Didn't get to try the 190, we tried the 1.4tsi 150ps; EBK, and the 150ps diesel; EOG. 

 

Power corrupts, more is never enough I'd personally say the difference between 150 and 190, if questioning is not worth it. You potentially save yourself some euro on the purchase, at least till the options list. The gap between 150 and 170 is even less. If you test the 190, you'll want it over the 150 I suspect. Is kerb weight a factor?

 

The videos above are both of the 150. Ok, not been driven hard but noise is rarely a factor when pressing on. Under normal everyday driving, the diesel 150 was fine, 30 to 60, ie overtaking lorry's was acceptable, 3 to 4 seconds, obviously the 190 would be quicker. The petrol was about the same too using 1 elephant, 2 elephant timing systems.

 

I'd take a 150 out for sure, see fi you can borrow for more than a few miles.

Didn't get to try the 190, we tried the 1.4tsi 150ps; EBK, and the 150ps diesel; EOG. 

 

Power corrupts, more is never enough I'd personally say the difference between 150 and 190, if questioning is not worth it. You potentially save yourself some euro on the purchase, at least till the options list. The gap between 150 and 170 is even less. If you test the 190, you'll want it over the 150 I suspect. Is kerb weight a factor?

 

The videos above are both of the 150. Ok, not been driven hard but noise is rarely a factor when pressing on. Under normal everyday driving, the diesel 150 was fine, 30 to 60, ie overtaking lorry's was acceptable, 3 to 4 seconds, obviously the 190 would be quicker. The petrol was about the same too using 1 elephant, 2 elephant timing systems.

 

I'd take a 150 out for sure, see fi you can borrow for more than a few miles.

Cheers Colin.  Its all relative as you say.  I drove 1.4 petrol Octavias for years and I managed fine until I moved to higher powered engines and then I 'needed' more!  The 190 is probably harder on tyres as well putting 400nm of torque through the front wheels 

Colin - how would you say the noise of the 1.4 TSI compares to the 150PS diesel? Something about that 1.4 petrol in a car as big as the Superb appeals to me. There's a kind of perverse pleasure in accepting that a 1.4 petrol engine is adequate to power such a car and then (courtesy of ACT) saying "actually, we only need half of that - a 700cc two cylinder engine will do it" . Ten years ago, this simply would not have been possible. The performance figures look very reasonable. Such a small, light engine must surely help the handling, too?

Colin, I agree as the car I drove was a 190 and only really noticed a big difference at the higher speeds in top gear and how it pulled even in "E" mode, perhaps due to the fact that at 58   I am more interested in mpg.

Colin did you happen to have the auxiliary heating(mentioned in the manual) on one of the test models? - did you have the additional remote control - for turning on windscreen/seats etc ...if so how well did it work

Don't know whether you missed my query Colin so quoted it hoping you can answer it

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve, 

 

I did see it, the launch day test was before you asked. Sorry I've not found anything out subsequently. I imagine it's rock solid, other marques have done it for a few years; specifically colder climate for preheating.  I think you'll have to order on a chance it's as described, as I doubt many dealers will specifically take a chance, maybe one or two of the Scottish ones.

 

@Danny, I know what you mean. I didn't know if the modes actually altered the engine, it didn't feel different in that regard. No-one on day knew exactly, I don't think the press tend to dig too deep. They get the drive some marketing fluff and a bit of scran... where as I saw the head of sales and product manager as a chance to find out things dealers will have forgotten in the morning training session by lunch... unless really pressing on then the 190 difference won't be noticed in day to day driving. Heck even the citigo is enough to get into trouble on the mountain roads of Wales and Scotland. 

