I am still considering what car to buy.

I like the idea of a 1.9 TDI 130, but can not make my mind up which is the better car, the Passat or Superb?

Any one had experience of these too, or able to make a comparison ?

Any help will be greatfully received.

I don't think there's much in it to be fair. You'll pay less for a Superb usually.

If you're looking to modify the car, then go with the Passat. More aftermarket parts and information flying around the internet for them.

Otherwise I suppose it comes down to the actual car you find. If you find a really clean, well maintained Passat at a good price, go for it. The same would apply to a Superb too. Shop around.

Edited 9 March, 201313 yr by allclownsareevi

The Superb is bigger in the back...and has a slightly nicer cabin in my opinion. Slightly different dash layout and the seats have a slightly nicer trim to them.

The back seats on early Superbs do not fold down either.

The Superb is everything the Passat is, but with more room and again in my opinion more class.

I drove several Pasats that were newer and lower mileage than my MKI Superb was currently on, IMO non of them came anywhere near the Superb for quality.

Most B5 / B5.5 parts will bolt straight onto the Superb.

The Superb is just basically a better assembled passat with more room and a higher spec but carries the same faults as the VW due to the fact that it has the same design so if your looking for a less rattly car that feels more comfortable -then the superb if you are a badge buyer then the passat

My Superb is a nicer place to be than in the B5 Passat I had two cars before it. Although it was a 110, not a 130.

I drove several B6 Passats before deciding on the Superb. Could have bought any one of them to be fair, it just happened that the Superb was in better overall condition, which was the deciding factor for me.

The Superb has noticeably more legroom than its B5.5 equivalent.

Personal choice really.

Gaz

when i went down to visit some of my wife's family in Coventry and it corresponded with my sister who at the time bought a brand new passat T plate TDI, she was going on holiday to Spain so i ran her into the airport and used her passat to take us down to Coventry i had a sierra taxi at the time and a wee run about escort but they were not that reliable so took her car and it was great and drove nice and never missed a beat we stayed in coventry for a week she was 2 weeks in spain and i just kept her vw in my drive and when she came back i picked her up from the airport in the passat and when i was lifting her case into the boot i hut it off the rear tail light and smashed it, i blamed her heavy case

Superb IMO is an improved passat. Underneath you're getting the same thing, suspension, engine etc. okay the suspension may be softer on the Superb.

Inside though you get a nicer interior more space. If you get an Elegance you'll get a lot more for your money than with a Passat but an equally good car.

Thank you all for your help. I am not bothered about the V W name more bothered about the quality of the car. Seems that the Superb will be better value. well food for thought!

To be fair you are asking on a Skoda forum so there may be some biased opinions

To be fair you are asking on a Skoda forum so there may be some biased opinions

Agreed. Asking the same question on a Passat forum will get very similar replies, just with the added extra of "... then of course you have to drive around with a Skoda badge on your car. Ugh."

They're basically the same car. Be sensible, shop around and judge each individual car on it's own merits.

I had the same dilema when i bought my Superb, and I compared Spec, etc. and found that you get more equipment on the Superb than the Passat - i.e. Passat's don't have front Fog Lights as standard on any models (only W8), and only 1 model has Cruise as standard (along with W8). Plus the benefit of the extra rear legroom, so to me it was a no-brainer which to get...

I have had a 54 plate passat sport tdi 130 and a superb elegance tdi.

Passat handled better with the sport suspension but otherwise the superb was superior with a slightly more modern interior and more space.

I have had a 54 plate passat sport tdi 130 and a superb elegance tdi.

Passat handled better with the sport suspension but otherwise the superb was superior with a slightly more modern interior and more space.

I'd like slightly firmer suspension on my superb. Hmmm.

There was a sport option on the Superb... Not sure if the spring rates are the same?

There was a sport option on the Superb... Not sure if the spring rates are the same?

Might buy some Koni shocks and some firmer springs. Love the car, just want the handling tweaked a little.

Thanks for all your help. I will need to change in the next month or so. The Fabia i have now has got 163'000. on the clock. I brought it with 35'000. so i have had it for a while. The engine runs very well, harldly drinks any oil, but everything else is getting more worn i.e suspension. Itis still on the original clutch, actually i have never worn a clutch out on any car or motorcycle.

I am also thinking of a Roomster, but feel the Superb or Passat maybe better to drive.

Both the Roomster (pig ugly) and the Superb are difficult to shift if resale value is important to you. A diesel Passat would be far easier to sell.

We have my Superb and an Audi A4 of about the same year and with the same 130 PD diesel engine in the family. Despite the more upmarket interior of the Audi, I prefer my Superb (apart from not being able to read the dials in daylight). There's more legroom in the Superb and the interior is more tasteful. It's also better assembled than the Audi.

Put them both on a ramp and you can't tell them apart other than the rear suspension. Both cars have suffered the same VAG design faults (CT sender, CV boots etc. etc.).

The Superb is a hopeless town car - too long and too ungainly. It wallows on minor roads too - but - it's a good motorway cruiser and a good towcar. These are its jobs. The performance and fuel economy are excellent.

rotodiesel.

"We have my Superb and an Audi A4 of about the same year and with the same 130 PD diesel engine in the family. Despite the more upmarket interior of the Audi, I prefer my Superb (apart from not being able to read the dials in daylight). There's more legroom in the Superb and the interior is more tasteful. It's also better assembled than the Audi.

Put them both on a ramp and you can't tell them apart other than the rear suspension. Both cars have suffered the same VAG design faults (CT sender, CV boots etc. etc.).

The Superb is a hopeless town car - too long and too ungainly. It wallows on minor roads too - but - it's a good motorway cruiser and a good towcar. These are its jobs. The performance and fuel economy are excellent".

Interesting you say this rotodiesel: The only other car i was concidering was the A4 1.9 TDI 130. In reality i like the idea of an engine with torque, put i want a car with plenty of room. I like the look of the A4, but i think the leg room and possibly the build quality on the Superb are possibly better. I don't like the look of the Mk1 Octavia otherwise would have considered that.

I think from what i gather, the boot space on the A4 maybe poor compared to the Superb and Passat (i like going camping so need to consider enough space). Would have to get a 2005 Superb if i wanted the back seats to fold down.

Mean't to say, i am not so bothered about resale value as once i have found the car i want i tend to keep for a while.

I can't comment on the A4 boot space as the one in my family happens to be an estate. The rear legroom is limited compared with the Superb - useless for tall people.

I would not consider a Superb without the folding back seats - although the arrangement is pretty hopeless as they don't fold flat (the squab is fixed). All Superbs from model year '05 > have folding seats. The model year is the 10th digit in the VIN (for any car).

There is a fairly narrow time window in which you get folding seats and a 1.9 engine. Don't go anywhere near the 2.0 diesel or the V6.

rotodiesel.