Life after Cayman - My 2021 Alpine A110 Legende GT.

[ralphmusic]

Brian,

There was an A110 at Silverstone last week. It was tuned to 300hp and had modified suspension to allow better on-track handling.

Ralph

 

[Brian_Innes]

Ralph,

Good to know. Silverstone perhaps not the best track for the A110's talents as power plays a big part particularly on the GP circuit. Twisty technical tracks suit it better.

As Mr Demon has has already posted, the A110S is still evolving. I can verify the A110 is an interesting alternative for those drivers who value handling agility and short close ratio gearing over brand badges. As for the Getrag paddle shift gearbox, its as good as PDK in my opinion. With gearing as short and close as the A110's, with a manual shift you would forever be taking your hand off the steering wheel to shift cogs.

Brian

 

[MrDemon]

Ralph,

Good to know. Silverstone perhaps not the best track for the A110's talents as power plays a big part particularly on the GP circuit. Twisty technical tracks suit it better.

As Mr Demon has has already posted, the A110S is still evolving. I can verify the A110 is an interesting alternative for those drivers who value handling agility and short close ratio gearing over brand badges. As for the Getrag paddle shift gearbox, its as good as PDK in my opinion. With gearing as short and close as the A110's, with a manual shift you would forever be taking your hand off the steering wheel to shift cogs.

Brian

I notice the 2.5 GTS PDK has the lowest of all Caymans in the ratio's which is good to find out.

so for £65k you can buy the new A110S kitted out or a top end 2.5 GTS PDK with 20mm drop and low miles etc , I am thinking for my next daily one of these but have to say the 2.5 GTS turbo makes me more excited, I had one for a day and it is rocket ship fast a few years back.

So hard to pick a fun daily car now I removed the Emira from the line up. A110S issues is storage, any other issues or bad point Brian ? or which one would you go for after owning both ?

 

[Brian_Innes]

David,

I am delighted you are taken with the A110, given your wide experience and forthright opinions on the topic of Porsches and sports cars in general. I am flattered that you are seeking my opinion.

I have to admit to being a bit anxious after committing to my A110 Legende GT after having gotten used to the superlative Cayman R and 2.5t GTS PDK. I have now driven more than 2000 miles in my A110 and I am loving it more with every mile I drive it. Since having the geo set-up adjusted to fast road and track settings, the car is now absolutely planted on the road and razor sharp in the steering. The lightness is immediately apparent when first driving the A110 after a Cayman.

Two things stand out; the short, close ratio gearing, and the responsiveness of all the controls to driver inputs. I was also particularly impressed with the rear toe-link adjustment being a feature on the A110. No more limited toe adjustments with primitive eccentric bolts as on the Caymans I have owned. If Alpine can fit rear toe-link adjusters, why can't Porsche?

On your question of cabin storage, my car has the optional storage pack, consisting of a net behind the drivers seat which takes my Silverline puncture repair pack, and a decent sized leather storage bin with lid between the seats. Not ideally placed for easy access from the drivers seat, but handy nevertheless. The rubber floored tray under the centre console is ideal for phone storage with a USB connection conveniently placed. As a single traveller I carry a rucksack on the passenger seat, suitably belted in, with all my bits and bobs as needed on a journey. I have never had any issues with the lack of a glove compartment, door pockets, or central arm rest cubby hole. My CR didn't have door pockets either, so I'm used to not having that.

I must say the newly announced 2022 versions of the 300bhp A110S with rear aerofoil wing and uprated suspension is a very appealing proposition, particularly if track day driving is a consideration. Shod with Cup 2's, this car driven by a competent wheel-smith would be hard to catch on technical tracks such as Knockhill or Oulton Park. I'm sure it would smoke a GT4 on section 1 at Knockhill due to its light weight mass and change of direction agility. This would add to the fun!

