I'm Leaving the Alpine Fraternity - everything must go!

After nearly 18 years with my GTA my love affair with Renault Alpine is over. I've not taken this decision lightly and have been considering it for a year or so. I've had some great times but in the last couple of years the disappointments have far outweighed any enjoyment I've got out of the car. (I'm on 1st name terms with must of the staff at the RAC now!) . I've made some bad decisions on who too let work on the car and Renault's attitude when I've needed them has been appalling. So for these reasons I'm out (that reminds me I must stop watching Dragon's Den!).

I'm at an age now where I just want to open the garage and use my cars, not constantly spend my weekends sorting things, fixing things and fiddling with things. Unfortunately as much as we all love Alps they (and many other classic marques - Lotus, TVR, Matra, Alfa, Maserati etc) are high maintenance cars with questionable reliability.

I've made alot of great friends along the way not least Steve Dell - before he dedicated his life to the cause! I'll still be coming to meets and stuff - I just won't be in an Alpine (bit like most months then!)

The journey has taken in 4 other GTA's, and 20 or so other high performance Renaults virtually all modified. In the early days I like to feel I pioneered many of the mods we all do today - In '91 not many people had hybrid turbos, chargecoolers and 17" AZEVs on their GTAs. I was the 1st person in this country to do a 3 litre conversion and as far as I'm aware and nobody has bettered the power figures that car achieved at the same boost pressure.

I'll be listing a whole raft of stuff for sale shortly so have a look. Have a cracking number plate GTA 11N on retention too.

Finally good luck to all Alpine owners for the future - its a great marque with some great cars.

Yours Sadly

Tony Smith

Bad news Tony.

To bad Ireland is so far away!

Regards, Richard.

Are you sure mate I hope you dont regret it once sold, its not like you'll get it back if you do

I know you have had a run of bad luck and spent a lot of money, but modifying cars is never going to be straight forward it always going to throw up problems especially when your pioneering things like stand alone etc on car thats not a common vehicle.

If I had the money I would buy it on the proviso I sell it back to you when you wanted it back, but I dont, so I cant

But the kind thought was there

I call you

Si21

Tony , you are mad, the GTA is the best car I have ever had, I'm sure I speak for many other owners too.
But hey, times change, and sometimes a change is for the best.
See you around mate!

... you are asuming of course that you'll sell it in this market! Until you do you're still in the club!

[BIG_MVS]

What a shame after all those years ownership

What's the next step then?

I still think they are great cars, I can only liken it to being deeply in love with someone and they repeatedly break your heart, do you stick with that person or cut your losses and look for someone else to love - thats a bit too deep but it has been a real love hate relationship for me in recent years. As for next I'll still be keeping my Skyline and AMG Merc, but have also decided to sell my SVX and BMW 635 and spend the money on buying something different. Going to drive a few things and see what I like. RX7, 928 and NSX are under consideration. Will very likely be German or Japanese.

[stephendell]

This would have made a fine track weapon for you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Awesome-928_W0QQi ... 286.c0.m14

[phildini]

I knew this was coming ...........what a shame, I keep going back to these French plastic buckets. As you know I work in the trade selling new cars and I have driven many, many cars but I still think Alpine GTA, A610 is one of the best cars I have ever driven, even against modern cars. My advise/opinion to anybody, if there is not any proper support for specific customised Brand/Model out there ( like Ford have ) then keep them pretty standard I think. I have had my Gta for 5 years now and it has never missed a beat. If you want more power buy a more powerful car

Hey I know somebody who is selling a lovely BLACK NSX :wink

I think what your saying is spot on. I think if I had never started the 3 litre conversion, most of my problems would never had arisen. I've managed to alienate most people from wanting to work on the car, Renault and speciaists don't want to touch it cos' its modified and tuners don't want to touch it because they have never seen one before and think it will be more grief than its worth to sort out. Modifying the Skyline is easy - everything available off the shelf and a dozen well respected companies happy to do it - with guaranteed results. But hindsight is a wonderful thing, if only I could convert it to foresight my bank manager would be a very happy man.

Spot on Tony .Sorry to hear you're packing it in but I fully understand why .

Hi Tony, did you ever get a replacement trigger wheel fitted?

If you want a one-stop shop to sort this all out, can I suggest you call Kevin Jones at GTO Racing. As of last week, Dorian Southway's Venturi 400 Trophy is pushing 514hp. I don't have any more details on the work he's done but I know it's running a mappable ECU - Motec or somesuch.

Also, FYI Rich Johnstone's Adaptronic, which came in the same batch of three that yours did, doesn't accept the innovate lambda on the secondary serial port either.

Cheers Lee, I knew you of all people would understand, I think the way you have managed to keep going through even bigger setbacks than I have had is truly remarkable and says alot about you as a person.

Cheers Lee, I knew you of all people would understand, I think the way you have managed to keep going through even bigger setbacks than I have had is truly remarkable and says alot about you as a person.

Yep some people never learn do they

I think we have all been there one way or another I spent hours rebuilding the mechanicals of my 21 the front suspension in bits at least 5 times each side only to realise that it was a missing clip off of the caliper that made the pads move. The clutch has only done 16,000 tops and it appears to be F*.....slipping, Not what I had hoped at all as now every single one of my 4 performance Renaults is not roadworthy at the moment

My first 21 was off the road for months while I rebuilt the top end repainted and cleaned under the bonnet only for the oil pump to get clagged up with sealant from the previous owners overzealous application of incorrect gasket sealant less than two weeks later!!! . God knows how long it was before Renault finally came up with the engine its been as good as gold up until now really now I have to once again pull the gear box out which was replaced when the engine was 16,000 miles ago

I got over £20,000 + worth of investment in GTAs having been an owner for 3 + years and NEVER DRIVEN ONE YET

I am getting there slowly with the GTA's and may even have one running and road worthy shortly.

That means mate I'll soon have two cars eventually and I can only drive one at a time so if you sell and you want to borrow one give me a call (in about 3 Years time )

si21

Si21 (ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEVER LEARNS)

[BIG_MVS]

Cheers Lee, I knew you of all people would understand, I think the way you have managed to keep going through even bigger setbacks than I have had is truly remarkable and says alot about you as a person.

Aaah time for a team hug

Yes I have said for a while you need to take the GTA for what it is...A 20 yr old french plastic car. It's never going to compete with japanese machinery or modern day exotica.

I think Clee has told me he will be happy with 250BHP and I think he will get it as it's a realistic figure, people aiming for a reliable 3-400 bhp are dreaming as they won't happen unless you stick a V8 or Cossie engine in the back!

Tony - Why not return your GTA pretty much back to standard (sell all the juicy bits) and have the Skyline for speed, then the GTA could be to look good in Plus people may then want to get the spanners out on it for you....