http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph- ... tted/33769
This was probably meant to be! Our Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution story required a credit to Fast Classics for providing the car for our shoot. And in their current stocklist was a very obvious contender for today's Spotted.
Yes, just a couple of days ago we were looking at the first new Alpine for over 20 years. And this? This is the last. With just over 2,000 miles on the clock and a life thus far on show in a Renault dealership it's arguably the closest you could get to a brand-new Alpine until the new one arrives in 2017.
The Alpine Vision's retro styling harks back to the iconic A110 Berlinetta. But for those with more recent memories the GTA and A610 it spawned are, perhaps, the cars we think of when we hear the Alpine name. Indeed, it's almost a pity Renault has decided to go for retro pastiche with the new car, the A110 very much of its 60s origins with the A310 and GTA respectively putting 70s and 80s twists on the original format. Likewise the A610, which maintained the wedgy, hunchbacked stance of the GTA but embellished it with some very 90s flourishes. Arguably not quite as stylish or pure. But, by all accounts, actually a much better car to drive.
Priced at a punchy £39,995 this car's showroom fresh condition has added a hefty premium and puts the A610 on equivalent terms with the Porsche 911s it was up against when new. Certainly interest in these cars will grow as more noise is made about Alpine's return as a brand too. And while the usual debates will rage about the merits of protecting the investment value of ultra low mileage cars against finding one you can actually use there's something rather beguiling about finding one with such originality. How many miles could you put on it without destroying what makes it such an incredible artefact? Would you dare just use it and say sod the resale value? All questions for the thread to follow.
Right now if you want a 'new' Alpine - and one with the manual gearbox the new one will deny us - this is your best option and one we'd applaud anyone taking!
). The A610 is just more planted and feels much more solid on the road and thus in my opinion is a better car to drive. Plus apart from the cutting out the electrics seem much more reliable than the GTA. I remember I was tinkering almost every other weekend on both my Turbo's with various issues. Both A610's have been very reliable (touches wood).
