Situation

With a new sprog on its way in July , the family will be extended to four (wife and two kids). I need a larger car which seats us in comfort, returns good mpg, is reliable and has a few toys to keep me occupied with. I'd also like an automatic as I've never ever owned one and would like to let the car 'drive me' after having owned a manaul MX5, Civic Type-R, Impreza Sti and A4. I currently do around 8k miles per year which is 90% town driving and 10% motorway journeys when visiting the in-laws which is a 180-mile journey one way.

Current Car

2006 Audi A4 2.0l tdi (140bhp S-Line) with all the trimmings. Its been a really good car but the rear legroom is ridiculous and the centre seat is really just an armrest as it is so damn uncomfortable to sit on (hard leather back) for more than half an hour. The boot, although large, has a rather awkward opening so getting the pushchair in can be a little tricky at times. The ride is also rather uncomfortable; I'd even say the Impreza Sti was more comfortable at times.

Skoda Superb Elegance CR170 (Diesel)

This is the car that ticks all the boxes after scouting various 4x4's, large executive cars with extremely high pricetags (7 Series, A8, S-Class) and ugly people carriers. I'd preferably like a maroon one with a cream interior and an autobox. The budget is £10k (could possibly stretch a little for the right car), with no more than 100k miles on the clock. Unconcerned about the year but obviously has to be a Superb II.

Questions

1. Mileage. How many miles will a tank return in real day driving (town/motorway). I know this is a question based on people's driving styles but just a general figure is what I'm after.

2. Range. How big is the fuel tank, how much does it cost to fill at today's prices and what kind of range do people tend to get. Once again, I understand driving styles differ so just a general figure to give me a rough idea.

3. Elegance. I understand this is the high-end example and comes with more or less everything bar heated rear-seats and Park Assist. However, I am unsure if it comes with a rear and side sunblinds (for the little 'uns) and does it come with rear parking sensors (never needed them before but the Superb looks rather big to be honest). Not concerned about front sensors.

4. Reliability. Any major problems to look out for when taking a test-drive? Are the servicing intervals reasonable or absolutely extortionate? What would I need to look at replacing when a car hits 100k miles on the clock (clutch, gearbox, cambelt etc)?

5. Comfort and snow. After reading through some reviews, it seems to be a bit of a cruiser. However, as a result, is it a bit of a lump in the corners? I do like to have some fun when I'm on my own so I would like the car to handle a little. Also, what's it like in the snow? Next to useless or can be driven without winter tyres?

6. Parts. Where is the best place to get Skoda parts as when I have tended to buy cars in the past, I have been prone to spending a few quid on stuff to help me enjoy it more. I'd like good quality mats, an umbrella and the footrests - as the cars I've seen on Autotrader never seem to show these in the pictures.

7. Remap. I've always ended up remapping all my cars at some stage (its like some kind of weird addiction I have ). Has anyone remapped their Superb and if so, who did they use and what kind of return did they get in bhp/mpg improvements?

8. TV/DVD. I've read the Superb has an option of a TV. Does this come as standard on the Elegance or was this an Skoda option? Also, does the Columbus unit play DVD's?

And the car I am looking at tomorrow...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301154922977/make/SKODA/model/SUPERB/postcode/b714bh/radius/1501/quicksearch/true/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/12000/price-from/3000/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer/77079/usedcars?logcode=flp

And that's all I can think off at the moment. I'd be really grateful for any responses and thanks for reading (if you've reached this far). Sorry if I've gone on a bit but I thought I'd explain my situation and ask all the questions in one go.

Hopefully I will be the owner of a Superb very shortly. :love:

the car your looking at is being bought tomorrow buy chan110 ha ha no way, he is goingto pick it up tomorrow go and look at his thread about "found my superb she is called audrey" it is the exact same car lol

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by racing boy

The Superb is a very nice car and the CR170 a great engine. I assume the Octy is too small for your needs? as I'd guess you'd get a newer one with less miles and the boot is huge for the size of car if that's suitable for you too. With 90% town driving I'd suggest you ask others if they have had any DPF issues with this type of driving, which would be common across all the new VAG diesel engines I guess (I assume you don't have one on your 2006 Audi?)

best of luck

Ade

Oh no - it's just my luck.

