Alpine VS Lotus! Should We Have Bought This A110 Instead of an Elise 240 Final Edition?

Alpine VS Lotus! Should We Have Bought This A110 Instead of an Elise 240 Final Edition? | TheCarGuys.tv
#AlpineA110 #LotusElise240FinalEdition #versus
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The big question this week, thanks to James who kindly leant us his Alpine A110, is should Damian have bought an Alpine instead of the lotus Elise Final Edition?
Yes it’s time for a good old fashioned Versus test between these two cars - both are around £50k basic, both are two door, two-seat sports cars, and both have been targeted for termination.
Join us this week for a full review of one of the last Alpine A110s, and a back-to-back drive with the Lotus Elise. Which one wins? Which would we take home? Did Damian make the right decision. All these questions and more will be answered in this week’s episode.
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[@xondat]

The A110 is still in production! They're just changing the models currently, supposedly a more hardcore S is coming, the Pure is staying with a name change, and the Legende will live on between the two. The Legende GT has always been limited each model year, there will be a 2022 version. FWIW, the Legende GT has the softer suspension from the Pure, but the power of the S. The interior is covered in more leather compared to the Pure & S.

[@hollo500]

Is the Legend the only model with seats that are adjustable? That would be a must for me.

[@alexispillon1608]

@@hollo500 yes it is, it’s the only one with really adjustable seats. You can still put the Pure and S seats forward or backward easily though and they’re pretty comfortable for bucket seats.

[@SpencerPlanton]

I have just bought one, so I can confirm they are still in production. A more hardcore ‘S’ really?

[@nirfz]

The seats of the Pure model can be adjusted in height. 3 different height positions if i remember correct, but you need tools for it. (Basically i've been told at a car show: when you buy it, they adjust the drivers seat of the Pure to the buyers preference)

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

Alpine is actually partnering with Lotus to make a future electric sports car.

[@jonathanknight8251]

The Alpine has the creature comforts, but maybe that’s why it didn’t sell that well. I prefer the looks of the Elise, the manual box, supercharger over turbo, no power steering, less frivolous stuff that will break over time, lower weight, and an engine that will likely never break in stock tune. The Elise is the closest thing I have driven to the 100cc kart I had as a kid. Can’t wait for my Final Edition to arrive.

[@alfamonk]

Nah, it’s just ingrained brand snobbery. We’ve had 40 years of denigrating car journos in the uk pour scorn on any sports car that wasn’t German, Japanese or Italian that the die is set.

[@Reiffan]

Not agree with all. If you had ever driven a Caterham S7, you would know, which car comes closest to a 100cc kart. As long, it is the Toyota engine, i agree, but not with the rover K Series engine. Its weak Head gasket leaks oil very soon.

[@UnleashElise]

@@Reiffan I agree with that you cant really compare the Elise with a kart. Not even a S7 actually. Any properly serviced K Series engine got its gasket replaced as soon as the issue was known. So, no issue there.

[@jandersen6802]

I really like the design of the Apline.

[@addj7093]

The A110 is Gordon Murray approved 👍🏻 that would seek one for me. Cool French 🇫🇷 car 👌🏻

[@orchidopus]

"Avon Ditchfinders' Not much makes me laugh these days, but that did.

[@b.archambault]

Honestly, we must admit that the alpine is classier and more successfull in all compartments whether aesthetically or technically.its only flaw is not to be british😔😄good job alpine!👍❤️

[@billybill6604]

I'm French and tbh the reason I think the Alpine is so good is that it's got a British flair to it. Light weight, fun little car. The British have made most of the best cars. Fact. Warm regards

[@chucku00]

David Twhoihig, the lead engineer behind the A110 is British, tho.

[@courtneykirk478]

Noooooooooooo.

[@kalmmonke5037]

mah ltous is better, aesthetcis is same aesthetcis level just different approach, i prefer fuction over form of lotus anyway, turbo it and itll be lower emission more torque maybe still maintain linear pedal response maybe with electric turbo

[@samb2334]

Nah lotus is way nicer looking. The front lights are ugly in the alpine and the rear of the alpine looks weird because it’s lower than the front. Plus the lotus a proper mid engined British sports car that’s manual and really light.

[@CherylCold]

Been using an Elise as a daily since 2013, apart from when I'm moving large objects around I'll grab the keys everytime, its very economical and fine for supermarket shopping. Makes me smile when I look at it and a fun run around. If you only have one car then the Alpine maybe makes more sense. Both will appreciate, I suspect in similar values. As a big believer in debt free living, I'm not rich, a decent used Elise is not so out of reach and will keep you happy.

