AJAMESR

I'm currently scanning Autotrader and the like for a Superb. Sportline or L&K depending on various things such as colour, spec, engine etc etc. Anyway, one of my "no compromise" criteria going into the search was it must have Canton system. However - its amazing how many vehicles I'm looking at that are ticking all the box's except that one. I can't understand paying for the Columbus upgrade but sticking with the standard sound system. Unless a lot of the dealers/sellers are overlooking the Canton and not mentioning it in the details. And I can't find anywhere to give me exact specs of vehicle based on reg or vin. Anyway, I guess I'm wondering if the Canton is something I can compromise on? So - does anyone have experience with and without? Is it worth it? Can you tell the difference? And - does anyone know can it be retro fitted or how difficult is it to upgrade speakers in the Superb - I know on a lot of cars these days you can forget about it. I know sound is a bit subjective and this will probably get a mixed bag of responses but any feedback would be helpful. I currently have Canton in my VRS and I enjoy my music, not loud, just crisp and clear and with the proper base elements without rattle - and sure every now and then it gets a blast. But mostly I'd be around the 70% volume range I guess. I just think its a shame to have highly spec'd cars and let them go without a nicely spec'd sound system - I mean thats one of the most interactive elements of your driving experience. Who drives around in silence?

VRT.ie initially billed me but gave me a valuation for a different Superb variation. I contacted them and told them about it and could they refund the fee or get the proper estimate. Fair play to them they got back with the estimate. I’ve attached. It’s based on 272 Superb SportLine 2019. Might be useful info for others. But keep in mind all VRT estimates are just that. An estimate. You will only know final figure when car presented to NCT Centre.

I'm presuming its KESSY key? If so, have you tried starting using the emergency start procedure? Hold the key close to the start button or maybe its on the steering column, I'm not sure about Superb. But basically that bypasses the KESSEY system and effectively starts the car the old school way by reading the key directly. Its there in case battery goes dead in key, you can still start car. But as I said before, if it was a key issue you would have seen a warning message on the screen to tell you that.

Yehh. So many cars these days you need to have the car in N and foot on brake or on clutch etc etc. I get in and out of a lot cars and honestly just getting them to start sometimes you need to get the manual out 🙂 But put simply, its just a switch on the brake or clutch etc and if the pedal is not depressed the car wont start. But if the switch is faulty, you can have foot on pedal but that car doesn't know you have foot on pedal. Its another long shot, but worth ruling out.

@UndertheRadar ohh I like the brake pedal switch shout. Could easily be something as simple as that. And don't presume dealers have any of the basics 🙂 I've seen some really basic stuff missed over the years. As I said before, local dealers have competent but often average mechanics. They have the luxury of having all the dealer tools and directions that make working on a particular make of car easier. Step by step stuff. But anything out of the ordinary and they can be easily tripped up.

Thanks mate. A lot of good info there. Personally I love the Meteor Grey. Current colour on the VRS and it is so easy to keep and I’m still not tired of it after 4 years. But I think I’d prefer the Superb in a L&K spec so the grey is not an option. Just think the L& K is that bit better refined with the extras etc. And the seats are far better IMO. Sort of a quite cruiser - but packs 272. But I wouldn’t cry if I got a Sportline. Looks amazing. And Yehh I’ll be holding off until Sept - just trying to get my ducks in a row so I can pull the trigger quick if something comes up. Hopefully the car sells in the next month or so. Although I have mixed feelings about letting it go. As I was putting the add together I was thinking “ what am I doing, if I saw this add I’d be drooling over this car” - and here I am trying to sell it 😂😂 Anyway. If a sale happens, bank the money and look forward to something new. If not, I won’t be too distraught, still loving my VRS. 👍

One year older - prefacelift. Not too shabby. Would be very unique car in Ireland. And changes in 2021 after Brexit deal done might make such imports completely impossible.

@MaddicIrl dude! FairPlay for working that one out 😂 I found a company that imports for you and they calculate the VRT at almost exactly what you said €7-8K on a 1 year old. 👏👏 Hopefully the pic I have added has attached. I would much rather have this for 40K rather than what I might get for 40K on a VRS. Although go another year older to 2018 (pre facelift) and you come down to about 30-32K with VRT paid. Hard to ignore that value.

