Hi Guys & girls.

I currently run a 2003 manual Audi A6 1.9TDi SE 130 Avant with 126,000 on the clock which has been a fairly reliable servant for the last 6 years. However, I will need to change it at some point in the not too distant future. An old football injury to my left knee gives me jip when changing gear in stop / start traffic so the replacement car has to be a diesel estate with an auto box. Problem is I need to find something that is as practical and ecconomical as my current A6 which averages 52-54mpg all day & every day (DTUK tuning box fitted).

I've scoured the market & looked at just about every estate model there is. A newer Model A6 is too expensive, Mazda 5 can't have an auto box, Honda Accord / Citroen C5 boots are too small and an auto on an Insignia kills the mpg. A Mondeo with the new Powershift auto was high on the list but very few of these come with optional roof rails fitted which I would have thought would have been a pre-requisite for an estate.

So, I've narrowed it down to a 1 or 2 two year old Octavia VRS estate or a Superb estate with DSG & 170 CR engine.

The VRS Octavia is probably all I need size wise (bigger boot than current A6) but the additional comfort and space of the Superb is a big attraction. I will have to wait a while for used prices to come down to my budget but in the meantime I would welcome any comments on the merits and experiences that forum members have had with either model as an everyday car and holdall for camping trips e.g. 5 up, boot loaded to ceiling, Roof box on top & mudlfaps scrapping the ground on every speed bump or dip in the road - that's what happens in the low slung A6.

Thanks for any input & I look forward to contributing to the site where I can.

Hi and welcome aboard.

Welcome to Briskoda. The superb and Octy estates are almost the same in boot/rear capacity but superb has better rear legroom, both can have the 2ltr 170bhp diesel engine although you could go for lower powered engine in both.

Hello and Welcome to Briskoda

Thanks guys.

Just spotted another thread in the Superb section of a similar nature.

Looks like the concensous is the Superb over the Octy estate so I gues I'll just have to wait a while longer for 3 year old examples to become available.

5 up, boot loaded to ceiling, Roof box on top & mudlfaps scrapping the ground on every speed bump or dip in the road - that's what happens in the low slung A6.

Well for me that would rule out the Octavia, great car but lacking rear legroom, the Superb on the other hand has the most legroom available in any car bar a limo!

Don't expect to see 50mpg from a 170 DSG though with normal motoring, if mpg is important then seriously look into the greenline versions, as these are producing 60mpg+ for some owners.

Hi

I've just traded in an Octavia 1.8 turbo 4x4 estate against a Superb SE 1.8tsi estate.

Admittedly my Octavia had 150k on the clock so was getting a bit battered but the Superb is simply in a different class if you are going to fill it with people. The rear leg room is just huge if you need that. Only took delivery last week but already done 2000 miles as we live in Italy. The Superb really is a limo class car!

Thanks guys.

Just spotted another thread in the Superb section of a similar nature.

Looks like the concensous is the Superb over the Octy estate so I gues I'll just have to wait a while longer for 3 year old examples to become available.

Same here - although in my case the car being replaced is merely an old Focus Estate (Mk1 !). From what I've seen the deal-breaker is whether you carry adults (or, in my case, gangly teenagers) or not - if you do then the Superb is a no-brainer, otherwise I'd go for the Octy - because they're a lot easier to get a hold of second hand.

Hello and welcome