2016 ALPINA B3 BITURBO

The main reasons you bought this car? 
The sense of luxury and comfort with huge performance, plus I prefer its appearance over the BMW M4. It was a rare opportunity – the car was new in New Zealand but part of a small, cancelled order for another RHD market.
I had previously visited the Alpina factory in Buchloe, Germany and observed the differences from BMW models, and then achieved nearly 300km/h on an Autobahn test drive! Incidentally, the road test V-max for this car is 305km/h – not that I will ever see anything near that, even on a track. 

The design feature you like most? 
Effortless performance and subtle styling differences. 

How does it most excel compared to the BMW equivalent? 
Performance with comfort and efficiency. It offers great ride compliance in Comfort mode along with M car performance (0-100km/h in 4.2 secs) and average fuel consumption to date is just 8.9L/100km. 

How often do you use it? Approximate annual mileage? 
Frequently but less than 8000km per year. 

Your longest trip in this car to date? 
About 700km in a single day – Auckland to Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Rotorua and back to Auckland. 

Have you experienced any servicing complexities? 
None to date. 

Has the car exceeded your expectations? 
Definitely, it’s a lovely balance of on-road comfort and performance, without being a track car. 

Do you have long-term intentions with the car? 
My wife and I hope to enjoy some road trips and intend to keep the Alpina for many years to come. 

Have you owned other models from this marque (BMW)? 
Several – E21 323, 1989 E30 M3 Ravaglia, 1991 E30 325iS (from Sth Africa), 1997 E36 Touring, 2003 E46 Touring, and a 1986 E30 M3 that was rebuilt into a Tarmac rally/race car. 

What was the first special-interest car you owned? 
Morris Mini Cooper S. 

The very first car you drove? 
1951 Austin A40 Devon, in Torbay, Auckland.

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