I'm looking at a 07 Superb 1.9tdi 115bhp Classic and have almost agreed a deal to buy but thought I would run a few things by the knowledgeable people here before I commit to anything.

Firstly the front tyres on this car, they are just about shot, is this excessive wear for a car that's only done 15k miles?

Secondly when flicking through the OBC, the average miles per gallons showing is just under 40mpg. I've owned a few mk2 Octavia 105bhp 1.9tdi's and I used to average 55mpg with a mixture of city/motorway/A road driving. With a Superb I would have expected circa 48-50mpg?

Finally is there a difference between the 115bhp version of the PD engine thats in the Superb and the 105bhp version thats in the Octavia?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

I'd say it's had a hard life - 15k on a set of tyres and sub 40-mpg makes it look like it's been dragged kicking and screaming around country lanes!

IMHO the 115bhp diesel is a little underpowered in a car the size of a Superb.

Thrashed. Look underneath at the front and see how much of the undertray is still left. If the oil has been changed and the correct oil used, it might be worth a gamble if it's cheap enough. I test drove the (then) 105 BHP Superb before buying a 130 as a tow car. I would say that unless you really need to push on hard, the 105 engine is not bad at all. The huge engine torque makes up for the modest power output - it pulls hard where you need it to.

Unhitched, I can get 50 mpg easily with my 130 engine - but then I don't thrash it.

rotodiesel.

Thrashed to hell to destroy the OEM tyres in 15k.

Also the PD115 is an old engine all said and done and I'd didn't think it made it into the superb. If it did then it's still quite worrying as a car that old doesn't seem likely to have only done 15k miles.

Maybe it went up to the suit trimmers so to speak

Was the steering wheel quite shiny?

Personally unless you can check it out and it's v cheap I wouldn't touch it. Don't forget the cambelts are due every 4 years regardless of mileage and to check the thing has been serviced too.

15K on the tyres, somethings wrong, our 140 get used very hard & still gave the high 30's on the first set. I think its been ragged or clocked (or the wheels swapped onto another car.

The bottoms dropped out of the Superb market so it must be silly cheap to buy it.

Unhitched, I can get 50 mpg easily with my 130 engine - but then I don't thrash it.

rotodiesel.

I agree york to windsor and back last week end i got 54mpg for the whole trip

Maybe it went up to the suit trimmers so to speak

That's certainly one way of putting it.

I do tend to thrash it a little. I try not to but I'm childish.

Since having my 1.TDi 130 I've done around 1,200 miles and trip computer reckons in that time I've averaged 44 mpg. Roughly half motorway, half town.

Motorways generally give me just over 50 mpg, although have had it as high as 57.3 mpg.

Stunned at how the presence of a digital mpg readout makes you back off of the throttle sometimes. If I'm in my childish mood I'll flick it onto average speed and then it becomes a game of "beat the previous record". :P

I'll try to settle your mind here a bit...

1st - MPG - the clue here is to look at the average speed setting, if it reads less than 22mph the car has been working urban mostly and 40mpg will reflect about right for a manual one, also there is the weight of the Superb vs Octavia to take into account, and finally if you had a non turbo diesel Octy these are very economic.

2nd - Tyres - I had a full set of Bridgestone Turanza E300's fitted to mine and the fronts were gone in 10k, the Superb is a wallowy beast and you will find the outer edges go on them, I had it ttracked on all 4 wheels and it showed nothing wrong, I can also take my hands off at speed and get no drift so I know everything is ok in that area, the rears are almost out now having done nearly 20k, again it's the outer 2 inches that are most worn, I put it down to the cars weight shifting on soft springs going round corners etc.

3rd - Ragged? - things to look at are door handles and gear knobs, these peel quite easily and can have two causes, high miles or ring wearer's, shiney steering wheel is a good indicator that it's 60k+ miles and the seat edge by the belt pull will be a lighter shade than the rest of the seat with wear, check the rear door jambs for excess scratches, this is usually a cab if they're like that due to ppl getting in and out.

But as for mpg and tyres, I see nothing out of the ordinary with what you posted, tyres lasting 30k+ will have been in a straight line on the motorway most of their life.

Front tyres on mine only tended to last about 18K ......mpg 38 around town and up to 55 on a run....the 115 bhp should be fine, no fireball, but then it is a heavy car, also one of the best places to be on long trips

15K on the tyres, somethings wrong, our 140 get used very hard & still gave the high 30's on the first set. I think its been ragged or clocked (or the wheels swapped onto another car.

The bottoms dropped out of the Superb market so it must be silly cheap to buy it.

Sorry, Checked last night, missed a set of tyres, Just coming up to 70K & about to fit 4th set so around 23.5K per set. Also car does a lot of Motorway miles which helps.

Agree with many of Superbia's comments - check the average speed. In my 130 I've had 50+ on a good motorway run, but easily most of my mileage is urban commute - with average speed showing around 15mph, at about 33mpg.

Tyre wear seems a tad high (changed my fronts at c28k) - is the 115 fitted with traction control? If not, could make a difference and indicate some wheel spinning starts?

Yeah I have to be honest, dependant on the type of miles the car has covered I didn't reckon the tyres at 15k were a huge issue.

The engines are pretty solid if well maintained. I'd say a good read through the service history is important. If regular changes of fluids and consumable parts have been carried out I'd imagine it should be ok. Get it checked out by a mechanic if you're wanting extra peace of mind. If it's a dealer, they should be happy to oblige and issue a warranty.

I wish my tyres lasted that long,i live in the countryside, lots of sharp bends, hills.The original Dunlop tyres on the front lasted 9800 miles,i replaced them with Vredestein sportrac 3 's.At 21000miles now on the clock i've just replaced all 4 tyres,more sportrac3's, got the 4 fitted for £300 . So they lasted a bit longer ,11000 miles. If i see the edges wear ,i usually increase the pressure by a couple of psi. The average mpg on my computer is 42 mpg. Vredestein recommend putting 2.6 bar pressure in the fronts

Edited 22 October, 200817 yr by flabio

Just buy it and stop fannying around, if it's manual it'll top 35mpg and expect 40 if you potter about town, as for rubber, 4 tyres are £300 PA, so subtract the £220 for the average car tyre lifew and know that your *** bought £80 PA of comfort and reliabilty.

OK folks, thanks very much for all the replies.

After reading and being reassured by Supurbia's feedback I stopped fannying about and bought it .

Only picked it up today and have put about 200km on it so far but first impressions are good. Will write a report up on it when I have put a few more miles on and it and have a bit more time

Chris

OK folks, thanks very much for all the replies.

After reading and being reassured by Supurbia's feedback I stopped fannying about and bought it .

Only picked it up today and have put about 200km on it so far but first impressions are good. Will write a report up on it when I have put a few more miles on and it and have a bit more time

Chris

There ya go, job done

Just buy it and stop fannying around, if it's manual it'll top 35mpg and expect 40 if you potter about town, as for rubber, 4 tyres are £300 PA, so subtract the £220 for the average car tyre lifew and know that your *** bought £80 PA of comfort and reliabilty.

You, sir, are quite the task master... :P

Good times. Looking forward to the pics