So I’m way further down the line now on this. VRS is up for private sale & I’m scanning UK websites with the view to importing a Superb. I spoke to Skoda this week about the new Octy & there is no way it will be anywhere near the 35K I paid for mine 4 year’s ago. So a 1 year old Superb looks better value for money. Id love a 272 L&K or SportLine. I’m not doing huge mileage. Only 50k on the Octy after 4 years. And the road tax is still only about €500 for the year. Which is less than my wife’s 05 Mondeo which is over €600. Need to get an insurance quote on it. Currently about €650 for my VRS. The only thing I can’t price in the whole undertaking is the VRT. So if anyone can help🤷‍♂️ It’s not on the VRT website. I tried those paid ones where u input reg but they can’t do it either. You can’t ring Revenue directly and ask as they say they can only give a valuation on a car that is “physically presented at a test Center” So I’d need to import the car first then cross my fingers on VRT rate. Im confused even more when I look at most of the other Superb variants on their website, the VRT is calculated on CO2 of 117 - NO Superb has that low an emissions rating. This determines the % of the OMSP that they will charge. So even if I got a 190 SportLine which is on their website to get an “estimate” ( the figure you get on the website is no guarantee just a guide) - I’m worried that when I present for VRT they’ll say “ohh that’s the wrong CO2 number on the website. Your VRT is 32% not 17%” - & there is nothing u can do. They do not have to stand over estimates from their own website 🤷‍♂️ So I will literally be gambling on the price & sweating it out until I actually have the car in IRL & present for VRT valuation. Has to be a better system than that🤦‍♂️ Anyone know any other solutions. Anyone imported a 272? I might just start a new thread to grab someones attention on here that may have imported from UK to IRL & what it cost 🤔

Was chatting with a Skoda sales guy during the week here in Ireland. Said they are still in very much in the dark as regards whats coming and when, but he was pretty sure that the next 6-8 weeks will bring a lot of info. September seems to be the month that most think we will know more. He did make some good points though about the price point of the new VRS. My current VRS is a 2016 Manual Diesel. Got it for 35K ordered to spec. That is now gonna look like a steal compared to the new model. As he said, there will be no Manual option avail so you'll be paying extra for DSG straight away, could be possible that 4x4 is only option, more money and of course, and add a premium for Skoda's growing rep and the fact that its a new model - probably looking at 40K+ here in Ireland for a VRS. If thats the case, I'll be looking elsewhere. SEAT - How you doin? Or prob just import a Superb Sportline / L&K 272 from the UK. That will be a rare car here in Ireland.

Don’t fret mate. Wait until you get a solid answer for the issue. Could be something relatively minor. Don’t panic because local dealers couldn’t resolve. A lot of dealers employ fairly basic mechanics that know how to read directions from the manufacturer and do competent work. But anything out of the ordinary can baffle them. Not really diagnostic experts a lot of the time. I do work for dealers and many times we have fixed or resolved relatively easy problems that had dealers stumped. It’s the “ computer says no” syndrome and they can’t go much further. Experienced non-dealer mechanics can often do much better work than dealer mechanics. I wouldn’t panic just yet. Another suggestion is a new battery. Battery are strange things. Voltage test means nothing - needed to be tested under load. And putting a jump pack on to a bad battery is a waste of time. A faulty battery will take the good from the jump pack and the power from the jump pack won’t get to where it needs to go. I had a VW Passat a few weeks ago that wouldn’t start. Jump pack, still no start. Removed leads from battery and put my jump directly onto leads & car started no problem. Was the central locking working? Was there any message on the dash? If it was a key problem you will get a notification that it’s not recognising keys. There are a lot of things that could lead to this problem. And it’s a matter of elimination until you hit the right thing. And it could still be something relatively simple. Seeing as u just bought it, you still have consumer rights on your side with the garage that sold it to you. DO NOT just leave them of the hook.

Ask the garage for the finance report. Should be on file if they did it. Just tell them Skoda want to rule out a Finance Company disabling car for missed payments. Its an extreme measure but finance companies that deal with people with bad credit history do employ it as a security.

Its a long shot - but I have come across it. Is it possible that there is an aftermarket Immo fitted by a finance company? They can activate them remotely and car will not start even with correct key. Did you have finance check done etc. It would explain what is going on and many dealers wouldn't have a clue what to look for or how to find. As I say, longshot. But it can happen. Would also fit in with you buying the car so recently.

