How many sport suspension Superbs out there ?

[Cledwen]

Took delivery of a 100K '05 Superb Elegance last Friday and enjoying every minute, working through the inevitable niggles with the car but I did notice that when I bought it that it was unusual in that it had a 3 spoke steering wheel with no buttons (I am not too bothered about that) and wondered if it had ended up with sports suspension (cost option in some model years) particularly as the steering was heavier than I had expected for a luxo barge.

I had it confirmed today, when having the tracking done, the technician asked if it had the sports set-up, on checking the sticker in the spare wheel he confirmed as such. To double check when I got home I did the VIN decoder and lo and behold :

1BE = Sports suspension/shock absorption

Just wondering how many of you guys have a similar set up

[SJFISHER67]

Mine has sports suspension, but a normal steering wheel.

[kprm77]

Any pics of the car? Would be interesting to see how the car sits on the Skoda Sports suspension.

Mine has Eibachs, and looks far better (IMHO) than the standard car height.

[Cledwen]

These are all I have at the mo, they are the pics from the Autotrader website where i found it.

The old girl is a bit dirty and too shy to have her pic taken, if you want more I'll post some when she's been snowfoamed

[kprm77]

That looks so much better than the standard ride height. Looks like a similar ride height to mine. Like the "Solid" alloys too. That's what I had on my first Superb. Easy to clean too

[Cledwen]

Yes I like the 5 spokes more than the multi spoke wheels, I think they suit the car more.

I must confess I am a bit sad and like to clean the insides of the wheels too.

Got fed up with the lousy Halfords / Meguiars brushes that fall apart so I improvised with one of those radiator paint rollers. Straighten the cranked end a bit, put on some poly tubing (to mimimise risk of scratching) and use the matt paint rollers (cheap way of replacing when they wear out) - works a treat

[dieselV6]

The sports supension option on the Superb involves 1 coil shorter springs and slightly stiffer dampers.That's just about it. It lowers suspension by 20mm on all sides.

Anyway, how are your shock absorbers - have they been replaced? The stock Skoda/ VW shock absorbers become useless for high speed rides after about 20k miles (had the same with the Octavia)

Personally, I decided that it is much better to start with heavy duty suspension (+20mm) , put front sport springs (-20mm), and as soon as the shocks were giving signs of wear (read <20k miles at high speeds) I replaced all 4 with Bilstein Sports B6 monotubes.

This setup achieves the following:

-Covered underbody with reinforced glass fibre skid plate and lots of covers on the vital installations underneath the car - already saved oil pan on a few occassions

-Excellent handling in corners (for an elephant, anyway )

-Correct levelling of the car when the boot is heavily loaded (goes rear-heavy with the towbar carrier though, but still acceptable)

-Stable ride at high speeds (130mph+ across DE)

For a car that mostly rides unloaded, same setup with all 4 sport springs will behave similarily and look better.

[allclownsareevi]

Fitted mine with aftermarket Eibachs, wasn't keen on the tractor look when I first got it, plus wanted to minimise the roll in corners

Eibach's -30mm drop. KWs can drop it -40mm but that's the limit and I wanted some tolerance left in the suspension without changing coilovers.

[Cledwen]

dieselv6, thanks for the heads up about the life of the shocks.

Not sure if the car has had shocks but I suspect not, the car has been long life serviced at an the same independent garage throughout it's life and only as the book stamped for regular servicing.

When I had new tyres fitted y'day I noticed a little dampness around the top of the n/s rear strut so I think they'll be getting changed at some point in the near future.

I do like the 'standard' ride so may opt for some of the same unless the price is prohibitive and points me in an alternative direction

[Baker21]

Weclome to the forum................

Looks like you have bought a nice example there and you can't go wrong with the Solid's..........

The exahust in the pictures doesn't look OEM either so it would be interesting to see your steering wheel you have? Should really be a 4 spoke steering wheel.........:confused:

[Cledwen]

Thanks Baker21, great to be here.

Used to own a Saab 9-5 Aero (well still do until its sold) and the forums out there aren't as friendly.

Here's a couple of pics of the 3 spoke.

The exhaust does finish the car off nice and I haven't seen another like it but the pipes are stainless and welded to the back box and look good quality. I'll try and find a manufacturer stamp on it when I have time

Edited 21 May, 2009 by Cledwen
Trying to get jpgs to show

[SJFISHER67]

Thanks Baker21, great to be here.

Used to own a Saab 9-5 Aero (well still do until its sold) and the forums out there aren't as friendly.

Here's a couple of pics of the 3 spoke.

The exhaust does finish the car off nice and I haven't seen another like it but the pipes are stainless and welded to the back box and look good quality. I'll try and find a manufacturer stamp on it when I have time

I see that you have a different cruise control stalk, as you don't have the multi function steering wheel. Did they ever do that in a three spoke?

