eurotraveller

Here's a new one not everyone may have seen: https://www.parkers.co.uk/skoda/superb/estate-2015/long-term-reviews/skoda-superb-sportline-estate-20-tsi-4x4-dsg/ He sort of gets the stealth-appeal. And yes, the car's capability on the autobahn is something every owner should experience at least once.

Well, yes, I’m sure some Skodas are quite suited to various types of police use. But let’s not overlook what is very likely going on here (and in the cases of most other police vehicles): Skoda will be pretty much giving the cars away in return for the indirect advertising. As for the ‘280 Kodiaq’, it’s laughable then, that they apparently failed to get an accurate message about their model line-up to across to the press. Or, if they really did build a special 280 Kodiaq just for the (UK?) police, how is that going to work when the cars are eventually sold on and don’t actually exist for insurance purposes? Or am I missing something? Also, is very high performance (potential high speed) actually important to the police? Surely they would deem it far too dangerous to make anywhere near full use of such potential when in pursuit? Someone with some direct insight into this might be along eventually here.

BillyJim re tyres: I don’t doubt the significant difference between the two types of tyre you mention and describe. However, to a certain extent such differences will surely also just be due to new vs. well worn. I’m sure that, like me, you will have felt major ride-quality improvement just from switching from worn to new of the same tyre. Sw1: I think quite a few of us here did that switch from diesel to 280 TSI; in my case after 20 years of diesel. You’ll soon know how right that feels.

True, I was looking at worst case and you can indeed get thumping discounts on new; not that I would normally buy brand new or pay full price, but that happens to have served me very well on this occasion (long story). So yes, the Superb’s depreciation might be far better still relative to roughly comparable ‘premium’ cars costing pretty much double. But, first and foremost, the market is clearly flooded, so residual values are bound to be rubbish across the board.

Some top-of-my-head numbers based on today’s market, sterling value and my kind of usage as well as full knowledge that purchasing something more enjoyable like a Superb 280 is not ‘sensible’: Scenario 1: Spend £40k on Skoda, keep 6 years, rack up about 120k miles. Residual value? Say £4k. So £36k depreciation. Scenario 2: Spend £70k on ‘comparable’ BMW/Merc/Audi. After 6 years / 120k miles, is that car going to fetch even close to £34k? Not a chance in hell. And that’s before taking the escalating service/repair costs on ageing cars into account, which will be roughly double for the ‘premium’ brands vs. Skoda.

“It depreciates like a rock.” Shock, horror. Maybe you’re not surprised, but if anyone is… The car market is famously flooded with new cars because of the aggressive PCP-selling that carmakers and their dealers have been doing in recent years. Perhaps the pertinent point is how the depreciation of a niche car like a Superb 280 compares with others that are remotely comparable. And I don’t mean in percentage terms – the case always made by people trying to justify their purchase of really expensive cars – but the only way that really counts for private buyers: in pounds and pence. I haven’t bothered to do the research, but would be happy to bet that the Superb is quite average in that respect. Look on the ‘bright’ side: if sterling takes another nosedive (strong possibility), the relative value of your present car will go up. Mind you, it’ll cost a fortune to replace…

Haven’t had any niggles whatsoever, but my gripe is … seats are just about OK (I do quite big mileage), however nothing to write home about. Above all, they’re too short and don't have any extend function. Alas, that’s no doubt built into the price / brand. It’s the thing that would most likely motivate me to look elsewhere next time.

How was the speed measured? Speedometer readings are inaccurate at the best of times and become pretty meaningless over (indicated) 200 km/h...

Obviously all a matter of personal preferences, yes. And like I said, the picture doesn’t do that Merc justice – I was blown away when seeing it in a showroom. Be that as it may, how about this as another piece of evidence to support the case for the prosecution: https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/audi/a6/2017/photos-interior Criminal, surely?! (For some reason that photo didn't want to be inserted here)

PS: Sorry, just spotted something stupidly retro on that Merc dash - the silly round clock. I guess that, when I sat in one, I was so impressed by the (modern) overall design and quality that, I just missed that unfortunate little detail.

Sit in one of these... ...and tell us again that "all modern car interiors look awful". The new E-Class is on another level - the picture doesn't do it justice.

I agree: that looks beyond foul! Faux wood trim may look at home in retro cars like the Jaguar S-Type and the Rover 75, but why on earth would you want to dress up a modern car like that? Hideous!

True, and also too right about the range anxiety thing. I would / will have that in spades, given I do 20k miles a year. I cannot imagine being comfortable without at least a small petrol engine that only charges the batteries - but doesn't drive the car - if need be.

Agree a 280 replacement (with more power / performance, obviously) would be very tempting, but is surely unlikely due to Skoda’s place in the VW Group pecking order. Whether such a Superb happens or not, it’s hard to imagine my next purchase not having some electric power content. And the car I choose will certainly not have less performance than my present one. The dreaded B word was mentioned, so I’ll pick up on it: Absolutely right, the run-up to March 2019 (more like a drunken stagger than a run) could crash sterling and render any budgeting for cars meaningless. Interesting times ahead, to put it as positively as I can muster.