[@FenderUsa]

so glad you guys are back together, the chemistry is real

[@johnnyboy1586]

Yeah you can tell there just real mates

[@diluxe]

That Alpine looks so good

[@lennoxbaumbach390]

Saw a blue one recently in the swiss alps. Truly stunning car.

[@xissburg]

The Elise makes you feel like you’re driving a classic car. It’s all about the driving experience and the baby super car looks. I don’t think anything else in the market with a windshield, a roof and windows can be quite comparable.

[@sveeny]

That open manual gearbox is convincing enough to not even test drive the Alpine. In this battle, the lotus wins every day for me.

[@ripptorr]

depends what you want the car for. The alpine is more elegant and dare I say cooler? But of course if you want to have fun on a short blast, than that manual with exposed gear linkage is just sooo nice to have!

[@AnthonyWilliams-vh1ds]

Is there a way to change the previous transmission surround for the later open gated one at all?

[@terryfenner8142]

You two fellas shoehorned into that Lotus, couldn’t stop laughing 😆..

[@oliverharvey637]

Great video guys, loads of info and a nice enjoyable easy watch for a Friday afternoon after a long day and week. Keep it up, I really enjoy these kind of videos you boys put out. Thanks 👌

[@henrystaals6923]

The whole point of the lotus is the raw driving experience . If you want comfort you use your other car in the garage . When you want a fun drive you get back in your lotus

[@paulthorpe766]

It is, but I'd say have a Caterham R500 or Aerial Atom for a proper fun rewarding drive... the Elise is the middle ground I.m.h.o. neither fish nor fowl.

[@varmastiko2908]

Or you have fun every time you drive your car - having the fun car as your only one so you make sure it can be just barely practical enough for that.

[@dl6860]

Thanks for taking the time to do an in-depth video like this. Excellent stuff!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robbiehutchin679]

Anyone who has driven a lotus will understand why its the better choice. When i say better i mean for a weekend blast. They have a sense of occasion and feel special to drive. The panel is disappointing as the the build quality on my exige is faultless.

[@waynec1413]

Great to see the return of Jason and the resulting banter. Though think you should put a warning before the video starts to prepare us for the horror of those trainers!

[@DrPittenstein]

Good stuff 👍 'Touring' or 'Sport' dampers on your car? Like to try an Alpine, shame they never did a manual but the purity of the Elise does it for me.

[@markjohnson8352]

That was fun, thank you guys! 😁 Both good cars I think but the Elise wins for me. Wheels on the Alpine does it no favours, nor the colour in my opinion. A track comparison has the potential for further hilarity!

[@julianevans9548]

I never understand why they don't give you options like 'Quickest gear changes without turning off the traction control'. Can they never envisage a time when you might want that? So many sports cars seem to have mandatory settings like that. Want the track mode? Well, you'll have to have auto-blip as well. Want the loud exhaust? No stability control for you then. Just make them all separate functions and then all choices are available.

[@Jokwoo]

Marvelous video! Truth be told, I’d choose the Alpine if I had to choose between the two. But if I had my druthers, I’d prefer an Alfa Romeo 4C in my garage...raw, sporty, and once the alignment geometry is worked out, a sublime handling car. It’s also stunningly beautiful (IMHO).

[@davemclean8667]

Bags of fun video- loved watching you get into Lotus!! Good to see you two talk cars!!

[@marklawrence9416]

Another fab video, thanks for all your hard work. 😀😀😀

[@gamersxpsn1822]

Great chat to watch. Looking at your experience with the two cars, it was clear that the Alpine could easily be the "second" car or perhaps a weekend road tripper, while the Lotus is the purpose built track car. I would have liked to have seen your opinion on the Lotus with a just a driver as it is obviously not exactly a passenger car. Sad to see that the A110 will no longer be sold here in Australia thanks to some bureaucratic safety BS. I would have liked to experience it... one day.

[@OlderthanIlookyoungerthanIfeel]

Regardless of anything else the Toyota engine in the Lotus is capable of going forever . We used to have a Toyota that went over a million miles , I highly doubt that the same can be said for Alpine .

