Match: why the Alpine A 110 smashes the Porsche Cayman S!

In the world of efficient, endearing and versatile sports cars, Porsches are generally unbeatable. Except that the Alpine A110 is not afraid of anything, and especially not of the Porsche Cayman, even in six-cylinder. Explanations…

I'm not of a particularly chauvinistic nature, but to see the return of Alpine, it feels good. Above all to see the return of Alpine with the A110, a well-designed and well-proportioned car right down to the degree of nostalgia that inhabits it, which remains true to the initial philosophy, which focuses everything on driving sensations. Anyway, that's the theory, because that's what I told myself before I drove it. And then, as the blog does not have a psychoanalytical function, I will not insist on the fact that in my early childhood, the family car was an A110, and that I clung as best I could to the roll bar, to the back. And that my mother started to moan when my sister was born: two children in the back of a Berlinetta, like a daily driver, even in the 70's, that was a lot.

In short, the A 110 is a myth. Even if, today, finally, in this price range, the Alpine can have serious competitors who are not stingy in argument either. Moreover, now that the First Editions are all sold out, we still have a range made up of the Pure (from €55,800) and this test Legend (from €58,500), pending the 292 hp S (from €66,500).

Opposite, of course, we think first of Porsche and the Cayman if we want to fight on equal terms, in terms of a two-seater mid-engine coupe. That's in theory, because in reality, it spoils really quickly!

Because if a 718 Cayman starts at 57,100 € for a 300 hp model (and 69,740 € for the 350 hp version), looking at the stock of vehicles available on the Porsche France site, we notice above all with dread that by the game options, no Cayman 300 hp  in real life  is really available for less than 75,000 € while the price of the Alpine is all inclusive and it is above all to its credit. In fact, the base price of Porsches is a bit like that of BMWs on motorcycles: it's catch-all, for machines that don't exist. 

As a result, we can modify the parameters of the equation, and consider at the same time as a Porsche, it is also and above all a flat-six. A stroke of luck: a Porsche Cayman S 2.7 PDK, really clean, not too many miles, guaranteed and sold by a pro, it's around 50 to 55,000 €. All this for a real sports car, with 275 hp. 

Bingo: Here's a great match ahead. By the way: thanks to Alpine for the loan, thanks to my friend Aurel' for making his personal car available. 

Presentation

Alpine challenging Porsche, I like that. Side lines, we must admit that despite the age of our Cayman (2014), it has not really aged and still turns heads. The Alpine has a novelty appeal to it, with slender, well-proportioned lines that stand on their own and needn't resort to gimmicks to suggest power, performance or sportsmanship.

Inside, you might think for a moment that it makes sense, especially in the Alpine, thanks to the beautiful infotainment panel with all its functions and in particular the stopwatch and Gran Turismo-style gauges, as well as thanks to the digital dashboard. My Legend version also features beautiful brown leather seats, with blue stitching, and it really looks good. Alas, we end up falling on the radio satellite “Renault 25 way” and I love the Youngtimers, it's surprising. Just like the almost total absence of storage space in the Alpine, thus complicating any long journey, while the Porsche leaves something to plug in your smartphone and has generous door bins. In fact, we may be making progress, but the German quality of the interiors is not a legend for nothing. 

Perfs 

Here it gets funny. On paper, the Porsche wins: 275 hp against 252, the 2706 cm3 flat six will blow up the Dieppoise's 1799 cm3 4-cylinder, which will die in excruciating pain. Although: the flat-six balances 290 Nm at 4500 rpm, against 320 Nm smoothed from 2000 to 5000 rpm. And it's not over: the Alpine is the queen of the diet. 1123 kg. Next door, the Porsche is a big plump turkey for Christmas: 1435 kilos. All the same. 

Obviously, since the dawn of time (or at least, that of the 70s), the “turbo vs atmo” match has existed. And we're not going to do it again. Especially since in reality, there's no picture. In real life, the Alpine deposits significantly more than the Porsche. In times, on the road or on the highway, when the driver of the Cayman S puts his foot to the floor, that of the Alpine constantly sniffs the bumper. The breath of the French turbo, clearly sensitive above 2500 rpm (but the well-thought-out staging of the 7 box means that there is not much turbo-lag) makes the Alpine trace in permanence. We change the steering wheel, we get into the Porsche. It's fun, it's rewarding, it's heady (even more so with the Sport exhaust that this model has). But it's not progressing. Truly not. Alright, let's get back together. it's not a lemur under Tranxen either, but let's say that the range of use is 4500 / 7000 rpm, when that of the Alpine is 2500 / 6000. Obviously, music lovers will prefer the German. But you have to be in absolute attack mode to be able to follow an Alpine driven in a fast winding way, which is not the same thing. 

Accelerations, times, the German suffers. It makes up for it at maximum speed: but before tackling this subject, the legislation obliges me to specify that these tests were carried out by professionals on a private road and that no sensible person would want to reproduce them. That's good, I repaved the access road to my parking lot. Well launched, the German emancipates: over the same distance as the Alpine, it takes 269 km / h counter when the French, at the same time and in the same place, displays 249. We are waiting for the official photos to specify the actual speeds. 

feelings

Here too, we find ourselves in two different universes. The Porsche is more organic, everything is more virile, more direct, from the steering to the suspension through the braking attack. We live the Porsche, we savor the Alpine, it's different. What is different, too, is that you really have to work hard at the wheel of the Cayman to go fast, whereas in complete relaxation, you find yourself not having fun on the terrain at the wheel of the Alpine, without for as much having to whip the mechanics and put yourself in apnea between two gear changes. 

In addition, the Porsche is really glued to the ground. Little roll, surgical precision of the direction, rear not mobile. A rail. The A 110 has more suspension movements, it lives longer. In a positive way. Entry into a turn, gradual braking, we angle the steering wheel by releasing the brakes, and the rear pivots a little to help the car enter the apex. I don't know how they did it, but it's magic, this less than 10° drift that makes you feel like you've suddenly become a countersteering whiz, without ever experiencing the bead of sweat that hits the navel because you know the back will end up going in front. The Cayman is welded to the road, the Alpine is less rigorous, but in fact it is playful but not tricky. A delight. 

In addition, equality is needed on the gearbox side: it goes up the gears quickly, but it takes control when you sometimes want to keep it. Not bad, but not perfect... 

And if not, on a daily basis? 

Broap. The Alpine is much more demonstrative than a Megane RS, even Trophy, at startup. With the Sport exhaust, the Cayman is Pavarotti on acid. Nice. But a bit cumbersome on long journeys. This is where the Alpine is transformed: the Berlinette has become very easy to ride, silent, comfortable, livable, sober (6.9 l/100 on the motorway, 1 l less than the Porsche in the same conditions), if the 'we forget the lack of storage space, it does the job much better. Even more on a daily basis, with the almost instantaneous torque of its engine and the smoothness of its gearbox. 

Verdict 

Slower, of course, but more efficient in absolute terms, more comfortable, quieter, more playful, more sober, less expensive: nice card from the Alpine. If you have just under €60,000 and are looking for a sporty two-seater coupé, well… look no further!