No problem as I'm not intending to buy just yet as I have to sell my A4 privately so it was just going to be a testdrive and they are just up the road from me.

The Superb is a very nice car and the CR170 a great engine. I assume the Octy is too small for your needs? as I'd guess you'd get a newer one with less miles and the boot is huge for the size of car if that's suitable for you too. With 90% town driving I'd suggest you ask others if they have had any DPF issues with this type of driving, which would be common across all the new VAG diesel engines I guess (I assume you don't have one on your 2006 Audi?)

best of luck

Ade

Thanks for your post.

I've not suffered the dreaded DPF problem so far (touch wood) but I am well aware of it (especially in terms of where I drive the car a majority of the time).

It was a toss up between the Octy vRS and A4 S-Line so yes - its too impractical for my needs and it would be like-for-like. I want something bigger and more comfortable.

First of all...with your mileage and predominately town driving, I would say you need a petrol, not diesel.

3. The car does not come with sun blinds as standard, but rear parking sensors are standard on the Elegance.

5. I find mine to very comfortable and absolutely no problems in the corners.

8. TV comes with the L&K (higher spec than the Elegance). The Columbus unit does play DVDs, but only while stationary. If you move off, the picture goes but the sound remains.

Sorry CobraMan - I got there before u :yes:

This is my thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262973-i-found-my-superb-shes-called-audrey/

and welcome to the forum!!!

U will get lots of help/advice here - as I did and it was the members here who gave me the final confidence to buy my Audrey (The Superb u were going to look at tomorrow).

There's a few that I have spotted along the way, which are still on sale.

Wot is your minimum spec / budget and I will check again those cars that I have decided to give a miss over Audrey?

Sorry CobraMan - I got there before u :yes:

This is my thread: http://www.briskoda....-called-audrey/

and welcome to the forum!!!

U will get lots of help/advice here - as I did and it was the members here who gave me the final confidence to buy my Audrey (The Superb u were going to look at tomorrow).

There's a few that I have spotted along the way, which are still on sale.

Wot is your minimum spec / budget and I will check again those cars that I have decided to give a miss over Audrey?

No problem and congratulations on your new purchase.

What was it like in the snow? Easy to drive or problematic.

I'm after the exact same spec as your car but my budget is £10k but I am happy to go up to 100k on the clock (incidentally, did they knock anything off at Blackhorse as thats where I will probably buy my next car from)?

First of all...with your mileage and predominately town driving, I would say you need a petrol, not diesel.

3. The car does not come with sun blinds as standard, but rear parking sensors are standard on the Elegance.

5. I find mine to very comfortable and absolutely no problems in the corners.

8. TV comes with the L&K (higher spec than the Elegance). The Columbus unit does play DVDs, but only while stationary. If you move off, the picture goes but the sound remains.

I never understand the "buy a petrol if you do low, town mileage".

Is it because a diesel will basically offer the same mpg as a petrol but the petrol is cheaper at the fuel station?

Also, there aren't a whole load of petrols on sale at Autotrader for under £10k.

Thanks for your post.

I've not suffered the dreaded DPF problem so far (touch wood) but I am well aware of it (especially in terms of where I drive the car a majority of the time).

It was a toss up between the Octy vRS and A4 S-Line so yes - its too impractical for my needs and it would be like-for-like. I want something bigger and more comfortable.

Fur enuf. I've gone past that phase with kids and co so wish you luck. I always tend to ignore the petrol/diesel argument (when it's based on cost) as it's each to their own and in reality not many choose a car purely on cost. The only thing I'd say re the CR170 is it does take a long time to come off the thermostat this time of year, which if you're doing short journeys isn't good for either the engine or fuel consumption (but fuel consumption will still at least be on a par with a similar powered petrol engine, though the petrol engine will probably warm up quicker) That said if what ever you get has climate control that starts putting the heat out earlier than a bog standard heater so at least you won't freeze to death on the way to work!

cheers

Ade

No problem and congratulations on your new purchase.

What was it like in the snow? Easy to drive or problematic.