 

@citigopher, the 1.4 impressed me. It's 500cc more than my citigo for a car I could probably fit a flat pack citigo into. The ACT is invisible, an indicator it was active would be swish... the rub for me; I'd have the 1.4tsi on a £for £ comparison, is how it works when loaded up, 4 up and 600+ litres of 'gear'. So I pull out from lorry, will it go or will I pull back in a shade whiter. Sadly 2 up on a test day, we can only compare empty cars, both the 150 diesel and petrol got me to 60(ish) from 30 in about the same number of elephants. If anything the petrol did better as I could hold the gear longer So the petrol felt smooth, no noticeable lag or turbo calling cards. Again this is a big car, not a sports car, so these statements have to come with a pinch of salt.  Both could eat up the miles in scotland at 60 without even trying, quite scary how easily! no wonder we need gizmos to monitor our inputs, so easy to drive

 

@superb170 My first car I could use was a 1.4 BX amazing how far we've come. Then a powerful diesel turbo at 90hp in a xantia estate. Power truly corrupted me when I got a 150hp primera, then got left behind by a new golf diesel... 150 > 180 > 220 then back to diesel. The lat change, a 170 remapped superb to citigo... so I can begin the process all over? Power makes you lazy, the citigo lesson has re-engaged me in brisk driving. Sure it means I miss some overtaking chances, try the 150 and pocket the difference on an optional extra or beer tokens I'm saving myself for a power jump to 280+ never been up that high in my own cars, more than enough for the open roads, to enjoy driving on an open road you just need good tyres!

 

Talking of which you'll get a random selection of pirelli, continental or bridgestone. I thought I'd sussed a pattern, it looked like conti on estates and pirelli on hatches. Then a couple had bridgestones... now don't ask me the tyre names

Made a playlist of the superb media videos I was given, it's here on youtube.

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ld6-3Nhmr8hnVDtmomTu16iAnmlVbIg

 

oh one thing I forgot is the proximity sensors, for parking. Now this isn't news for parking, it was at the airport. We had to get a ticket from the bollard machine as you go in.

 

You know the one with all the paint on

 

Well as we turned in we got the beeps ( but we're not parking ) then as you got closer the info panel highlighted to yellow, red as the bollard was getting closer to the door, I'd call this crab detection... I think that was the last thing I though oh that's clever.

Cheers Colin

I've already got my L&K ordered

It's just strange I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in the brochure or on configurator.

Hello Colin,

I have a couple of specific questions that I'm struggling to get an answered from Skoda UK, I hope you can help.

- I need to fit three car seats in the back and this all hinges on the distance between the buckles in the rear seats. Could you please measure the gap between the buckles in the middle and let me know what it is?

- If opting for the space saver spare wheel does this increase the CO2 emissions?

Sorry for the geeky questions but it will really help decide if I order the car or not.

Thanks

Hello Colin,

Just wondered if you managed to get the answers to my questions above?

Thanks

oh one thing I forgot is the proximity sensors, for parking. Now this isn't news for parking, it was at the airport. We had to get a ticket from the bollard machine as you go in.

 

You know the one with all the paint on

 

Well as we turned in we got the beeps ( but we're not parking ) then as you got closer the info panel highlighted to yellow, red as the bollard was getting closer to the door, I'd call this crab detection... I think that was the last thing I though oh that's clever.

 

 

does all that on my new Octy as well. In fact the other day someone pulled out in front of me, the dashboard flashed red with a picture of a car crash and the car slammed on the brakes. 

 

All very clever stuff

 

Hello Colin,

I have a couple of specific questions that I'm struggling to get an answered from Skoda UK, I hope you can help.

- I need to fit three car seats in the back and this all hinges on the distance between the buckles in the rear seats. Could you please measure the gap between the buckles in the middle and let me know what it is?

- If opting for the space saver spare wheel does this increase the CO2 emissions?

Sorry for the geeky questions but it will really help decide if I order the car or not.

Thanks

 

 

Hi

 

There was a lady there on the test with 3 kids ( at home ) we discussed this and she was going to check, I missed her at the airport though. So I don't have an accurate measurement. In the superMKIII there is a thread of dealers who have demonstrators or floor stock. Best bet, call them and ask about the measurement. It won't be something a skoda 0 zero hours cust service agent has info on.

 

on the wheel, I don't see why it should. Major items like engine and shell yes. If you had a poverty spec 1.4 and a luxo spec all extras but still the same 1.4 base model, the car I'm buying is intrinsically the same, that is I don't think each 'option' has a CO2 value, yet. Best bet on this probably lies with your local dealer. The wheel well is always going to be there, empty from factory if it's an issue and to be filled with a spare as you drive off  

re the poverty spec v lux spec VED, the wheel sizes can and will impact on VED. My Octy III was a week too early to allow me to spec 16 inch wheels, so the same car will be £30 VED if 16 inch wheels, £110 VED if 17 inch wheels. I don't think they measure the CO2 impact of a spare though

Hi

 

There was a lady there on the test with 3 kids ( at home ) we discussed this and she was going to check, I missed her at the airport though. So I don't have an accurate measurement. In the superMKIII there is a thread of dealers who have demonstrators or floor stock. Best bet, call them and ask about the measurement. It won't be something a skoda 0 zero hours cust service agent has info on.

