Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

1991 Renault Alpine GTA

1991 Renault Alpine GTA

I don't like to drive ordinary cars. It's hella cliche, but life IS too short to drive boring cars. So you won't see me in a Civic any time soon.

After my Talon got kablooied at a red light, I searched for a replacement. Diamond-encrusted-24K-gold-bar-shitting-unicorns are easier to find than unmolested AWD Talons - so I searched for alternatives.

One of the more exciting cars I found was this 1991 Renault Alpine GTA.

What's so great about this Alpine? Being rear-engined ups the cool factor immediately, but there's something better. It is powered by a PRV V-6. Yes, another car I could call cousin to my DeLorean. But wait there's more!

This is no ordinary PRV V-6. This sucker's TURBO-CHARGED! It's the Talon and the DeLorean all smooshed into one! Imagine the raspy rattle of the unusual 90 degree odd-fire V-6 combined with that sweet, high-pitched turbo surge! AMAZE to the aural delight!

What I don't like is the bar-fight interior. Ok, it's not that bad, but it's not great. Even in showroom condition it just doesn't have the 90s style of the Talon. And while I like that it's rear wheel drive, in my heart of hearts I know I can't live without my all-wheel-drive. Summer would be love, but every winter I'd feel like the summer fling has ended. Like a part of me was missing.

As with the Citroen XM, I couldn't afford the asking price. $17,900 is high, at least for me. But someone is going to get one heck of a cool 200-hp car.

Auto Trader screenshot.

Labels: , , ,

6 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Martini: True. But I hope you can find a balance between a very unique automobile and reliable service. What that might be, I don't know. But I wish you well on this journey!

8:18:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Stay tuned and you will find out Michael!

9:02:00 PM

 
Blogger awildermode said...

I have an Alpine stereo in my DeLorean. Does that count?

11:04:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Bahaha. Only if you change the fade to rear speakers only.

1:00:00 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was always suspicious as to why these cars were so relatively rare. Why was that? Was there something fundamentally wrong with them?

8:19:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Renaults were never very popular in Canada and I don't know why. When their engines couldn't meet Canada's emissions standards, dealerships closed. People want things that are easy - and with no dealerships, getting parts and repairs done were too worrisome for most people.

2:06:00 PM

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

 

This many people accidentally stumbled upon my site
...while searching for porn.