Which car for the Swiss summer drives
Discussion
OK the summer is on its way (well was here for a little bit) and I want a car that I can have fun around the mountain roads and join in on a few Swiss Pistonhead drives without feeling like a poor cousin. I don't need the car for commuting as my bus ride is perfect and dirt cheap, but it will be a used car as I don't want to spend much (less than 45k chf probably).
I am heading towards a BMW Z4 Coupe (probably the 3.0si rather than the M) - lots around seem quite well priced
Or the BMW 135i
Or a 350/370z from Nissan?
Or if the missus won't notice an Elise/Exige (after driving an Elise around the Nurburgring Nordschleife I can see why these cars are so well loved).
Also what is the best way to purchase, bank loan or loan from car manufacture (as I don't want a lease)?
I am heading towards a BMW Z4 Coupe (probably the 3.0si rather than the M) - lots around seem quite well priced
Or the BMW 135i
Or a 350/370z from Nissan?
Or if the missus won't notice an Elise/Exige (after driving an Elise around the Nurburgring Nordschleife I can see why these cars are so well loved).
Also what is the best way to purchase, bank loan or loan from car manufacture (as I don't want a lease)?
Gilly had a Z4M coupe for a year and loved it (she said she would consider another).
Are they outside the 45k budget? I'm sure when we sold hers, lightly used, well optioned, we didn't get much more than that (almost a year ago).
They are nice and "old school" - you need to drive them properly.
IMO nicer than a 1 series, more characterful.
What puts me off a Lotus in Switzerland is selling them, seems like a veeery small market?
Are they outside the 45k budget? I'm sure when we sold hers, lightly used, well optioned, we didn't get much more than that (almost a year ago).
They are nice and "old school" - you need to drive them properly.
IMO nicer than a 1 series, more characterful.
What puts me off a Lotus in Switzerland is selling them, seems like a veeery small market?
I'd go with the Z4 from that list.
You should consider a soft top though. Can't beat blasting around the passes with the top down on a sunny day.
You know that "Leasing" is just a PCP plan under a different name rather than what we would call a lease?
The best bank loan rate I have seen is online with Migrosbank at 5.9%. Typically bank rates are closer to 10% though. Not sure about from the manufacturer direct. Apart from 0% specials on new cars I've seen leasing rates in the 2-4% range.
You should consider a soft top though. Can't beat blasting around the passes with the top down on a sunny day.
You know that "Leasing" is just a PCP plan under a different name rather than what we would call a lease?
The best bank loan rate I have seen is online with Migrosbank at 5.9%. Typically bank rates are closer to 10% though. Not sure about from the manufacturer direct. Apart from 0% specials on new cars I've seen leasing rates in the 2-4% range.
Z4 for definite. As Andrew said, i would'nt hesitate to get another one - one of my favourite cars ever. The M is fab - great engine. Friend of mine has a 3l soft top - she's coming to stay for a few days as of tomorrow - i'll ask her what she thinks. I thought about an Elise before we bought the z4 - great to drive, but thought build quality-v-value for money was pretty poor and most of the range didn't feel quick enough.
I love my Elise (a 2009 sc) and chose it over significantly more expensive options. The only thing I sometimes wish I had gone for is a 2-11 but the cost of getting one of the official Swiss road registered cars (important given they are sva cars) put me off.
The joy of the Elise in Switzerland is twofold IMHO: first the car feels alive and rewarding at legal speeds whereas many of the alternatives I tested felt little different to a good saloon until the pace rose. Second although the supercharged engine means that you don't have to always be in the right revs coming out of a hairpin, the best thing about the car for me is the feeling of lightness, and the ability to effortlessly wipe off speed and turn it to sharp corners. I drove one back-to-back with a 911 and the Porsche felt lardy in comparison.
As for buying I ordered a a lhd car in the UK and bought through autociel in Lausanne. With an exchange rate at the time of 1.65 I reckon I saved 25% over the Swiss prices. Autociel was important for finance as they act as a Swiss dealer and this seems a criteria for much finance. Given the euro I would be thinking of looking in Germany at the moment. I would have thought that a decent boxster could be had if you source in Germany a car which you can claim back german vat.