[@mikewalker7021]

Great video guys its awesome to see you boys back together doing your thing. Lots of comments about Jason's kicks I thought they were quite funky and cool ! wear what you want I say. Back to the video loved it fantastic personal views on each car they both look amazing and have good and bad points but shocking from Lotus with the whole buying experience and the broken switch surround after only 1 day !!! I relate to you boys the best probably due to my similar age and heritage I'm NZ based these last 16 years but definitely the best English KZbinrs out there apart from Tim who doesn't flip cars just for views and definitely loves what he owns and James who gives a more sensible in-depth but journalistic view without any pretence. The reactions after the slide had me in absolute tears and almost wetting myself its like Laurel and Hardy reviewing cars. Keep up the amazing videos looking forward to more but I'm missing the wrist check of the day being a watch nerd also and don't forget give it some BEENAGE.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Thanks for watching, Mike

[@martinjoanna]

I am a S3 Elise 250 Cup owner and my previous one is a 981 Cayman S. If Alpine drives and feels like the Cayman and if you look for utility, good sportiness plus brand image definitely go for the Alpine/Cayman category. If however excellent driving experience is the only thing you need, plus hate-to-be-the-same personality then Elise and even Caterham is for you. Do note that the factory alignment setting is too mild. Remove all the camber shims and adjust the front toe to zero. You will unleash the actual potential of the Elise. Enjoy.

[@jimf5160]

I have the same problem getting in or out of an Elise...they are tight. It helps taking the roof off. That being said, the handling and driving experience is excellent.

[@betacam235]

For real difficulty getting in an Elise with the roof on, try the S1! The chassis tub beam is a lot higher....

[@benoitribaille2777]

Merci les gars ! Your video has shown many amazing details on both cars. Good job!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Glad you liked it!

[@seancain7305]

Great combo. I think both cars are great, so really hard to split, more about what you want to do with them. The Elise is purer.. closer to a more usable 7, especially the early build cars - great for shorter blasts. The A110 could be your only car if you only needed 2 seats... what a treat that would be!

[@DrChaos-xr5dd]

As I prefer travelling in an open car... sorry alpine.

[@aitorgallego98]

My a110 is actually my only car and it's fine

[@leojonkers3181]

The Alpine is beautiful, but the wrong color. Blue is the color for a Alpine! I like the normal shifting in the Lotus and the fact you can open the roof. Very nice car to look at as well.

[@richspjones]

Two similar cars and two similar trainers (Jason!) I've got to agree with Damian; the tactility of the Lotus steering and interaction from the gear change makes it my choice too. I had an S2 111S from new and it was incredible through the twisties; well worth having versus out-and-out beanage in a driving experience. Cheers chaps

[@rivaterrier]

Descending into utter trivia. The Alpine’s radio controls on the column look almost exactly the same as the ones on a 1992 Espace I had in 1992. Back then remote radio controls were a revelation. And the Elise indicator stalks look like the ones that were in the company car cavalier that was replaced by the Espace. Either way you get a nice bit of 1990s retro.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

The Elise stalks are old Vauxhall ones and the mirrors are from a Metro. The reason is they are a very light :)

[@AdamBuckley1964]

@@BlatentlyFakeName Peugeot switchgear, of which there are none about (I'm having to strip some down to repair)

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

@@AdamBuckley1964 There are parts from all over. I think the fuse boxes are from a BMW motorbike.

[@thedrivebygg]

Watched this at 11.30pm in the bath, great video chaps. Would be good to see how your lotus compares to the old vx220 turbo, drove one back in the day and thought it was rather good.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Yes that would be interesting

[@markdavis69]

Excellent video. Really enjoyed it. Difficult choice, maybe I would have both!

[@robertmorgan8581]

Lotus for me, but one question, why is Jayson wearing childrens bowling shoes?

[@paulthorpe766]

Tried one in France in 2018 quite liked it especially the steering and chassis balance. Forgot the incumbents in Elise are shoulder to shoulder big style - almost as bad as a Stratos in that respect. Prefer my 1993 A610 over both tbh - but it's not raw like these two granted....but more like a French 968cs for back of the sofa money. That Alpine in silver on the first shot looked great a bit 918 Spydery with its wheels !

[@TheOrangeEliseCup250]

The Alpine could be à daily car. But the Elise is more drivers focused. Both iconics sports cars as well.

[@neilpatching7443]

Fabulous guys great to see you both again. Till next week 🍻

[@michaellau2544]

Design wise I think the alpine’s strength is also its weakness. Namely those iconic four headlights which looks like a strange, comical alien face. Thanks for a great review watch guys.