Its very nice mate, and I like the additions. 31K - I think you'll be looking at about 38-39K here. Whatever it is, there wont be much change out of 40K for that spec here in Ireland. Makes you think doesn't it. Thats a lot of money that brings other manufactures into the picture. Granted a VW may not be as well specd for that money but the gap is closing quick. My VRS cost 35K in 2016 - Manual - Diesel and only added about 1500 in extras as it had most of what I needed as standard. Main additions were Canton and Challenge Pack. After chatting with Skoda today, I don't think Id be getting a VRS for less than 45K, and judging by your Config above - could be looking at more than that. A one year old Superb L&K or Sportline (the 272BHP versions ) can be imported from UK with VRT paid for about 35K. Im finding that hard to ignore. This one would be 38K VRT cleared - but cheaper are available. I just really like this. 2019 with 10K miles. Practically new. New they are 40K Sterling not including any optional extras. This one is already down to 28K Sterling. VRT is about 7K Euro. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202006019693399?sort=relevance&model=SUPERB&price-to=30000&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&drivetrain=Four Wheel Drive&fuel-type=Petrol&postcode=ll651dq&advertising-location=at_cars&make=SKODA&radius=1501&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&price-from=20000&page=1

Speaking to Skoda dealership today & he made a good point about the coming VRS. While I was expecting to have to pay 4+K more for an equivalent VRS to what I bought in 2016, he said it could be much worse. There may be no Manual option, DSG only & maybe even 4x4 is the only drive option. So a manual, FWD like I have at the moment may not be available. So a decently spec’d VRS could easily be in Superb SportLine territory. If the 190 was available in IRL for the Superb I think that’s the route I’d be goin. As it stands importing one from the UK is looking more and more likely the more time I spend investigating my options. He said they are really in the dark right now, but the next 6-8 weeks should shed a lot of light on what’s coming. Hopes to have more info on VRS prices & specs & maybe even some info on future Superb engine options. As well as coming Finance deals etc. So hold tight until about end of Sept & there should be good bit more info. In the meantime I might try & sell my VRS privately & take advantage of the time I have, rather than trying to rush sell it when the time comes & losing out.

So it’s just down to chance🤷‍♂️ I was hoping there might be something else to it. Heated seats, or cooling seats or a certain mix of outside colour with interior or some sort of reasoning. Or is it maybe something the dealer can spec when placing the order - a sort of micro adjustment not available on the Online configurator. I find it hard to imagine your spending 40+K on a car but not able to determine exactly how the finished article will look, especially (imo) one of the more noteable visual features of the L&K brand - the signature. I would certainly want it in contrast thread. Would be very disappointed otherwise.

Wondering if anyone knows about the embroidery stitching on the L&K leather seats. I see some with contrast stitching, and some with stitching in the same colour as the leather. Is there a way to order one or the other, or is there some other rational to it? On the current configurator, it the preview pics, it likes look its the same colour as the leather and not a contrast colour. And I don't see an option to change it. I have tried different combos of colour car and interior, but can't seem to make a difference. When looking online at second hand cars, I am seeing a mix of contrast and same colour. I much prefer the contrast. Anyone know if its pot luck or actual some reasoning to it?

It will be interesting to see what deals (if any) are available. COVID has surely dampened sales projections. Possibly they may want to counteract that. Otherwise the may see very low sales on a brand new model. A model that will already be starting off more expensive than its predecessor. I reckon the same spec’d VRS I got 4 years ago is likely to be about 4K + more. Skoda running a fine line now between value & quality. It has been a no brainer for a few years now. But each year sees them creep closer to VW & Audi in price. The gap is shrinking which gives anyone with that money to spend more options. Seat are kinda where Skoda was 10 years ago. Building cars that are turning heads & for a considerable saving. UK have launched the non-VRS versions already & they have some discounts attached straight away. I think £2500 deposit contribution or something. So I expect something on the Irish one also which is usually in the way of lower % finance options. Got my last one on 0%. And with Brexit it will be interesting to see how cross border “second hand” car sales are affected. Could well be severe enough to practically remove that as an option all together. Then we really are cornered here in Ireland in terms of selection, & not just price. We will be prisoner to whatever options Skoda IRL deem appropriate. Have a look at the new Superb for example and the difference of engine options available in Ire compared to UK. I sincerely hope they don’t take the same approach with the Octy iV