The joy of the Elise in Switzerland is twofold IMHO: first the car feels alive and rewarding at legal speeds whereas many of the alternatives I tested felt little different to a good saloon until the pace rose. Second although the supercharged engine means that you don't have to always be in the right revs coming out of a hairpin, the best thing about the car for me is the feeling of lightness, and the ability to effortlessly wipe off speed and turn it to sharp corners. I drove one back-to-back with a 911 and the Porsche felt lardy in comparison.
As for buying I ordered a a lhd car in the UK and bought through autociel in Lausanne. With an exchange rate at the time of 1.65 I reckon I saved 25% over the Swiss prices. Autociel was important for finance as they act as a Swiss dealer and this seems a criteria for much finance. Given the euro I would be thinking of looking in Germany at the moment. I would have thought that a decent boxster could be had if you source in Germany a car which you can claim back german vat.
Thanks all for the replies, I am starting to really want the Z4C a lot and a few Z4M's are also in budget 
No sure I could get a drop top, as with my lack of hair and the wife's long hair it is not really a recipe for success
Although interesting from chandrew about importing a car as a E46 M3 CSL from UK would be possible
When I get back from NZ I will definitely be taking a look at all the local Z4C's so hopefully can pick on up before the summer kicks off!
Fuchs - I would love a Porsche - big big fan, but sadly I need something a bit more modern.
No sure I could get a drop top, as with my lack of hair and the wife's long hair it is not really a recipe for success
Although interesting from chandrew about importing a car as a E46 M3 CSL from UK would be possible
When I get back from NZ I will definitely be taking a look at all the local Z4C's so hopefully can pick on up before the summer kicks off!
Fuchs - I would love a Porsche - big big fan, but sadly I need something a bit more modern.
Driven 2 Z4C, one 3.0si Coupe and a M Coupe.
The 3.0si coupe is a lovely car, but the run flat tyres ruin the ride a bit (also I didn't think it was that much quicker compared to my 330xi).
The M Coupe was a totally different beast, that engine on normal tyres - just amazing. Sadly the only M Coupe in budget not too far away is the one I drove. Unfortunatly it didn't have the essential service at 2,000km but at 3,200 and looking around it seems potential serious engine damage could have occured (and therefore BMW won't allow a warranty) therefore it's a no go - shame as it was perfect spec at the right price - grrr.
The 3.0si coupe is a lovely car, but the run flat tyres ruin the ride a bit (also I didn't think it was that much quicker compared to my 330xi).
The M Coupe was a totally different beast, that engine on normal tyres - just amazing. Sadly the only M Coupe in budget not too far away is the one I drove. Unfortunatly it didn't have the essential service at 2,000km but at 3,200 and looking around it seems potential serious engine damage could have occured (and therefore BMW won't allow a warranty) therefore it's a no go - shame as it was perfect spec at the right price - grrr.
If the Z4Ms are outside budget, how about a "regular" e46 M3? Ok, maybe the looks are more common, but it is still a great drive and same engine. Only challenge seem to be that the Swiss boy racers seem to like "improving" them - there is one around where I live which is riding so low he has to ask his passengers to step out when they pass speed bumps... So finding an unmodified one may be a challenge.
dicktracy said:
If the Z4Ms are outside budget, how about a "regular" e46 M3? Ok, maybe the looks are more common, but it is still a great drive and same engine. Only challenge seem to be that the Swiss boy racers seem to like "improving" them - there is one around where I live which is riding so low he has to ask his passengers to step out when they pass speed bumps... So finding an unmodified one may be a challenge.
Yes I've kept an eye for a E46 M3, but as you say most are either MaxPower'd (2Fast2Furious style) or convertibles which I don't want. Got another Z4M to look at this weekend so hopefully this one will be perfect (it is in a BMW garage so I have good hope)! Well I got fed up looking for a decent Z4M Coupe and bought a 3Door Golf R32 with DSG instead. Not quite the mad car I wanted, but it was cheaper and the trade in for my 330xi was excellent. However the owner/garage put Sunny SN3970 225/40 ZR18 tyres - like WTF, so I'm swapping these straight away (why do people put el cheapo tyres on any car let along something with 250BHP).
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