So it's time to retire the old Volvo C70 convertible...

 

I looked long and hard at Audi A6 - seemed cheap for as little as £24k new

 

Now looking at Superbs. There seem to be a few options available:

 

1) Cheap - go for a 2010/2011 model with a few miles on the clock, maybe private purchase, perhaps £8,000ish

2) Mid - go for a 2012/2013 model - could push the boat out with specs in terms of SE, DSG, nice colour, etc. About £13-£14k

3) High - go for the latest 2015 model, but fairly low end (might be about £18-£19,000)

4) High (lease) - 2015 model but on contract hire/lease. £200/month on a 6+23. So about £5500 all-in for 2 years.

 

One thing is that I can't stand the looks of the old model hatchback, so it would have to be an estate.

 

The new model looks nice in either format, so I would be happy with hatchback.

 

It's not really a matter of finding the funds as such - I can get the money to buy new, at an effective 2% PA or so - but I want to reduce my ongoing costs - perhaps consider total cost of ownership over 5 or 6 years.

 

Questions for the panel:

 

- Other than looks, is the 2015 model much better in other ways than the predecessor?

- How would pricing on the 1.6 Greenline be compared to current diesel 1.6 TDI CR S 5dr? With sub 100 gram emissions it should be cheap to run (tax + fuel) and probably cheap to insure?

- What toys does anyone regret getting, or regret NOT getting?!!

 

Oh, and another question for the fortune tellers: How long before the discounts get better? Seems that Audi discounts/finance deals are so much more generous (or is that just a con?!)

Edited 3 September, 201510 yr by thewinelake

I looked long and hard at Audi A6 - seemed cheap for as little as £24k new

 

That sounds like an extremely good price as the lowest spec A6 is over £32k RRP.

I looked at the 2.0 litre diesel A4 four years ago when I was looking to change and it was roughly the same price as the 2.0 litre Superb Elegance, but lacked many of the "standard" features included with the Elegance. Both were around the £28k mark.

When I added the optional extras I wanted to the Superb it came to £31k. Bringing the Audi A4 up to the same level came to a staggering £48k. And it was much smaller!

And it was virtually the same with the BMW 5 series.

 

Now looking at Superbs. There seem to be a few options available:

 

1) Cheap - go for a 2010/2011 model with a few miles on the clock, maybe private purchase, perhaps £8,000ish

2) Mid - go for a 2012/2013 model - could push the boat out with specs in terms of SE, DSG, nice colour, etc. About £13-£14k

 

If you can hold off until late October/November time, after the Superb III is officially launched (and the likes of me have traded in their Superb II), you will probably get a better deal on a good used Superb II.

 

One thing is that I can't stand the looks of the old model hatchback, so it would have to be an estate.

 

The new model looks nice in either format, so I would be happy with hatchback.

 

I'm 100% with you on that. That's the only reason my Superb II was an estate and why my Superb III will be a hatch.

 

Questions for the panel:

 

- Other than looks, is the 2015 model much better in other ways than the predecessor?

 

It has the more efficient Euro 6 engines, which offer better performance and better consumption.

It's based on the MQB platform which appears to offer better handling characteristics than the A6 Passat platform on which the Superb II was based (although I never felt the Superb II's handling was an issue for me).

There are more safety and efficiency features as standard.

The new infotainment systems are a vast improvement.

The quality of interior materials seems to have improved, particularly the leather of the seats, which on the Superb II could lead to it wearing away, particularly on the side support (something to watch for if you're thinking of buying a used Superb II).

 

- What toys does anyone regret getting, or regret NOT getting?!!

 

If you're talking about the Superb III then I think you're asking too early. Nobody in the UK will own one yet (the official launch date is 17th September). Some of the Irish and Continental members already have them and may have an answer.

If you mean the Superb II, my only regret was not having the panoramic sunroof on the estate, but that was not a choice as they were discontinued for a time in 2011 due to shortage of supply.

Hi BillyJim,

 

Thanks a lot for the reply - much appreciated.