[Baker21]

I see that you have a different cruise control stalk, as you don't have the multi function steering wheel. Did they ever do that in a three spoke?

I have the same cruise control stalk and I have the multi functional steering wheel?

[SJFISHER67]

I have the same cruise control stalk and I have the multi functional steering wheel?

Oh right, so do you have two methods of controlling the cruise? One being the rocker on the end of the stalk and the steering wheel buttons?

Never seen that, on my 54 Plate comfort, I had the original style 4 spoke steering wheel - I assume the same as yours? and I never had the rocker switch at the end of the stalk. I had just a normal stalk, with a cruise switch on and off, with the res & cancel buttons on the steering wheel.

[Baker21]

Oh right, so do you have two methods of controlling the cruise? One being the rocker on the end of the stalk and the steering wheel buttons?

Never seen that, on my 54 Plate comfort, I had the original style 4 spoke steering wheel - I assume the same as yours? and I never had the rocker switch at the end of the stalk. I had just a normal stalk, with a cruise switch on and off, with the res & cancel buttons on the steering wheel.

Can I get my coat, mine is the same set up as yours..........

[kprm77]

Thanks Baker21, great to be here.

Used to own a Saab 9-5 Aero (well still do until its sold) and the forums out there aren't as friendly.

I was trying to get rid of my Superb a while back and it was a 9-5 Aero I was after! Which Saab forums have you tried?

[Cledwen]

kprim77, I have been on Saabscene and Saabcentral and often find requests for info go unanswered or get stupid incorrect answers to questions.

Strangely my 9-5 originally came from your neck of the woods (Leicester anyway).

Just getting the adverts sorted, was wanting to get it advertised this last week but am working this weekend :thumbdwn:, so am unable to accommodate any viewings.

[kprm77]

kprim77, I have been on Saabscene and Saabcentral and often find requests for info go unanswered or get stupid incorrect answers to questions.

Strangely my 9-5 originally came from your neck of the woods (Leicester anyway).

Just getting the adverts sorted, was wanting to get it advertised this last week but am working this weekend :thumbdwn:, so am unable to accommodate any viewings.

UKSaabs might be worth a try too. I sold my old 9-5 on there a few months ago.

[Supurbia]

That looks very similar to a Passat sport wheel, possible someone swapped out from one of the many marques VAG has, and swapped the centre badge to complete the transplant.

And how were the 95's btw, I'm considering one myself.

[Cledwen]

My 9-5 is great and it will be sorely missed, problem is that at 20ppm from my employer and 20K miles per year I am effectively subsidising them for my mileage.

At approx 96p per litre of unleaded I need to do 22 mpg to break even, at an average of 30 mpg there is little margin for wear and tear even taking into consideration the paltry car payment they make per year.

I have poly bushed and changed the suspension (Koni) which improves the car significantly.

There is a raft of torque from low revs so it can be used for wafting around or when you give it the beans it does deliver.

I love my Superb and am just having to get used to the more 'leisurely' style of driving. I'll be getting a pipe and smoking jacket next

[kprm77]

And how were the 95's btw, I'm considering one myself.

If I wasn't doing over 2000 miles per month getting to work, I'd definately go for one. I've had two 9-5's. I did use a 2.3LPT Auto on this journey, and I was getting anything from 32 - 35mpg.

Go for an Aero. Should be more than enough to keep the pesky diesels at bay. The Auto's are supposed to be better than the manuals (the reverse was true for the older 9000).

They're not cheap to maintain though - but then again neither is Volvo, BM, Merc etc. Just get one with a Full history and find a good specialist.

In my head I always keep coming back to a choice between a 9-5 Aero and a Subaru Legacy 3.0R. I'd love a Leggy, but they're more to buy for the same age, and the economy is significantly worse.

Sorry for the off-topic waffle!

[Cledwen]

Mine was / is an Aero auto and I think the auto box suits the car more than a manual.

Saabs are not known for their 'snicky' gearshift mechanisms and, the auto, once in sport mode has no laziness from the torque converter (like many autos) so having to pull out of junctions quickly is never an issue.

[JonathanK]

Interesting thread. Can you tell me how or where I find the VIN decoder?

Thanks

J

[djlocky]

The steering wheel is the same as a fabia sport, & also the octavia vrs but the vrs one has the logo onit, Would HPI to make sure the steering wheel has not been replaced because of a crash, Just my thoughts Regards Jason.

[Cledwen]

I think the 3 spoke wheel is correct for the car, I did manage to download a Skoda brochure from 2006 / 07 and the 'Sports package' has the 3 spoke wheel, chrome tailpipes and steel foot pedals.

My car does not have the pedals but the pic does show a manual car

So that'll explain the tailpipe, but now begs the question " where's my nice steel pedals"

Edited 17 June, 2009 by Cledwen