Hi, I'm new to this forum and hope you can help me. I bought a brand new Superb Combi in April this year (2014). I had it specked up to the maximum and was really looking forward to owning a brand new car. About 2 weeks ago after I had finished work on a very hot day I used the electronic key to wind down all the windows to get air into the car as I approached it. I drove off and wound up the front windows. As I got to about 50mph the car started to vibrate and a low frequency heavy rumble started. It was like a sub woofer had been turned up fully and I could feel the pulsation in my ears and throughout my body and the car vibrated. I honestly thought the car was going to fall to pieces. I tried slowing down and the low frequency rumble got better. I then speeded up again and it started again. As I was on a motorway the safety implications are obvious! I then remembered my rear windows were down so I wound them up which cured the problem.

Since then I have told the dealer who told me this is normal and they drove me in a comparable 2014 model and indeed it did the same thing. Obviously it is due to airflow and they kindly explained this to me (I'm an airline pilot so I do know about aerodynamics) and said that cars are normally driven with windows up these days and use the Air Con instead of using the windows. I suppose I should be happy with the explanation but I'm not. If I had known this was going to happen I would not have bought the car. Electronic windows are there so they can be wound down at any time by myself or the passengers in the rear seat. If it causes this problem (and it's suggested by the dealer not to use them), then in my opinion the car is not suitable for purpose. Perhaps I should place a placard in the rear cabin for the passengers stating "Do Not Use Rear Windows".

Has anyone else found this is a problem or indeed has anyone tried driving with only the rear windows down?

1....then in my opinion the car is not suitable for purpose......

2... Has anyone else found this is a problem or indeed has anyone tried driving with only the rear windows down?

 

1.... Are you actually being serious?

2.... Yes, on every 4 door car I have owned in the last four decades.... so the trick is? CLOSE THE WINDOWS!!!

I am surprised that you have only found this "problem" with the Skoda Superb.

I have found that with many cars that I owned that you can get severe buffeting if , having cooled the car down by running it with all windows open, you then close the front windows and leave the rear ones open. To name just a few where I did close the front windows but not the rear ones. Skoda Superb, Rover Sterling, Rover 400, Citroen BX, Citroen CX. I could go on to older cars as well, but won't. Modern cars have a ventilation system which allows air to exit from the rear of the car, and so it should not be necessary to drive with the rear windows wide open. In fact this ventilation system which started to appear in cars in the late 60's early 70's was designed to avoid the buffeting that can occur when driving with rear windows open. So the "problem" is not a new one.

Yep, happens on my combi and it used to happen on my old focus as well. Cracking the passenger window open an inch or so cures it.

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You're a qualified airline pilot???  Please tell us with which airline.

 

Happened with every car, with opening rear windows, that I have ever owned.  What car do you intend to buy as a replacement for your "not suitable for purpose" Superb?  Don't forget to drive it with the rear windows down on the test drive.

 

I half think the original post is a wind-up.

No point using this forum then if a torrent of abuse is coming my way to a genuine concern of mine!!!

 

Thanks to those who responded with dignified and respectful replies though.

 

I'm off......

Yes its perfectly normal, the air entering the cabin buffets around in the rear of the car as it has nowhere to go. Every car I have owned has done this, so its not a Superb phenomenon.

There is a button on the driver's door pull where all of the window pull switches are. It has a picture of a rear window with a line through it - if you push this button then it over rides the rear window switches, preventing your rear passengers from opening the rear windows.

This happens on all cars, not just the Superb.

 

As mentioned earlier, just drop one of the front windows by an inch and it cures the issue.

 

You must be used to non-opening windows and a reliance on A/C being a pilot!?

No point using this forum then if a torrent of abuse is coming my way to a genuine concern of mine!!!

 

Thanks to those who responded with dignified and respectful replies though.

 

I'm off......

Torrent of abuse? Sarcasm I agree, but not abuse...

Compared to my motor bike forum that "abuse" was very mild, although I agree with the responses and that it was surprising that he had not experienced it before.

Well we live and learn.

Oh dear looks like we've upset set a new member - perhaps he's not used to the banter we have amongst ourselves - hope he comes back and reads all posts.

 

Anyway my thoughts,

 

The only cars I have never had the booming from at speed were Alfa Spiders and MX 5s - reason being no roof ! all other cars bar none with rear windows down at speed boom due to internal pressure build up and release.

