A good question would be why in the UK the S and straight SE trims are only available with weak engines. Cloth upholstery, ordinary cruise control, winter options and a powerful engine in a Superb sized car make a great long distance cruiser for both UK and Europe. Already on SE we are forced to "choose" adaptive cruise control, that according to the manual, only works reliably on multi-lane roads until you go abroad and drive on the right, plus a driver fatigue sensor that to anyone making regular breaks is about annoying as it is useless. Plus the 190bhp/220bhp engines are tied to leather upholstery and 18in wheels, there is no logical link between these tie-ups, at least for people driving cars rather than showing them off. 

 

Also, after a brief look at German and UK Superb configurators, a good question would be why the new Superb is more expensive here in 1.6TDI 120bhp S version than in Germany in 2.0TDI 150bhp S version, same options on both, bearing in mind cars in Germany are generally expensive.  Unless SUK is predicting a run on the pound shortly, it seems to be the usual policy combination of "we know better what customers want " as well as ripoff Britain. 

 

In as much as I want my next car to be an upmarket Skoda as it will replace my Mk1 Superb V6, right now a fully kitted out Rapid Spaceback appears to fit my needs better than the Mk3 Superb despite its austere appearance, purely because of questionable choices SUK yet again made with the Mk3 Superb. 

 

So in summary, you could ask SUK a few less popular questions...

Another question that non of the reviews I have seen have mentioned is:

do the rear seat bases lift up to make a flat load area on the saloon or the estate?

If you get you hands on an estate, some key measurements of the boot space would be good. Width, depth and height to load cover. And a note of whether that's with a spare wheel or not (as I think I read somewhere the spare wheel reduces the space slightly).

A good question would be why in the UK the S and straight SE trims are only available with weak engines. Cloth upholstery, ordinary cruise control, winter options and a powerful engine in a Superb sized car make a great long distance cruiser for both UK and Europe. Already on SE we are forced to "choose" adaptive cruise control, that according to the manual, only works reliably on multi-lane roads until you go abroad and drive on the right, plus a driver fatigue sensor that to anyone making regular breaks is about annoying as it is useless. Plus the 190bhp/220bhp engines are tied to leather upholstery and 18in wheels, there is no logical link between these tie-ups, at least for people driving cars rather than showing them off. 

 

Also, after a brief look at German and UK Superb configurators, a good question would be why the new Superb is more expensive here in 1.6TDI 120bhp S version than in Germany in 2.0TDI 150bhp S version, same options on both, bearing in mind cars in Germany are generally expensive.  Unless SUK is predicting a run on the pound shortly, it seems to be the usual policy combination of "we know better what customers want " as well as ripoff Britain. 

 

In as much as I want my next car to be an upmarket Skoda as it will replace my Mk1 Superb V6, right now a fully kitted out Rapid Spaceback appears to fit my needs better than the Mk3 Superb despite its austere appearance, purely because of questionable choices SUK yet again made with the Mk3 Superb. 

 

So in summary, you could ask SUK a few less popular questions...

Have you considered ordering a RH drive car from a German dealer, at their specs. &  prices?

 

Back in the day, when the exchange rate was favourable , I had some interesting quotes, mostly from Dutch dealers who were quite happy to sell me

a vehicle!

 

DC 

Yes there is a good one 12 miles away from Milingavie, and it's Henry's which is just up from Buchanan Bus Station if you know where that is. Details below:

Henrys Skoda

http://maps.google.com/?cid=1208611229900633219&hl=en&gl=gb

Thanks for your help, I'll not be driving much in Glasgow but I know where Buchanan Bus Station is.

 

DC

In the UK you get a 3 year Manufacturers Warranty.

 

How about in the various Mainland European Countries.

Which give only a 2 Year Warranty.?

Back in the day, when the exchange rate was favourable , I had some interesting quotes, mostly from Dutch dealers who were quite happy to sell me

a vehicle!

I imported my Seat Ibiza from a Dutch dealer back in 2003. Cheaper than UK, and more options available than in UK. It was so easy, the dealer was selling loads to UK buyers.

In the UK you get a 3 year Manufacturers Warranty.

 

How about in the various Mainland European Countries.

Which give only a 2 Year Warranty.?

Used to be that you got a 2 yr manufacturer warranty, regardless of which country you bought from.

In the UK, the dealers add a 3rd year (EDIT: The 3rd year having a mileage limit)

Used to be that you got a 2 yr manufacturer warranty, regardless of which country you bought from.

In the UK, the dealers add a 3rd year.

Three years (or 150k Kms whichever is first) in Ireland as well, for the last number of years.

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Off to Scotland next week for a look at the new superb.

 

Which day(s) are you off to have a nosey ?

Off in a few minutes to Luton for the hop to inverness, hopefully a clear night tonight. I've got some ideas for photos if I can find a good spot tripod packed!

 

If hotel has wifi then I'll post brief updates and a full report later this week.

Suspense is killing me. Any news from Skodaville ?

Suspense is killing me. Any news from Skodaville ?

We'll probably get an update after the police locate Colin in the Superb III he accidentally forgot to return 

Oh I'd have loved to have kept it

 

Skodaville did have wifi, but it was intermittent. I stopped off at little sister who's south of Luton on the way home. Back now recovering, emails, post, chores. Then I'll sit down and write up my views. I've got the answers to most of the questions, with a few still up in the air. But fear not emails sent from Gairloch to the factory for answers.

 

Overall... if I had 230ish pounds a month to spend, I know exactly where it's going and it's not in fluffy dice for the citigo.

 

The TL;DR version is a safe buy as an upgrade to the MKI or MKII, or for growing needs from the Octavia. Compared to my 2years with the MKII the lower spec test car was just as nice if not nicer, bigger and quieter. 

