Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Alpina B10

A puncture in 7,000 miles was the only blot in the Alpina's book

Photographers and the Alpina don’t mix. A couple of months back Gus Gregory was cursing its incompatibility with French LPG nozzles, now our staff snapper, Chris Rutter, suffered a puncture on his way back from this month’s Grand Challenge escapade at the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground.

We’ll be getting a new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric fitted in the next couple of days, and that – touch wood – is the only expense the old girl has suffered since its post-purchase service back in August, 7000 miles ago.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While we were at Bruntingthorpe it would have been remiss of us to not attach the timing gear to the Alpina. A single run with a gentle start saw 149mph before the anchors were required. It felt completely stable and still accelerating, so I guess I’m gonna have to find a longer runway…

Running Costs

Date acquiredAugust 2008
Total mileage102,276
Costs this month£154 (tyre)
Mileage this month701
MPG this month27.6 (petrol equivalent)
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Why the wild V8-powered Land Rover Defender D7X-R has ‘flight mode’
Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R
News

Why the wild V8-powered Land Rover Defender D7X-R has ‘flight mode’

The Land Rover Defender will take on the world’s most gruelling off-road race in 2026. Here’s our first look at the car that will do it
25 Nov 2025
How a sub-200bhp runabout exposes the problem with today’s performance cars
695C Turismo
Opinion

How a sub-200bhp runabout exposes the problem with today’s performance cars

A shortage of long-term test cars flags up a wider problem, says Meaden
27 Nov 2025
Everyone loves the idea of a GT car, so why does nobody buy them?
Aston Martin Vanquish
Opinion

Everyone loves the idea of a GT car, so why does nobody buy them?

We all love a great GT, says Jethro. Trouble is, no-one wants to buy them
21 Nov 2025