Hello there,

 

I am very new to this site but have been reading it for the last month or so.  It has literally been instrumental in me seriously considering a Skoda!

 

Currently driving a V70 (1.6 115PS so not the fastest but with many toys!) and previous car was a 520d.

 

So, am looking at the Superb L&K Combi 2.0d (140PS) manual (to keep the car tax down) with all the possible options and many additional extras (rear seat ent., tow bar, roof bars, roof box etc).  I have some questions that I would be really grateful for any views on;

 

1. The 140 PS over the 170 PS.  Essentially, is it worth the extra £20 per month in company car tax?  And, does anyone experience the 'droning' at 70 mph in the 170 PS that is referenced by some here?

 

2. Black metallic paint with ivory interior (this is what I have always had in my cars and I don't mind the outside looking dirty and don't seem to struggle keeping the inside looking clean). But does it look OK with the brown dash top and steering wheel etc?  I can't seem to get my head around the brown bits!  Does anyone have this combination, does it look better in the flesh than in the pictures??!

 

3. The Columbus sat-nav. Fundamentally, is it as 'clunky' / slow as some say here?  Can anyone reference it against the current V70 system?  I have tried with my local dealer to have a play but the only one was in a car that we couldn't turn on (in showroom).

 

4. DAB.  Does this work OK or does it drop out often?  This is fundamental to me, couldn't have a car with not properly working DAB!!

 

Thank you in advance for any help / thoughts!!

 

Cheers

 

Chris

Welcome and my input for what it is worth.

1. 140bhp to me is fine.

2. Simply do not pay attention to the photo's as in real life the brown is just fine. I would have liked the ivory interior but my job would not.

3. I can not ref. against the Volvo but I have had quite a few different sat navs and I have no problems with it.

4. I do not have the standard DAB radio but as I have the tv I can tune in to the dab via the tv.

I have had many different cars over the years both company and private and I believe the Superb is excellent.

Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thanks Danny57, really helpful....

 

I have TV (digital freeview) in the V70 but it simply doesn't stay on when driving, always going in and out of signal....  Does the digital radio through the TV on the Columbus stay on when doing long journeys - Bristol to London or Birmingham for example?

 

Thanks again!

 

Cheers

Chris

The radio dab tv signal does drop out when on the move I'm afraid but by and large it is quite good in my opinion.

Edited 27 January, 201412 yr by Danny 57

I am also driving V70 now, and went for Superb Combi 170 HP / 350 Nm version. Just to mention, that my Volvo has 225 HP / 460 Nm. 

 

140 vs 170 HP discussion can be endless It depends on the person and his preferences. I would always choose the more powerful version, because it is more fun and it is safer when overtaking, etc. I was testdriving 170 HP Superb (mine is still 3 weeks away) - it felt powered enough when DSG went through the gears, but if you want to stay in the gear - and do let's say 80-120 km/h sprint in 5th gear - then you can feel, that 100 additional newton meters would help

 

Unfortunately I cannot help with other guestions, I've chosen Black Magic + black interior (I do travel a lot with car full of people and gear - so no chance to keep ivory interior clean). As for navigation I've always used portable ones instead of ordering build-in one (which is 10 times more expensive). 

Drove a C70 coupe for over 100k miles and loved it. My mate rated the Volvo sat Nav as better than his S class Merc, I find the Columbus as good re Sat Nav and better than the press it gets here.

I used the digital TV function to listen to a number of Lions matches successfully while driving around Cardiff.

I've not noticed a drone from the engine but it makes a fabulous growl when driven hard in sport.

Brown looks great in real life ( there's a long post here about luggage covers which explores this), we wanted cream with a sunroof, SWMBO thought the black looked poor quality, cream leather with a roof was impossible to find & ours came up as an ex manager' scar.

If I was shopping again I'd go for same spec and same colour.

I have your spec of car with 170 ps but own privately so car tax not an issue. No knowledge of the V70 or the 520 but have come from Alfa 5 cylinder oil burners.

 

Point 1. I am very impressed with the 170 ps, I do not get any of the droning at 70mph - in fact from 50 - ??? engine noise seems to vanish and wind and tyre noise take over - but they are not intrusive - Long distances are a pleasure to do and very relaxed. When the engine is asked to perform in the upper rev ranges its noise is never harsh, if fact it reminds me of the Alfa 2.4 5 cylinder of a few years back which I thought was a great engine.

 

Point 2. As has been said before on this forum, the brown interior trim is great no need to worry, very stylish and very practical. One of the cars I test drove before purchase was a saloon in your desired colors and it looked great - I have all brown as my car is heavily used inside bikes, tools etc and I just cant keep ivory clean. Yes it does look better in real life and at night with the car interior lighting extremely so.

 

Point 3. Columbus - Can't reference against V70 - yes it is slightly idiosyncratic has some nice touches, can import personal poi, 6 digit post code will not always find location. Offers a choice of three routes and can be personalized to some extent. Its no TomTom but its not bad and it comes with the L&K.

 

Point 4. DAB - bit of a revelation to me, was expecting the worse but have to say I'm a covert, can't get a good signal in my house but the car hangs on to the the signal in 99% of the areas I drive, I'm in Hertfordshire and quite often travel to Devon, Hampshire, Yorkshire and west Wales and the DAB is great for the vast majority of the journeys. If the signal is lost the unit will switch automatically to the FM signal (if available) so you can carry on listening and then when DAB returns it switches back. Would I pay for it - definitely. TV not so great on the move, due to the screen going blank above 3 mph (not sure if that's now changed with latest Columbus firmware) but the sound also drops quite a bit. Standing still is fine and sound is good through the 10 speaker sound system !

 

WORD OF WARNING - I got the Skoda roof bars but be aware that they are VERY LARGE in cross section and my existing Thule roof box & bike rack would fit !!, finished up having to get another set of Thule bars and mounting feet. So I have a spare Skoda roof bar set if any one is interested. I have always bought manufactures roof bars in the past and have struggled to make non manufactures products fit them, I now have the Thule bars and when I next change cars all I need is a set of mounting feet  - I figure a saving in the long run.

 

Hope that helps

Brilliant! Thanks all for the replies and advice......

At the moment thinking the 140 ps will be enough, especially going from 115 in the Volvo!! I would love to drive that Volvo of yours LS108!!!

Very interested in comments about the roof bars.... Will look in to that... Any other options / accessories that are not recommended?

Input regarding quality of DAB is also reassuring, one of those things that once you have had, it's difficult to live without!

Thanks again everyone...

At the moment thinking the 140 ps will be enough, especially going from 115 in the Volvo!! I would love to drive that Volvo of yours LS108!!!

 

 

It is really nice engine I like it so much:

 

 

But the handling of the car is bad, no feel from steering :(

 

I was afraid, that I will feel big power shortage in 170 HP / 350 Nm Superb (before Volvo I had Saab 9-5 with 260 HP / 380 Nm). But I was surprised that it wasn't so bad. DSG compensates lower power with instant gear changes. So even during test drive I had some fun on country roads.