[@drew699]

Thanks gents. Lotus every time. I respect the A110 & clearly it’s had very very good reviews, but the Elise has had even better reviews & over many more years. The point of an Elise is nothing other than pure driving & it cannot be criticised for its noisy-ness, rawness etc because that’s not what it’s focus is; it’s a bit like criticising an S class for being big & wallowy. As a daily, objectively I suspect the Alpine is easier to commute with, but who wants to really commute? Another factor you ignored is that the Elise is a convertible & that is a fabulous factor on many many days even in the winter. As soon as you take either car on track, the Alpine as comfortable as it is will start to feel more compromised. At the end of the day, you will learn far more about pure driving from the Elise that you’ll ever learn from an auto boxed 1150KG carpeted Alpine/Cayman. I’ll stick with my lightweight 720Kg S1 Elise & my Caterham. Cheers. Look forward to more content.

[@fredpressy6127]

My Exige 430 cup type 25 was a disaster. It should not cost more than £50k. The lotus thing is a dream for people who have not driven or owned other cars. I have held out on the Emirs as a result . Yaris GR , Alpine both superior to any current Lotus model. Emira excepted as I have no knowledge of it, as do most of us.

[@thomasravn5044]

@@fredpressy6127 I own an Elise S1 but never as the only car. I can't speak for the A110 as I haven't driven one but I have driven a lot of other fun cars. To each his or hers own taste but I've never driven a more responsive and engaging car than the Elise so I do not agree that it is a disaster 🙃

[@fredpressy6127]

@@thomasravn5044 never said it was a disaster.

[@thomasravn5044]

@@fredpressy6127 ok, so why is the Exige 430 Cup 25 a disaster? 😊

[@Gavin-oq5tt]

Great video - you are up there when it comes to You Tube car content. Have you taken a look at the Litchfield mods for the Alpine? Doesn’t fundamentally change your conclusion, but if you like the Alpine, you might like the Litchfield Alpine more.

[@nigelgoldsworthy354]

Enjoyed the comparison guys. Being an Elise driver the only point I’d like to make is that, having done lots of long trips, I’ve never got out of it feeling uncomfortable. Cabin noise is the main limiter

[@echoededge6669]

Likewise. Drove about 7 hours home when I got my S2 Elise and it was very comfortable

[@garynorman5179]

Fab review. So great to see them back together.

[@Franzino]

Some remarks; Track mode in the Alpine is not DSC off, it's DSC with more playroom (like M-dynamic on BMW). You can turn off DSC in track mode by pressing the DSC button separately. The tyres are Michelin Pilot Sport 4, not the slightly more sporty Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

[@EuropaSman]

Shame about the loose panel. That is pretty rubbish, but I'm I sure that'll get sorted under warranty at the running in service. I've got an Evora and an Elise and their characters are very different, in a similar way to comparing the Elise with the A110 (track weapon vs GT). The Elise is very analogue and is great on track, which is really its USP. It's also a head turner - I was out in mine today and someone shouted "nice car". It's also not a retro reboot; one evening a couple of weeks back I had an A110 come up behind me, and because it was dark I thought initially it was an old 6th gen T299 Celica due to the headlight/driving light configuration. Both the A110 and Elise have their merits; it boils down to what you want from the car. Enjoyed the video chaps. Stick with it regarding the Elise Damian. It's a good car, but like any new carsit can have its share of niggles.

[@owenthomas8156]

Great video. Both beautiful in their own right. I would take the Lotus for weekend blasts over the Alpine. I’d prefer to drive the Alpine to Switzeland 👍🏻

[@rallymouse1]

Great choice... You have already said that the major point "rawness". Lotus is not a daily car that you can use every single day. Obviousy it should not be either. It is a fun car to have or a hobby car I can say. It is a racing car feeling on the public roads or rallying country lanes without entering a rally. Do not get me wrong I do like Alpine and honestly very happy to see it in my garage. I am a kind of Renault guy I have owned Clio Williams, 5 Alpine in back years. But if you ask me to choose one of these I choose Elise like Damian. Simply saying everybody can get Alpine. It as a "human car" ;) The thing is as a petrol head, I want to have something different than the normal people.

