Hi to all.

I am currently in the process of evaluating some new cars. My current car is an E class 7 seater estate mercedes 1997 2 litre petrol automatic full leather. It drinks petrol and at €1.50 a litre it is costing me. I want to avail of the scrappage scheme in Ireland and I am looking at the Superb Greenline Elegance spec. It has all the toys and full leather. Anyone own one? I'd love to hear about 3 things.

1. fuel efficiency - I do mixed driving

2. how does the 1.6 unit cope with the car's size and weight?

3. is it too big as I have heard some say? My car is HUGE with no sensors at all and I find it easy enough to manoeuvre.

Thanks in advance.

Adrian

by this time tomorrow I will have my own ... but the only experience I have is on a couple of test drives. It isn't a quick car .. but able enough, I had no issues with it either around town or on the motorway .. I have just sold my MKV GTI to be replaced by this, so the drop in power is significent, but I can live with it.

With regards to size ... I wouldn't worry, coming from an old barge like the e-class shouldn't be a problem, especially with parking sensors.

My opinion for what it's worth - I drive a Superb II Greenline 1.9 (Greenline I). I was worried with it only being 1.9 105bhp versus my previous 2.0 TDI 140 BHp Octavia. I needn't have been - it has been more than adequate. Fine, I am now a family man and drive my wife and kids around, so I'm not trying to break any land speed records, but it hustles when you need it to (adapt to diesel driving techniques - ride the torque, not thrape it up to the red line in the search for power, a la petrol).

As for size, it is big, but my wife has no problems with it compared to our previous Octavia. You get an E-class sized car, with E-class comfort for Mondeo money (prob cheaper). You get rear parking sensors on the Elegance (not sure about fronts, but they're probably £300) spec.

I get an average of 58mpg at the moment (mixed driving - urban, A & B roads, currently 100-500 miles per week) and the Greenline II (with 1.6 CR) has more green stuff on it (stop-start, energy recovery etc), so I would expect economy to be as good.

In short - DO IT!! You will not be disappointed and every time you flick the MFD/Maxi-dot display to Av economy (instant/journey/tank - any setting) the VERY BIG numbers on it will make you smile!

the MFD/Maxi-dot display to Av economy (instant/journey/tank - any setting) the VERY BIG numbers on it will make you smile!

in ireland it's little numbers we want to see (L/100km) .. and I still use MPG when trying to compare !!!

Dirty, dirty, dirty metric measurements...but of course, you're right. I am sure that the L/100km figures would be suitably small!

58 mpg = 4.87 L/100km. I think its a 60 litre tank...so look forward to 1200km (745 miles) tank range?!?!? I never think I achieve this (closer to 600 miles), but I don't run it empty and the MFD is a bit optimistic! Again the smile is all over my fizzog when you brim the tank, get behind the wheel and switch MFD to "range to empty" and it says something nuts like 800 miles!! It never lasts, but the point is IT'S FRUGAL FOR A BIG LASS!

Dirty, dirty, dirty metric measurements...but of course, you're right. I am sure that the L/100km figures would be suitably small!

58 mpg = 4.87 L/100km. I think its a 60 litre tank...so look forward to 1200km (745 miles) tank range?!?!? I never think I achieve this (closer to 600 miles), but I don't run it empty and the MFD is a bit optimistic! Again the smile is all over my fizzog when you brim the tank, get behind the wheel and switch MFD to "range to empty" and it says something nuts like 800 miles!! It never lasts, but the point is IT'S FRUGAL FOR A BIG LASS!

Thanks for all that. I'm test driving tomorrow and will take the plunge I think. I love the look of the car and I had a Felicia for 4 years a while back and I loved that car. My sister is still driving it and she loves it too. My merc is 24mpg urban 28-30 interurban. That hurts!

in fairness my GTI (had at the trip computer set to MPG) with a full tank would say 300 miles and as soon as you start driving (mainly urban) that quickly dropped to about 250miles :| The best average I got from it was a drive from Hollyhead to Cornwall last su

The 2.7TDI A5 I am driving at the moment is showing 7.7L/100km ... not bad for a motorway muncher

I especially like those journeys where you may have been doing a fair bit of urban/local driving, then go for a long jaunt and your range to empty INCREASES as you drive!! I have done some 100 mile journeys and finished showing the same range to empty as when I started!

