Help with leasing a car, PLEASE

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hi everyone,

Im starting to look around for leasing a car and could do with a little help!

Im currently living in Riehen and will be starting a new job in Rotkreuz (230Km round trip daily)

In the UK I leased our car and had unlimited miles, is this something that is available in Switzerland?

If anyone knows of any deals (not really set on a brand/model) please let me know, Also if anyone can anserw the Km question please do

Thanks

Brian

2
We are about to take delivery of our leased car on Weds - PM me if you want to know how - as I see it - works for leasing.

3
Personally, I'd move closer to work!

Tom

4
What's your budget?

With around 60,000km per year I don't think any dealer is going to be keen on you leasing the car as this means after three years or so (depending on the model) the car will be worth next to sweet FA...

Have you thought about buying a second hand car and running it to the ground? I've seen a couple of BMW's knocking about on the forum like this and this (feel free to rep ) they should be able to withstand such high mileage and will cost you around the same as the leasing over the 3 or 4 year period. If you can't afford to pay the cash upfront then you should consider getting a bank loan, for 30 grand or so shouldn't be a big deal for the bank to approve if you're starting a new job, and the amount should be enough to cover the cost of the car plus any additional costs needed over the next two years.

I would eventually recommend moving to the zuerich/zug area though unless you have some commitments in basel as it's not sustainable to drive a 200km every day just to get to work.

Anyway good luck whatever you decide to do...

5
Thanks for your replies, Pm sent

And moving closer isnt an Option as my wife works in Basel and we really like the Area.

Brian

6
Buy two motorcycles, keep one at home, the other at work, and take the train between.

Tom

7
Bank now will lease you a brand new car for 3 years @ 50k km per year.

I wouldn't be surprised if the main dealers will do the same. Just remember the balloon payment will be small - so monthly payments will be large (to cover the depreciation).

Bank Now will lease to 200k km.

I'd go for something solid, comfortable and diesel - and not brand new.

8
Also consider buying the car on migros loan which is about the same rate as lease (5.9 percent). You can save on insurance too. Buy a IInd hand car, you good value for your money here.

9
Totally agree with the not brand new option! As it's pointless if the car is gonna be used like a donkey! (probably a little more comfortable) However be careful with leasing a second hand car from a dealer, as a big slice of the savings that could be made is swallowed up by the premium paid to the dealer for the privilege (the privilege being some sort of warranty and someone to complain to if there is something wrong in the first few months)

10
I would add get an auto with cruise control.

11
Indeed as this will save you double the amount of the car per annum on the "just a few kph over the limit" speed fines covering that much tarmac!!!!

12
I couldn't imagine doing a 230km round trip in the winter...

13
I just visualized his commute on google-maps. Holy gearshift.

It's 1h15 - under the ideal "no traffic" conditions of google-land.

I would not be surprised if it took 2 hours one way - or more.

That's also the time it takes by public transport.

That can't be healthy.

14
I agree with the public transport thing. I commute 500km per day (but only 3 days a week) and use motorbike to the station and can walk at the other end.

Treat yourself to a nice laptop with built-in HSPA modem and Internet sub to go with your GA (first class will probably be better on that route).

Or get a roomshare and avoid the daily commute.

Or move to somewhere halfway between and share the commute.

You honestly won't enjoy the drive at all. Even on good days, it'll suck.

15
I did a commute like this from Freiburg to Basel. I managed 6 months before I couldn't hack it any longer and that was after working in central London for many years, so I was certainly no stranger to commuting. For some reason it just seemed harder to do in CH....maybe because I felt like the only idiot stupid enough to do it

Good luck if you do go though it but as someone else mentioned, be prepared for some nightmarish journey's in the winter. Despite the great care taken in Switzerland to plough and prepare the roads, the traffic and scare factor are two things I never want to sit through again

16
LOL! ... and don't park in shade under the trees in which case the vehicle will be subject to birds poo bombs. I know something about it as I'm trying to get rid of the acidic paint damages by polishing it on my bonnet.

There should be plenty to choose from. Contact the dealer of your beloved car make and he will walk you thru the whole process (he will be very happy to find another customer )

17
I'd recommend a lease purchase agreement. Although in theory you'll be limited to a fixed amount of clicks per year, if you're going to keep the vehicle at the end, no one cares how far you drive as there is no effective residual value for the leasing company / bank after the lease period.

But if you really do need a proper lease, then no one I know is going to give you acceptable terms for 60K km per annum. Think about it, why would they? Unless you pay for the entire vehicle during the lease term, they're never going to have an asset that they can effectively dispose of with a decent margin. Meaning, buying a car yourself or via lease purchase (balloon purchase for example where your last lease payment buys off the agreed residual lease value).

18
It is also worth remembering that if you are clocking up lots of KMs then costs will be considerable when parts go wrong - by buying a 2 year old car you can benefit from a good warranty from the main dealer (I got a 2 year one with mine).

For that distance - think about cost per KM - and that the amount you are paying is for transportation AND not to purchase a depreciating asset.