed it when I had a bmw...
@@MT-eb2dx I disagree! The GR is AWD and can send 70% to the rear, if you want to drift the GR will drift, but itl also get you around corners quickly (more quickly than a RWD car in most cases). Porsche over Renault anyway, but for a 50k budget the GR is head and shoulders above the rest and a perfect "weekend toy".
I would Love to have the GT model.
Nice Looking, Lightweight, great Sounding 4 cyl. And I hate 4cyl sound normally.
Yeah I like this car !
A very well presented review Joe 👏 Super grateful that there's still companies out there that produce a purpose-built lightweight sportscar with an all-aluminium chassis + double wishbone suspension. Speaking of relatively affordable sportscars, since the US journalists+youtubers got their hands on the Toyota GR86 half a year ago, I wish Toyota of UK would hurry up to finally get you guys reviewing that car on UK's bumpy roads too - seeing how much of an improvement in mid-range torque that the 2.4 litre engine makes compared to the outgoing GT86's 2.0 😬 Keep up the great work!
I'm also over 6' and have tried the buckets on the lowest setting, which is as low as they'll go/touching the carpet so no brackets possible unfortunately. You guessed right that they're still a touch too high when sitting properly upright. My eye line/height from headlining with the GT seats on their lowest setting is 0-3" lower than the buckets, all depending on the backrest tilt angle. With a wedge lumbar support in the buckets you can drop ~2" but you lose some of the kidney hugging bolstering.
I’m seriously thinking of getting an A110 and I found this review really informative.
I’ll be subscribing!
Keep up the good work.😂
The best driving experience I ever had was with the a110s.
I would be all over the Alpine if it came with a manual gearbox.
To make it slower? Hell no! Dual clutch all the way
@@lilmoris1 Yep make it slower but with more driver involvement. It's not always about speed
I was always a must have a manual box but the dct box is still involving with the paddle shifters and also has advantage of being auto if you are just cruising. Best of both worlds.
@@breezeracing8015 exactly, only real petrol heads get that.
@@EssexTuscan it’s a compromise but it really isn’t anywhere near as involving as a proper manual gear shift and a clutch. Not even close.
as an American, this was my first time seeing this car. From the thumbnail it resembled a cayman to me a little bit. Cool car!
I'm plotting an order of the Emira with the AMG engine, but I'm going to drive one of these first. Thinking the GT looks good.
Can’t believe a car in this day and age has no cup holders but it still is one beautiful car.
Great review. I wish these were offered in the USA 🇺🇸 I think there pretty cool
There is no bad choice with those Alpine, but I still do believed that the S model is a bit of a non-sense. That car was never designed to perform on track, but as the name suggest, on rally stages (or open B roads) where it excels. The "noise" made by firsts reviewers pitching it again the Boxter made Apline changes their roadmap, and I'm still not convinced that they build a good "track car".
Base model was, and still is, near perfect, and that make it difficult to follow suit. The GT is a natural step up in the offering range, but maybe not the S.
Francois Delecour rallies one, enough said
absolutely stunning car that has fascinated me since its launch, has it all for me...except the manual gearbox. therefore bought an original six-cylinder boxster with low mileage and a stick shift instead when opportunity knocked.
Joe as I listened to your fascinating (as always) thoughts, I kept thinking you were describing my car - a new MX5. Light and so much fun. I live near you. Let me know if you'd like to drive it. You'd be more than welcome. I'd say it delivers 8/10 of the Alpine experience you describe at half the price.
The man is 6 foot 5" ! He couldn't even get behind the steering wheel !
Best reviewer on UA-cam!! 👍
thanks for the updated review of all 3 models. Drove one when the first came out and the only real downside is limited luggage space for making trips so makes it more likely a second car...rather than an only one.
Agree its not a good only car. You have luggage in the front and a small but surprisingly well shaped rear boot, which we have managed a trip to Cornwall (320 miles) in with two dogs. Just wanted to experience it on those narrow roads...perfect. We do have a family 4x4 of course for most daily chores. Happy days.