Now the £million question, which car would I choose between my much missed 2.5t Cayman GTS PDK PCCB, or this particular Alpine A110 Legende GT. For daily driving, touring, and occasional track days, it has to be the 2.5t CGTS in the spec I chose, but only by a small margin. On the track the 2.5t GTS surprised many GT4 and even GT3 drivers with its pace. I did my PB lap at Knockhill in 2019 with this car at 58.76seconds on PS4s Michelins, only 1.2 seconds behind the times sets by none other than World Champion WRC driver Walter Rorhl in a 4.0 GT4 with Cup 2's. According to local knowledge, Cup 2's are worth 1.5 seconds per lap on a dry track. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions regarding my 2.5t GTS PDK PCCB performance. Suffice to say, this car is a flyer on the track.

The A110 is absolutely ideal for my current purposes as a fun car for touring on empty Highland roads, although the new A110S would also be a very strong contender. The A110 is essentially a second car for fun. Each of the 3 Alpine A110 owners I chatted with on my recent tour to Derbyshire and Cheshire had another car for daily chores. I also have my Fiat 500X 1.4t Cross Plus as my shopping car and for local trips. Together they provide the ideal combination. I am more than delighted with my move to Alpine A110 as a fun car. Opening the garage door and setting eyes on it is pure delight.

I hope this answers your questions David.

In closing, I am completely taken aback by the encouragement and support I have received on this forum since starting this thread a couple of months ago. The interest from contributors has been a complete surprise to me. I shall continue to update this thread with any events of note which may be of general interest to readers. Currently I am fitting up the battery connectors to the car for my branded Alpine battery conditioner for the winter season. I am also considering fitting 7mm and 5mm titanium wheel spacers over the winter season to further augment the revised geo settings to provide an even more appealing wide track stance. The A110 is one of those cars which you can personalise with subtle mods from the A110 specialists. I absolutely love this car. A change is as good as a tonic in my case.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

For those who may be interested, my Guards Red 718 Cayman GTS PDK PCCB is currently for sale on the Porsche Centre Chester website at £64,900. I've checked the VIN and it is definitely my old car.

3 Owners are listed and the recorded miles show 15,770. I can vouch for the spec of this car and with the geo settings I had dialled in, it is a very capable car. Put a set of Cup 2's on it and frighten the GT4's. []

Before anyone asks, no I'm not tempted. It's a case of been there done that. I'm more than happy with my A110 ownership.

A refreshing change after 12 years of Caymans.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

Now that winter has arrived with a vengeance, my A110 will spending extra time in the garage when the weather is particularly inclement.

The Porsche C-tech charger used successfully on my Caymans over many years proved unsuitable for the A110 due to the fact that only one connector was supplied, being the 12v cigarette lighter socket plug. I soon discovered that the 12v power sockets on the A110 only worked when the ignition was switched on. A quick browse on the Alpine app revealed a custom battery charger kit was available with all the appropriate connections for hard-wiring to the battery terminals.

The cost of this charger kit was astonishingly expensive at £233. I had previously thought only Porsche charged extortionate prices for branded products. Bearing in mind the importance of keeping the battery charged during the winter months when the car may be idle for a week or two, and also the bespoke nature of this kit designed especially for the A110, I bit the bullet and placed the order.

As on the Cayman, the A110 battery is centrally located on the front bulkhead within the luggage compartment below the windscreen scuttle. Two sections of plastic trim have to be removed, one to expose the battery, the other to allow access for wiring the jack plug socket. The trim piece on the inner front near-side wing is located by 3 screws, the scuttle piece by snap-on spring clips. The charger plug socket requires two 6mm holes to be drilled on the wing trim-piece to affix the mounting bracket. It was a straight forward job taking around an hour to complete.

The charger when connected, works in exactly the same way as the C-Tech. The convenience of the plug socket connection is much appreciated. The kit also includes a crocodile clip battery cable attachment that can be used on other vehicles.

Note the 3-pin adapter. The Alpine charger kit is only supplied with a continental 2-pin plug.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

The charger connected to the plug-in socket under the front hood.

