edwards

While its not as exciting as a new camper van, I think your new plan is probably sensible. We've thought about a camper ourselves and my parents even have a caravan we could borrow, but in the end we came to the conclusion that it was a lot less ballache and about the same cost to just rent a cottage for 3-4 weeks spread over the year. Bear in mind we are a 4-person family with 2 pre-tenage kids and also a springer spaniel so that would be less than fun in a camper. I know its really not a financial decision at all, but by the time the depreciation (on a caravan probably £1k/year), insurance at £400, 'servicing' at £200 and then site fees of £30/night on average then I recon our cottage holidays aren't very different and we have a nice cottage and no setup/takedown/storage issues. still, its a heart decision really.

I understand - one of those 'you don't know what you are missing' things. My hearing is pretty messed up, so I never really even considered Canton, although you have got me thinking now that a better quality system might help get the most from what hearing I have! I shall continue to watch this thread as if there are some easy upgrades to be had for non-canton cars I might avail myself of them if its not a terrible faff. Get your MMR vaccinations folks - I was born before it, got measles and it buggered my hearing for good For you, if you compromise and it will always be in the back of your mind that the car isn't quite right, than I would say keep looking and don't compromise, 'cause it will always bug you. That's how I ended up with the 280, I told t'missus if I went for the 220 I would always know there was a 280 out there

I suspect most buyers don't care to much about music quality. Perhaps they listen to Radio 4 most of the time like me I should probably caveat this with the fact that I am partially deaf with a lot of lost frequencies in one ear, but I am completely happy with the standard kit in my 2018 Sportline. Maybe try and get a ride in a car without Canton? I think the 'sub' speaker goes in the LHS storage notch int he boot so that might be an easier retrofit?

The 'best' is the OEM drop down one. I think they can be retro-fitted but I also suspect it would be ruinously expensive. Other than that, people on here seem to like the westphalia one.

Comes with a caveat that mine is a Sportline so its 20mm lower than stock. Ground clearance would be an issue I think. I have had mild issues just on Scout campsite fields with mine. I do have the luxury of t'missus's towbar fitted Karoq which I sometimes pick in those circumstances. I have recovered a RIB with my Superb without issue, but the dive group have a 4.8m steel beam with a hitch on one end and a ball on the other so I was 5m from the slippery bits and the slipway is smooth concrete. I wouldn't even try it on a lot of slips that a proper lifted 4x4 wouldn't even notice. On road towing with the 280 is really good, can't fault it at all.

I've a superb 4x4 so not a direct comparison. I can comment on the DSG for towing however, having towed a lot of things with manual cars before i got the DSG Superb. I'd say its easier and just better all round than a manual. The only thing I ever do differently to normal driving is to click the selector back to get sport mode on leaving a roundabout sometimes, just to get up to speed quicker, but I will be honest that isn't really necessary. After 20 years of towing with a manual, I won't be going back to one any time soon. I'll admit having the 280 petrol does help with towing too, but the above is exactly right, you have to take care to remember you are towing sometimes especially with smaller trailers.

A boot lip protector (I have the Skoda official one, others are available) and the super-power LED boot lights from SuperSkoda are two things I have been glad I added to my Combi. The boot lights being in the tailgate means that bright lighting here is very effective at illuminating the contents of the boot. I also got the LED front door lights from SuperSkoda which I really like, so much brighter than the stock ones. Another thing I like is the 'tunnel mat' for the transmission tunnel between the back seats, its a nice little bit of extra protection and dirt cheap, again from SuperSkoda. I have 2 kids and a springer spaniel so mud protection is important to me. I have the OE towbar that drops down out of the bumper but that is big money to retro-fit. If you are super lucky your car might have one already, its not very obvious externally unless you look under the bumper. There is a pull up flap as part of the boot lip inside the car. If you don't have OE bar, check and see if your car had 'towbar prep' as part of its spec as that makes it easier to fit one. People on here seem to rate Westfalia aftermarket bars but I don't have any direct experience of them. Whatever bar you choose, get a fitter that can code the electrics to your car properly.

I'm in my mid 40s, married, have 2 kids aged 9 and 12 and a springer spaniel. I'm 1m85 tall, my wife not far behind and my 12 year old is already 1m70. I tow a box trailer occasionally along with other trailers and use a tow bar mounted bike rack. We go on holiday in the car and use it for camping trips with the Scouts etc. I'm not the kind of person who goes out for fun drives or would modify a car, but when I use the car I do like it to work well for me and not leave me frustrated. I guess you can tell where this is leading..... All I can really say is the 280 combi is the best car that I have ever owned. We did have the luxury of buying new and adding extras to get it 'just right' for us which helped a bit.

If you want big leg room and a big boot then Superb estate is the answer. I am very biased though In all honesty an Octavia estate would probably be sensible but I would try one with your baby seat just to be sure as some of the seats these days are huge. With low mileage and little opportunity for good runs to get the temperature in the DPF up, I would avoid a diesel and go for a modest petrol power plant like a 1.4tsi. My dad has a Mondeo estate and its an alright car, he seems happy with it, it just seems a bit dull somehow but that might just be his one. I'd avoid an Insignia, and that is speaking as someone who has owned 3 Vectra estates in the past. It was the Insigna's awfulness that made me keep my older (and better) Vectra for 14 years and then replace it with a Superb

I've done a fair bit of towing. I am an old bugger so no need for a separate test but I have towed a lot of things over the years. The S3 handles towing the best of any car I have owned, but I guess plently of power and 4x4 adding weight help. I'll admit towing a caravan is not my favourite thing to do, I find the sail like sides and often weebly springs make them less obedient than, say, the twin axle box trailer. I would urge you to pay careful attention to the loading of the car and the van, use a stabiliser, buy a van with stability control if you can and most importantly take time to build up your skills. Best thing I have towed was a glider trailer - light as a feather but so so long! looked like you were trying to outrun a polaris missile in the rear view mirror