Anybody selling a car? Just arrived in Geneva

Anybody selling a car? Just arrived in Geneva

Author
Discussion

Steve7777

Original Poster:

237 posts

156 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
Hi guys, I've just moved to Geneva and am looking for a car to buy so thought I'd post here in case anybody has something they want to sell. Looking for something that'll be fun in the summer but can fit skis in for the winter but otherwise am open to anything interesting. Aiming to spend up to CHF20k but would go higher if it was a great deal

Cheers, Steve

Schnellmann

1,893 posts

211 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
quotequote all
I am selling my 993...but for a bit more than CHF 20k.

If you are looking for a car in Switzerland I'd suggest using www.autoscout24.ch almost all dealers and private individuals advertise on that site.

Good luck

WelshBoyo

1,403 posts

182 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
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Welcome and good luck with trying to haggle for money off (or extras), it is like trying to get blood out of a stone from Swiss car dealers. Also at this price range I've noticed that cars advertised with main dealers (e.g. BMW, VW) that the cars are usually pool cars used by customers. So don't expect to see the actual car if you turn up at the dealership unannounced, best give a quick ring before.

Also remember you will need to check the car has Winter Tyres (at this time of year should be fitted) and a set of Summer tyres (usualy on different wheels). Make sure you check both sets as I got caught when I first moved here and had to buy 4 brand new winters as the tread was below legal limits.

Steve7777

Original Poster:

237 posts

156 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks, that's good advice and not something I was used to looking out for in the UK!

chandrew

979 posts

216 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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If you're going to work for a largish firm ask HR if they have an internal notice board. They are usually a good source of people selling cars, especially ex company lease ones closer to the buy-price from the lease firm. Private sellers often provide the 2 sets of wheels.

From memory the UN has a welcome centre online which might help. You can access lots of their info even if you're not on the UN staff.

Apart from that autoscout as mentioned.

WelshBoyo

1,403 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Also worth checking EnglishForum.ch as I have seen some seriously cheap cars for sale (people leaving the country and wanting rid of cars). Just be careful as there are some strange people posting on that forum (as PistonHeads members have found out including myself).

Carmo99

1,308 posts

193 months

Friday 25th November 2011
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Have you thought about leasing? If you're here for a few years you could get a new VW (start price is 24KCHF).

You can get +/- 15% discount, then you would probably company discount (another 15%) then low rate leasing. Merc, Audi, etc etc are all doing it at the moment. I'm ordering a new company car this week and I'm on 35% discount off list.


anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
Hi Steve,

I am selling my two cars. Both great and under 20k.

PM me for details. If you include your number I can call you.

Ps I can do all the registration and help you out with insurance.


Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 28th November 17:49

cake eater

826 posts

173 months

Saturday 10th December 2011
quotequote all
Don't just look in CH. If you are paid in CHF, with the current exchange rate buying in EUR is very advantageous. On top of that you will not have to pay EU VAT (20%) only CH import tax (7.9%). There will be some other costs involved and some documentation to do as well.

Buying across the border and importing is so popular at the moment that quite a few FR car dealers are offering to take care of everything, just ask, most dealers have at least one person who speaks English.

tiskev

12 posts

224 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
quotequote all
Steve7777 said:
Hi guys, I've just moved to Geneva and am looking for a car to buy so thought I'd post here in case anybody has something they want to sell. Looking for something that'll be fun in the summer but can fit skis in for the winter but otherwise am open to anything interesting. Aiming to spend up to CHF20k but would go higher if it was a great deal

Cheers, Steve
How about a nice little French Reg LHD Ford Ka
Ideal for running the Ski's around and immune from Frog door bangers ..
From La Cure in particular

DJRC

23,563 posts

243 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
quotequote all
cake eater said:
Don't just look in CH. If you are paid in CHF, with the current exchange rate buying in EUR is very advantageous. On top of that you will not have to pay EU VAT (20%) only CH import tax (7.9%). There will be some other costs involved and some documentation to do as well.

Buying across the border and importing is so popular at the moment that quite a few FR car dealers are offering to take care of everything, just ask, most dealers have at least one person who speaks English.
That sounds interesting! I dont suppose you happen to know/recommend a few of these dealers do you?

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
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DJRC said:
That sounds interesting! I dont suppose you happen to know/recommend a few of these dealers do you?
Have a look also at the UK Export dealers. They all sell cars in LHD to european spec with EC Certificate of conformity. When I was last looking there are discounts of about 50-60% to be had.

DJRC

23,563 posts

243 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
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Who what and where?

eyebeebe

3,187 posts

240 months

Friday 6th January 2012
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Not quite the same, but this is a Swiss dealer who do all the importing etc for you. Www.cartrade24.ch. No affiliation or recommendation - I just spotted them when browsing autoscout and they seemed keenly priced (compared to Swiss dealers).

anonymous-user

61 months

Saturday 7th January 2012
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DJRC said:
Who what and where?
BMW export
Audi export
Mercedes export

Etc they all have an export division in uk which can supply an LHD car to euro spec.

chandrew

979 posts

216 months

Sunday 8th January 2012
quotequote all
I ordered and imported a LHD Lotus from the UK when the exchange rate was about 1.65 (and I thought it couldn't go much lower!). It probably saved about 20% at the time.

To manage everything (including getting the car transported from the UK) I used Autociel just outside Lausanne. It was a recommendation and they did a great job.

If you're buying in the UK the dealers have to provide a LHD car if asked, however I realised that the UK importers don't really want to do it and delivery times are far longer and more flexible than if it was a RHD car. All that time you have currency risk. I would probably for this reason buy in a LHD country next time. The Lotus took 5 months longer than originally quoted.

The costs from memory come to about 10% (8% VAT+ import charge). I think Autociel charged about 2% on top. An advantage of using an importer is that you're then buying from a Swiss dealer which is a condition on most lease arrangements.

Another good place to look if your interested in second hand is the German car manufacturers. They sell large numbers of manager cars and they're really well specced. A friend (who recommended Autociel) bought a 4.2 A6 with a vast number of options that way. The .de websites usually have the lists of cars available.

TISPKJ

3,652 posts

214 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
That must apply to RHD as well which maybe of more interest to some.