Looking at Superbs around 09/10/11 £10k, what engine would you go for 140pd, 140cr or 170cr? Only £40 difference in insurance between 140 and170 , I will be towing a light caravan with it a couple of times a year.

I tow a 1400 kg caravan with my 140 cr and it is no problem at all returning 34 mpg with the caravan over 3000 kilometres to and in Spain. No idea whether economy would be better with the 170 but there is more than enough power with the 140.

I've just been down the same road looking at 2010 / 2011 Mk II Superbs, moving on from a high mileage (201,000) Mk I Superb. However I don't tow, although the old car had a tow bar, so if there are any specific engine characteristics which make the 140 preferable to a 170 and vice versa I can't advise on that point.

 

Forget the old PD140 now, it's obsolete technology and the CR are far better engines, lower emissions, better mpg and lower VED bands.

 

The CR 140 is OK, but the Mk II Superb is a heavy car with a GVW of 2,118 kg. Personally I thought that 140 BHP was just about adequate, both the old PD140 in my old Superb, and the new CR140 in the Mk II's I drove.

 

My personal advise would be that the CR170 is a far better proposition.

Power delivery is smoother, adequate and the larger engine with longer gearing is more economical at M'way cruising speeds.

To me the Insurance was the same for the CR140 and CR170, and £30 a year cheaper than my old Mk I.

The VED is £55 p.a. less than the old PD140.

 

There are plenty of late 2010 / early 2011 (i.e. 60 plate) Superbs out there with around 50,000 - 75,000 on the clock for around £10,000, so don't jump at the first one you see.

Most of the ones I looked at were estates (or Combi's as they now seem to be called) rather than hatchbacks (or twindoors), and nearly all were 170's.

 

I collected my 60 plate, CR170 SE, with 60,500 miles this morning, for £9,995. I've done 100 miles in it so far today and so far it seems a cracking car.

Thanks for the comprehensive replies, most of the lower milage 140s I've looked at have been pd engines.

The hunt is on for a 170 then, I've got about 6 weeks before I need to change cars so no rush (for now).

Keep an eye on Black Horse Car Sales in Oldbury, West Midlands.

I don't know where you are located.

 

They are part of Lloyds Bank, and sell on what are effectively company cars leased by Lex Autolease, also a subsidiary of Lloyds Bank, so almost every car they sell is 3 years old with fsh and 50,000 - 75,000 miles.

 

Both Chan 110 - the originator of the longest private thread in Briskoda history, ref his Superb called Audrey - and I bought from them, and on the whole had a good experience.

They act in the same way as a car supermarket, pile them high and sell them cheap. Forget all of the c*rp talked about negotiating, they have a fixed price as shown on their web site, and will give you Glasses guide price as trade in. No negotiation, take it or leave it. The best I managed was a set of car mats.

 

Sadly the only Superb thay have atm  for around £10,000 is a CR140 SE Combi in mauve (SWMBO wanted it, but I held out for the larger engine and a less feminine colour)

 

I have no connection with them, other than having purchased from them and being impressed with their no-nonsense or bullsh*t approach.

They have 2 Elegance 170's on as well - http://www.blackhorsecarsales.co.uk/

Edited 5 February, 201412 yr by L200man

They have 2 Elegance 170's on as well - http://www.blackhorsecarsales.co.uk/

 

They now have 3, but unfortunately the are all Elegance specs, and £3000 - £4000 more than the OP (and I) budgeted for. 

Haveyou had a test drive in both? I'd have the 170, but there again I'm biased! Good luck in your hunt...

Don't discount a 140CR. I tow a caravan, car fully loaded, with no problems. The torque figures for the 170 and 140 are very similar.

Stuart