[@markplayford5836]

Cracking video chaps. Always liked the Alpine but in that colour with those wheels I don’t much. Yeah the Lotus wins for me too, naff interior aside ( the radio would get binned immediately), wind up windows tick to replace the leccy ones, on yeah air con binned too (that’s why it’s a convertible!). Bit of black gaffa tape on the start button panel and your good to go. Simples…

[@schw4rz891]

Just found this video. I always dreamt of buying a Elise and even test drove one back in the days. I said to the Owner of Lotus Munich: I will come back in 4 years when my daughter is old enough to sit on the front seat (with a booster). As life goes, 4 years later I find a special leasing offer on the A110 S and I could not resist. It's a brilliant car, and after a year I will decide if I go for an Elise instead or for the A110 S. From the outside and everyting I like the Elise more, but for practicality and modernness I like the A110 S.

[@Franzino]

Great video! But; runout edition Alpine? What are you guys talking about...? Alpine is not going to stop making the current Alpine this year (like the Elise runout model). The Alpine model shown is the limited edition Alpine Legende GT (version II). The other Alpine models (and the new upcoming Alpine S2) can be bought the next following years. They sold more then 10.000 new Alpine worldwide since it launch. To my eyes; that are still a nice amount of cars.

[@dangriffiths9813]

Good to see Jason back with you. You work well together - and there is swearing and tail out action as we expect from him! Longer videos work well with the two of you doing them. Nice review 👍

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Thanks 👍

[@diogodimas8677]

With the current sports car market, the only sports car i really want to buy brand new is a A110 (non S, a basic A110). The regular A110 has a supple suspension with 240hp, the A110S has a really stiff suspension and the extra power is nice, but Lietchfield can get 300hp on a basic A110. The Coxster is too expensive, quite a bit nicer, however there are better bought used since the dont stop drepeciating. The Elise has the same problem, much better bought used since they drop in value really quick and a 2008 Elise SE is pretty much the same has a 2020 Elise. The M2, Supra, TT RS are front engine, so they dont really compare with a mid-engine driving experience.

[@Sabrezx]

Hey fellahs, good vid, but unless you hold the traction button down after entering track mode it still helps you out. I only discoverd this in mine recently. It cuts the power when you get it a little sideways, unlike with it off completely where its happy to go sideways in the dry under power.

[@benbav4585]

Really enjoyed that. Both cars look a lot of fun. 👍

[@jon.steele]

Most impressed you got at least two cameras in the Lotus with both of you :) Did Jason borrow the Alpine and them shoes???

[@anandpushkar7510]

Prefer the looks of alpine , something special I can't really point a finger at , great to see you and Jason back together.

[@davidkelly2542]

It looks great from the back but really ugly from the front end. Rear doesn't match the front

[@peterrandall3369]

Never mind the cars, what about the trainer review. Very fresh Jason

[@paulkane9863]

Very French

[@maz4304]

@@paulkane9863 very Catalonian actually, FC Barcelona dunks

[@Chewman30]

Brings back memories seeing 2 grown men squished into a Lotus! 😂

[@h533feg]

This has me eye rolling and is like watching my Dad review a car. And I'm 50.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Excellent - that's what we're going for 😀

[@mattjonesgt3538]

Enjoyed that!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Good stuff

[@mattylf1]

I think as a car you can take on track, the Elise is the one to have. If you're never going to do that and just drive on the raod the Alpine seems to be the car for that. Great review and laughed at the BBC micro references. That took me back !.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Glad you enjoyed it - I like to drop in obscure references 👍

[@stevencahill3628]

fyi when jason got sideways coming out the corner....... the track mode DOES have esc, it just allows greater slip angles..... as demonstrated. if you want it all off, you have to press the esc off button on the dash.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Let's not tell him though, eh?

[@johnmouser8187]

Very funny episode - good job.

[@dfranklin72]

So wanted to get a final edition Elise. At 6’1 it was just too small. Believe me I tried. After many visits to the dealership, just testing getting in and out I had to walk away. Ended up buying an Alpine Pure in base spec. Having owned over 50 cars and been lucky enough to have had some greats, the Alpine is up there with the best. FYI track mode or as I call it Chris Harris mode still gives some level of assistance. You can pull off some great drifts, on track that is obviously 🙄

[@xissburg]

It’s great to be under 6’ tall 🙂

[@CarDaddy24]

I'm 6'2" and fit in my Elise just fine, hmmm.

