Renault X Devialet

[Confused]

[quote pid='69863' dateline='1513621377']
Nothing on earth would persuade me to buy another Renault. If every other car company ceased to exist I'd buy a bike instead.

Really? This has me pretty much sold:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuCCpaI6y-k

Cheers,
Bernard
[/quote]

I suspect @ssfas has had bad past experience of a Renault, such an experience can have profound lasting and unalterable effects, so I doubt he will be swayed by the shiny new Alpine.  I am quite sure nothing can ever change his view now.

Anyway, back on topic, I note with interest that the Alpine appears to have Focal speakers.  See screenshot below, taken from 12:40 of the YouTube clip:

   

OK, Focal speakers in a car is a nice touch, but there are some problems.  The thing is over £50k and has a 1.8 litre 4 cylinder engine.  The reviewer states that it sounds nice for a 4 pot, but that is not the point, some rivals have 6 cylinder engines, and 6 cylinder engines are oh so much nicer.

Even worse, no manual gearbox.  A sports car must have one of these, and I mean a proper gearstick with a clutch that is operated by a clutch pedal.  There is no point buying a focused driver's car and then let a bunch of electronics and a dual clutch flappy paddle system do half the driving for you.  A manual gearbox is not even an option.

Don't get me wrong, I can see the appeal of the Alpine, but for me it is almost there but flawed, and a somewhat overpriced.