I'm wondering... I'm getting fed up with Octys, especially now that the old PD140 engine has been first downrated to 136bhp (got one now and it's not up to much in comparison with the old one - fails to give you the PD kick in the behind!) and then replaced by the CR140 - so I'm hesitating between a 170 Superb and a VRS Octy. I'm not too keen on the flashy side of the VRS, with the wing and so on, so the Superb is looking attractive. So assuming I'd get a 170bhp manual rather than the 170 DSG I tested, what's it like for throwing about once you're used to it? It felt a bit hefty compared to my Octy, but does it stay that way? I need a decent motorway car for a family of four that goes to Germany a lot, but live in the country so equally need to have something that handles nicely on country roads... Any advice?

Just drove 7 hours today in my 170 superb. Have set my speed limit to 80 as i go way to fast otherwise. Feels so much better than my picasso and vw sharan.

The acceleration is good for pulling out in traffic.

Ray

I'm wondering... I'm getting fed up with Octys, especially now that the old PD140 engine has been first downrated to 136bhp (got one now and it's not up to much in comparison with the old one - fails to give you the PD kick in the behind!) and then replaced by the CR140 - so I'm hesitating between a 170 Superb and a VRS Octy. I'm not too keen on the flashy side of the VRS, with the wing and so on, so the Superb is looking attractive. So assuming I'd get a 170bhp manual rather than the 170 DSG I tested, what's it like for throwing about once you're used to it? It felt a bit hefty compared to my Octy, but does it stay that way? I need a decent motorway car for a family of four that goes to Germany a lot, but live in the country so equally need to have something that handles nicely on country roads... Any advice?

Edited 14 April, 201115 yr by AIRPORTCARS

If you manage to secure a test drive in a 170cr superb for more than half an hour you will be really reluctant to give it back!!!

It happened to me!!

Miles better than an Octy.

I currently have a 140PD Octavia and have recently test driven a 1.8 TSI Octavia, 1.6 CR diesel Octavia and a 170 BHP Diesel Superb with a DSG gearbox. I agree with G.K. - the Superb is way better than an Octavia. It has a much smoother ride, far less road noise and feels a more substantial care.

WE have both, my wife has a 1.8TSi Octy and I have the 170 Superb both with DSG. Used hers 2 weeks ago for taking my daughter and Fiance to a "do" and pick them up, round trip of 200 miles found the car to be more resposive in the corners when pushed and a pretty good car alround.

I have done 14K in the Superb since end of October and found it to be a very good motorway cruiser and very proficient in any situation yes the size of the car does show a little if pushing it hard on the B roads but all in all I pefere the Superb over the Octy on long runs but the Octy is more fun on the twisty bits. (unless you compare it to the Yamaha!

The 170 is a great motor, but forget about "throwing it about" briskly does it maybe, but it's no rally car?

I think the big girl handles the twisty stuff pretty well, they're suprisingly spritely!

I think the Superb handles exceptionally well for it's size. It does feel like a big car through the corners.

Thanks - all useful stuff there! I admit I did enjoy the 170bhp DSG version, but with little control over the gearchanges (I didn't try it on 'manual')I found it wasn't that responsive, even on 'Sport' setting. Having said that, it belongs to my father-in-law, and he does drive quite gently to say the least. I've heard that the DSG box tends to pick up on its regular driver's style, so if that's the case, I'm not surprised it was a bit shocked when I pushed it a bit! It may also be partly down to the difference between the old PD engine on my Octy - bags of shunt from about 2,000 - 3,000 revs and nothing anywhere else - compared to the smoother, more linear CR engine which doesn't kick you in the behind the same way. But I must say I liked the car and can see myself happily getting one with the manual gearbox.

Now what about the sports chassis? Good idea or not worth the trouble?

And to be honest, my daily run is 40 miles up the motorway and back, with country roads only from the house to the main road. So it isn't as though I do most of my mileage round corners!

Edited 15 April, 201115 yr by ndicki

The DSG gearbox in combination with the 170 is indeed sporty (for a family car) However it does take some getting use to in order to optimize the effect. As you mentioned it does adopt to your style of driving.

However, even after it has adopted to a more aggressive driving style it requires an in-learning period. There is a short kick down that lowers the gear one notch but it takes some time to learn just where this sweet spot is located.

Naturally the DSG even has the traditional kick down that all automatics have. With proper usage of the DSG you will find the gearbox can almost be used as a manual but only until you have reached D6. The motor/gearbox is much less sporty at the top end (RPM/spead). The sport setting is definitely more sporty, in fact it still surprises me and I love the motor rev noises that are easily heard as you go through the S gears.

Hi,

just thought I'd comment the manual is a sweet & slick box. The engine (170) is a peach & together very well suited!

As other have said, a great motorway mile muncher but although it handles pretty well it is a big car but it won't disappoint.

I have a 170 + DSG and live near 20km of very tasty twisty road on which I occassionaly give it a hiding on. The box shines because of the speed it will change gears in manual, far faster, smoother etc so does not upset the car when grabbing another gear. Most common rails are a bit lethargic at the bottom end and I would be guessing that this is due to a turbo that might be a bit big for down low but terrific up top even with variable vane technology. Get the right gear through a corner and the torque pulling you out of the corner is impressive to say the least. I wouldn't give the manual stable room over a DSG, I have never driven one but with every other CR diesel I have driven the first two gears are useless, the car only getting into stride in third gear. As for handling I was surprised after getting used to it and when going into corners a lot harder than I thought it should the front does hang on very well, but it has the Audi disease of being a laggy at initial turn in but this is only to be expected. If you want a sports car then buy something else but if you want a very competent luxury car that does not disgrace itself around corners then the Superb fits the bill.