I'm after the exact same spec as your car but my budget is £10k but I am happy to go up to 100k on the clock (incidentally, did they knock anything off at Blackhorse as thats where I will probably buy my next car from)?

Cheers mate!

It seems ok to drive in snow on the test drive - but cant comment since only driven

out of car park and thn was on non-snow main road.

Tough as cookie i would say with Black Horse!

Couldnt even get some proper size car mats from thm (black horse mats dont fit!)

But it could be just me, or the car etc

Internet research does show some people get given a good discount!

As stated on their website: 12month MOT, no tax etc

Terrible PX and wotever fuel is left in car!

But as u noticed with all this cons, i still went for it since it has the rarity of extra

toys (heated windscreen, park assist, sun roof etc) but high mileage!

My only advice to u is to ask members here to keep an eye out for u,

leave no stones unturn, and try to go to EVERY individual skoda website

(since not all retailer cars appear on www.skoda.co.uk!!!)

One advice i was given which i didnt explore was to ring each seller,

just to ensure it has the toys tht either the seller failed to list or

the seller didnt realise the car has.

an example is whn the picture clearly shows a DSG gear box, but listed as manual.

Or sensors appear on wheel arches which indicate park assist etc etc

I learnt all this on here!!! Thks to everyone here!

Btw - i assume u want DSG too?

And good luck with your search!

I never understand the "buy a petrol if you do low, town mileage".

Is it because a diesel will basically offer the same mpg as a petrol but the petrol is cheaper at the fuel station?

Also, there aren't a whole load of petrols on sale at Autotrader for under £10k.

There's a lot of talk about the higher overall running costs of diesel, particularly Honest John who does a good job of scaremongering warning of DPF replacements costing up to £2k in the future, EGR, turbo, glowplug failures, etc. The low down torque delivery of the 1.8 and 2.0 petrols is very good and some say better than the CR diesels. It's a very personal thing worth a test drive in both probably.

If you want to remap then the 2.0 TSI 6 speed DSG can take more torque that the 1.8 TSI 7 speed DSG. I came from a Mk5 GTI, haven't changed my driving style much, 90% town 10% motorway and get 35 mpg. Fuel tank is 60 litres in all variants.

Sunblinds - the twindoor you can pick up OEM Skoda sunblinds on eBay for £25-45. Estate are more expensive; Vanstyle get good reviews from other forum members, but as the rear window blind has a central solid section I went for Kamei Sunnyboy. There is a sunblind thread where another member reviews both side by side.

As Mike says Columbus plays DVD when stationary, if you move off the video on the screen goes and only the audio plays. Though the Columbus has a video out which can be run to screens in the back and this feed shows video in motion.

I think that's all I can help with. Good luck with the search.

Edited 29 January, 201313 yr by artichoke273

The Superb is a very nice car and the CR170 a great engine. I assume the Octy is too small for your needs? as I'd guess you'd get a newer one with less miles and the boot is huge for the size of car if that's suitable for you too. With 90% town driving I'd suggest you ask others if they have had any DPF issues with this type of driving, which would be common across all the new VAG diesel engines I guess (I assume you don't have one on your 2006 Audi?)

best of luck

Ade

Ade!

Is the Superb hatchback boot bigger thn the Octy?

Coz i was reading somewhere and it seems thd Octy has a bigger boot thn the Superb?!!!

I probably read it wrong though.

Sorry to digress - will give thread back to owner now :-)

Oh no - it's just my luck.

No problem as I'm not intending to buy just yet as I have to sell my A4 privately so it was just going to be a testdrive and they are just up the road from me.

Mate!

U are in the same situation as me a few months back!

In the end i decided to PX - lost quite a bit of money - but i couldnt let Audrey go (my Superb)! LOL

Sunblinds here!

I just ordered a set a few days ago!

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/156246-sunblinds/

Brolly?

Some say certain years of Superb has a brolly in the rear passenger door.

I yet to chk my Audrey s got one!

Just re-read you post about the A4's middle seat.

