I was originally thinking of getting a 2.0 CR Elegance, but I think I can save over £5k by getting an 1.9PD S and speccing it up slightly. Yes I know it won't be so nice but it'll be a big saving and I'll lose far less in depreciation.

I'm thinking 1.9PD S with

metallic paint

maxidot

cruise control

rear parking sensors

auto dipping mirror.

I think that should be ~ £14.5 from a broker. I will transfer my Kenwood double din head unit and nav, amp and sub and if possible my Diamond / Alpine speakers from my Octy II.

So, a few questions, to help me figure out what I want to do, if anyone can help...

1. Anyone know what size the standard speakers are in the Superb II?
   
2. Are the SE / Elegance seats (the wider at the top ones) much more comfortable than the S ones?
   
3. Is the interior of the SE much nicer? Does the S not have a leather steering wheel?
   
4. In the brochure which surfaced around March, it said it would be possible to order the 1.9 without a DPF. Is this this case now for the UK market?
   
5. Is it possible to order a 1.9 in Elegance spec?
   

Edited 8 August, 200817 yr by wega3k

Okay, I'll try and answer your questions:

1) Can't tell you about the speaker sizes, but I suspect they will be the same size as in the Passat. If so, then anything from 5.25" to 6.5" should be fine (with appropriate spacers).

2) The Elegance seats were much more comfortable for me than the SE ones I tried. I believe the S and SE both have the same seat, whereas the Elegance gets a different design (according to the brochure). In the Elegance, you also get extra adjustment due to the electrical operation (You can adjust tilt of the seat base, as well as height).

3) Can't tell you too much about the interior difference, but the S definitely doesn't have the leather steering wheel or the fake metal trim.

4) I've got a recently updated copy of the brochure, and on the back page it now states that all diesel engines will have the DPF. Might be worth clarifying with a dealer, though.

5) No. Only in S/SE spec.

Personally, I'd get the SE spec. as you do get a whole load of nice extras, for not a huge amount more money.

2) The Elegance seats were much more comfortable for me than the SE ones I tried. I believe the S and SE both have the same seat, whereas the Elegance gets a different design (according to the brochure). In the Elegance, you also get extra adjustment due to the electrical operation (You can adjust tilt of the seat base, as well as height).

skoda.co.uk (New Superb > The Inside > Inside Colours) suggests the SE comes with the bigger seats :confused:

EDIT: There again, I don't trust that. The specs section on there is all over the place, e.g. it says alcantara on the Elegance. SUK really do live up to their name.

Edited 8 August, 200817 yr by wega3k

skoda.co.uk (New Superb > The Inside > Inside Colours) suggests the SE comes with the bigger seats :confused:

I've got the latest dealer bulletin on the specs. and this seems to indicate otherwise, as does the latest edition of the brochure (dated July).

From my own personal experience, I do think the Elegance seats are more comfortable than the ones in the SE. That could just be because the Elegance ones are more adjustable.

In any event, the cars I saw were LHD versions, so it could all be different for the UK models.

Bagpuss.

I've got the latest dealer bulletin on the specs. and this seems to indicate otherwise, as does the latest edition of the brochure (dated July).

From my own personal experience, I do think the Elegance seats are more comfortable than the ones in the SE. That could just be because the Elegance ones are more adjustable.

In any event, the cars I saw were LHD versions, so it could all be different for the UK models.

Bagpuss.

True, I think those LHD ones will have been more like the Comfort / Ambition(!) / Elegance specs from the old Brochure?

Don't buy an S; what you'll save initially you will only loose again come retail time. In my experience base spec used vehicles have trouble selling because the reason people buy used in the first place is to get a higher specifacation than if they where to purchase brand new. So they tend to look for classier models, I'd look at an SE but becareful what you add to it, I think the Elegance is only £2,200 more than the SE and you get a whole lot more on the Elegance.

Also if you originally wanted a 170CR then you may want to consider a 140PD as it goes very well the only downside is the higher Co2 figures and a loss of power.

If you're trying to find away into a new Superb you may want to look at the different finance options, if you looking into the Skoda Finance 8.5% Solutions deal assuming you do reasonable mileage you can defer a big chunk of the payment until the end and have it as a residual value.

Hope that makes a little sense and helps a bit.

Don't buy an S; what you'll save initially you will only loose again come retail time. In my experience base spec used vehicles have trouble selling because the reason people buy used in the first place is to get a higher specifacation than if they where to purchase brand new. So they tend to look for classier models, I'd look at an SE but becareful what you add to it, I think the Elegance is only £2,200 more than the SE and you get a whole lot more on the Elegance.

That doesn't tally up with my experience of trying to trade my Octy II Elegance (excellent condition inside and out) in at a Subaru dealer or a BMW dealer. Glass's price for the Elegance - 7310. They were offering me 5500 - 6000. I walked away. The glass's price for a Classic is £5820. My point is, to them it was just a diesel skoda octavia, they didn't care about trim level / options really.

Based on that, I can see the £5100 premium for a Superb II Elegance new being worth maybe £2000 in resale in three years time, ergo ~ £3000 more in depreciation.

