My friend is looking at getting a superb (mk.1) elegance model with all the bells and whistles.....jammy $od!!

Can someone post some pics of the inside please (elegance models with leather).

Also which is the best engine to go for? Mileage won't really be an issue so the V6 2.8 30v manual would be the preferred choice......

Your thoughts and opinions on the model(s) please guys and girls.

Cheers,

Steve:)

The 1.9 TDi (130 bhp) seems to be the pick of all the engines available. Depending on how old a car he is after and much he is looking to spend the Edition 100 (05/55 reg) is a top spec car worth considering - but only available in black.

Or if he is looking even newer then the L&K's are available to.

TBH anything from a Comfort upwards will give him loads of toys to play with.

Go with the tdi pd 130...up to 50mpg and massive torque make for relaxed driving

Buying a 2.8 petrol would be like burning money right now.

This is the ultimate lemon of the fleet (lemons have their uses, gin & tonic for instance) with the 130 AWX manual being the only really useful Superb. However, if you have a remunerative job for a 2.8, wait.

When the road tax changes bite, fuel is even dearer, the recession deeper and the new Superb is on the books, you won't be able to give away an old 2.8. Next year will see some real bargains - buying one of these right now would be a really bad move.

rotodiesel.

Can someone post some pics of the inside please (elegance models with leather).

There is one pic of the inside of my Edition 100 on this thread. Can't say if it's the same leather as on the Elegance though.

http://briskoda.net/cars-sale/skoda-superb-limited-edition-sale/94460/

Depends what you want it for.

I wanted mine for high speed, long range cruises across Europe, usually involving 300-500 miles on Autobahn. For this the 2.5V6 TDI 6-speed manual is the one. It's quite rare in the UK.

Yes, it is thirstier than the PD crowd, but it repays with excellent motorway behaviour and 30%+ longer range than the comparable 2.8 petrol.... And where conditions allow, you can comfortably cruise at 135mph actual.

...Keep in mind that I already bought the V6 TDI timing belt tool kit and will do the TB myself next year- the stealers want stlg700+ for it, the independents stlg500. And it's actually easier work access engine than my Octavia's transverse TDI110, so other than relative rarity and high potential cost of the engine replacement, I do not know what the fuss is about.

v6 diesel sounds good!

What can you get from a remapped 2.5 tdi, torque/bhp?

Do they do the elegance model with a manual 6 speed gearbox or is it just the auto?

Cheers,

Steve:)

I do not know what the fuss is about.

Labour is the costing not difficulty. it takes a fairly long time to strip the front down and there is a lot of stuff to take off prior to actually getting to the belt itself.

Plus setting up the pump timing requires diagnostic equipment and patience as you have to part rebuild, get the engine upto operating temp (on one of these requires a road test) and then set the pump timing. Do it wrong and you get starting problems and engine management lights.

Octavia 110 TDi belt I can do in under an hour. If I get a 2.5 belt done in under 3 i'm happy.

v6 diesel sounds good!

What can you get from a remapped 2.5 tdi, torque/bhp?

Do they do the elegance model with a manual 6 speed gearbox or is it just the auto?

Cheers,

Steve:)

Most UK 2.5V6 were autos, manual was usually special order. But it was possible to order either with a manual 6-speed gearbox.

You can get ~195bhp out of it via remap (so not much more than factory 163bhp). If you have access to the right components, which sadly I do not and if you ditch the factory exhaust and put in hybrid turbo and bigger injectors (all easy jobs thanks to V6 layout with turbo on top), you can get 240bhp out of it. Some people also put an FMIC. Which reminds me, anyone knows a good exhaust fabricator around North Hertfordshire area?

Re Lummox comments, I looked through the 2.5V6 TB procedure, and apart from having extra pump belt and two camshaft locks, it looks very similar to TDI110. You don't need to strip the front, just put it in service position (OK, this is an extra step but short). The access to all TB components is much easier than on the Octavia's TDI110, since there are no intercooler hoses and no engine console to remove and you don't work constantly limited by engine bay sidewall.

You have to warm up to 90deg C and check/set the pump timing (e.g using VAG-COM) on TDI110 too, it's more pain actually because it is much slower to warm up than 2.5V6. I agree on timing - 2deg idle timing difference makes no difference to the TDI110, and makes starting very hard on the V6 - a few years ago there was even a note issued for these engines to correct the timing.

Anyway, my primary motivation to do TB myself (and the WP while I am at it) is the overheated head gasket and subsequent coolant loss after last dealer's TB job on my Octavia. I'd rather spend 10hrs on TB+WP with a manual in hand for each step than go to a service and receive the car messed up.

Still, even at 10hrs and stlg500 saved, I am "paid" 500/10 = stlg50/hr - not bad :-)

I've had 2 Superb comforts, my first was a 1.8T which was very nippy but also very thirsty and being a caravaner it also limited me to only be able to pull 1300kg, so I decided to change it for a deisel and after much reading of these pages and other's advice I plumped for the 1.9TDi 130. Its probably the best car I've ever had, performance is surprisingly close to the 1.8T and the fuel economy is outstanding for a car of this size as I regulary get over 50mpg and when towing my caravan I have always had over 30mpg which is unbeleivable as my 1.8T could only just do that under normal driving!

For me its probably the best engine as from what I can understand there can be alot of problems with the 2.0HDi, but it all comes down to what you want to use it for.