[@andrewgee2775]

Really like the Apline, but the Lotus wins because of its basic approach, still think you made the right choice Damien, oh and can you tell Jason, Noddy wants his shoes back. Cheers

[@thedownshiftchannel]

I’d have loved to have seen the Alpine do well it’s an excellent car dynamically but I can’t quite put my finger on why it didn’t sell so well. Other than it not being as desirable mass market due to the badge and looks being styled on a classic car only real car enthusiasts would get excited over. We aren’t actually that big a market compared to people who are just wanting a nice car

[@peterthompson9854]

I’ll put my finger on it for you then. It went up against Porsche! That market is far too full of zombies dragging their feet towards awful Porsche dealers blinkered to anything else on offer.🧟‍♂️

[@thedownshiftchannel]

@@peterthompson9854 although I agree to some extent I think it’s more a bridge between Porsche and lotus. It’s 300kg lighter than a cayman which is very significant but not quite as raw and compromised as an Exige. But to be honest the actual car enthusiast market is much smaller than the I want a nice car market

[@silure9502]

It actually sold well, well enough for Renault to keep developing Alpine further

[@CarDaddy24]

Take the Roof off the Elise and REV it to 8200 RPM and hit some curves, Magical...

[@TheCarGuysTV]

That’s the plan

[@carstech2685]

As much as I like the alpine and to see how much better it would be as daily. It just can't touch the Elise especially with one huge draw back ...no manual!!!... the Elise is Just an amazing car to drive, whenever you drive you just have so much fun and connection. It's just you and the car which is why I got one over the cayman and alfa 4c it's far to special of a car

[@adrianlivesey4375]

bizarrely when I changed from electric to windy windows in my Exige, the weight difference was actually in favour of the electric windows! it would only have been lighter if I had stripped out the looms!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Indeed, but there's something more satisfying about windies, and they also won't go wrong as much

[@borjastick]

I was walking through the centre of Limoges the other day, on my way to se the new Bond movie, and a blue Alpine A110 came past slowly in the heavy traffic. It looked good but very very small.

[@arthurosborne2445]

Only real mates can say slag your car off and only real mates don’t take offence and nothing beats “you’ve wasted your moment on that” . Good to see you back together guys .👍🏻

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍👍

[@ike3206]

Great video Guys! So if you could only own one car! Alpine the Lotus or your GR Yaris/ Yari What would you go for? Im guessing the latter as you both own one Reason I ask is I’ve got a GR but still not sure if it’s a keeper tbh Tempted by the Alpine!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

GR Yaris

[@deborahvalentine2893]

I am still partial to the old Lotus Esprit V8 Final Edition and the old Ventury 400gt.... ;-)

[@details78]

One of the funniest I've seen. Well done, gents!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Thanks

[@robertosacchi689]

I don't think so, Better you've gone for the Elise! Starting with aesthetics the Alpine it's a pretty confusing package, you don't whether is front or mid engined. Chassis wise, the aluminium Elise tub is still a benchmark. Overall i'd prefer t own a Lotus than a Renault

[@andygtv]

James May bought the Alpine so I will vote Lotus Nice review👍

[@petrjerabek7641]

Great comparison and have to agree with the verdict... i mean, not to agree with frog eater Jason, but with Damian this time :-D I think when you say, "i prefer an Elise, because it feels like the Elise and nothing else comes any close to this feeling", thats exactly it. I tried the Alpine, love it, but wouldn't swap it for my Elise , not at all. But if i "play" one sportscar only garage game, then i think i would buy the Alpine A110S , no doubt preferring it to the Cayman 718, Supra, or anything similar like this. Sad, they'll stop making them soon...

[@sixpotshot]

Always go with Porsche! You nailed it 🤩😉 Another excellent vid - thanks a lot!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Glad you liked it!

[@sixpotshot]

@@TheCarGuysTV I did! Your videos are a pleasure and I had been waiting for a long while for someone to come up with a match in between the Alpine and the Lotus so repeating myself: thanks a lot! ps nobody talks much about the Alfa Romeo 4C anymore these days. It is a shame: we dream for car makers to come up with this sort of cars but Porsche is so strong that most of them struggle to succeed and fall through with the exception of Mazda that builds a little fun car very well priced and has almost all the market for itself almost like Porsche who dominates its own one market very well.

[@93455Driver]

:( of the many cars that do not make it to the US, the A110 for me is the most missed. Listen to that Lotus door at 21:45 :), definitely adding a lot of lightness.

