Does anyone have any experience with these 2 cars & which would be better to own in Zurich? We are arriving in Zurich at the beginning of August & we are searching for a car/suv...

We will be moving to Thalwil close to the train so I'm assuming we will not be driving it every day. Will need to drive the kids to school on occassion & we do plan on traveling & going to the mountains to ski.

Anyone have any experience with these 2 cars?

Thank you

Mountains + snow = no contest. BMWs are not at all good at 4WD compared to Audi. Watch some Youtube videos of Top Gear testing the X5 and you'll see that they're not that good off tarmac/asphelt..
You'll probably get no extras for the basic model with BMW and in Switzerland they have no idea of the concept of haggling.
So I'd say the thread should be entitled Class vs Arse.

when looking at cars like this....they do the same thing every day. presuming you are not going to do heavy offroading or the likes.

Just pick the one you like most....They will cost the same in maintenance etc etc.


personally I love how the Q7 looks but it is a bit over the top i think.

It is expensive "sport" to have a car here in der Schweitz. Parking place will cost you 100-150 franks/month minimum. Insurance for such 4x4 car is 1.300 franks/year. Car service is very expensive.

On the other hand, public transportation is so good that in most of the cases you will not need a car. I'm living here now for more than 3 years and I still don't have a car.

So if you still want a car and you want something with 4x4 that try with normal estate - Mercedes E-class, Audi A6 or BMW 5-series - they are more comfortable. And to go skiing all you need are good winter tyres.

Come again???

In short, do as Jeremy says.. get the Land Rover

Slightly off topic, but unless you have the car as part of a package, you should really decide on the car, buy it in the USA and ship it over. Any of the high end Audi/BMW/Merc cars are currently significantly cheaper in the USA.

Do a search on EF on importing a car from the USA. Lots of discussion and information.

And yes, you will have to pay duty (since not owned for 6 months) but still very much worthwhile.

Ideally look at a very new used car (max 12-18 months old). Best value since the initial hit of "driving it off the lot" is taken but the car will not have much in the way of mileage.

Personally, I would get the A6 Allroad (the real off road version of the A6). The Q5 and X5 are too big for what they offer in terms of real room and usefulness.

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Do or do not, there is no try(ing). Yoda

Are these your only choices? The reason I ask is that I had the Q5 and X3 on my shortlist (the X5 was a bit too expensive) but in the end went for the VW Tiguan, and haven't regretted it once.

One important point to remember about Switzerland is that roads can be very narrow, and parking places tiny - the larger the car you have the more challenging driving can become

Just a remark to NOT owning a car - a very eco-friendly concept, indeed. But considering myself as a mountaineer, living in lausanne, costs for trains with halb-tax are +- same as gas on my car. And when there is 2 of us, I spend half. Not mentioning time flexibility, more beauty=more desolate places, where U have something like 2 buses/day, if any. My time is for me way more precious than few bucks for older car. And the joy of riding 200-horses beast is something spectacular.
Sorry, I have tried, but they (public transport) cannot compete with ownership. And upkeep prices mentioned are not that drastic considering what kind of comfort such a car brings. Of course my 3-liter BMW with combined consumption of 6 liters/100 km (and I do a lot of ups&downs with it, last weekend it was Arolla @ 2000m) is another story than some greedy petrol Q5(7)s. I rather skip few pubs here & there
To poster: better check the cars first hand, I know few people were disappointed by some VW SUVs about the indoor space - not much more compared to regular sedans mentioned.

Three post in before someone suggested to take the train... Must be new record!!!

Get the one you like the best. X5 is probably larger than the Q5 and I would say a little more premium. Don't believe that Audi these days have a better 4wd system than BMW. - and I am not sure youtube or Top Gear is the best source for objective factual information on the matter. What I can tell you is, that irrespective of 4wd, you should get good winter tyres.

Like for like - the BMW will give more performance, better economy and better driving dynamics. The Audi will give you better build quality.

If you are not heading off road both 4wd systems (with winter tyres) will be more than adequate. BMW wouldn't even sell me chains for my 530xd!!

If you don't want the "regular" estate versions from those 2 (IE A6/5er) then consider the Volvo XC70. Wonderfully relaxing interior, arguably the best seats in the class (if lacking in the lateral support) and good styling.

As for image - i'd rather be seen driving an XC70 than a Q5 or X5.

If interested in a used X5 under 50,000 Km's...I have a 7 seater X5 for sale, the extra seats is very handy with all the visitors!
http://www.englishforum.ch/sale-want...iate-sale.html

Sorry, but you must be very American. That's like asking if somebody loves GM and Ford. You won't get a decent answer - but they are both ok-ish cars. I know it is hard to imagine if you are from the US, but streets are really much more narrow here and parking places are the size of a 3 series. So both cars are very much on the "too big" side for the city IMHO. Q5 less than the x5. I'd personally try to aim for one size smaller and you won't hate to park the car every single time...

Here is my opinion based on my day to day use (not fuel consumption/off raod capability/speed ect - not my area)

I have 3 kids and it comfortably fits 3 kids car seats across the back, a 2 piece pram and stacks of shopping.
I find its very easy to park, only in some old car parks do I find the spaces tight. I have the front and rear sensors, with a visual too.
It mainly costs me 50chf per week this is running kids to school/clubs and generally a trip to Germany. more at weekends if we go further obviously.
The sat nav - imo is easy and simple as is the digital music system I have all the music from my itunes directly on it.
I have not had any problems in the snow yet.
When we got here the X5 was on option too but the amount of extras we could get on the Q5 made it far more attractive.
We bought ours from Wettingen they were really helpful they squeezed every last extra they could get into in our budget.

well thats all thats important to me (a mum of 3) im sure my husband would say something completely different