Not to mention complications with actually owning a 🔋 powered car. What happens at end of 🔋 life? How is resale value after 4 years affected? How knowledgable will ur local garage be in resolving battery 🔋 related issues? Independent servicing not an option! it all seems a bit too risky still - added to the fact that they want you to pay a massive premium to take the risk. That is why I think they have restricted engine choices here - they are trying to funnel people into it. I have a beautifully spec’d L&K built on the config that is perfect for me. Bit pricey, but I’d pull the trigger on it - if it had a proper engine. Can’t bring myself to spend that kind of € & be “settling” for a 150 engine.

Good video. I like Bob, have seen good bit of his stuff. First I would never buy a French car in Ireland 😂 Name me one 5+ year old French car that you'd be happy to buy right now? None out there. They don't age well. Either aesthetically or in the reliability stakes. Lovely engines, and usually very appealing when they first arrive on market, but as Bob say in this vid, it wears off after a while and they flip to unappealing. 10 year old Octavia or Superb are still decent cars, esp VRS or fully loaded Superb. Their point on charging the PHEV is exactly the same point I've been making for a while now. Still takes too long, and is still not cost effective. And I literally tweeted his point to Skoda Ireland a few days ago as I had spotted the same crazy differential in price between PHEV and Petrol: @SkodaIRL is there a reasonable explanation why the 1.5 Superb is €40375 but the Phev is a whopping €53770? Would like to get into elec market - but this is not a viable option. #phev #skoda #superb #seai @SEAI_ie Needless to say I heard nothing back. I'll buy an awful lot of petrol for the 13K - Now a Grant in Ireland takes 7500 off that, but that still leaves a nearly 6K difference which will still get me a lot of petrol. And I'm not happy about that Grant just been chewed up like that. Its incentive value is negated completely. A proper incentive should be for the grant to bring the price of the car cheaper than ICE option. Missing the mark by a long way here. Seems to me that if the grant never existed, the car would be 46K anyway, now they've just thrown the grant price on top to pocket that as well. Government being ripped off again, with no actual benefit to the purchaser. So almost on principal I won't be buying a PHEV brand new from a dealer. It makes no sense. Unless maybe for business's. And so we come back to the question in the thread. Why the limited engines in the Superb range here in Ireland. THIS WILL IMPACT SALES!! A 1.5L 150bhp has very limited appeal. We need the 2L 190 option for this size of a car. As previous posts have mentioned going to the UK is now a very plausible and viable option. Its more messy and complicated than just going to your local dealer and handing over the keys - and I would honestly pay the premium to do that if the car I wanted was available here - but I'm left with no option if I want a Superb than go to the UK. And I could have a very low mileage, practically new, 2L 190 Sportline, cleared and all for 35K or less. SKODA Ireland - you are losing business, and I'm sure I cant be alone. Maybe others may not go to the extent of going to the UK (although there are companies here in Ireland now that will do all that for you) - but it may cause some to look elsewhere altogether - such as the Peugeot.

Yeah I think the Superb - esp the facelift - is a better looking car and more spacious and practical and to be honest, nicer to be sat in the driver seat. I get a chance to drive a variety of cars for work, not long distances, small but frequent spins, and the BMW has just never excited me. It’s a personal opinion of course, but then again it’s my car so only my opinion matters. I’m not gonna he happy in a car just because popular opinion tells me I “should” be happy in that car. I found a website that finds cars and gives the breakdown of VRT etc and its given me plenty to look at. It’s certainly now in my consideration to wait a year for a few more options to appear in the UK of the new facelift Superb and snap up the savings even on a 2L petrol 187which is prob what i’d ideally like. Although the 268 is also extremely tempting, but the road tax and fuel costs might just tip it into unpractical. For 35K you could import some seriously nice cars and make some serious savings compared to buying new. Just finding that exact spec u want will be tiresome and frustrating. And of course selling your current car private can be a pain as well. But, certainly not discounting it. I’m also still keen to physically sit in the new Octy VRS. It was my original plan. Not just a facelift like the Superb got, but a whole new layout for Skoda. So it’s got my attention for sure, but will be interesting to see it’s price point with the op extras I’d need on it. Either way I think this time 12 months I’ll be sitting in something new. No rush though, love my current VRS. Just time to change and get out of Diesel.

