Just had a thought. If I can't feel any dampness in the passenger footwells, it doesn't mean it's not wet under there, right? So, do you think I could just get a long twist of paper, a twisted A4 sheet should do it, and slide it under the small gap between the underlay and floorpan and see if it comes back wet or dry??? Or am I deluding myself again? :S

EDIT: I'm hoping to drive it on Saturday and it's meant to be tipping down then so if there is any problem, it should be the right conditions to spot it

Edited 23 February, 201115 yr by Jigger72

dubbel post, sorry.

Edited 24 February, 201115 yr by Supurbia

There are a few Superbs going through BCA at Blackbushe on the 25th and 28th.

http://auctionview1.....aspx?Mode=Lots

You will have to register, but it's free anyway.

KU57NNP SKODA SUPERB 1.9 TDI PD 115 ELEGANCE, 4 Doors, Saloon, Diesel, Manual Transmission, Silver, Margin 63778

Warranted 04/10/2007 Blackbushe 28/02/2011

Edited 24 February, 201115 yr by Supurbia

There are a few Superbs going through BCA at Blackbushe on the 25th and 28th.

http://auctionview1.....aspx?Mode=Lots

You will have to register, but it's free anyway.

KU57NNP SKODA SUPERB 1.9 TDI PD 115 ELEGANCE, 4 Doors, Saloon, Diesel, Manual Transmission, Silver, Margin 63778

Warranted 04/10/2007 Blackbushe 28/02/2011

Thanks for this mate. Why aren't you in bed?

Thanks for this mate. Why aren't you in bed?

I keep really messed up hours tbh, believe it or not I went to zzzzzzzzzzz at 9pm last night and woke at 4am, went back for an hour at 9am and woke again at 4pm, it's the price a man pays for being M16's top paid international world class document shredder

UPDATE---UPDATE---UPDATE

So I took it for a test drive today. Feels good, and tighter and less wallowing than I was expecting for such a big car.

I'm pretty sure the dealer will give me a decent part-ex price for my Octy and a decent price for the Superb.

There are still a couple of sticking points I'm hoping people can advise me on:

1. The ashtray is a bit pish. I'm never going to use it but I do want it to close properly, and it seems like it might keep coming open, which will drive me mad. Does anyone have any experience of this or know a fix? The pic below shows a bit of a gap at the top when it's closed, which I'm sure isn't meant to be there:

2. That front bumper gap in my earlier post. I'm sure it's fine, and there's no way the bumper's going to fall off, but will it bug me as well? Will I look at it every time and think "5hit! That's irritating" :S

3. What is it that kept catching my foot when pressing the clutch? I'm sure I'll find a way round it, but did anyone else notice it? And is the clutch meant to be quite light? Compared to my 1.8T Octy, it felt featherlight. What does this all mean?

4. The old water ingress problem. I couldn't get under the carpet to feel, but after pressing really hard over and over and in different places, I can't feel a thing, and all the interior electrics work. However, a headlight bulb blew on the test drive. Does this mean anything or just one of those things?

I also took some pics of the plenum chamber area. I couldn't get under the battery, obviously, so I couldn't see a great deal, but thought more experienced folks would be able to spot anything untoward.

Finally, the windows misted up on the drive but seemed to clear OK when I put the heater on. I'm guessing this is just normal, 'cold car, two blokes breathing, damp day' misting? If there's ingress would it be steamed up constantly, i.e. if it's been left in sunlight with windows up.

Anyway, here's some pics:

Any further advice much appreciated before I part with my hard-earned

On the first and second pictures, see all that crud and leaves between the inner wing and the pollen filter housing? See the dirty trail left when the water runs down into the plenum chamber? That area between the inner wing and the pollen filter needs to be kept very clean and free from crud. I do mine every few weeeks, takes just a few minutes. (Looks like the filter needs a change too).

On the first and second pictures, see all that crud and leaves between the inner wing and the pollen filter housing? See the dirty trail left when the water runs down into the plenum chamber? That area between the inner wing and the pollen filter needs to be kept very clean and free from crud. I do mine every few weeeks, takes just a few minutes. (Looks like the filter needs a change too).

Cheers. But it doesn't look THAT bad does it?

It's due for its annual service anyway so if I go for this car, I'll be booking it in for full fluid change service (brake fluid was done two years ago so that should be done) and asking them about clearing the bungs and replacing the filter. I'll do the sealant myself. I'm just worried in case there's already water (and damage) there and I just can't feel it through the carpet :S

Do you think the garage will mind if I take it apart and have a look under the carpet before I buy it?

Cheers. But it doesn't look THAT bad does it?

Just pointing it out, I'm a bit paranoid about keeping that area very clean.

Just pointing it out, I'm a bit paranoid about keeping that area very clean.

Try Sticking your hand in below the heater outlet under the passenger seat. You will be able to touch the floor and the underlay, have a dam good feel around. If there is a water ingress probelm the water also collects behind the front seat making its way towards the back footwell area, as well as in a channel under the left side of the CCM unit. If its wet or just damp you know there is a problem. You'll find the top carpet is dry usually unless things are really bad but the underlay is like the wolds biggest sponge.

Push the heater outlet up

Have a dam good feel under the outlet

CCM unit, you can't see the channel the water sits in under it to the left hand side

area below the heater outer under the passenger seat (thats what the plastic bit is at the top of the photo.

Good pictures, thanks.

Excellent tip Nackuk

I never thought to try getting under the outlet. I'll give it another once over next Saturday

The chamber looks fine, if you buy simply move the battery and keep any leaves out, and clear the grommet so water can run away.

The ashtray is probably just needing removing and re-screwing back in, it's a couple of torx screws holding it, that or the radio surround isn't on properly, this just snaps on and off.

