What car to buy with high mileage?

soapbloggs

Hiya,

Just wandering if anyone has some good advice regarding buying high millage cars.. its my only option at present unless I find a serious bargain! I don't live in Ireland anymore by the way.. another emigrant, so I can't avail of good deals there at present, in fact the economy is booming here as usual (think CH Francs).

I particularly like BMW and Audi cars, but don't like the athletics of Toyotas or Nissans (Japan produces reliable long lasting cars but they aren't always so pretty in my humble opinion). I know I'm shallow and fussy. So please tell me, old BMWs and Audi are reasonable here but when their milage is 150 - 175 miles is that too much? How far will they go? I know you've got to find a loving previous owner (not loving it too much in the sense of rallying it around). Can you suggest other cars that are reliable and the risk of incurring many repairs are reasonably low? Trust me the mechanics are so expensive here...I'd have to motor to Germany, if its possible, to get any repairs down (dirt cheap there in comparison).

I hope that all makes sense, but do ask any questions if you need clarification. Thanks for any advice in advance!

heate

The Swiss tend to look after their cars. In fact BMW offered as standard in addition to a 3 year warranty - a 10 year 100km service package. Most Swiss buyers didn't skimp on options or engines for that matter as you may have noticed.
Thus buying a high milage car is CH is not so much a problem. You can drive a large capacity car with little tax penalty!
The only issue with the market is there are a lot of overpriced cars and the Swiss don't "do" haggling.
If you want a cheap luxury car head to France or Germany, though importing is a hassle.


What kind of cash are you willing to part with?

how about these

20chf

http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Detail.aspx?from=list&wl=1&lng=ger&id=6923127&qs=from%3dSearch%26zipcountry%3dCH%26make%3d13%26model%3d16072%26cur%3dCHF%26sort%3dprice%26total%3d25%26eftotal%3d25&page=1&row=1

14chf

http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Detail.aspx?from=list&wl=1&lng=ger&id=7200976&qs=from%3dSearch%26zipcountry%3dCH%26make%3d13%26model%3d1652%26cur%3dCHF%26sort%3dprice%26total%3d679%26eftotal%3d679&page=4&row=6

Just sample - make sure you get a car with nav and try to find one that has its set of winter tyres included as its a legal necessity. Wouldn't bother with a small car you'll feel the benefit on long euro journeys and ski town excursions.

heate

Also don't forget if you're travelling to Germany or any other EU state for anything you can avoid the high vat rates claim back the vat and pay swiss vat at 8.5%

soapbloggs

Hi Heate,

Thanks so much for your reply it was really helpful information and specifically for Switzerland which was really great! I should have made it clearer by saying I'm looking for old cars too, as my budget is a humble 2000 CHF at the moment.

I looked on autoscout24.ch and saw some pretty old BMWs on there, I'd be happy enough with one of them if I knew they'd run ok. Would you know the age is a significant factor, bearing in mind the Swiss look after their cars? I presume I must check for rust anyway since they've been around a while. The car ages were around 1997 or so.

I just saw your other email, yeah I was told that about VAT alright, does that apply to cars as well do you know? Meat is dear here too, I saw no one at customs the other day on a quite road into Germany, was thinking of smuggling in a herd of cows to last me for the year! ;-D

heate

maybe this so

http://www.autoscout24.ch/as24web/Detail.aspx?from=list&wl=1&lng=ger&id=7525871&adtype=&qs=from%3dSearch%26zipcountry%3dCH%26make%3d13%26model%3d2145%26cur%3dCHF%26pricefrom%3d1000%26priceto%3d3000%26sort%3dtopl%26total%3d3%26eftotal%3d3&page=1&row=3

or this

http://www.autoscout24.ch/as24web/Detail.aspx?from=list&wl=1&lng=ger&id=7014112&adtype=&qs=from%3dSearch%26zipcountry%3dCH%26make%3d13%26model%3d1649%26cur%3dCHF%26pricefrom%3d1000%26priceto%3d3000%26sort%3dtopl%26total%3d3%26eftotal%3d3&page=1&row=1


on the tax front yeh you can reclaim vat on cars but only if the seller is selling the car with vat (you can see this option on mobile.de). If you are buying a car outside ch for less than 2k i can't see importing it as being viable !

rust needs to be checked but the MFK (NCT) picks up on these issues. 2k is a tricky budget given that renting a car space near your apt is 80-200chf a month.

on buying meat head to migros just as they start to put the 25/50pc discount stickers on the meat!

soapbloggs

Great tips, thanks a lot for again for that! Sounds like the parking space is a bummer, but I'll probably be renting a bit out of Zurich somewhere rural anyway, so I might get lucky with the parking space issue.. I hope. I'll check those links now so. Thanks a million again.. I'll watch out for Migros discounts too, fighting over them with the grannies!

heate

happy to help. off topic here but Zurich is expensive but solutions can be found! and yes you will end up fighting with Grannies at migros if you want cheap anything!
I've an intimate knowledge of Zurich - I wasn't exactly on a budget which may have skewed my view somewhat, but any advice I can offer I will.

Have you checked out englishforum.ch?

soapbloggs

Merci! English Forum, yes I'll check it out. So funny that someone who lived in Zurich should be looking at this!

Tschüß

heate

i did (not full time though) i will be moving back though and I've my eye on a german 760i 2006 for 20k! perfect for cruising around.

soapbloggs

I'm so envious you've no idea!! Sensible decision to move over here I reckon.. things are still optimistic, plenty of blue sky too!

heate

Have you moved yet? Do you need a car pronto? My current car is sitting there not being used is taxed and insured - needs a good clean am willing to lend it (sounds odd but in CH its normal enough. pm me