Hi there!

I am about to join the Skoda owning family, by purchasing a 2003 Superb Elegance 1.9 TDI 130bhp.

Is there anything in particular I need to check when I give it a good going over? Where should I be checking for wear and tear?

Its on a 52 plate, registered Feb 2003, with 33k miles on it. I've got them down to 10,995 (Skoda main dealer). Does this look a good deal?

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

Hello and Welcome:D

sounds like a good deal,not that i'm up on secondhand prices etc

but all in all a lovely car,and wear and tear,its a Skoda so its not even run in yet,its got more than 167K miles left in her!!!!

Hi there!

I am about to join the Skoda owning family' date=' by purchasing a 2003 Superb Elegance 1.9 TDI 130bhp.

Is there anything in particular I need to check when I give it a good going over? Where should I be checking for wear and tear?

Its on a 52 plate, registered Feb 2003, with 33k miles on it. I've got them down to 10,995 (Skoda main dealer). Does this look a good deal?

Thanks in advance,

Matthew[/quote']

Hello Matthew

Most common faults appear to be the resonance/vibration at 1500rpm in the PD130 and the stiff boot mechanism. Have a look at he quality issues thread in the Superb forum.

Regards

Daniel

Cheers Daniel,

I've seen the issues about the boot being stiff, but not the vibration - I'll go and have a look in the thread,

Thanks

Matthew

Welcome!

Sounds like a good deal.

Go on Have it, I negotiated hard for my Superb, its the 2.5 TDi in elegance, on a 53 plate only 4500 miles and

Hi and welcome...and nice price for a cracking car.

The stiff boot I have found frees up nicely with some 3 in 1 oil (not aerosol) and a good appplication of lid movement.

The vibration noise appears to be the air ducting which should be easily rectified, and I will post back when mine has been into the dealer for its first service.

On the subject of servicing, remember the pd130 when in the Superb can be on variable or fixed servicing so check with the dealer which one its on, remembering the factory default is variable (mine is 20 months old with 12.5k on the clock and it is just telling me that service will be needed in 1000 miles which for mainly town driving isnt bad)

The only other things to beware of are the rear doors when passengers disembark. Being so big, unless they open them carefully you could find yourself bashing everything nearby, and that also applies to windy days too.

I have also found the bonnet flexes just a little too much if pressed down on when you wash/wax the car.

Other than the above, I cant think of any other points of interest, suffice to say you will love the car as will your passengers whichever seat they are in.

service will be needed in 1000 nautical miles which for mainly ocean sailing isnt bad)

The only other things to beware of is the rear escape hatch when passengers disembark. Being so big' date=' unless the crew open them carefully you could find yourself bashing the landing stage, and that also applies to windy days too.

I have also found the funnel flexes just a little too much if pressed down on when you wash/wax it.

Other than the above, I cant think of any other points of interest, suffice to say you will love the liner as will your passengers whichever cabin they are in.[/quote']

Wise words from our very own Captain Pugwash indeedy! :P

If it only it was a hatch back I'd have one too.

Hello and welcome.

Wise words from our very own Captain Pugwash indeedy! :P

If it only it was a hatch back I'd have one too.

Whats the matter, that rowing boat of yours hurting your rollocks??

The only things (apart from the bootlid) that I would check are

1. Try to drive it from cold and make sure the gearbox isn't too stiff. Mine is very reluctant to go into 2nd gear on a cold morning and I gather that's not uncommon.

2. Check for clutch judder.

3. Goes without saying really, but mine has the light cloth interior which is a complete !@@! to keep clean.

4. Oh - and make sure the brolly is there. A lot of them arrived without brollies as apparently the dockers used to help themselves when they were loading the cars up.

Apart from that - great car and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Cheers for all the points to look for - I'll let you know what I find on Saturday.

A couple of further questions....

I've just completed a 24hr test drive in a Classic, which was good - did about 200 miles and tried it on all my usual fun roads - its handling is a good, if not better than my Omega, and the accelaration is better too.

The only bit which wasn't as good as the Omega is the cabin noise - there's less wind noise but more tyre noise and more engine noise. As this model I drove was only a Classic, could I expect an elegance to be better sound-proofed. It's not a deal breaker (it is a diesel after all!), but I'd like to know! I guess the elegance should be quieter.... would the different tyres help?

The boot passed its test - a three-wheeled push chair (with all the bits and peices that accompany a small child) and a wheelchair were swallowed up without any problem!

We had 4 large adults and a 7 week old baby in it without any problem - it was still quick, even with the 100bhp engine!

Cheers for all your help,

Matthew

The Elegance models use the pd130, so it should in theory be under less load and be able to cope better even to what you found.You do get some diesel thrum into the cabin, especially with that vibrating air duct bend mine has, but when at normal speed/motorway speeds it is no-more noisier than most other cars (mainly because of the high torque and final gearing).

Tyre noise is probably down to the tyres, but again you have to remember the Elegance comes with 17" wheels and 225x45 rubber, whereas the Classic and Comfort have 16" wheels and 205x55 rubber.

So in asnwer to your questions, I wouldnt worry as I am sure the car will more than meet your needs.