Bumper if it shows no damage will just need a new mounting bracket, you may be able to straighten the old one, a bodyshop will do this for you for a drink I would imagine, but if you feel able, the bumber isn't hard to remove, call Baker21, he's quite an expert at removing them.

The chamber looks fine, if you buy simply move the battery and keep any leaves out, and clear the grommet so water can run away.

The ashtray is probably just needing removing and re-screwing back in, it's a couple of torx screws holding it, that or the radio surround isn't on properly, this just snaps on and off.

Bumper if it shows no damage will just need a new mounting bracket, you may be able to straighten the old one, a bodyshop will do this for you for a drink I would imagine, but if you feel able, the bumber isn't hard to remove, call Baker21, he's quite an expert at removing them.

Thanks Supurbia

So nothing seems too serious then? I'll see if I can try the carpet/underlay test one more time using the heater vent as an access point, and if this checks out, I'm going to dive in and become a Superb owner

I'll keep everybody posted

UPDATE---UPDATE---UPDATE

Spoke to the garage today and he's offered £2k for my car and I give him £2700 difference for the Superb.

Considering Parkers has the Octy (without mods and 60k miles) down for £1875 part ex, this isn't too bad I think considering mine's done 75k.

The Parkers' full list for a 60k standard Octavia 1.8T Elegance is:

Franchised Dealer £2,675

Independent Dealer £2,505

Private Good £2,190

Private Poor £1,705

Part Exchange £1,875

And for the Superb with 50k miles:

Franchised Dealer £6,435

Independent Dealer £5,980

Private Good £5,305

Private Poor £3,970

Part Exchange £4,570

I'm having a last look and drive on Saturday so should I try to get more out of him? Or take the deal?

I'd push for a 4.5k figure. It is a new month after all

I'd push for a 4.5k figure. It is a new month after all

So another £200 off then? To be honest, if he's going to put a new headlight bulb in and do 12 month's MOT, I can't see him budging much. I'll try another £100.

Do indy dealers recognise new months? Thought that was just stealers with commission quotas to fulfill :S

Headlight bulb is going to be costing him pennys, and fitting, although a little tricky isn't that hard. As for the mot, I would expect any car I buy to come with a sensible mot on it as standard.

Either way, as long as everything works and the water ingress issue is ok you seem to be on to a winner.

Any problems you encounter during ownership will probably have been covered on here on the past and as such will have a solution! Failing that, there are a lot of superb owners who will help as much as possible!

Headlight bulb is going to be costing him pennys, and fitting, although a little tricky isn't that hard. As for the mot, I would expect any car I buy to come with a sensible mot on it as standard.

Either way, as long as everything works and the water ingress issue is ok you seem to be on to a winner.

Any problems you encounter during ownership will probably have been covered on here on the past and as such will have a solution! Failing that, there are a lot of superb owners who will help as much as possible!

Cheers chris_1d.

I've already had loads of help (see this thread) which has been brilliant, and I think the deal's OK. I've checked the water ingress as much as I can, with one final check to do tomorrow, but it all looks OK so far.

I've got to check the reversing sensors (fixed under warranty in 2007), HPI report, make sure the wheel locking nut's there, and if the rear seats can be folded (I think they should for this year Superb but havent looked yet), and book it straight in for a full service and fluid change.

I've also got to check if there's any kind of warranty they can do, even if it's only for 3 months.

Watch this space

I gave up with my sensors lol. They always kept failing!

The warranty, generally garages give 3 months or 3000 miles.

My superb didn't have folding seats (2003) bit it did have a ski hatch.

Split folding rear seats were introduced in May 2004 (just be aware that the seat base does not lift up!)

I've just been and looked at a 2005 Superb 2.5 V6 TDI Elegance with 29k on it. It was auto and amazing with cream leather etc. Unfortuantly I owe way too much on the Volvo to afford to change :( Up for 7.5k which was a bit of a bargain

Too much for my pocket as well. I'm just about scraping the £2700 for this deal.

I had another look round it today and drove it again to test the clutch, reversing sensors, cv joints, etc. etc. It all looks good

I managed to scratch my hand to shreds getting under the passenger side heater outlet to feel for damp :( But there is none

I tried my trick with a tightly-twisted piece of A4 paper and stuck it right under and all around, towards the door and towards the rear seat, etc. (this is all under the underlay) and it came back bone dry every time.

One thing that did worry me slightly were two empty bottles of 15w 40 oil in the boot, some of which had managed to spill into the spare well. This isn't the right oil is it? If I buy it, it's going for a full fluid change service, incl. brake fluid, anyway but I've read how important it is with these engines to use the right oil.

The mechanic said he'd clear the plenum chamber and remove the bungs for me as well. Which will just leave the seal on the pollen filter housing, replacing the drivers side door handle (it's all peeling), and fixing the dodgy front ashtray to do

EDIT: Dealer does a 3-month standard engine mechanical and gearbox warranty, no labour cover though. At least it's a bit of peace of mind for 3 months, then I might go for a full warranty

Edited 5 March, 201115 yr by Jigger72

I'd go for it the wear on the door handle...happens to every superb! Even the one I looked at yesterday was the same and my old one did it too! I just scraped the remaining bit off and left it to the bare plastic. It's the same colour so no one will notice

I've just been and looked at a 2005 Superb 2.5 V6 TDI Elegance with 29k on it. It was auto and amazing with cream leather etc. Unfortuantly I owe way too much on the Volvo to afford to change :( Up for 7.5k which was a bit of a bargain

£7.5K a bargain for a 6 year old Superb?

I'd go for it the wear on the door handle...happens to every superb! Even the one I looked at yesterday was the same and my old one did it too! I just scraped the remaining bit off and left it to the bare plastic. It's the same colour so no one will notice

+1 I did that trick a week or two after i bought the car