Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

DRIVING

Millimetre perfect: Swiss bus driver shows what Alpine parking is all about

Switzerland’s yellow post buses are as much a part of the country’s landscape as snow-capped mountains and herds of healthy cows.

Published: 6 September 2018 19:37 CEST
Millimetre perfect: Swiss bus driver shows what Alpine parking is all about
Swiss PostBus drivers tackle roads many drivers would blanch at. File photo: Depositphotos

They service remote areas of the countries, making their way up narrow, twisting roads many car drivers would blanch at.

And they also know how to park, as a photo shared on Twitter by German travel blogger Peter Von Stamm shows.

The photo taken in Davos Monstein in the canton of Graubünden shows the rear wheels of a post bus resting what looks to be perilously close to the edge of a concrete lay-by.

Meanwhile, the rear end of the vehicle is suspended over a grassy slope.

“Hats off. Swiss PostBus drivers not only drive well, they can also park well,” said Von Stamm in his tweet.

The travel blogger was actually on the bus as it was parked in Monstein – recently named one of the 12 most beautiful villages in Switzerland and home to what is said to be Europe’s highest brewery– when the parking feat was achieved.

“An inexperienced driver would have had no chance,” Von Stamm was quoted as saying on Swiss news portal 20 Minuten.

As a passenger on the bus, you don’t notice anything. “It’s only when you get out you realise how close it is,” he said.

Read also: Watch Swiss bus driver's sensational manoeuvre down incredibly narrow Italian street

For members

DRIVING

Where should you take your car for service and repairs in Switzerland?

If you own a vehicle, sooner or later you will need to have some work done on it. But it is important to know who in Switzerland can provide the best service.

Published: 29 August 2023 15:57 CEST
Where should you take your car for service and repairs in Switzerland?

There is certainly no shortage of garages or auto mechanics in this country, who are ready and willing to work on your car.

In all, there are 16,232 garages across Switzerland, most of them located in the Zurich area, with Bern in the second place. 

However, regardless of where in Switzerland you happen to live, chances are there is a car mechanic in your area.

That’s a good thing, of course, but a mechanic — no matter how skilled — may not be able to do all the repairs you need.

Garages versus dealerships

A lot depends on what exactly ails your vehicle.

If you need regular maintenance or service — which usually includes checking the brakes, suspension, steering, exhaust, oil, fluids, and lights, as well as performing an overall safety check — then any reputable garage can do the job.

Also, if you have been involved in an accident and need body work (on your car, not yourself), then a garage that has a bodywork shop will be a good fit.

Can you have your car repaired or serviced at a different garage from the one where you bought it?

According to Comparis consumer platform, “you are free to choose any garage. Minor repairs in particular, such as changing a windscreen wiper or buffing out a scratch, can basically be done anywhere.”

The only exception would be if your auto insurance excludes free choice of garage. and you must use only ones that your provider works with. 

(This is as good a time as any to remind you that car insurance is obligatory in Switzerland).

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about car insurance in Switzerland

However, there are times when you should not take your vehicle to just any garage, opting instead for the authorised dealer of your car’s brand, or its partner garages — especially when the car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Why is this important?

 “Our partners undergo specialised training provided by the importer and hold licenses as mandated by the manufacturer,” Lucas Alvarez, a spokesperson for Hyundai Switzerland, told The Local.

“This meticulous preparation ensures that any warranty-related work can only be executed by these authorised partners,” he added.

This is valid for all manufacturers, regardless of the brand.

If you are not sure where these manufacturer-approved garages are in your area, go on the manufacturer’s Swiss website and contact their customer support team.

How long do these repairs take?

They could take a while, and not only because this is Switzerland.

The timeframe depends on what needs to be done, but prepare to be patient.

The pandemic had disrupted production cycles, with manufacturers having cut back orders for spare parts. There are also fewer automotive parts from Ukraine-based suppliers.

“It is unfortunately still the case that electronic parts require a certain delivery time and are also partly on backorder, so it may well be that it takes several months to receive certain parts,” Alvarez said. “Like most car manufacturers, we are dependent on the respective suppliers.
 

SHOW COMMENTS