[@puggzymalone5824]

If the Alpine was available as a manual then definitely! But as its not personally I prefer the Lotus! I cannot understand why Renault never offered it as a manual??? I mean they have manual gearboxes within the company and it would save even more weight! Crazy not to!

[@apolloandratti7922]

Great review. Too bad the Alpine is not offered across in the pond in the Americas. I guess my AP1 S2000 is always in track mode. No electronics at anytime.

[@thebullrunyachtclub3544]

thank you for sharing the Alpine, As an amaerican I don't really know much. It looks like an amazing car

[@jimj2683]

Wow, that Alpine looks fantastic!

[@oneeleven9832]

This will be interesting had an Elise & Exige over the years & loved em…went to see the Emira the other day 1400 odd kg for christ sake…what’s the Alpine 1100 & something….Alpine certainly beats the Emira…is it better than Elise…press play to find out 👍

[@moriwaki1105]

Wish the Alpine was available with Wheels with classic size tyres...65s or similar...I don't like Low profile tyres at all.

[@jackal2513]

Forthcoming GR86 potentially has the measure of both 🤔 as technical in feel as the Lotus but with a better engine and more desirable over limit behaviour, more connected and involving than the Alpine and a lot more practical than both

[@Fastvoice]

Nope. Totally different ballpark. Much heavier, less power, no mid-engine, costs less than half the price.

[@jackal2513]

@@Fastvoice intellectualisation … will drive better regardless 👍

[@Fastvoice]

@@jackal2513 Everybody has its own definition of "better driving". So there's a matching toy for nearly everyone - and it's not necessarily the same. For me e. g. it's my GT86 with HKS compressor, oil cooler, HJS sport cat and KW V3 suspension. With about 290 PS surely faster than the GR 86.

[@NH00531]

My only experience of an Elise was at a track day and it was fun. However, sacrilege though it may be to say it, I’ve always hated the things, never liked the looks and too raw for me to use in the real world. I’d pick the A110 without a doubt. Great to see you both together again. 👍

[@Rascularvideos]

This is a good video. I presume this version of the Alpine has the ‘S’ chassis settings as well as the ‘S’ engine?

[@Fastvoice]

This special version is a combination of the softer suspension from the non-S car with the stronger S-engine.

[@Rascularvideos]

@@Fastvoice Thanks. From all I’ve read and seen that sounds like the best combination.

[@silverbullet1979]

both these cars are great, it's sad to know they stop building it, I wish both Lotus and Alpine had enough money to sell this cars worldwide, just a wish...

[@martinboulden3540]

Have to side with Jason this week and say the Alpine wins for me. Can I have a pair of Jason’s Trainers as well for my next fancy dress party ?!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Only if it's "EXTREME EIGHTIES"

[@paulthorpe766]

He's in good company mind - I was in the Vintage Rolex shop in Burlington arcade London when Mick Jagger strolled in with exactly the same trainers matched with a camel 3/4 length coat (sounds like I'm on something...but 100% true, I promise).

[@martinboulden3540]

@@paulthorpe766 Can’t beat a good Camel Coat Mr Thorpe !

[@TheJk120]

Good video

[@S2000Y]

Coming into Dieppe the other day on the roundabout is an original A110 and a new one. Imagine that over here, they would be gone in 60 seconds

[@janstaes2172]

great cars, you should add the alfa 4c in the mix. that would be a nice test between the 3 of them

[@Dannycrm]

Would be great to see you giving the GR86 a drive.

[@kramnam4716]

Is the s version of the alpine much stiffer than the regular one? The trouble with the lotus for me is that you could have as much fun with an early one surely for much less money to get the experience.

[@johnnyboy1586]

I love the unique look of the alpine

[@neilbenton2759]

Just different cars really , Elise for me thanks, I’ve a red gr Yaris so please more on those please 🙏

[@Nine9Three]

Good review/comparison, but the Alfa 4c would have been a better choice. Much closer in terms of comforts and driving dynamics to the Lotus. But hey, its your channel.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

If only we had one...

[@darrenlomax1283]

Could you compare the alpine with one of your GR Yaris'? That's what I'd like to see. It would help me decide which one to get.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

The GR Yaris

[@darrenlomax1283]

Do both of you agree in this?

[@darrenlomax1283]

So ive just been to test drive one with 1500 miles on it. How come nobodies talking about how heavy it feels? Compared to my megane RS the yaris feels like a tank. The rs changes direction sharper and is point to pojnt quicker; imo but there is an intoxicating buzz when you plant your foot in the yaris.