On the Audi A6, if you visit DriveTheDeal.com, you can still get A6 (not even the base model) for about £24-£25k. The discounts on these things (With "pretend" finance contributions) are crazy.

I'd not realised that the III hasn't been officially released - I've been bombarded with lease deals for it which made me think it was already out there.

Silly question, but should I be making you an offer for your II? ;-)

Would love a panoramic sunroof, as I'll be sad to lose the convertible. Also might increase load carrying capability as could be used in semi-skip mode (or is that word banned in these parts? ;-))

 

Alex

Silly question, but should I be making you an offer for your II? ;-)

:no: Committed to p/x now (I thought 10k for a 4 year old car that cost 30k new was a fair offer).

 

Anyway, it's got the worn driver's seat I was referring to!  :(

 

 

I'd not realised that the III hasn't been officially released - I've been bombarded with lease deals for it which made me think it was already out there.

 

You've been able to order them in the UK since July (should have been June with the typical 3 month lead time), but dealers shouldn't (officially) be handing them to customers until the launch date.

Who did you order from?

 

Goodness, the deals at new-car-discount.com are extremely tempting. Must be too good to be true, right? £17,744 for a 2.0 TDI CR SE 5dr hatchback probably blows my middle-ground options away...

I ordered through a local dealership. I'm buying outright so wasn't interest in the various lease options, which seem to attract the most discount.

Call me old-fashioned but I hate the thought of owing money and won't buy anything if I can't afford to pay for it there and then.

Plus I prefer to actually own the car without any mileage/modification restrictions being imposed on me.

Went for a test drive of a 2.0 Superb II estate with DSG yesterday.

 

Quite nice to drive.

 

Then I tried a couple of Seat Leon estates (also with DSG) - the 1.6 SE diesel and the 2.0 FR 184. The former was nearly as good as the Skoda, the latter a bit better. It did occur to me that the main reason I'm interested in such a big car is more about smoothness than capacity and perhaps I should reconsider!

 

Now this was on local roads - not motorway (which is really where I'd like to get relaxing driving) but it did make me wonder if the Superb II is really that refined? Perhaps the III is significantly better.

 

So I'd be interested to know from those that have been able to compare (especially on motorways) what the difference is in terms of relaxation on motorway. In my experience, various things can help:

- Quiet engine

- Quiet aerodynamics

- Auto box

- Soft suspension

 

I suppose things like adaptive cruise control can also make a difference to the mental side of things ;-)

Thewinelake I've discovered that you can never have enough space.... First I had Fabias. Big boot I thought.... Filled it... Then Octavias. huge boot I though.... Then I filled it... You can see where this is going :-)

Well, I put down a deposit on a 1.4 TSI Hatch in SE trim and "Business Grey" - although the family are now telling me I should get a leather interior - which probably means Executive trim (I guess if one's paid half the price on leather, you may as well get the other toys for £1500ish).

 

It drives very nicely, doesn't it. I feel like saying Lim - o - zeeen!

Go for it.... Xenons are a must !

Really? Is ignorance not bliss here?! ;-)

 

BTW - does anyone know what the rules concerning cooling-off periods are on this kind of purchase? i.e. I've put down a £1000 deposit and will THEN take out a finance deal. If I have a change of heart in the next day or so, am I entitled to have the £1000 back? I'm pretty set on the car, though...

Xenons .... Well I had them first on a 2007 Octavia and I would never go back to Halagens if could possibly help it.... Out of all the options I can think off they would be first on my list.

Go for it.... Xenons are a must !

 

+1

 

Really? Is ignorance not bliss here?! ;-)

 

This is true, but once you have had them you won’t go back!

 

Xenons .... Well I had them first on a 2007 Octavia and I would never go back to Halagens if could possibly help it.... Out of all the options I can think off they would be first on my list.

 

I fitted a HID kit in my Superb MKI, since then the last 3 cars have had them, the only thing that would sway me away from them is LED headlights.

Xenons .... Well I had them first on a 2007 Octavia and I would never go back to Halagens if could possibly help it.... Out of all the options I can think off they would be first on my list.

