What Car March 2011 edition has a test Mondeo v Passat v Superb all 140 Cr.

Result 1.Mondeo 2. Passat 3. Superb

Sit back and wait for the shower of artillery to rain down upon this thread

I could have had a Mondeo or a Passat but I opted for the Superb as it was the best car for MY needs.

I still think its the best out of that bunch though.

Sit back and wait for the shower of artillery to rain down upon this thread

I could have had a Mondeo or a Passat but I opted for the Superb as it was the best car for MY needs.

I still think its the best out of that bunch though.

Agreed. Plus I don't always trust What Car, after all, they claim the 3 series BMW to be perfect. As I found out to my cost, it isn't.

Agreed. Plus I don't always trust What Car, after all, they claim the 3 series BMW to be perfect. As I found out to my cost, it isn't.

What Car - aka 'What BMW'

I'm genuinely surprised the Passat came out above the Superb.

I wouldnt trust a what car review, they seem to favour whoever is willing to pay the most in sponsorship.

I agree with the above post: The Superb is the best car for me also. A mondeo is something you reluctantly accept as a hire car and are glad to hand back. My Superb is something I look forward to driving.

I haven't read that particular test but one thing which would put me off the other two is how many you see on the road.

Want to blend in with the crowd? Buy a mundano.

More interested in badge snobbery than value? Buy a ****hat.

Mark.

I always think of What Car as being a magazine written by people with no interest in cars for people with no interest in cars TBH.

Auto Express thought differently;

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/262531/new_vw_passat_vs_skoda_superb.html

I really don't care at all for the lazy facelift on the new Passat - almost every panel is new and yet it really does just look like a new front and slightly new rear end stuck on the old car which has looked long in the tooth for some time.

Combined with the same old well built but bland and ill-equipped interior the Superb's still a no-brainer IMHO.

Funny how, in Auto Express, similar cars were tested and the final order somewhat different. Needless to say that the Superb was the best.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/262531/new_vw_passat_vs_skoda_superb.html

Moved from a 2008 140 Auto Mondeo Titanium X to a 2010 170 DSG Elegance thought I would miss the mondeo because she was a very nice car but didn't at all.

+ for Mondeo

Better voice control on bluetooth (Quicker response, Clearer voice.)

Better bluetooth control between different handsets i.e. whe I drive the car pick my handset or when wife was driving pick hers.

Voice control of more features such as aircon.

Bigger Fuel Tank

Nicer drive on fast curved roads

Better looking

- for mondeo

Noises from internal panneling

heavy on juice

+ for Superb

More poke ...obvously

Better build quality

Better spec for €10k less than Mondeo

Horrible Arse

Loadsa gadgets

- for Superb

Columbus voice control is crap

Blood bing and mute of stereo every time phone handset syncs

Columbus has my phone book backwards (lastname firstname)

Control of swapping of phone handsets non existant

Auto heating controls not very accurate

Small fuel tank

Moved from a 2008 140 Auto Mondeo Titanium X to a 2010 170 DSG Elegance thought I would miss the mondeo because she was a very nice car but didn't at all.

+ for Mondeo

Better voice control on bluetooth (Quicker response, Clearer voice.)

Better bluetooth control between different handsets i.e. whe I drive the car pick my handset or when wife was driving pick hers.

Voice control of more features such as aircon.

Bigger Fuel Tank

Nicer drive on fast curved roads

Better looking

- for mondeo

Noises from internal panneling

heavy on juice

+ for Superb

More poke ...obvously

Better build quality

Better spec for €10k less than Mondeo

Horrible Arse

Loadsa gadgets

- for Superb

Columbus voice control is crap

Blood bing and mute of stereo every time phone handset syncs

Columbus has my phone book backwards (lastname firstname)

Control of swapping of phone handsets non existant

Auto heating controls not very accurate

Small fuel tank

I think your comments are very fair and balanced. However I would add that the leather used in the Mondeo is far superior. It may not look as good but it wears well, in my old Mondeo the seats looked good after 140,000 miles. In my Superb the seams on the drivers seat have worn into holes in three places and it has a shine that makes the drivers seat look very sad after only 40,000 miles.

Edited 5 February, 201115 yr by RDH

So does all of this mean that if What Car liked.....say, the Yeti, they would be wrong and totally biased? Just so I know who to trust of course

So does all of this mean that if What Car liked.....say, the Yeti, they would be wrong and totally biased? Just so I know who to trust of course

What people are saying above I agree with. That is 'what car' are biased in favour of BMW. The 3 series can seemingly do no wrong in their eyes. They either don't mention. or they gloss over, the tramlining the models fitted with run flat tyres suffer from, the lack of boot space in the estates (sorry, tourings) or the dismal performance on slippery surfaces (especially snow) due to RWD. If you read their tests and a BMW is included, be prepared to take a step back and form your own opinion.

Mark.

So does all of this mean that if What Car liked.....say, the Yeti, they would be wrong and totally biased? Just so I know who to trust of course

Pink writing ??!