All great to hear and thanks for the effort in replying. My wife is telling me "buy it without test driving it". To be honest based on all of your feedback I'd be inclined to go with this idea but I'll still take it for a spin. Looking forward to ordering it now. I'll get ipod thing that lets you control from the radio as it looks great. Even though my ipod is 7 years old; maybe time for a new one of those too.

just a question: on the elegance spec, I am correct in thinking that the headlights turn as you turn the steering wheel?

Adrian

Yep, Headlights turn a we' bit and fog's are used at low speed. (and the Headlights, even if they didnt trun are FAB!)

iPod connectivity (known as a MDI) i like, but many dont add it, as the SatNav unit has a SD card slot, and spare space on it's own Hard drive, so transfer your songs too!

The Elegance spec (here in the UK anyway) comes with rear parking sensors.

I think the only thing you cant add to your GreenLine is a spare wheel...

Al.

Yep, Headlights turn a we' bit and fog's are used at low speed. (and the Headlights, even if they didnt trun are FAB!)

I don't think so. There are Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) housed in the fog-lamp cluster with 21W bulbs, but it is not the fog-lights themselves which are used.

It does look like the fogs are on, but they aren't... with the DRLs on, the taillights and dashboard lights are off. With foglights on, so too are the taillights and dashboard lights.

I don't think so. There are Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) housed in the fog-lamp cluster with 21W bulbs, but it is not the fog-lights themselves which are used.

It does look like the fogs are on, but they aren't... with the DRLs on, the taillights and dashboard lights are off. With foglights on, so too are the taillights and dashboard lights.

I dont think so either... i KNOW SO!

The DRL's (as the name, DAY running light suggests) run only during the day, but can be turned on and off with the MFD.

The FOG light IS USED for cornering at low speed.

Quote (From P64 Skoda Manual)

The fog lights with the function “CORNER” are designed for a better illu- mination of the surrounding area near the vehicle when corning, parking etc.

Cornering FOGS are in operation at speeds before 40km/h.

- This does not stop you just having your fog lights on, but in good visibility, this is Illegal.

There is only TWO bulbs in the Fog Lamp Unit, a DRL and a FOG - there is NO dedicated cornering light.

Here is a link where you can download the owners manual.

Al.

PS. If headlamps are on, the Superb is set (from factory) for BOTH fogs to come on when engaging reverse gear.

Edited 24 March, 201115 yr by ukcruiser

just picked up my Greenline Combi and only delighted .... I was a little worried about the choice of colour (Rosso Brunello) but it looks great. Pity I have to go back to office to pay for it for the rest of the day !!

The DRL's (as the name, DAY running light suggests) run only during the day, but can be turned on and off with the MFD.

I have one question about DRL Lights. They are turned on by MFD, but it is just front light near fog lights. Rear light cluster is turned off? Is there any way to turn on DRL and rear lights? If not, is there option to turn main/rear lights and DRL all the time?

I would probably use Auto mode, but I am afraid that it will turn on lights just when light sensor activate them (at night)? My current car C4 Picasso, has nice feature to have always on headlights/rear light as required by local law, and light sensor just adjust brightness of interior lights (dim at night), which really helps a lot since there is huge back light instrument cluster screen in the middle.

I dont think so either... i KNOW SO!

OK, OK. No need to shout I re-read your original post again, and I put my confusion down to language. They way I read it, when you were talking about the foglights, you were no longer talking about cornering, but about driving at low speed.

Had you quantified the low-speed by saying 40kmh, or whatever, it might have been more understandable.

Either way, all is cleared up now.

Edited 25 March, 201115 yr by alcon27

Dirty, dirty, dirty metric measurements...but of course, you're right. I am sure that the L/100km figures would be suitably small!

58 mpg = 4.87 L/100km. I think its a 60 litre tank...so look forward to 1200km (745 miles) tank range?!?!? I never think I achieve this (closer to 600 miles), but I don't run it empty and the MFD is a bit optimistic! Again the smile is all over my fizzog when you brim the tank, get behind the wheel and switch MFD to "range to empty" and it says something nuts like 800 miles!! It never lasts, but the point is IT'S FRUGAL FOR A BIG LASS!

Just brimmed my 1.9 Tdi S this evening with 55.92 litres of diesel after driving 721.0 miles on a tank of fuel which equates to 58.61 mpg.

I'm considering a Greenline II when my current car is due for replacement in January 2013. It is a shame there is no long range tank option, as the Passat with its larger 70 litre tank has a 1,000 mile range, great for long continental jaunts!

