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5 questions for...
Michael Schwaiger, Chief Commercial Officer Santander Consumer Bank, explains what he thinks about German speed limits and why he had to give back his dream car.
5 questions for...
What kind of car do you drive privately?
None at all at the moment. I had a Mini John Cooper Works convertible, but I sold that and haven't bought a new one yet. My wife - she's just as crazy about cars as I am - drives a VW Beetle GTI with 220 hp, rear spoiler and all the trimmings. That was one of the last ones before it was discontinued, so we struck again! I currently drive a Ford Explorer as my company car. I always switch around so as not to give preference to any customer.
You have been living in Austria for twelve years now. What is your favorite route to drive?
You have to differentiate. When it comes to optics, it's everywhere in the mountains. It almost doesn't matter which car you drive - you just enjoy the area and the winding roads. But when it comes to speed, I don't like any route at all! That's not driving here (laughs).
So, as a German, you are not a supporter of the politically discussed speed limit in Germany?
No, definitely not. Most people only drive 140 anyway and you shouldn't spoil the fun for the few people who drive really fast.
Would you buy a car online?
No, definitely not! For me, a car is an emotion - I want to feel it, touch it and also smell it.
What is your absolute dream car?
The Porsche 911. I even had one in Germany. But today you can no longer afford it, especially in Austria, where insurance alone, including taxes, costs 5,000 to 6,000 euros a year.