Brian

 

[pmgmacan]

A bit late now but CTEK do connected leads.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-CTE-56384-Comfort-Connector-Adaptor/dp/B002OHSIEW/

 

[Brian_Innes]

A Happy New Year to all my Porsche Club friends. May 2022 bring you good health, and more opportunities to enjoy our cars compared to the past two years of covid restrictions.

Yesterday, I received an invitation from Paul Barlow from Aberdeen, to meet up with a small group of like-minded Porsche owners on the annual Hardy Souls new year tour. As the tour route was passing through my back yard as it were, to the highland village of Tomintoul, it was an ideal opportunity to drive the A939 Old Military Road in unseasonably mild weather for this time of the year.

It was fun to drive the A110 again following a 6 week resting period in my garage. The A939 route is also known as the Snow Road, but on this occasion due to the mild weather no snow was to be seen anywhere, even on the highest points of the route. Being a holiday weekend the A939 was quite busy with traffic, including a few hardy cyclists tackling the mountain route in Tour de France style. Care was needed when approaching the many blind bends, particularly with the low sun angle at this northern latitude. Even so, the A110 excelled on this road. The short, close ratio gears proving ideal for the terrain and the punchy, responsive engine made short work of the many steep hills and hairpin bends. The short wheelbase provides wonderful agility and handling precision on routes such as the A939, despite the road surface becoming increasingly bumpy over the years on account of the high volume of tourist traffic in peak season. My A110 has the same firm suspension as the A110S and consequently, it is a lively ride on bumpy roads. Compared to my Cayman R for example, this particular A110 is more unsettled on bumpy sections compared to the more compliant and composed CR.

At the car park meeting point in Tomintoul it was good to chat with Porsche pals from times past. A few showed a keen interest in my A110 as there are so few about on the roads. All remarked on the favourable reviews of the A110 from a driver's perspective. I was asked how it compared to my Cayman experiences, and I confirmed that the performance, handling and driving aspect was comparable with the best of the Caymans I have owned. All in all, it was a very enjoyable albeit brief encounter with the Porsche group. Following a 20 minute comfort halt, I bid them farewell to continue the tour via the Lecht ski centre for a coffee break at the Corgarff cafe. I very much appreciated the opportunity to meet up with them all at a perfect location and on such a beautiful sunny day.

Finally, a news update on my car related plans for 2022. I have purchased a set of EVO Corse Cup lightweight alloy wheels for my A110 from the Alpine tuning specialist Life 110. My Michelin specialist, GT Tyres, Forres, already has a set of Cup 2 tyres in stock for fitting to my new wheels. My plan is to use the Cup 2 tyres for the Performance Driving Courses I intend to do during this year. I have already booked the first of these courses at Knockhill circuit in Fife on March 31st. As I have now retired from track day participation, the Performance Driving Courses using my own car are an ideal alternative. I shall be very interested indeed to see how the A110 performs on the track compared to my extensive Cayman experiences at Knockhill. The technical nature of this undulating track make this a real driver's circuit. I have a feeling the A110 on Cup 2's at Knockhill will be a formidable combination. A report on how the day goes at Knockhill will follow in due course.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

A low winter sun scene on the A939 Tomintoul road on my way to the Porsche meet.

Brian

 

[Motorhead]

A Very Happy New Year to you as well Brian, and good to hear that you’ve been able to make use of the unseasonably warm weather to get a run in the Alpine.

As always it’s good to read your continuing and favourable appraisal of the A110. With the stiffer suspension set-up I’m sure that your car will be an ideal tool for track running since PP’s Dan Prosser wasn’t over enamoured with the handling of his softly-suspended entry-level Pure A110 when he took to the track.

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-fleet/alpine-a110-on-track-ph-fleet/45121

I’m looking forward to reading your impressions when you take your car to Knockhill, a circuit with which you’re very familiar.