@@davidoliver7977 thanks, good to know....i'll have to leave the bike behind...🤣
Les vrais sportives pures ne sont pas jugées sur les bagages 😵💫
You can see why Tony loves these cars
Love my A110( purchased dec 2021) an incredible drive! It came brand new with 2 flat spot tyres on the front that I had to replace(at my expense) it has broken down twice! (Fuel pump recall issue we believe), and I had to leave it over night at the side of the road before I could restart. It has numerous rattles. Having said all that its a bewitching machine. I think I am used to my other Vw and Audi experience’s and find the quality side a bit of a struggle presently .Some nights I think about selling it. But then will I forever miss it?? Nice review - cheers from Brisbane
That ain’t good all those things happened.
You have the seat height in the middle position, you might benefit from dropping down to the lowest setting.
Excellent review. I drove the the GT and was very impressed.
I do like these Joe, but for me I would like a convertible next, so either Z4 or boxster
The base cars dont get Telemetrics and the white one in the video has the upgrade 18 inch wheels and the sports exhaust.
So, you too use Harry’s road.
It is quite a while since Ive driven in England but apparently there is only one picturesque road there because everyone seems to use the same piece of tarmac. I guess it is the heritage from the EVO mag?
Been using that (my local) road for the past 6-7 years.
👍 2023 gt arrived here
really excellent review Joe :) now the next question is resale value - over here in france the market is quite stable but I think the S has a better chance to sell
So what about the A110 R? 12 more horse, 20 extra Nm and 34kg less than the S. Also £40 000 extra in price which kinda answers the question really but it still needed asking.
Liked to spec and look of the gt but over-run banging would very quickly get very boring.
Best looking practical car in my mind. I wish you have dealer in Taiwan. Sadly.
Really like these cars but that knocking sound from the exhaust sounds horrible.
Seriously Toyota should bring back the MR and put in the GR Yaris engine.
Best sports car full stop.
Great review! These look like cars with character that are impatient to be driven and would probably sulk if they weren't! 😉 Love the spec of the GT.
Nice rival to the Porsche 718 Cayman.
Yes absolutely!
great review! looks an interesting proposition, could the more expensive version go up against the new Lotus Evora??
Morgan 4
Already a classic, I'll take this one over any german car actually 😄
Awesome video Joe. I think the 2.0l Lotus Emira could be in a similar bracket to this. Can't wait to see how that car turns out.
The Alfa 4C is of course the other competitor and Lotus Elise.
Well, it's not bad looking. Thank you for the video!
Great review and great cars Vive la difference. For the money I’d take an Alpine. GT for the cabin.
Great review 👍 I seriously wanted to buy one of these, but auto only and (imo) continuous irritating lift off pops I couldn't do it, maybe if they were 10k cheaper all round I would have done it. like many when it came to putting my money where my mouth is, I ordered a Cayman GTS 4.0 in manual, couldn't ignore the superior quality of the Porsche and a proper engine too.
Considering a comparable Porsche GTS 4.0 to cost at least 15.000 EUR more, that's a terrible statement.
Great video as per! Awesome little car, would definitely love a go on a track!
The car I never knew I needed :D
Great review. Gotta say looks like a great little car, my choice would be the A110S as the GT doesn't feel like it offers that much more as a "GT" apart from comfort seats.
The GT also has the softer suspension as opposed to the far stiffer set up in the S. Both great in their own right just depends what you're using it for.
Considering buy one in 🇯🇵
If there’s no much difference, which one do u recommend to buy, used A110 Lineage or new A110 GT? It’s much cheaper to buy the used one…about $12000 difference.
Those exhaust pops would do my head in.
The exhaust is active and an option on the Pure edition. In normal mode it doesn't make the pops and bangs, only in sport and track.