Edited 25 March, 201115 yr by veloplus

Just to confuse matters re DRLs. The original Mk II Superb Elegance (mine is a 2009 58 reg) used the Xenon headlights at 90% (IIRC) power as the DRLs. The DRLs on these early models also included the rear lights. Cornering function of the fogs and the bending Xenons only come into play when the headlights were activated.

Dan

Edited 25 March, 201115 yr by dan123

I bought the car yesterday after testing the 1.6 green line. I went with the elegance spec as there was so much on offer for the money I couldn't leave it behind me. I am getting it next week as it was in the showroom and the price and colour (brilliant silver). I'm going to part finance with skoda as apr of 6.9% is great. Delighted with it and will spend tomorrow driving the merc around to use my half tank of fuel before it is cubed. Surprised at how good the engine is when you floor it.

Hello all.

I collected my car today and all I can say is wow! The handover was almost 1.5 hours long, the highlight being the music system and the park assist. It's one hell of a car for the money. Plenty of pulling power out of the 1.6 engine so no fears there. I took some colleagues out at lunch (BMW 318D, Passat and Honda Civic drivers) and they were all blown away. Quote "it's better than a high end Merc." Looking forward to topping up in the garage on the way home and doing some fuel stats. Love the stop start as well. It works well in traffic here. BTW Dealer, Noel Deasy Cars in Cork, was top notch.

Adrian

Hello all.

I collected my car today and all I can say is wow! The handover was almost 1.5 hours long, the highlight being the music system and the park assist. It's one hell of a car for the money. Plenty of pulling power out of the 1.6 engine so no fears there. I took some colleagues out at lunch (BMW 318D, Passat and Honda Civic drivers) and they were all blown away. Quote "it's better than a high end Merc." Looking forward to topping up in the garage on the way home and doing some fuel stats. Love the stop start as well. It works well in traffic here. BTW Dealer, Noel Deasy Cars in Cork, was top notch.

Adrian

I got a 1 hour hand over from the dealer last week too, it is obviously something SKODA driven, as anyother time I picked up a new car is was a case of hand over payment, get keys and shake hand ....

500km over a week and I am just more and more impressed with my Combi ... apart from some pr1ck deciding to leave some of his paint on my front bumper a car park in ballymount .. didn't take any of my paint but will need to be carefully polished out .. didn't even see the culprit

Just brimmed my 1.9 Tdi S this evening with 55.92 litres of diesel after driving 721.0 miles on a tank of fuel which equates to 58.61 mpg.

I'm considering a Greenline II when my current car is due for replacement in January 2013. It is a shame there is no long range tank option, as the Passat with its larger 70 litre tank has a 1,000 mile range, great for long continental jaunts!

WIth my current Avensis 2.0Diesel I get 500ish miles to the tank on my normal driving, when I get my Superb in a couple of weeks I am looking for that range to rise to nearer 700 given larger fual tank and improved mpg- (averaging 45mpg on Avensis) so I think the Superb is a long range option

Congrats on ur car Adrian it will just get better and better you shud get about 65 mpg on long spin my first Superb was a Greenline 1 I averaged that. I have Superb Elegance 170 now drove to Dublin last week 4 in de car boot near full and got 58mpg at 120kph all the way to Dublin. Great car

Congrats on ur car Adrian it will just get better and better you shud get about 65 mpg on long spin my first Superb was a Greenline 1 I averaged that. I have Superb Elegance 170 now drove to Dublin last week 4 in de car boot near full and got 58mpg at 120kph all the way to Dublin. Great car

That's great to hear. Commuting home yesterday I got 55 mpg and in this morning in very heavy traffic in the rain, lots of stop start, 42 mpg. Off to kilkenny on Sunday for a visit to the in laws so more to report then. Colleagues blown away by Elegance spec. Park assist is the jaw dropper.

To wrap this thread up..

I have the car a week now. Almost 450 miles on the clock and very impressed with the complete package. Elegance spec is amazing and great mpg figures to boot. The 1.6 engine is more than adequate with lots of torque at main road speeds. It has turned a lot of heads in the car park at work with colleagues really impressed (BMW, Audi, Lexus drivers mainly). The park assist does work and is the cherry on top.

In short, I am very glad to have made the purchase and I am not missing the old Merc one little bit.

Adrian