International Assignment in Switzerland
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
the only thing I would do is check insurance rates, only usaa and geico plus a few smaller companies offer international insurance....
I assume they use the euro and well its worth more than the dollar, I had a bad record when I moved to England and well the pound was worse than the euro and had to get uk ins
Since they drive on the same side as us you will be better off since in the uk mines considered a gray import and its group 20 (with ferrari and super cars) WTF...so highest group tehre is
I paid a lot until my record cleared up and I got usaa again....thank god
I would def take it, a chance to live somewhere in europe is well worth it when they are fronting the bill
just remember as well most of yours things will need to run on converters unless they are already dual voltage (like computers) plus you might need a converter for your tv unless its a world one
there are a lot of other things to think about
I assume they use the euro and well its worth more than the dollar, I had a bad record when I moved to England and well the pound was worse than the euro and had to get uk ins
Since they drive on the same side as us you will be better off since in the uk mines considered a gray import and its group 20 (with ferrari and super cars) WTF...so highest group tehre is
I paid a lot until my record cleared up and I got usaa again....thank god
I would def take it, a chance to live somewhere in europe is well worth it when they are fronting the bill
just remember as well most of yours things will need to run on converters unless they are already dual voltage (like computers) plus you might need a converter for your tv unless its a world one
there are a lot of other things to think about
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 14
From: Cleveland, OH
Originally Posted by Saki GT,Aug 21 2008, 01:02 PM
How is this even a decision - S on the Alps is a no brainer - what company do you work for?
Why are you wasting your time here when your company is paying your expenses for shipping the car, etc? Um, duh, if it were me, the S would be on the next boat out of Bayonne, NJ.
And the Davos drive video from Top Gear was fracking incredible.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 36,017
Likes: 226
From: Queen City, NC
You know what, this thread reminds me of the final scene from Dumb and Dumber.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot0Lws8d76w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot0Lws8d76w
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
In addition to what has been said:
- S2000 in Switserland in winter is not a good idea as they seriously salt their roads, you should have a cheap car for the period November to March
- Summer is loads of fun
- No speeding on Highways, Swiss fines are scary, cameras are really well hidden
- Your S woun't be a very special car there but they respect other cars more then what I am used to so parking hits are rare
Good luck
- S2000 in Switserland in winter is not a good idea as they seriously salt their roads, you should have a cheap car for the period November to March
- Summer is loads of fun
- No speeding on Highways, Swiss fines are scary, cameras are really well hidden
- Your S woun't be a very special car there but they respect other cars more then what I am used to so parking hits are rare
Good luck
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Since I am Swiss, I might be able to help a bit Don't worry about door dings too much. People here look after their vehicles way better than, let's say in Italy, Spain, France, ... However, our parking lots are a bit smaller. Still, mostly there's enough parking, unless you try to find parking in the middle of big cities around rush hour or noon - the same as in the U.S. as well!
Switzerland does not have the Euro, since we are not a member of the European Union. We use the Swiss Franc.
Speed limits, radar guns and cameras have already been mentioned; unfortunately, that's very true! Especially on highways (we call them Autobahn as well) or cities. Also, speeding tickets are expensive.
Also, inform yourself about the MFK (in German that's the Motor Fahrzeug Kontrolle). It's a governmental agency that regulates cars on the road. We have very strict rules. If you change your wheels on the S2000 for instance, and they are not OEM Honda wheels, you have to get an appointment with the MFK, where they measure everything and make an additional entry in the letter of the car (we have to carry around a letter, that has your name, the name of your insurance company, car data, licence plate number etc on it - so if you get into a police control and they see that you have wheels on that haven't been accepted at the MFK, you get a fine!). I'm not completely sure, but I thought that if you import your car you can keep the US-licence plates for up to one year. Thereafter you have to get the car through MFK and get this mentioned letter. Also if you plan to sell your car, buyers want to car MFK-checked, which basically also tells the buyer that everything is ok.
But, we really do have awesome streets and the alps are fantastic. Recent trip of mine, two weeks ago:
Let me know if you have additional questions. Where exactly are you going?
Don't worry about door dings too much. People here look after their vehicles way better than, let's say in Italy, Spain, France, ... However, our parking lots are a bit smaller. Still, mostly there's enough parking, unless you try to find parking in the middle of big cities around rush hour or noon - the same as in the U.S. as well! Switzerland does not have the Euro, since we are not a member of the European Union. We use the Swiss Franc.
Speed limits, radar guns and cameras have already been mentioned; unfortunately, that's very true! Especially on highways (we call them Autobahn as well) or cities. Also, speeding tickets are expensive.
Also, inform yourself about the MFK (in German that's the Motor Fahrzeug Kontrolle). It's a governmental agency that regulates cars on the road. We have very strict rules. If you change your wheels on the S2000 for instance, and they are not OEM Honda wheels, you have to get an appointment with the MFK, where they measure everything and make an additional entry in the letter of the car (we have to carry around a letter, that has your name, the name of your insurance company, car data, licence plate number etc on it - so if you get into a police control and they see that you have wheels on that haven't been accepted at the MFK, you get a fine!). I'm not completely sure, but I thought that if you import your car you can keep the US-licence plates for up to one year. Thereafter you have to get the car through MFK and get this mentioned letter. Also if you plan to sell your car, buyers want to car MFK-checked, which basically also tells the buyer that everything is ok.
But, we really do have awesome streets and the alps are fantastic. Recent trip of mine, two weeks ago:
Let me know if you have additional questions. Where exactly are you going?
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Tracy, California
staying in switzerland for 2 years, you will have to get it registered somehow - which means euro style plates. not to difficult, and given the immense amount of us cars in switzerland, it won't be bad either. the good thing is that the country is tiny, and you're in no time in germany - you can then blast down the A5 towards heidelberg or freiburg and will realize what a sucker the S2k really is. every 320 d (as in DIESEL) will woop your a**. so do yourself a favor and plan for additional expenses, such as frequent trips to the nuerburgring, or any other race tracks, more like the natural S2k habitat anyways.
in all seriousness though, if i were to go back to germany (which will never happen), i rather sell my S here and get a 996, and then make some money on it.
in all seriousness though, if i were to go back to germany (which will never happen), i rather sell my S here and get a 996, and then make some money on it.