Is my Superb telling me it is time to change for Mk3?

[dieselV6]

Hi, 151k miles on my V6 TDI Superb at present, sailed through MOT 2 weeks ago without advisories, but 

 

• I can see more play in bottom suspension arms and small cracks beginning to appear in upper ones, new suspension set £220, shock absorbers also have over 130k on them, so would be good to replace £400 all round (B6 Sports).
   
• The refurbished alternator I got in the end has noisy front bearing. £250 to get a new unit
   
• Tyres will need replacing this year £360 for a set of X-Climates
   
• On last but one autobahn trip, one of the anti-siphoning valves on diesel return fuel lines has cracked and started spilling fuel. Noticed smell of diesel in traffic jam I fixed the leak temporarily on the roadside by replacing the valve with a plastic pipe cut off the end of glass cleaning spray. 1500 miles later it is still starting and driving fine. New valve to be collected this weekend, will fit next week as the car is already back in Germany. 2 new valves with fixes £60, looks like VAG parts bin for Superb is running out
   
• Finally, on the last trip, G80 needle lift sensor went, at least £230 to replace , all other injectors could use refurbishment or replacement at £500 - £1000.

 

Sooo, is my car trying to tell me it is time for a brand new Mk3 hatchback Superb 190bhp manual? Or should I spend £2.5k+  and 3 days fixing all issues?   Discuss    

[Danny 57]

How much would a new car cost you...

1. In monthly repayments.

2. In depreciation.

[bigjohn]

Hard to justify on usual expenses. Even newish cars need brakes & tyres etc.

However is it you want to justify a mk3. If you can afford- go for it and enjoy safe with a warranty for a few years

[dieselV6]

I'm thinking either UK sourced 2.0 150 SE hatchback but without adaptive CC, (well I could live with adaptive CC stalk interfering with my legs if they sold me a 190bhp SE), or a 2.0 190BHP SE sourced from Ireland.

Both configurations have their merits, has to be SE otherwise no Rough Road Package available.

 

Cost wise, I won't pay more than £22k - £24k, so far all cars I had from new lasted 10 years, though last one was written off (rear-ended). So purchase price per year works to well under the current cost of repairs to the old one. 

 

My main worries are that I will have geometry problems after front suspension replacement (plenty of posts around here about how tough it is to find anyone setitng raised toe correctly), and that something else might go very soon after the repairs described above.

I am already in this position, having replaced timing belts/water pump this January, and driven only 15k miles afterwards. Still, I might buy Mk3 and then still fix the Mk1 and share the motorway mileage between the 2 for then next couple of years.

 

Anyway, off to the dealership this morning, will have a closer look at Mk3 and set up a test drive, then we will see. 

[dieselV6]

Well, I had a test drive of Mk3 hatchback 2.0 190bhp DSG and frankly, I really am not impressed enough to order it straight away. The Mk3 is indeed very spacious and comfortable, but wind and tyre noise is greater than in Mk1, even at UK motorway speeds.

As an aside, the DSG box, even in normal mode, has kickdown so agressive that it flips down 2 gears at anything but the slightest touch of throttle. I'll stick to manual for now or tiptronic. 

 

So in summary, unless my car throws another surprise at me before I order parts to fix it, I think I'll be better off replacing the suspension and injectors later this year and hoping there won't be any more major repairs for a while.

Either this, or go crazy and order 320bhp Audi A7 3.0TDI tiptronic  

[jimbof]

Know exactly how you feel.  I got the water leak sorted (which killed my climatronic controller), and a binding caliper replaced, then promptly split a CV gaiter.  But took advantage to get a whole driver's drive shaft fitted (found a new old stock genuine dealer item for £75, was getting a bit of vibration on idle from the inner CV), gave her a 4 filter service this morning, and back in love with the old girl, running like a little sewing machine.  Looking at rubbish used cars for £8K (can't bring myself to spend more on a car) is starting to depress me when I'm driving something so nice that costs so little to keep running.

[bigjohn]

Know exactly how you feel.  I got the water leak sorted (which killed my climatronic controller), and a binding caliper replaced, then promptly split a CV gaiter.  But took advantage to get a whole driver's drive shaft fitted (found a new old stock genuine dealer item for £75, was getting a bit of vibration on idle from the inner CV), gave her a 4 filter service this morning, and back in love with the old girl, running like a little sewing machine.  Looking at rubbish used cars for £8K (can't bring myself to spend more on a car) is starting to depress me when I'm driving something so nice that costs so little to keep running.

 

What will you replace yours with when you sell it?

 

I was sad to see my MK I Superb go last year. Mechanically brilliant but I've decided I'm too old to faff around with car bodywork - tin worm was starting to be an issue - easily solvable if you keep on top of it, but.........

 

Saying that I'm finding the Superb II a very capable, very refined mile muncher - stunning driving across Europe

[jimbof]

I'd like a DSG Superb Mk2 Estate - but one with sensible miles is way too much money.  When I look back at what I paid for my Mk1 it makes me realise what a brilliant car that was for the money.

 

Strange that Mk2 prices haven't come down much.  If anything, they seem to be strengthening a bit.  Odd.

[bigjohn]

I'd like a DSG Superb Mk2 Estate - but one with sensible miles is way too much money.  When I look back at what I paid for my Mk1 it makes me realise what a brilliant car that was for the money.

 

Strange that Mk2 prices haven't come down much.  If anything, they seem to be strengthening a bit.  Odd.

 

In hindsight I wish I'd gone for an Estate as I suspect the rear springs would be stronger. When fully laden with big people and luggage the rear end looked quite low on my twin door. Also the rear seat bases fold on the estate. I must admit I avoided the estate for two reasons 1) My 2014 twin door was cheap 2) On my horrible commute when I owned an estate the rear window/number plate got clarted up in winter (the twin door rear window stays clear)

 

Saying that my son and a friend were larger than usual - 6ft 5" and 6ft 7" and the engine coped well

[dieselV6]

I must honestly say the Mk3 DSG, at least on 190bhp diesel, felt to me like it had botched control software. Way too quick to kick down at all speeds/in all gears, perhaps the 190 has a bigger turbo or bigger volume intercooler and they were trying to compensate for the extra lag. It also could not decide whether it wants to crawl or remain stationary. Even though I am no fan of automatic boxes, I admit that the 1.6TDI DSG Rapid my wife got as courtesy car some 2.5 years ago drove and felt pretty much like a manual car, holding gear while pottering around town. This is definitely not the case with Mk3 Superb 2.0TDI 190bhp DSG.

 

But if/when I have to replace my Mk1 Superb, the choices for me are: imported Mk3 with 190bhp engine and manual gearbox/cloth seats, new UK Mk3 but in a sensible/slow 150bhp manual diesel guise, used Audi A6 estate 3.0V6 TDI 240bhp quattro 6-spd manual (pre-2011 model), or if I can get someone else to pay for it, Audi A7 3.0TDI 320bhp tiptronic. Mk3 will be a slight downgrade, the other options are either more risk or more costly.

Edited 13 June, 2016 by dieselV6