OV9

I would definitely support getting a used mod 3 long range or performance. It looks like £25k or so buys you a decent 2 year old one (painful depreciation from new!)

Is keeping your current an option?

IanF wrote: Fri Aug 22, 2025 11:18 pm Is keeping your current an option?

Don’t think anything comes close in terms of performance to a Model 3 P at that price used. They are tough as nails though. 120,000 miles nearly and it’s still had nothing aside from one wheel bearing due to pothole damage. Still on original suspension components despite being driven over 100 speed bumps a day. No notable play. No corrosion underneath. No squeaks or rattles. Interior still comes up new after a clean. AC hasn’t required a top up even.

Whatever EV you go for get a fast one. No real drawbacks and I find with EVs they’re all a bit white goods and with enough time spent in any car they get boring but stupid fast unrelenting acceleration always brings a smile to my face, so that’s the biggest redeeming feature.

IanF wrote: Fri Aug 22, 2025 11:18 pm Is keeping your current an option?

I can extend the lease by another 12 months, but they quoted another £100 per month extra.

Order in for a A290 GTS, should be delivered some time in December.

Took me a couple of weeks to make up my mind as obviously very different and will be losing a lot of practicality. But mind made up whilst listening to Matt Prior on the Autocar podcast saying he's favourite cars are the flawed ones (his favourite this year being the Ineos Grenadier).

A290 is quite flawed really, quite small in the back, short range, 13 buttons on the steering wheel (why?) and those side sills will get annoying getting in and out whilst dirty. But it's bloody good fun to drive and surprisingly quick for only 220hp.

Whilst the 3 is great all round car and does everything very well, I've never gone the long way home like I used to in the M240i.

Great choice! Hope you enjoy it.

I've decided to go down the two car route to save my missing the Petrol Fun Car. Watch this space...

Explosive Newt wrote: Mon Sep 22, 2025 10:54 am Great choice! Hope you enjoy it.

I've decided to go down the two car route to save my missing the Petrol Fun Car. Watch this space...

F-Type?

Tesla now gone. Quite sad to see it go but I do get quite attached to cars. For some reason I can't remove myself from the app so keep getting notifications every time someone is driving it. Must resist the temptation to open the boot from the app!

Picking up the A290 from Cambridge this afternoon. I joined a Facebook A290 owners group just in case I need some help with something. It's really hard not to post something sarcastic as they seem to take it quite seriously. I blame you guys for making me like that, you've ruined me .

Ooh, photos of the A290 when you get it please!

I've seen people on the R5 forums saying the 5 logo charge indicator on the bonnet gets condensation in it. Ours is fine but it lives under cover when at home. The Alpine presumably doesn't have the same thing (a 5 logo would be weird when it's not called a 5, and the Micra doesn't have it).

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:05 pm Tesla now gone. Quite sad to see it go but I do get quite attached to cars. For some reason I can't remove myself from the app so keep getting notifications every time someone is driving it. Must resist the temptation to open the boot from the app!

Picking up the A290 from Cambridge this afternoon. I joined a Facebook A290 owners group just in case I need some help with something. It's really hard not to post something sarcastic as they seem to take it quite seriously. I blame you guys for making me like that, you've ruined me .

Ooh Alpine Friend

Jobbo wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:08 pm Ooh, photos of the A290 when you get it please!

I've seen people on the R5 forums saying the 5 logo charge indicator on the bonnet gets condensation in it. Ours is fine but it lives under cover when at home. The Alpine presumably doesn't have the same thing (a 5 logo would be weird when it's not called a 5, and the Micra doesn't have it).

I think it's just a cover, definitely doesn't have the charge indicator like a 5.

Will take pictures. Have I got to use Instagram to upload it here?

scotta wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:25 pm

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:05 pm Tesla now gone. Quite sad to see it go but I do get quite attached to cars. For some reason I can't remove myself from the app so keep getting notifications every time someone is driving it. Must resist the temptation to open the boot from the app!

Picking up the A290 from Cambridge this afternoon. I joined a Facebook A290 owners group just in case I need some help with something. It's really hard not to post something sarcastic as they seem to take it quite seriously. I blame you guys for making me like that, you've ruined me .

Ooh Alpine Friend

Which one are you on? I joined Alpine A290 Owners & Enthusiasts UK (my wife called me a sad bastard when she heard I'd joined )

Spotted in Ebbw Vale in Wales on Saturday....



Dave!

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:05 pm Picking up the A290 from Cambridge this afternoon.

Ooh give us a wave as you go past!

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:01 pm Will take pictures. Have I got to use Instagram to upload it here?

I'd not tried that, though it embeds a whole Insta post rather than just the image so it's not ideal. I've used the PH image uploader and cut and pasted the link to here

You can add attachments here pretty easily but you’ll have to download an app to resize images to under 350kb first.

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:02 pm

scotta wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:25 pm

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:05 pm Tesla now gone. Quite sad to see it go but I do get quite attached to cars. For some reason I can't remove myself from the app so keep getting notifications every time someone is driving it. Must resist the temptation to open the boot from the app!

Picking up the A290 from Cambridge this afternoon. I joined a Facebook A290 owners group just in case I need some help with something. It's really hard not to post something sarcastic as they seem to take it quite seriously. I blame you guys for making me like that, you've ruined me .

Ooh Alpine Friend

Which one are you on? I joined Alpine A290 Owners & Enthusiasts UK (my wife called me a sad bastard when she heard I'd joined )

A110 groups mainly.

Jobbo wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:19 pm

Holley wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 1:01 pm Will take pictures. Have I got to use Instagram to upload it here?

I'd not tried that, though it embeds a whole Insta post rather than just the image so it's not ideal. I've used the PH image uploader and cut and pasted the link to here

This is my picture posting solution for here.

I did take pictures but can't be bothered to download an app just to upload some pictures and I don't have a PH account.

For some reason I've got quite lazy with technology as I've got older. I haven't even bothered to create a login for the car (I started, got irritated after 2 minutes and left it). I will do it, eventually!

Range is awful, so those looking at this as a main car I would think twice. It's hardly any better than the i3 we used to have (indicating 150 miles on first drive). As this is only to get to and from work (11 miles each way) this isn't an issue, but I was surprised how far off from the manufactures 227 claim it is. Wife has an EX30 which did 230 miles on Saturday going up and down the A1 at a cruise set 68mph. Battery on that is 64kwh, so with the A290 at 52kwh and 200-300kg lighter, I'd have expected an easy 180+.

On the plus side it's like a proper old school hot hatch, fast enough to be entertaining and darty through the corners. Just about enough power not to overwhelm the fronts too much. I haven't had enough time with it to fully chuck it about, but initially reminds me of my old 172 clio.

Devialet sound system is very good, much better than the Tesla's. Adas systems can be switched off on the move with one switch which is pretty decent and general quality is impressive. You wouldn't think its humble connections come from clio sports of old as interior is more akin to my old M240i. Having said that a 172 would be about 28k adjusted for inflation, so the Alpine at 36k should be a lot better!