 

But make sure you try to get the drive mode selection option, if you're taking it anywhere other than a motorway and enjoy driving.

Half a dozen of us who tried sport mode on the A/B roads said we'd leave it in that mode. * This is not the soft ride DCC, that has however been refined for the better, though not personally tested *

 

The 280 is very difficult to spot as different to a 1.4 from the outside, a true sleeper and a very special car, expectations are for 20 to 40 a year, that's a very exclusive car we'll be buying into

I have a couple of questions for anyone who has actually been inside the car, if I may:

 

1. Does the front armrest still latch up and down as it does on the MKII? (I've missed that on subsequent cars.)

2. Do the front cup holders have a cover? (I dislike uncovered ones)

 

Many thanks.

I have a couple of questions for anyone who has actually been inside the car, if I may:

1. Does the front armrest still latch up and down as it does on the MKII? (I've missed that on subsequent cars.)

2. Do the front cup holders have a cover? (I dislike uncovered ones)

Many thanks.

I would say yes to both, depending on the model you buy. On the higher spec cars you certainly get both.

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Oh I'd have loved to have kept it

 

Skodaville did have wifi, but it was intermittent. I stopped off at little sister who's south of Luton on the way home. Back now recovering, emails, post, chores. Then I'll sit down and write up my views. I've got the answers to most of the questions, with a few still up in the air. But fear not emails sent from Gairloch to the factory for answers.

 

Overall... if I had 230ish pounds a month to spend, I know exactly where it's going and it's not in fluffy dice for the citigo.

 

The TL;DR version is a safe buy as an upgrade to the MKI or MKII, or for growing needs from the Octavia. Compared to my 2years with the MKII the lower spec test car was just as nice if not nicer, bigger and quieter. 

 

But make sure you try to get the drive mode selection option, if you're taking it anywhere other than a motorway and enjoy driving.

Half a dozen of us who tried sport mode on the A/B roads said we'd leave it in that mode. * This is not the soft ride DCC, that has however been refined for the better, though not personally tested *

 

The 280 is very difficult to spot as different to a 1.4 from the outside, a true sleeper and a very special car, expectations are for 20 to 40 a year, that's a very exclusive car we'll be buying into

Thanks Colin for your initial feed-back. I await the next installment with interest!

 

As one of the 150 or so 2.0 TSi owners in the UK, I'm really interested in any informed opinions regarding the two 2.0 TSi options ins in the Superb 3.

I find that when I do "extend" my current car, the front end does loose traction, so may be I should spend the extra pennies & buy the 280 ps AWD this time around.

I'd probably choose the estate, cos it's useful,  better looking, & even harder to trade in when I get too old to drive it.

 

If i do this, (& at age 68 with some spare cash in the bank, earning very little interest, why not.....)  I'll have to ignore the horrendous depreciation & just enjoy driving it.

 

Finding a demonstrater  won't be easy though.

 

DC 

I have a couple of questions for anyone who has actually been inside the car, if I may:

 

1. Does the front armrest still latch up and down as it does on the MKII? (I've missed that on subsequent cars.)

2. Do the front cup holders have a cover? (I dislike uncovered ones)

 

Many thanks.

I've been in a low to mid range model and yes the armrest ratchets up and down and the cup holders have a sliding cover as below

 

Thats great news. Thank you, both.

Well the MKII was a 60+% share to the estate. Predictions are the MKIII just as much if not more given the estate was late to the MKII launch.

 

Depreciation, good numbers were put up from CAP, IIRC 71% at 12mths.

 

There's a greenline on the way at 95co2.

 

I've previously owned the MKII elegance 4x4 which I enjoyed on a lot of A/B mountain roads. For a big car it was progressive and predictable, the haldex doing a lot of work, replaced rear discs long before the fronts

 

The test is not long enough to explore the limits, nor would I on an open road. Suffice to say the odd corner I could see out off, allowed me to turn in excessively. In normal mode it felt a bit roly, not alarmingly so, but definitely that's not what I was expecting or what I'd enjoy every day... That's when I flipped it to sport and relaxed. It became much more like I recalled my MKII. 

Any of the FWD by the very nature will loosen front first thankfully. The track is slightly wider than before, does it help, hard to say. Laws of physics suggest it has to.

 

Again I didn't get quite enough time or courage to discover those limits. The surface in Scotland is very good, very grippy and with new tyres it would of been an brave call to push it. Suffice to say I was happy with it in sport mode, it's not a sportscar, it's a D/E class car. I'm hoping to try a DCC chassis at some point which by others is a noticeable step up too.

 

TBH with the 280, I'd say AWD all day. The MKII 170TD at a remapped 200 was a lot of fun in all weathers on all roads. The fuel bill was bit higher though, but running a petrol you're buying into that anyway.

 

The styling on the hatch is quite good, by this I mean it's amazing. The panel angles and detail to build tolerance / tightness is scarily close, looks like one panel in places. But from afar it does have a coupe look to it from some angles. The estate; declare softspot for estates, looks better. I've got some angles and photos to try to illustrate this. Going to grab some lunch now and put my typewriter into speilcheck mode.

Colin, did you get a chance to measure the boot of an estate ?

 

Looking forward to seeing the photos and writeup soon. 

:think:  :think:  :think:  :think:

ColinD, was that part of a press set of cars for demo?

Sorry got stalled and had a client working day yesterday. Hopefully back on it this afternoon.

 

I didn't get to measure the estate, it's big though! However I can say it's a full sized spare wheel well. The floor however does have the annoying step in it, if an issue, a bit of wood chamfered or the variable boot floor system solves. The rear side quarters house two storage units around 20l each, bigger than mkII I think, big enough for a small laptop bag.