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

Jeff,

I read with interest Dan Prosser's account of his track experiences with the A110 at Thruxton. The softly sprung standard A110 displayed unnerving weight transfer characteristics when cornering at high speeds at Thruxton. Spooky handling such as this is not a pleasant feeling at speeds involving three figures. In a way, I'm glad I didn't complete the Thruxton A110 Thrill experience I had previously booked back in pre-covid 2019. According to DP's appraisal, I fear his experience may have put me off buying an A110. I would have been all the poorer for that.

Be that as it may, I am confident that my more firmly sprung A110 will cope admirably with the blind dips and crests of Knockhill. Previous Cayman experience at this demanding track shows maximum velocity of 123mph under the pedestrian bridge on the start/finish straight, before launching into the blind Duffus Dip corner at close to 100mph. You certainly don't want weight transfer issues intervening at that point. As the former BTCC driver Gabriella Tarquini found out with the Alfa 155 at Duffus Dip, it takes no prisoners. I was a spectator at that particular race meeting and witnessed the total destruction of the barrel-rolling Alfa.

My perception so far with the A110, is that the extra grip and durability of the Cup 2 tyres will work very well with the double wishbone suspension on the track. This race car suspension configuration keeps the camber angles constant when the car is loaded up on a high speed corner. I'll be timing my laps out of interest on the day. If I can persuade my tutor to allow me a few laps on my own in the car at Knockhill, I'll be able to compare lap times with both my Caymans, the CR 6 speed manual, and the 718 2.5t GTS PDK. Lap times were 60.20 seconds, and 58.76 seconds respectively. Given a similar dry track, I think my A110 will give a good account of itself.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

I read the Cayman R post on this section of the forum with more than a passing interest. The author is seeking opinions on acquiring a 987.2 Cayman R 6-speed manual. Not too many about, and those manual versions with bucket seats are still fetching around £50,000 for an average mileage CR in good nick.

As I have previously described on this thread, the CR 6-speed manual gearbox car is one of the best Caymans you can buy if driving pleasure is paramount rather than the latest infotainment package.

If track days are an intended feature of CR ownership, then brake modifications are essential. Swap the brake master cylinder for a 997 GT3 unit, and fit Aeroquip steel braided hoses at each corner. Motorsport brake pads front and rear are also essential, as is disconnecting the pad wear sensors and fitting short circuited dummies in their place. Most competition brake pads for the CR will not have the slots in place for the pad wear sensors. De-snorking the air duct intake, larger throttle body and plenum, K&N or BMC cotton air box filter also good mods to do to gain a few extra bhp and torque. I used Michelin Cup 2's and Toyo R888 tyres for sprints and hill climbs. The CR really benefits from the fitment of sticky tyres. I also experimented with a variety of wheel spacers, settling on 10mm spacers front and rear as the best option.

Like the CR, the Alpine A110 also has an excellent array of aftermarket mods to enhance the performance and driving experience. The Alpine tuner Life 110, has the market pretty well covered and David Pook the proprietor is an excellent source of helpful advice. Wheels, spacers, geo settings, engine re-maps, induction tract mods, and extended paddle-shifters are some of the modifications available.

I shall be reporting in due course just how my A110 Legende GT compares on the track at Knockhill on March 31st. I'm hoping for a mild dry day so the Cup 2's can be given a proper test. I have done many laps at Knockhill in my CR with both Cup 2's and Toyo R888 tyres. It shall be interesting to see how the A110 measures up against such composed and formidable competition as my CR and 718 Cayman GTS 2.5t PDK.

In my experience so far with the A110, it is at least the equal of the CR in modified competition trim. I'll reserve judgement for now on how it compares with the 718 GTS 2.5t PDK on the demanding and technical Knockhill circuit. I suspect it will be a close match.