 

Here's why i think it happens.

 

1. Car at low speed, air enters front windows and exits rear - air speed over car quite low - air from inside car exits easily. No pressure build up.

2. Car at medium speed, air enters front windows and exits rear - air speed over car higher - air from inside car exits slower due to greater external presure from faster moving air.

3. Car at high speed, air enters front windows but CAN NOT exit rear - air speed over car is now high so the external air is acting like a barrier to the air trying to exit the car. So as more air enters the car than leaves it the air pressure inside builds up, eventually the internal air pressure is greater than the external pressure and the pressure is released, but as soon as its released the cycle starts again. This is what creates the booming sensation.

 

I have found I'm able to drive at any speed with sunroof fully open and front windows shut if the rears are very slightly open (two taps of the button give about 25mm opening).

 

As earlier posters have said this booming is not at all uncommon and I think as aerodynamicists strive for less wind resistance and greater downforce generated by the airflow over the car this will continue to be an issue.

 

So conclusion - for wind in your hair exsperience - get a bicycle or a convertable ! I have and really enjoy it !

 

When transporting my paper butterfly collection I use the my Superb with the windows up and climate control on

This is a wind up right?

When I had the issues with the AC fan in mine, hot as hell, no air and a 260 mile journey back home, I only had the front windows open a small amount at motorway speed and the noise was hell..... 

This is a wind up right?

 

From their reaction, I suspect that'll be a "no"!

You're a qualified airline pilot???  Please tell us with which airline.

This made me LOL haha

 

I guess some people can't take a joke

I liked the " is it a wind up" wish he had replied "no they are electric"

 

Hi, I'm new to this forum and hope you can help me. I bought a brand new Superb Combi in April this year (2014). I had it specked up to the maximum and was really looking forward to owning a brand new car. About 2 weeks ago after I had finished work on a very hot day I used the electronic key to wind down all the windows to get air into the car as I approached it. I drove off and wound up the front windows. As I got to about 50mph the car started to vibrate and a low frequency heavy rumble started. It was like a sub woofer had been turned up fully and I could feel the pulsation in my ears and throughout my body and the car vibrated. I honestly thought the car was going to fall to pieces. I tried slowing down and the low frequency rumble got better. I then speeded up again and it started again. As I was on a motorway the safety implications are obvious! I then remembered my rear windows were down so I wound them up which cured the problem.

Since then I have told the dealer who told me this is normal and they drove me in a comparable 2014 model and indeed it did the same thing. Obviously it is due to airflow and they kindly explained this to me (I'm an airline pilot so I do know about aerodynamics) and said that cars are normally driven with windows up these days and use the Air Con instead of using the windows. I suppose I should be happy with the explanation but I'm not. If I had known this was going to happen I would not have bought the car. Electronic windows are there so they can be wound down at any time by myself or the passengers in the rear seat. If it causes this problem (and it's suggested by the dealer not to use them), then in my opinion the car is not suitable for purpose. Perhaps I should place a placard in the rear cabin for the passengers stating "Do Not Use Rear Windows".

Has anyone else found this is a problem or indeed has anyone tried driving with only the rear windows down?

Macpilot, Skoda sell a set of spoilers for deflecting the wind and rain around the windows. Should help but maybe not perfect. Ask your dealer about these perhaps?

I've came across a similar problem with lots of vehicles. When I open the window and it's raining - some of the rain comes in sometimes, especially if the open window is on the windy side. Surely in this day and age this could be addressed.

Lmao :haha:

I can't believe this is real!

Macpilot, I have driven over 300 different cars over the years. They all do this.  Even with a Rolls Royce you get buffeting with the rear windows down above a certain speed.  The trick is only to open them only to the point where the buffeting starts.

As per Stinker comments. I have wind deflectors on my Superb and they work reasonably well. In relation to the banter...let's keep this professional and free from slinging mud. No need for that. The world is too full of anger and name calling. We don't need more.

 

Also Macpilot...having the rear windows open is not good for your fuel economy. Wind rushes in and hits rear window acting like a sail. It's like releasing a parachute behind your car. Closed windows and using your air vents is a far better method.

I don't think Macpilot321 will ever return!

I don't think Macpilot321 will ever return!

I do hope he does return.  I still want to know for which airline he is a pilot!  I want to take a flight with them and then ask for a window to be opened.

You naughty wee wee taking boy.