A Five-Door That Proved Its Convenience

Renato Bergamin, 53, is a researcher of Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), a leading Swiss sculptor of the 20th century. He lives in Bad Ragaz, a high-class spa resort in eastern Switzerland, where Heidi's best friend Clara visited for recuperation in Johanna Spyri's "Heidi." The photo shows Renato's Audi A3 Sportback, which he recently acquired, his previous Volkswagen Passat 4motion, and the house he himself directed the construction of about 20 years ago. Renato's story offers a glimpse into the lifestyle and car philosophy of Swiss professionals.

──I see you prefer cars with a tailgate.

When I was 33, I took a long leave from the high school where I was teaching and decided to stay in Italy for about three months with my family to attend a summer language course at an Italian university. Since it was a long stay, we opted for an apartment rental rather than a hotel. We had to bring everything with us. Plus, my son and daughter were still young, so we had to bring all their everyday toys (laughs).

The third-generation Golf Variant I was driving at the time had excellent cargo capacity and swallowed everything for our family of four. Besides language, I also took a filmmaking course at the university. It has a sunroof, so it was even used as a shooting car, with a video camera suddenly popping out – that’s a good memory.

──So that's how you became a fan of station wagons.

I drove the Golf Variant for nearly 10 years. When it was time to replace it, I was looking around and found a used Passat 4motion in good condition at a dealership. Around that time, I had also acquired a mountain cabin, so I thought it would be good for commuting there. I decided to buy it, even though it was the most expensive car I had ever owned. I think it was in 2008. It was a gasoline V5 manual transmission.

While diesel is popular in other European countries, in Switzerland, diesel fuel is priced higher than gasoline as an environmental protection policy, so gasoline is a better choice. I chose the manual transmission with my son in mind. He would be getting his license in a few years, around 18. If he got used to an automatic from the start, it would be problematic.

──So, it was for "educational purposes to learn manual transmission." Indeed, even today in Europe, if you try to rent a car at the airport without prior arrangement, most of them are manual.

However, when I sprained my left ankle badly after getting stuck in a hole dug by my child on a beach during vacation, I really wished I had an automatic (laughs).

Cars and Architecture: Enjoyment Through Attention to Detail

──You now have an Audi A3 Sportback with sequential shift. But why have you consistently chosen German cars?

Because I have the responsibility to transport my family safely, anytime and anywhere. Well, I do occasionally "cheat" with distinctly local models, like a Jaguar S-Type when I went to the UK, or a latest-model Ford Mustang when I went to the US recently.

The reason for choosing the A3? My son has completed his military service, and my daughter has more freedom to go out on her own. When it was just my wife and me, I thought, "We don't need such a big car anymore." Moreover, I realized that two-wheel drive is sufficient in Switzerland because the roads are cleared of snow very quickly. For trips to the mountain cabin, I decided that if it were really necessary, I could use snow chains.

──So this is the Swiss way of "choosing a car after the children have left home." However, the two-tone interior and other color choices are quite rare.

Nowadays, it's common in Europe to buy a certified pre-owned car with zero mileage from a dealer's lot. But I was particular about the interior and equipment, even if it meant waiting for delivery.

Thinking back, when I built my house 20 years ago, I worked closely with the architect to incorporate the essence of 20th-century modern art, much like Giacometti, whom I study. Similarly, I've found that choosing a car can be quite enjoyable when approached with such care.

No Car Navigation Needed for a Relaxing Vacation

──Hmm, despite having such a well-equipped car, there's no navigation system on the dashboard.

The genuine navigation system was quite expensive in Switzerland. Besides, we don't need a car navigation system at home.

──What do you mean?

However, a while ago, while lost in the woods at dusk, I almost drove into a small stream. My family was loudly complaining inside the car. But since there's no map more reliable than the one in my head, I will never buy a car navigation system (laughs).