If they didn't offer you book money for an Elegance what makes you think they are going to offer you book money for a Classic?

I would suggest that the Classic is further behind book than an Elegance so that would mean that by Subaru standards you've have been offered early £4k. I wouldn't want to buy a classic Octavia for stock, I find a decently priced Ambiente will sell a lot faster.

The new Superb will be the same in order for someone to buy an S over an SE used it'd need to be IMO £1,500 -£2,000 cheaper as people tend to favour the higher specifacation cars.

You'd be safe buying an SE over an S if you're worried about depreciation, but I don't think you'd be entirely safe paying the extra money for an Elegance. Like on the current Superb Comforts/Elegances generally fetch similar money whilst the Classics don't make much money at all because apart from cabbys there is no market for them.

As an aside I am getting a bit peeved at Skoda UK. They seem to be shifting the goal posts. All the brochures, including the one received today from Skoda UK, show the Elegance with wood (fake I know) trim yet it seems the imitation metal trim is going to be the standard. Previously had five Superbs from new, the last three being Elegance Spec. What was part of the original Elegance Spec ie:- auto dipping rear view mirror, cd changer are now extras. I know the new one can play back Mp3s but I do not have the time to convert my Cds.

When I placed the order no mention of the heated washer jets being available. I sincerely hope the CD changer, heated washers wood trim etc can be added. Already ordered the auto dipping mirror DSG, Auto Park, Hill start. Just wish Skoda UK could get their act together. Waiting for my dealer to get back to me.

In some defence of Skoda UK, they never actually said wood trim was included on the Elegance in any of their press releases/brochures. Like you, I just assumed it would be standard. I was just as surprised to find it wasn't, but I'm told that most people really didn't like it that much on the previous model (myself included).

It has been a very frustrating experience though, as I wanted to order my car on 18th June, the moment the prices were released. The delay in publishing the options list has perhaps been the biggest problem of all, but it seems that Skoda CZ were very slow in approving the UK options pricing.

I really wouldn't worry about adding the options to your car, as it won't be built until the beginning of September, so there is still plenty of time to get the changes sorted out.

Bagpuss.

Thanks for that info. I will be patient.......

You can only make changes to the spec 3 weeks before build week, I'd make sure your dealer knows that you want to add to the spec.

I'm annoyed that the wood trim is a cost option, I thought you had a choice of the metal or wood affect. No auto-dimming rear view mirror is very odd though.

I was under the mistaken opinion that the wood decor/metal decor was an option on the Elegance as this would differentiate it from the other models. With all the extras may look at Audi A5 or VW CC next time maybe.

i think the extra for wood trim is a bit of a retrograde step - all pictures i have seen so far show wood for elegance so imho should be no cost option - also having to pay for dipping mirror which is presently standard peeves me slightly - I can't personally see the

point of buying an elegance without wood unless its the piano laquer trim so I am going to have to stump out either way

My feelings exactly Pugwash. Even the leaflet I received from Skoda today shows the wood decor:rolleyes:

It looks like the dealer network locally will ensure I don't buy this car tbh, if they can't keep a simple bolt for a regular maintenance job then imo it's not good enough for someone who depends on the car for his/her living, and I won't have the VW option to fall back on on this model either, and with the exclusion on the 1.9 auto option back in 2005 I can't choose to get another old style one either, and there's no way I'm gonna consider a V6 model.

i think the extra for wood trim is a bit of a retrograde step - all pictures i have seen so far show wood for elegance so imho should be no cost option - also having to pay for dipping mirror which is presently standard peeves me slightly - I can't personally see the

point of buying an elegance without wood unless its the piano laquer trim so I am going to have to stump out either way

I personally think Skoda are being a bit cheeky with their pricing of the new Superb, if I compare my 1.9 130 Comfort to the 2.0 PD SE there are one or two extras missing which are now pay for items, auto dimming mirror, rain sensor wipers, floor mats and the new Superb is £1,500 more expensive. When you take a step back the old version is a really good spec car, I do feel let down by Skoda and I think this will only get worse the more popular they become and they will get more popular because only a fool can knock their product these days.

Now thinking

170CR Elegance in Storm Blue with boot spoiler

Cream Leather but with black carpets (need to check what silver inserts look like with the cream leather)

Park assist, sunset glass, upgraded sound, auto dim rear view mirror, heated washer jets.

What do we reckon? Sound nice? What do people reckon to the Luna wheels?

Sounds good to me. Storm Blue is a cracking colour.

Might be worth considering the wood trim with the ivory leather, as I think this combination works much better than ivory with the steel trim.

Not seen the Luna wheels in the flesh, but think I prefer the Themisto based on the pictures.

Bagpuss.

Now thinking

170CR Elegance in Storm Blue with boot spoiler

Cream Leather but with black carpets (need to check what silver inserts look like with the cream leather)

Park assist, sunset glass, upgraded sound, auto dim rear view mirror, heated washer jets.

What do we reckon? Sound nice? What do people reckon to the Luna wheels?

cream leather, black carpets and silver inlays looks really good. wood is SOOOO outdated and old man !!

i saw the cream leather with silver inserts in the flesh yesterday and its looks classy but modern.