Travel from Alsace to Switzerland/Italy/Germany?

A small group of us are going to be in France for 2 weeks, one week in the region closer to Spain/Mediterranean. We thought it would be smart to find a cottage/gite rental in Alsace, and attempt to sidestep into the above mentioned countries at least once each...does this sound reasonable?
We'd hoped to use a car rental up to our visit in the Alsace region, and then rely on a train pass from there.
Any input would be very kind, as we are first time travellers, and it's probably the last time, as well!

Very reasonable - Alsace is a beautiful place, especially Strasbourg and the Vosge mountains, visit Obernai, Colmar and Riquewier, see Mont St Odile, Chateau du Haut Koenigsberg and if you feel brave the conentration camps at Le Struthof/Natzwileler. You can slip easily into Germany - the black forest, Freiburg, Titersee and Triberg are quite close and are superb. Switzerland is only a couple of hours drive but you do have to pay a road tax when you enter to use the highways and check with the car rental company about taking the car into Switzwerland - it isn't the EU. Go to Lausanne and Geneva - 3-4 hours from Strasbourg on the Lake Geneva. Italy is a little further and you can get to Milan - you have to go through the Alps or under them.

A week hardly seems enough, I haven't touched a tenth of the place! You will have a great time, the food is wonderful in Alsace (tarte flambee, choucroute, baeckeofe etc) the people are really quite friendly and the wine is excellent, definitely visit a vigneron and enjoy the white wines and try a Pinot Noir which is the only red.

You will need a little French or German in this region as English is not as common as in other areas, Alsace is a popular German tourist resort

Hey if you need a guide let me know, I live in Munich and would relish the chance!

I live in a small suburb of Strasbourg in Alsace and thus can say with certainty that one week is not enough time to visit all these places!! hehe. You could spend a week alone in just Alsace.

A lot depends on what you wish to see...you can easily hop over the border to visit Offenburg, Germany. It's 20 minutes from Strasbourg, and quite a nice town. Basel, Switzerland is about an hour by train. I think if you stick to the border towns you could do Alsace, Germany, and Switzerland.

you don't want to try and see too much because you will become exhausted and won't appreciate things as much!

As for it's probably the last time...Nonsense!! :) I bet you will find that you'll be bit by the travel bug!