Enjoyable 280 moment yesterday: On exiting a roundabout – dual carriageway A road before and after – I was on right; driver of Mini ‘Works’ comes up on inside and initially passes me with clear intention of beating me to slower traffic on left further up the road. Ah, maybe not. He was clearly quite stunned when I stepped on it, beat him and prevented his ‘undercut’. Stealth can be such fun, while boastful ‘performance’ cars don’t always fulfil their promise. Sorry if you’re deflated, old chap.

Hmmm… Doing the ‘Ring can be either a nice drive in the country or a serious test of man and machine. In a Superb, it had better be approached as the former. I cannot imagine the car being anything other than hopeless and in fact scary if pushed seriously on that track (or any other). Floating around in an unsupportive seat without a proper harness while trying to control a car that is itself floating around like a barge? Not for me, thanks. Meanwhile, expect massive wear of brakes and tyres. As for the topic here: couldn’t agree more with YTT. We come from the same place and have the same outlook. Skoda snobbery is fun.

Agree that really is a preposterous argument, especially with respect to a barge like the Superb. As for vulnerability to kerbs: sure, it’s marginal and a good driver will minimise the chances of damage anyway. But think a wet winter’s night when it’s sometimes impossible to distinguish between a mere puddle and a nasty pothole. I’ll take the extra cushion between that and the rim. Furthermore, there must be a considerable difference in ride quality. I can feel a marked difference even between well-worn and brand-new tyres and the few millimetres that involves! But if the look …ahem… overrides all that for you, good luck and enjoy.

Big(ger) rims are complete and utter nonsense on pretty much all cars. There isn’t a single upside apart from perception / looks. They are, as you suggest, nothing but a vanity thing. I’ve succumbed in the past, but haven’t this time and am glad. Someone with knowledge of physics will surely be able to explain conclusively that it’s impossible for a car’s ride to be as good with less of a rubber ‘cushion’. And then there’s the vulnerability to curbs, potholes etc.

Yes, weirdly also with 280hp. I guess it fits the lazy, slow driving-style that prevails in North America – giving a feel of effortlessness. It’s clearly not suitable for the European market where downsizing and maximum efficiency are king.

Which is very odd, because 280ps TSI 4MOTION is certainly available in LHD. I love the new infotainment system / dash layout – more than that of the Superb. I’d go for it (given the 280 option) if it weren’t for the Superb’s clincher, which is the legroom.

What tyres and pressures are you using for these runs?

I'll try to put that impression into coherent words when the experience is fresh in my mind. But: it's definitely more responsive. It feels slicker. A close friend just took delivery of a new 911 with a 7-speed manual!

So, we’re mostly in agreement, except: “Only has a 6 speed DSG box, all it needs quite frankly.” I occasionally (several times a month) drive a Porsche Macan with the same EA888 engine, except that’s in 240-250ps guise (cannot remember which). The key difference is that it has a 7 speed. While the cars are naturally quite different, that box does work better with the engine. The Macan, as most here will know, sits on VW’s MLB rather than MQB platform, which is presumably why there’s space for a better box. That MLB platform is of course also shared by the Audi A6 you mentioned. Boy, do you pay for it in terms of interior space. Nothing’s ever perfect, eh? PS: Use of Eco mode is not legal in the 280 – don’t even think about it. You might as well take yourself off to a clinic in Switzerland.

I’ve just spent a few days using a current model BMW 520d in “M” spec, i.e. ‘sports’ seats etc. Downsides: Engine - dull, dull, dull Equipment levels - poor, poor, poor But, and this is where it’s relevant to the above and travelling many miles, which I also do (20+k p.a.): Together with those excellent seats*, I found the driving position truly outstanding – way better than the Superb (though in the BMW that comes at the price of leaving virtually no legroom behind me as the driver). Driving position is obviously very important; I’m hoping the experience will fade quite quickly from my ageing memory. *I’ve sat in the Superb Sportline – not as good. Incidentally, the most annoying thing on the BMW: you must select Auto Hold via a centre console button after every time you start the car, otherwise the function does not operate. How stupid is that?! PS: Just went on the BMW configurator… Closest comparable = 540i xDrive M Sport Touring (it seems you must buy the 540 to get the xDrive) I stopped adding bits to match the L&K at about £65k. Ouch. And considering the value of any car I drive will be down to a fraction after a handful of years…

Again, couldn’t agree more. So-called premium cars seem to be big on blanking plates - because very few buyers can bring themselves to tick every box as it just gets silly and so they make compromises, lots of them, and end up with cars far less well equipped than our Skodas. Oh, sorry, they do get whatever ‘premium’ badge it is, whereas we have to cope with the winged arrow. Tough, eh?