Yes pops only happen in sport or track mode, normal is nice and quiet for a stealth approach :) which I use often when you don’t want to much attention
Would definitely consider one of these if they came to the states,
Base car with Geometry from Life and engine tune by Litchfield for me
7.29 - Nice boxing glove wing mirror
Does it cone with cup holders now ? Any internal storage? Early cars had nothing. I really want one of these but they are just the wrong side of impractical
Great review joe 👍🇦🇺
I thought you were hitting the cats eyes , until I realised it was the exhaust popping.I would be torn between this and the Cayman as a drivers car and my hackles would be up if the snobs accused it of being a fancy Renault🤔
are you driving down in Ukraine? I can hear some shooting in the background 😅
Like all the pops and bangs. Which model has Tony got now? Quite expensive and I would still prefer a Porsche
Nice video Joe. The A110 looks very agile. I could see that awkward driving position. Not sure how I would get on with that?
Hopefully I can afford a GT in a few years.....
At 50k it's an left field choice.
At £72'000 I would tire of explaining how it has a 1.8 engine with ' only 300bhp"
Its actually pretty fast because its only 1100 kg
Don't explain, then?
Is it just me or is this car crazy quiet. Seems to be almost no road or wind noise. Like a luxury car ir something
In the great tradition of sport french cars
They should just put the logo that the steering wheel has on the front & or rear instead of 'alpine'.
Downforce increases at the square of speed. So, 150kg at top means no downforce of note at road speeds. Will be a fairly pitiful amount even at, say, 100mph on track through a high speed corner. Please don't just regurgitate the marketing without understanding it.
Shut up
Great review and I'm pleased they haven't gone big and heavy with the successor like many manufacturers do.
Loved the comparison of the different models and the practical conclusion at the end instead of quickest is best mentality 😊👍
Joe would you have this car over a Cayman?
That constant popping from the exhaust would drive me insane!
Its just a glorified Renault Megane RS Hot Hatch.....in the end
Alpine A110 😍😍😍
What was all that knocking noise? Cheers Joe.
Nice little cars 😊👍
The S, please. With a roll cage, a racing seat, and harness.
Pure produit français 🙏🇨🇵☝️
Funily enough when i pushed the like button it said 110 likes. Anyway, one of my favorite cars, if I had the moneys I'd takr that GT in Alpine blue in a secons
I will answer this question when I can afford a car for 50k 😭🤣
I really like the A110, pity they don't sell them in Ireland, (they're a bit out of my price range anyway, but one can dream), however the fact that they still don't offer them with a manual gearbox, even if I had the money for a second car or a sports car, I'd still have to go for an MX-5 or a GR86 because they are thankfully still available in manual! (which every car of course should be) .
Anyway, all in it is a great car, I beg Renault/Alpine, if in some miracle anyone from the company sees this comment - "please make it a manual!" 😯😂🤘 .
They don't offer manual because there is reason for it. A110 has rear double wishbone suspension if you put manual transmission there is no room and you can't have double wishbone and the whole idea of lightweight fun car is compromised. There is reason this car is expensive bro.
@@cherrymaison7846 That's surely BS!
Firstly manual transmissions are lighter than automatics and surely take up no more space!
To make the car the best it could be, it should surely be manual!
As said, the only reason I heard was financial when they were developed it, which again shouldn't be a problem now! 😯😂🩲😀🤘
@@tanner1ie Nah DCT is lighter because you don't need the tunnel to cabin and the motor is horizontal positioned not front faced. This car is all about that front and rear double wishbone suspension no other car has it as far as I know
@@cherrymaison7846 DCTs might be slightly lighter than torque converter (though more expensive and complex), but they're still heavier than manual gearboxes and not half as fun to use! 😀🤘
@@tanner1ie Gordon Murray once said Project Bugatti Veyron was most pointless practice on Earth before driving the car and said Grand Achievement. Maybe you should test drive one and criticize bro. Car is so agile and glides so fast on corner you will not have time to notice you don't have manual shift. Gordon Murray who designed Mclaren F1 and SLR daily drives this car bro and said It's better than Lotus suspension and handling. And he designed F1 cars and has like 50 different cars in his garage
Most of these will end up in car collections I suspect. Maybe even a heated garage or 2
Hello JOE ,
You say it’s updated…but what are the updates?
Mainly the infotainment system which is crap in the early cars.
What a shame there's no manual.
Joe,you got a spammer in the comments offering some Alpina or something like that
😍😍😍