Look after your 1.9. Thanks to the Euro regs, you can't now buy a diesel with anything like its efficiency - many people are moaning about their CAT IV and CAT V engines. The soot filters are a pain and their maintenance sometimes completely negates the savings made by running a diesel, especially on the French versions.

A low mileage manual 1.9 AWX is the one to have.

rotodiesel.

Her'e some pics of the inside of my 53plate Elegance 1.9TDi.........Could be For Sale soon

Her'e some pics of the inside of my 53plate Elegance 1.9TDi.........Could be For Sale soon

Will keep that in mind mate!!

Stunning car:thumbup:

Most UK 2.5V6 were autos, manual was usually special order. But it was possible to order either with a manual 6-speed gearbox.

You can get ~195bhp out of it via remap (so not much more than factory 163bhp). If you have access to the right components, which sadly I do not and if you ditch the factory exhaust and put in hybrid turbo and bigger injectors (all easy jobs thanks to V6 layout with turbo on top), you can get 240bhp out of it. Some people also put an FMIC. Which reminds me, anyone knows a good exhaust fabricator around North Hertfordshire area?

Re Lummox comments, I looked through the 2.5V6 TB procedure, and apart from having extra pump belt and two camshaft locks, it looks very similar to TDI110. You don't need to strip the front, just put it in service position (OK, this is an extra step but short). The access to all TB components is much easier than on the Octavia's TDI110, since there are no intercooler hoses and no engine console to remove and you don't work constantly limited by engine bay sidewall.

You have to warm up to 90deg C and check/set the pump timing (e.g using VAG-COM) on TDI110 too, it's more pain actually because it is much slower to warm up than 2.5V6. I agree on timing - 2deg idle timing difference makes no difference to the TDI110, and makes starting very hard on the V6 - a few years ago there was even a note issued for these engines to correct the timing.

Anyway, my primary motivation to do TB myself (and the WP while I am at it) is the overheated head gasket and subsequent coolant loss after last dealer's TB job on my Octavia. I'd rather spend 10hrs on TB+WP with a manual in hand for each step than go to a service and receive the car messed up.

Still, even at 10hrs and stlg500 saved, I am "paid" 500/10 = stlg50/hr - not bad :-)

Agreed on all of the above. I had a really nasty experience with one which I guess tainted my view of them. A really late booked A4 2.5 TDi, of course going on holiday the day after. One of the 6mm allen key bolts pulled out of the n/s pulley when I was doing the final dynamic timing. Feck, couldnt leave it with two bolts in it. So stripped the whole lot down again, swapped over the pulleys and rebuilt, finished about 8 o'clock that evening. Water pumps often give up on the so change that for sure. Its the big aluminium plate o the front that annoys me, loads of bolts securing it and all different sizes.

Starter motor is good fun aswell, as is a gearbox on a quattro 2.5..lol

Remember also if buying an old Superb, the rear seats were fixed on the early ones. Folding rear seats (of a sort) were only fitted from MY '05 (10th digit in VIN).

For many jobs (including mine) fixed rear seats would make the car pretty useless.

Lummox, I had the stripped flange problem on the water pump of an ABS engine recently. I'm afraid I just fitted a bolt from behind and put a nut and a spring washer on. You couldn't do that on a customer's car of course...

rotodiesel.

Edited 15 August, 200817 yr by rotodiesel

If you do want to look into tuning the 2.5 V6, I can recommend it. Ive had a fair bit done to mine, and really does pull like a train.

Never had the suspension lowered, since I pull a caravan, but off the mark, or mid range punch, it really does deliver for such a heavy car.

If you do want to look into tuning the 2.5 V6, I can recommend it. Ive had a fair bit done to mine, and really does pull like a train.

Never had the suspension lowered, since I pull a caravan, but off the mark, or mid range punch, it really does deliver for such a heavy car.

I lowered front to sport suspension standard, and kept the rear at the factory HD suspension springs (so front is -2cm and rear +2cm compared to standard). This works very well, at least with Bilsteins. I do not tow caravans, but I frequently use fully loaded towbar carrier - when the boot and the carrier are loaded, the car has about normal stance.

What did you do to the engine and where? I have a perfectly good custom hybrid turbo sitting on a shelf, just need free-flowing exhaust, bigger injectors, and a tuner who actually knows about VAG turbo diesels, not just how to flash someone else's software .

Ballpark cost information would be welcome, too

I lowered front to sport suspension standard, and kept the rear at the factory HD suspension springs (so front is -2cm and rear +2cm compared to standard). This works very well, at least with Bilsteins. I do not tow caravans, but I frequently use fully loaded towbar carrier - when the boot and the carrier are loaded, the car has about normal stance.

What did you do to the engine and where? I have a perfectly good custom hybrid turbo sitting on a shelf, just need free-flowing exhaust, bigger injectors, and a tuner who actually knows about VAG turbo diesels, not just how to flash someone else's software .

Ballpark cost information would be welcome, too

Exhaust done at Pipewerx in Lancashire. Excellent Job. Cost me bout £600 for full custom system including a 200cel sports cat. I even see less smoke than the standard exhaust. Got Neuspeed Lower Rear AB fitted at Awesome. Improved handling no end, and that is with standard suspension.

Custom Remap was done a JBS Auto Designs. Went for phase 2 after havng generic phase 1 and I could tell the difference. They can cater for any custom work.

I have thought about Hybrid turbo, and injectors, but have decided against as I want a MkII Superb. Im after the V6 petrol lump.

THe V6 TDi, though old is a very tunable engine. It suprised me wot can be done.