There is no fear about What BMW Car loving the Yeti, they say it's unrefined, jittery and noisy.

To quote: "Shame the ride is unsettled at all speeds".

That has got to be the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. The ride quality was one of the Yeti's best attributes.

- for Superb

Blood bing and mute of stereo every time phone handset syncs

Columbus has my phone book backwards (lastname firstname)

These can both be changed, my (MY11) Superb is silent when the phone connects and I have changed the settings (via the maxidot) for the phone to read the names the correct way (as suggested in your other thread) maybe it just needs a firmware update?

There is no fear about What BMW Car loving the Yeti, they say it's unrefined, jittery and noisy.

To quote: "Shame the ride is unsettled at all speeds".

That has got to be the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. The ride quality was one of the Yeti's best attributes.

Strange, Clarkson didn't say that on TG the other week and given he's in no way a Skoda fan, I'm sure he'd have put the boot in at every/any opportunity.

What Car obviously don't know the Yeti can lap Donington quicker than a Ferrari too!

I will give What Car credit for their attitude toward pricing, discounts and deals as they changed my perception of dealers and car buying.

However having twice placed my trust in their reviews and having been bitten each time, I now take their verdict on the actual cars with a pinch of salt. I trust Car and Auto Express more, better reviews with no obvious bias for/against any manufacturer.

Depends on what Mondeo ?? up to 3 litre V6 petrol engine 180mph approx.

There is no fear about What BMW Car loving the Yeti, they say it's unrefined, jittery and noisy.

To quote: "Shame the ride is unsettled at all speeds".

That has got to be the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. The ride quality was one of the Yeti's best attributes.

I was offered the promo offer of £1 for 6 issues of What Car and took it. I've since cancelled it because of the obvious bias to some manufacturers and the obvious dislike to some others. A quarter of the mag is also regurgitated every month too which seems pointless.

Edited 6 February, 201115 yr by Paul007

Reviewers are human, they can objectively report pure stats (speed, CO2 emissions, dimensions etc) any other perspective of a car is purely subjective.

As we all like the Superb this is our subjective opinion, if Top Gear, What Car or any others have a different viewpoint does it really matter? All over the site as soon as someone agrees with Skoda owners perceptions they are viewed as wonderful, anyone who has a different opionion is slated- be careful or the equality police will be after you for prejudice

What Car may well help the exclusivity of the Superb- would you like all your neighbours to have one?

Anyway- how many awards did the Mondeo win last year compared to the Superb- could someone remind me?

Rant over....

Edited 6 February, 201115 yr by superbfan

I was offered the promo offer of £1 for 6 issues of What Car and took it. I've since cancelled it because of the obvious bias to some manufacturers and the obvious dislike to some others. A quarter of the mag is also regurgitated every month too which seems pointless.

Ah yes, Haymarket's infernal offers. I subscribe to four four two yet get a call every December trying to flog their other titles to me. Very annoying.

Edited 6 February, 201115 yr by Slinksuperb

Hello Gizmo,

It appears that most UK Superbs are fitted with the GSMIII rSAP module that gives a signal display on the Maxidot and gives menu options to change the phonebook order.

Being in IRL my Superb is fitted with a GSM II bluetooth kit (which makes it iPhone compatible) which has feck all control through the maxidot.... see

Upgrading the Columbus to 2760 didn't make any difference except gave me the hidden setup menu.

These can both be changed, my (MY11) Superb is silent when the phone connects and I have changed the settings (via the maxidot) for the phone to read the names the correct way (as suggested in your other thread) maybe it just needs a firmware update?

Still don't understand the anti Skoda badge snobbery evident.

We had a new starter last week, he had the pick of the only two available pool cars to tide him over until his proper car arrived.

He could have had an Octy L&K 2.0TDi with quite a few extras

Or a BMW 318d with... 4 wheels and a steering wheel, that's about it, base model.

The Octavia is still on the car park.

Go figure, because I can't, and it's not the rear wheel drive thing as he has ordered an Audi A3, almost one of the most unpleasant cars ever.

Whatever the arguments, for or against skoda... Look at my signature...

Edited 6 February, 201115 yr by tomcatdk

Today, I was in VW dealer to see the new Passat and if it is up to its claims. Luckily and undeliberately I parked my car (using park assist) to a spot next to the front window and behind, a new passat highline is being examined by a couple of customers. I think salesman didn't like it at all, because it immediately caught attention.

Passat is not a better car than Superb. In fact New Passat, and Jetta are actually getting closer in terms of space. Only interior quality is different but it is inferior to Superb's

You are very lucky out there, We have a limited range of options, because the distrubutor in my country is same as VW's. They don't import Greenline, just because they want to sell more Passat Bluemotion, and DSG's are limited for certain range of models.

Whatever the arguments, for or against skoda... Look at my signature...

Arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics.

Even if you win, you're still retarded.

Is that supposed to be funny...cos it isn't