Brian

 

[AndrewCS]

My plan is to use the Cup 2 tyres for the Performance Driving Courses I intend to do during this year. I have already booked the first of these courses at Knockhill circuit in Fife on March 31st. As I have now retired from track day participation, the Performance Driving Courses using my own car are an ideal alternative. I shall be very interested indeed to see how the A110 performs on the track compared to my extensive Cayman experiences at Knockhill. The technical nature of this undulating track make this a real driver's circuit. I have a feeling the A110 on Cup 2's at Knockhill will be a formidable combination. A report on how the day goes at Knockhill will follow in due course

See you there Brian, hopefully I`ll keep up

 

[Brian_Innes]

Andrew,

This is excellent news.

I think it will be a very interesting day comparing the performances of my A110 against your GT4. We are both capable wheel-smiths and know our way around this tricky undulating circuit. I'll have my GoPro fitted to the A110 to record the event.

Hopefully the weather will be dry so we can both use our Michelin Cup 2 rubber rather than the wet weather PS4's.

A full report will follow after March 31st.

See you there.

Brian

 

[Ryan9729]

In my experience so far with the A110, it is at least the equal of the CR in modified competition trim. I'll reserve judgement for now on how it compares with the 718 GTS 2.5t PDK on the demanding and technical Knockhill circuit. I suspect it will be a close match.

Brian

There is quite a nice video here comparing the two on track, albeit this was the 4.0 GTS but a manual.

Porsche Cayman GTS vs Alpine A110 S - hot coupe shootout - YouTube

 

[Brian_Innes]

Ryan,

Thank you for posting that track shoot-out comparison between the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 Manual and the Alpine A110S. Really good to watch.

I was particularly interested in the understeer tendencies the tester reported on the A110S. The damp track conditions probably exaggerated this on the day. I would agree with the testers view that had it been bone dry, the A110S times would have been closer if not quicker than the manual Cayman GTS. The PDK version of the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 would be another thing entirely, which would probably ensure the GTS 4.0 retained its superiority.

My car has the geo set up according to Life 110 recommended settings to significantly reduce understeering tendencies. On my road driving trips thus far, I have not experienced any understeering attitudes, but of course this may well be a different matter when on the track.

For me personally, my previous experience with the Cayman R on Cup 2's at Knockhill is still very fresh in my mind, with lots of GoPro footage to refer back to as confirmation, so I'll be very interested to see how my A110 compares on Cup 2 rubber at Knockhill. I also know which corners on the track understeer is most noticeable.

Whatever the result, the A110 starts as the underdog compared to the Caymans I have driven at Knockhill. It should be a very interesting day.

Brian

 

[Ryan9729]

I was particularly interested in the understeer tendencies the tester reported on the A110S. The damp track conditions probably exaggerated this on the day. I would agree with the testers view that had it been bone dry, the A110S times would have been closer if not quicker than the manual Cayman GTS. The PDK version of the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 would be another thing entirely, which would probably ensure the GTS 4.0 retained its superiority.

He stated that the Alpine would have faired much better in the dry, I didn't then hear him say it would be quicker than the Cayman.

I really like the Alpine, I'm trying to convince my friend to get one along side his Alpine 410 which is great fun, but seeing the new 110 running around the streets of Macon on the French rally we did was amazing, great group of guys I'd suggest you look it up and take part its really good fun you'll see all the original 110s out there too! And those boys in those classics do not hold back!!

Seeing the new 110 out there and the way it handled those particularly challenging roads is where I would expect it to excel, and I'm pretty sure the Cayman and especially the GTS model would not fair as nearly as well in that environment.

 

[Brian_Innes]

As with most cars, its horses for courses regarding comparisons between a Cayman and an Alpine A110.

My particular interest is in how the A110 Legende GT measures up against the 987 Cayman R at Knockhill. In many ways it is close to comparing apples with apples, as both cars share an identical wheelbase, are mid-engined, light on their feet, and will be shod with Cup 2 tyres. The A110 in whatever configuration is always going to be out-gunned by the superior power and torque of the GTS Caymans, whether 2.5t or 4.0 propelled, or in the case of the GT4 models, either 3.8 or 4.0 powered. It's akin to a boxing match between a bantam weight and middle weight fighter. Power and grunt usually trumps agility and change of direction prowess.