If you want a sports car then buy something else but if you want a very competent luxury car that does not disgrace itself around corners then the Superb fits the bill.

From the shortish drive I have had in a Superb I would agree with that. If you want a ten tenths drive down a B-road every day, get a Mondeo. Nothing this side of a Jaguar comes close when it comes to good road manners on a bumpy, twisty road. If you want to arrive in comfort, while still having had a decently enjoyable drive, get a Superb.

Edited 16 April, 201115 yr by Farmerjim

I don't know how you can contemplete taking a family of 4 to Germany in an Octy - what a thoroughly miserable experience for the rear seat passengers.

The Superb, quite rightly, kicks the Octy in the pants in this regard. Not only will you get to Germany in far greater comfort, but you could probably live in the back of the car once you get there.

The Superb, quite rightly, kicks the Octy in the pants in this regard. Not only will you get to Germany in far greater comfort, but you could probably live in the back of the car once you get there.

Got a very valid point ... that's one of the reasons we got ours too! Camping trips abroad (Germany/Austria/Switzerland)... had the last of the Vectra Estates and we wanted something with a similar sized boot & decent space in the back.... I personnaly think the boot is about the same (IMO I don't think its bigger - not when loading to the roof line with... tent, sleeping bags, fridge, table, chairs & about five hundred other things).

The Superb will no doubt give us a refreshingly spacious cabin & help calm the nerves a little on a 600 mile slog - but it won't be a slog anymore...we hope :yes:

Only one choice really... (ok E-class was an option too but to get the same spec. [i think we have to admit its probably a touch classier - ergonomics but not much] but then you are talking more like £40k, makes the Superb a no-brainer!

Other possible considerations... Insignia (too small), Mazda 6 (boot not comparable), Ford (bad experiences - won't buy again), Passat/Audi A6 (why pay more for effectively the same car)... there are others but in the end, the Superb ticked more boxes than anything else!

Good luck!

Well, the rest of the family are girls, so they don't complain as much... But as my eldest is almost as tall as I am, I'm not sure that she enjoys the trip so much in the Octy, I know! It IS looking appealing... Add to that the fact that the VRS comes only in either boring or excessive colours... LoL!

Did a thousand mile round trip to the Mosel in Germany last summer, four adults with no limits luggage, easiest trip ever, comfortable, quiet, 51mpg overall, got the bus showing 130mph on the clock on the autobahn. Brought back 6 cases of wine on return journey as well.Got everything in the boot (I do not have the estate) Superb Vs Octy?? No contest!!

P.S. if you spec a VRS against a Superb elegance you will probably find nothing in it price wise and the Superb will add all the goodies not available on the Octy.

Did a thousand mile round trip to the Mosel in Germany last summer, four adults with no limits luggage, easiest trip ever, comfortable, quiet, 51mpg overall, got the bus showing 130mph on the clock on the autobahn. Brought back 6 cases of wine on return journey as well.Got everything in the boot (I do not have the estate) Superb Vs Octy?? No contest!!

P.S. if you spec a VRS against a Superb elegance you will probably find nothing in it price wise and the Superb will add all the goodies not available on the Octy.

True enough - exactly the same price, to all intents and purposes. And the interior in the Superb does simply have more class. I don't like the aluminium dash parts on the VRS...

I'm wondering... I'm getting fed up with Octys,

Just digging up an old thread as I own a superb and test drove a VRS Octavia recently for my son. I didn't think it was really startling and it was definitely a cheaper car in all ways. I have yet to test one for an extended period and will hold my final judgement until then.

Just digging up an old thread as I own a superb and test drove a VRS Octavia recently for my son. I didn't think it was really startling and it was definitely a cheaper car in all ways. I have yet to test one for an extended period and will hold my final judgement until then.

A colleague has just chosen a Octy vRS Tdi as his next company car. He thought a Superb SE 170 Tdi was too big, however, it would have probably have been my preference.

The Superb is noticeably quieter than the Octy, plus it benefits from having a 5 NCAP rating.

I'm 3 weeks into my almost new Superb CR170 4x4 Estate.

I've had 2 Octavia Estates before (2004 L&K 1.9TDI estate and 2007 L&K 2.0TDI Estate with DSG) and these 3 weeks have been soooooo good!

The Octavia is an excellent car for the money, and its reliability has, for me, been faultless... My sister has the 2004 Octavia now, and its approaching 100,000 miles.

However, the lure and the dealer offer on the 6month old Superb was just too good to miss.... and boy! am I glad I took it. Although my children are still young (6 and 8) my youngest has ASD and we do tend to take a fair amount of stuff with us when we go places. The week I bought the Superb we took the Octavia to Germany and it was packed out, but not uncomfortable, because the children aren't too big yet... but I wouldn't do it with 10-12 year olds thats for sure.

My Superb is an Elegance... well it had to be really as my previous Octavias had be L&Ks, so I didn't lose much in terms of functions I'd had before actually only front park sensors, auto-dip mirror, DSG and spare tyre. I never really wanted the front park sensors but they were already on the car at the dealer when I bought it. The auto-dip mirror, while great, wasn't worth missing the opportunity on getting this Superb, moving back to manual from DSG was a choice I was happy with and would have done anyway, even if I'd bought a Yeti (which was what I actually went to the dealer to look at!), and well Spare Tyre... none of them come with it now as standard anyway.

And, I now have SO MANY new buttons to press, I probably won't have pressed them all until Christmas!

I agree with the other post that if you have it for more than 30mins you won't want to give it back!

Oh and the passenger space now means in spite of being 6 and 8, my kids no longer kick the back of my seat.... they can't even reach it !!!! [big Grin]

Puss