Hi guys, new to the forum so thanks in advance for any advice .

 

The time has come for a family car!  I don't want any DPF issues so needs to be petrol. Needs to be automatic, and also front wheel drive ( as the in laws live in the snowy north of Scotland ).  I'm also coming off a Volvo S60 T5, so while I'll be "dad driving" most of the time, I really don't want something that would feel under powered when laden. Budget about £12-13k  . I think my next car will be a skoda!!

 

My preference is for an Octavia VRS DSG Estate. Very nice but also very hard to find .

 

I do think they look better than the hatchback, and I've always liked fast estates. The hatchbacks though are much easier to come by, a bit cheaper, and think they still have a boot that will take almost as much stuff as the estate  (? )

 

The other option ( bit more grown up/ I'm 40! ..at same time, too grown up ? )   is the Skoda Superb.  I've sat in one at it really impressed me with how much space was inside .  The 200bhp tfsi is very hard to find though, and chances are it would end up being the 1.8tsi engine.

 

I'd be very interested if anyone has driven these cars and is able to give a back to back comparison . Also, I know the vrs will feel proper quick, and I've seen various reports that the 1.8tsi is fine . I just can't help thinking that 160bhp in such a big car could feel sluggish.

 

Any thoughts most appreciated. Thanks

I wouldn't say the VRS was "comfortable" on stock suspension. It's quite crashy unless the road is good.

 

As I recall a lot of the 1.8s actually make closer to 180hp. The TFSI has a fair bit of grunt. Depends what you're after. The Superb won't be slow but it won't go like a VRS.

I've just switched from a 2007 Octavia vRS Estate to a 2015 Superb Estate, both 170 diesels, although the Octavia was a PD vs Superb CR. I've not really driven the petrol version to comment on that aspect.

 

In terms of size, the interior is noticeably bigger in the superb - it's wider in the front and significantly more room in the back (having sat in a more recent vRS estate, I think it's still the same deal). As my kids are getting bigger, I appreciate the fewer kicks in the back that I'm getting now. Boot size is pretty similar between the two to be honest - I've not checked capacities recently, but I've not struggled with either with the same amount of kit to go in.

 

I much prefer the superb estates looks to the twin-door and I also preferred the estate vRS back in 07. For me the superb is far more a cruiser, it has plenty of power there to overtake, and it can probably handle some twists, not too tight - but none so much as the vRS.

I have a petrol, 2012 VRS estate with DSG and I reckon it is the ideal family car. It gets two adults, two kids and a mountain of gear down to the south of France every year with ease. I don't find it overly crashy or uncomfortable on England's finest potholed roads. It's relatively cheap to run giving 35mpg with the roofbox on.

I too am 40 and I reckon the Superb is ideal if you have started buying your trousers with elastic waistbands and you look at the stuff for sale on the back page of the Sunday supplements and think 'ooh, that looks nice'. Car buying is a personal thing though and if we all wanted the same then we would all drive Beetles and car design wouldn't have moved on as it has.

the Superb is ideal if you have started buying your trousers with elastic waistbands and you look at the stuff for sale on the back page of the Sunday supplements and think 'ooh, that looks nice'.

 

Ha ha - you been looking in my wardrobe?

 

I've not made it to 40 yet, waist or otherwise - but yes, cars are very much a personal thing.

 

If completely unsure, perhaps your local dealer would oblige with some extended test-drives to get more of a feel for both cars.

Ha ha, thanks for your replies so far.  I never bothered about the superb before, but I recently started thinking "hmm, that looks nice" . Its that in between stage of not being a boy racer anymore, but still a go way before looking for a nice comfy pair of slacks!  I have actually found a VRS about to go to auction .  Race blue ( not preferred colour as might attract a bit too much attention), 2011 25k miles, and the company doing the search for me reckon I could have it for about £12k.  Downside is that 3 owners in 3.5 years, one of them for 5 mths, and only done 9k miles in past 2 years .  Might have had a lot of sitting about, which isn't good for any car .  Might not be this exact one, but I am leaning towards the VRS, as still time for a Superb in the future. I reckon the Superb with the VRS engine would be a belter

If handling is important then the Octy is wayyy better than the Superb

1.8tsi is a great engine ruined by the lousy 7 speed dry clutch DSG.  I have a 1.8tsi manual Octavia sedan with a remap & other improvements.  I love it to bits but I wouldn't buy anything with the dry clutch DSG7.

 

Regarding size, the Octy gets complaints from my girls when we use it for long family trips.  Neither of them is particularly tall (167cm x2) or large (53kg & 63kg).  They are spoilt though as the current family truckster is a 2015 Honda Odyssey and before that a Captiva 7 & a Subaru Outback.

 

If my car had to do the family hauling I'd get the Superb Twindoor V6 AWD but I guess they are expensive to run in the UK?

Edited 12 May, 201511 yr by brad1.8T

Edited. Wrong thread!

As your thread title includes the word "comfortable" then it has to be the Superb.  I had intended to keep my Octavia vRS for 5 years but after 2 years I am seriously considering a changes solely because of the poor ride.  The terrible state of the UK roads doesn't help; on French roads the ride was much better.  It doesn't bother me so much as the driver but many passengers have complained and it is noticeable how many times friends offer me a lift in their cars rather than travel in the vRS.  That never happened with my previous car (2005 Honda Civic Type-S).  A Superb is larger than I want/need so I have no idea what I shall buy as a replacement.