Wherever individual opinions rest on the A110, it is saying something about its capabilities and the respect of the marque within the motoring media, that the car is even compared competitively against the Porsche Cayman GTS. It cannot realistically be compared with the GT4 in my opinion. The GT4 will always prevail in any match between the two cars regardless of the choice of tyres.

In my case the A110 interest is primarily focused on the comparison with the Cayman R, as that is the car I probably know best of all my Caymans.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

Last week I attended an important appointment, voluntarily arranged at my request through my GP, for an NHS driving assessment test at the only DVLA authorised test centre in Scotland, located in Morningside, Edinburgh. My reasoning for subjecting myself for this arduous and gruelling series of tests not only including road driving, but also mental reasoning, cognitive, and concentration tests, was to prepare documented proof of my fitness to drive when my driver's licence falls due for renewal in April 2022. Due to an underlying declared medical condition and being over the age of 70, DVLA provides me with only a 3 year driver's licence. Each driver's licence renewal is always a very stressful time for me.

As followers of my scribblings on this forum will already be aware, I have the medical condition Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is a strain of the severely debilitating Motor Neurone Disease (MND). In my particular case the condition is only affecting the grip and dexterity of my right hand. All other limb and motor functions are perfectly normal. Unfortunately, the publicised cases of MND feature tragic stories of lives devastated and cut drastically short by this cruel and debilitating progressive illness. In my particular case progression is very slow, but the problem for me is that DVLA only see my application on paper. The normal DVLA online driver's licence application route is not applicable for the MND condition, so I have to join the huge backlog of medical renewal application paperwork currently numbering well over 100,000 cases nationwide. I do not need to elaborate on the importance of me attaining another 3 year driver's licence. Cars and driving are the very foundation of my existence as my years advance into the senior age group. Touring my favourite roads in the UK is always a particular pleasure now that my track day participation is over. Performance Driving Courses are the remaining best option for me to enjoy driving my car at speed on a track.

To conclude the driving assessment topic, I am delighted to report I passed all the comprehensive mental cognitive tests, including the driving simulator reaction time and peripheral vision tests. All with above average scores apparently. The one hour driving test in car-hostile Edinburgh was also passed with commendation I am pleased to say. No mean feat in a strange car, the test centre's car, in a busy and congested city. The many potholes and poor road surfaces in the city were also a feature worth noting, as were the bus lanes, cyclists, and hoards of pedestrians.

Back to the main topic, my Alpine A110 Legende GT continues to impress. Now approaching 2500 miles, this car is proving a very comfortable tourer on a long journey. Blessed with a decidedly pokey performance combined with supreme agility and scalpel-sharp responsiveness, this car is a driver's delight. This is not only my personal experience and opinion. In Motor Sport magazine, the respected motoring scribe and road test driver Andrew Frankel writes, "For the money the Alpine A110 is the best driver’s car in the world that you might also choose to use every day. And none is better than the Legende GT." High praise indeed especially coming from such a renowned and experienced motoring journalist. Opinions are always subjective, and all car enthusiasts have their own preferences when it comes to cars and their attributes. In my case I still hold the Porsche Cayman as the benchmark mid-engined sports coupe. I would not rule out returning to a Cayman or possibly a Boxster, when I eventually enter the twilight zone of my driving years. With the Lotus Emira still unproven as a production machine, Porsche still holds the top spot as the best of the driver's cars available in coupe or convertible form. In my opinion, the Alpine A110 is the last of a dying breed of "affordable" petrol-engined coupes to challenge Porsche in these, the final years of ICE propulsion. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing I have lived through the very best times of car ownership and driving experiences.

My next post will feature the fitting of my new wider, light alloy wheels with Cup 2 tyres. I'm very much looking forward to how the A110 compares to it's closest rival in my experience, the 987 Cayman R.

Brian