 

on the wheel, I don't see why it should. Major items like engine and shell yes. If you had a poverty spec 1.4 and a luxo spec all extras but still the same 1.4 base model, the car I'm buying is intrinsically the same, that is I don't think each 'option' has a CO2 value, yet. Best bet on this probably lies with your local dealer. The wheel well is always going to be there, empty from factory if it's an issue and to be filled with a spare as you drive off

Thanks Colin,

I had already tried Skoda UK and got the response you indicated I would!! I'll ring one of the Skoda dealers that has stock and ask them to measure it, just a shame there isn't one nearer where I live in Norwich.

I think you are right about the spare wheel, although I'll ask if I order one.

Colin did you happen to have the auxiliary heating(mentioned in the manual) on one of the test models? - did you have the additional remote control - for turning on windscreen/seats etc ...if so how well did it work

Does it turn on the heated seats and windscreen? That must be a huge powerdrain, wich aint exactly something you would want.

I have the aux heater on my Octy 3. Habent really tested it yet, since I got the car this spring. But one simply clever feature with it, is that you can turn if the heater and use to circulate the air to Cool the car somewhat before driving off.

Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by Gromle

Hello all - been lurking for a while whilst I weigh up options to replace our car. I regularly carry an extra bod between the kids' car seats, so need to know the measurement between the two inner isofix mounts on the rear seat if anyone happens to be seeing a car soon?

The dearth of cars to view in the South East seems odd if cars still land at Sheerness from Emden.

Cheers, Steve

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Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by Sbis

Excellent feedback Colin - thank you.

 

My next used buy in three years time will be the 280 AWD DSG estate in white. Should be a cracker if my 3.6 is anything to go by...

 

Dave

I regularly carry an extra bod between the kids' car seats, so need to know the measurement between the two inner isofix mounts on the rear seat if anyone happens to be seeing a car soon?

It's 15" / 38cm. Bear in mind there are three seat belt anchor points just inside the isofix mounts too.

Yikes, thanks BillyJim - that sounds narrower than I'd hoped, by quite some margin.

Very much appreciate you letting me know. I'll measure my Touareg but suspect this particular measurement could scupper the Superb for me.

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Blimey, a whole 10cm narrower than my current car (same external width) between the isofix mounts. For a family car, it's going to be a stumbler for a lot of people.

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Blimey, a whole 10cm narrower than my current car (same external width) between the isofix mounts. For a family car, it's going to be a stumbler for a lot of people.

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The way around it is putting one of the child boosters in the front. The airbag can be knocked off and there is so much rear legroom that it doesn't matter if the front seat is all the way back.

I don't know any cars outside the large family car sector that can fit a passenger comfortably between two child seats in the back. My A6 certainly couldn't and that was wider than my current Superb.

EDIT: You can't really compere the Superb to a Touareg. The VW is huge.

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Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by Jaytip

Thanks Jaytip - that could work. An A6 was my final option before resorting to a 7 seater which I really don't want to do.

I do a decent amount of mileage/time with 2 other adults in the car (one of which is as wide as she is tall!) so two in the back with a chunky isofix child seat may not be feasible either.

Resigned to my fate I think!

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EDIT: You can't really compere the Superb to a Touareg. The VW is huge.

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Dimensionally the new Superb is longer than a current Touareg, crucially though it's 100mm narrower overall (I'd got the wrong width) and that perfectly perfectly correlate with a 100m narrower gap between the isofix points.

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Edited 13 August, 201510 yr by Sbis

Some good news today guys. I've been talking to a chap today who can help on finding the right deal

 

That is he's a broker with access to a number of finance companies including VW along with discounts via UK dealers. I'll be getting some numbers of him next week for a superb myself, just in case If I like them, and it all checks out fca, fsa etc I'll start the ball rolling. Does not hurt to ask after all