As suggested read the thread above. Not really conclusive as we never get to the bottom of why his entire car had to be replaced, other than Skoda sent 200 L&K's to UK that didn't have LA. But why they didn't have LA available, or why it simply couldnt be retro coded is not explained to the guy. Its possible that a piece of Hardware required for LA was missing which coding would not resolve. In his case he had the camera and the radar hardware in place as his other ADAS systems were working. The only thing I could think was maybe there was a piece of hardware required in the steering as the LA is an active system which adjusts the steering wheel when required. As compared to a passive system which just gives an audible warning. So - if you get a Sportline that doesnt have LA but has the camera on the windscreen and the radar in the bumper, could you retro code? The answer is - we still don't know for sure. The case above seems unique. 200 cars were sent to UK with some piece of hardware missing. But we don't know what. Its possible that if that hardware was in the Sportline then maybe coding would be all thats required. In my line of work I do some ADAS calibration using TEXA and HELLA diags. We see plenty of cars with cameras on the windscreen but no ADAS activated, so therefore no need to calibrate. But why are the cameras there? Is it possible that the cars are just fitted with the hardware in the knowledge that if the cust wants LA etc activated it will just require a coding visit to the dealer? Why fit them if they cant be activated? There are quite a few threads on here that suggest that once you have the A5 front camera in place then coding is all that is needed by VCDS. I don't doubt that some have had success with this, but what hardware exactly was on their car to begin with. Camera - yes. But what about Radar in bumper etc etc. And if its that east why did Skoda have to replace this guys entire car? A lot of unknowns. Is it even possible that the pre-facelift model just requires coding but after the facelift something more is involved. For sure ADAS systems keep evolving. Did the pre-facelift model have Active or Passive LA? I'm not sure. But from what i can read the current model has Active LA. That could be the difference. I will be watching this other similar threads with interest.

This was a fascinating read. I'm not a Superb owner but I believe it has an "Active" rather than a "Passive" LA system. That is, Active will turn the steering back into lane, Passive will just give an audible warning. I am so interested to find out why the dealer could not code or retro fit the LA given you had all the other ADAS systems active. Obviously you had the camera and radar in place. Im wondering if it had something to do with the active part of the system, that is, the actual controlling of the steering wheel. I imagine that another piece of hardware is required to operate this and if that was not present that could be the missing link in the chain. In a passive system, that wouldn't be needed and so retro coding would be all that was required. Can't imagine it was a faulty or wrong camera as you said you had Traffic Sign Rec. And ACC was also working, so we know the radar was present and working. I also don't think it has anything to do with Blindspot Monitoring or rear sensors as the car is not changing lane with LA, it is just keeping it within the lines, so only slight movements that won't be crossing paths with other vehicles. Just a guess, but I really would love to get to the bottom of that issue. I am a Locksmith but I work in the same garage as a windscreen company and do some ADAS calibration with them using TEXA and HELLA systems. You'd be surprised at the amount of cars we see with physical camera installed on the windscreen but the ADAS system is not active. Its almost as if the manufacture decided its easier to just install cameras in all of them and if the customer wants ADAS on the car, it's just a coding procedure and handy money. I had considered buying a Superb without LA and coding it myself, but this has given me pause for thought. Might just come down to if the system is passive or active wether or not it can be retro coded once camera in place.

I have a 2016 Octy VRS in Metor Grey and very low mileage. Mint condition. No Kids. Other seats barely sat in. If I could sell privately and get 18K, I have 5K to add to that and finance another 10-15K through bank & I’d have 35Kish to spend with only about 12K financed. Even with VRT (esp on a phev) I might get something pretty decent in the UK market. Im not overly enamoured with the BMW 530 - But I might take another look.

That’s a good point about the VRT on elec vehicles. And it highlights even more the difference in price between both markets as the VRT should be lower on the phev than the ICE only cars. So € difference should be closer. I would seriously consider going the route you suggest but it restricts your finance options severely - basically need a bank loan rather than being able to take advantage of dealer rates. And trading current car in becomes a bit of a headache also. And a few other minor issues. But yehh the savings by getting something 12 months old from UK market is hard to ignore.