Jay Laifman
Donation Time
Admittedly it was mostly happenstance that I ended up with an Alpine. I was 15 at the time, and my dad was buying the car for himself, which would later become mine. At the time, I preferred the TR4 and the MGA, and definitely liked the MGB. But it was an Alpine that was the right condition and the right price.
Fast forward 40 years, and I've driven a lot of Alpines and MGs and Triumphs over the years. I know now that I absolutely prefer the feel of the Alpine over the MGB. I don't know if it was because I started with the Alpine, or if I would have liked the Alpine better than the MGB if I started with both equally.
If I were to identify why I like the Alpine over the MGB, I'd say its is the feel. To me, the Alpine feels better quality, more solid, and the engine and exhaust sound are more velvety yet sporty sounding. To me, the MGB feels gruffer, but not in a good way. Sure that more solid feel of the Alpine can be all the Husky metal underneath. But it still feels better.
As to the others after I've driven them, the TR4 just doesn't cut it. The MGA is similar to the B but with less power, and seems so much more fragile. I do like the TR3s very much - but that's because they feel like the Alpine to me.
So now my point. The masses mostly prefer the MGB, I prefer the Alpine. The masses mostly prefer the Miata. I prefer the MR2 Spyder. If anything, it is for the same reasons. The MR2 feels more solid and sporty yet smooth like the Alpine, whereas the Miata is gruffer but in a tinnier, unrefined, not particularly pleasant way.
I'm wondering if other Alpine owners have the same preference between the Miata and the MR2.
Fast forward 40 years, and I've driven a lot of Alpines and MGs and Triumphs over the years. I know now that I absolutely prefer the feel of the Alpine over the MGB. I don't know if it was because I started with the Alpine, or if I would have liked the Alpine better than the MGB if I started with both equally.
If I were to identify why I like the Alpine over the MGB, I'd say its is the feel. To me, the Alpine feels better quality, more solid, and the engine and exhaust sound are more velvety yet sporty sounding. To me, the MGB feels gruffer, but not in a good way. Sure that more solid feel of the Alpine can be all the Husky metal underneath. But it still feels better.
As to the others after I've driven them, the TR4 just doesn't cut it. The MGA is similar to the B but with less power, and seems so much more fragile. I do like the TR3s very much - but that's because they feel like the Alpine to me.
So now my point. The masses mostly prefer the MGB, I prefer the Alpine. The masses mostly prefer the Miata. I prefer the MR2 Spyder. If anything, it is for the same reasons. The MR2 feels more solid and sporty yet smooth like the Alpine, whereas the Miata is gruffer but in a tinnier, unrefined, not particularly pleasant way.
I'm wondering if other Alpine owners have the same preference between the Miata and the MR2.