The Superb does have massive legroom and fantastic for two kids in car seats in the back, but the legroom has to come from somewhere. The first is turning the engine through 90 degrees. The second is by narrowing the rear seats a bit so they can move between the rear wheel arches. It's only a problem if you plan to have 3 adults in the back for a long journey, and no worse than the A4 but thought I should point it out in the interest of balance, so you can make a point of checking it out when you view one.

Regarding the brolly. Certainly my 2012 elegance had one. And as for the snow, well mine was as secure as anything where most other people were slipping and sliding. Mind you, it is the 4x4 version and I change to winter tyres. Even our roomy was better than most other cars around in the snow, again because of winters. They make a massive difference against standard tyres so I will now always fit them.

Ade!

Is the Superb hatchback boot bigger thn the Octy?

Coz i was reading somewhere and it seems thd Octy has a bigger boot thn the Superb?!!!

I probably read it wrong though.

Sorry to digress - will give thread back to owner now :-)

No mate acording to the brochures the Octy is 585 litres, Superb 10 litres bigger at 595.

Back to the OP.. Ade

Cheers Ade.

My 2010 Superb also has a brolly :-)

Back to the subject (!), around 42 MPG is what I'm getting in reality (ignore the onbord computer which is optimistic although an expert can get it calibrated I believe, mine tells me I'm getting 47 or so, the little liar!). My driving is 50 - 50 motorway / open road and town, so not bad, although worse (by 10mpg) than the 140 BHP Golf estate I had, both with DSG's. If economy is the issue I would recommend the 140 BHP diesel.

Size - bloody enormous, especially the estate. Sometimes too long - some car spaces just are not long enough to safely park in. However what you can carry is unbelievable as a result.

Handling - more of a cruiser than a handler, although it is sure footed.There's no sports seats, and the leather doesn't hold you well if you 'indulge', but the basic handling is first safe and secure, rather than entertaining. Comfort though is OK, although some people say the seats are uncomfy, I've never had an issue.

Technology - you need to be an expert to get the best out of the installed software, I think corners have been cut with regard to functionality, for example it's impossible to have the radio 'off', so when you switch on you have to turn the volume down (or select 'Aux' in the media menu, with nothing connected - however when you do that, every time you switch the car on again, it defaults to the aux page - grrrrrr!).

But if you need space rather than pace, and economy over badge snobbery, there's really nothing to beat it.

Thanks for the feedback guys - it seems to be the perfect car for my growing family. I'll start looking properly in May/June me thinks.

Thanks for the feedback guys - it seems to be the perfect car for my growing family. I'll start looking properly in May/June me thinks.

Mate!

Dont wait!

Do it now!

Unless u are quite flexible, thn the car u REALLY want might not be plentiful!

Look now and if u do find the ONE u want - just go for it!

Mate!

Any progress on here?

Just re-read you post about the A4's middle seat.

The Superb does have massive legroom and fantastic for two kids in car seats in the back, but the legroom has to come from somewhere. The first is turning the engine through 90 degrees. The second is by narrowing the rear seats a bit so they can move between the rear wheel arches. It's only a problem if you plan to have 3 adults in the back for a long journey, and no worse than the A4 but thought I should point it out in the interest of balance, so you can make a point of checking it out when you view one.

Hi,

I'm still getting used to my Superb combi but I think I have identified a small issue with it. I only have one kid at the moment but we are discussing another withing the lifetime of my Superb. I currently use a Cybex Junofix car seat and I think if I had two in there at the same time it would be quite hard to lash the seatbelt with the limited space left in the middle.

I can suggest you try putting to car seats in to a superb at the dealer and would be interested to know how it goes. I struggle to put the arm rest down with one seat so imagine its quite tight with two.

Asides from that I am really enjoying the car and I must say I find it pretty amusing that I'm driving a Skoda that's such an amazing car. I'm still getting used to the badge but the car is winning me over every day.

You're correct, no chance of sitting in between two car seats in a Superb. I can just squeeze the arm rest down between them. But to be honest, I'm only aware of a handful of cars that you could sit in comfort between a pair of rear car seats. Mostly the reserve of large MPV's (Galaxy, Sharon, Alhambra, Grand Picaso, etc) with three individual rear seats, even then lack of shoulder space can be an issue.