I couldn't agree more. Of all the spec I've had in cars xenons are definitely the most useful and has made life so much easier at nighttime. More importantly, they have helped me to avoid hitting numerous pedestrians dressed in black with no illumination on country roads at night. The beam pattern from the xenons lights up parts of the road that halogens just don't get to. Also, they look great and give a car a more upmarket look but the safety is the big one for me.

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BTW - does anyone know what the rules concerning cooling-off periods are on this kind of purchase? i.e. I've put down a £1000 deposit and will THEN take out a finance deal. If I have a change of heart in the next day or so, am I entitled to have the £1000 back? I'm pretty set on the car, though...

This very thing is covered in the current Auto Express.

I hate to say it, but if what was written is true, then your £1000.00 deposit will be forfeit. More than that, they may well sting you for loss of earnings!

Interesting - I did ask them about this a while before signing, and they suggested (slightly obliquely) that within a couple of days I could cancel - but they didn't put that in writing. I hope they will do me a good deal on the upgrade of SE to Executive, and not simply charge an extra £3000.

_{Just remember that old maxim - the quality is remembered long after the price has been forgotten.}

 

_{I'm telling myself that 20 times a day at the moment  but not sure if its working, yet.}

It is very true. I remember spending perhaps more than I should have done on various things like a house, cameras, meals, feeling a bit bad about it for a while and then later thinking that it was the best thing. A dangerous viewpoint, perhaps, but we're worth it, eh?

BTW, I've spotted that there is a cheaper way to get the leather interior - which is to go for the "Business" trim. That would entail change of engine to a diesel. So the 2.0 TDI vs 1.4 Petrol ACT - I think the emissions/tax are higher for the 2.0, but they're both 150 BHP, so I guess the diesel would have a bit more oompf. I'd also get sat nav (Amundsen satellite navigation system with 6.5” touchscreen) although it may be not quite as deluxe as the Columbus satellite navigation system with 8” touchscreen that is part of the executive trim). So for £1100, I'd get leather, sat nav and a phone box (whatever that is!).

Oh dear, another question....

 

The interior options on the web-based configurator are a choice of grey or black upholstery, but the picture makes it look as though it's only the side panels that are affected. The dealer said that I couldn't see any real grey cloth interiors (all their demo models have Alcantara), but this could be vital to my decision over whether or not to go with leather.

 

Has anyone here ever seen grey cloth in a MkIII? Maybe the same options existed with the MkII?

And I note that there's no spare wheel included. Where do you guys get yours? Or do you spend the £100 to get one from Skoda?

Edited 7 September, 201510 yr by thewinelake

BTW, I've spotted that there is a cheaper way to get the leather interior - which is to go for the "Business" trim. That would entail change of engine to a diesel. So the 2.0 TDI vs 1.4 Petrol ACT - I think the emissions/tax are higher for the 2.0, but they're both 150 BHP, so I guess the diesel would have a bit more oompf. I'd also get sat nav (Amundsen satellite navigation system with 6.5” touchscreen) although it may be not quite as deluxe as the Columbus satellite navigation system with 8” touchscreen that is part of the executive trim). So for £1100, I'd get leather, sat nav and a phone box (whatever that is!).

The SE Business spec has black alcantara seat facings with 'leather' bolsters / sides. It's not full leather. Phone box is a wireless charging feature I believe but not available until week 22 build next year.

I've been told by the local dealer that they won't let me upgrade to an SE Business spec model. They claim that Business is only available for Corporate purchase and only on a leasing deal. I smell BS and am now getting worried that I'm dealing with some less than honest people.

I've been told by the local dealer that they won't let me upgrade to an SE Business spec model. They claim that Business is only available for Corporate purchase and only on a leasing deal. I smell BS and am now getting worried that I'm dealing with some less than honest people.

 

That might be the case as the SE Business isn't listed in the Superb range brochure, only in the specific SE Business brochure. Having said that, I've ordered one but it's on a lease, albeit a personal lease. Seems an odd situation if they'll not let private buyers choose this model.

I've heard from another dealer that they will sell the Business trim to me, but that as this is aimed at business purchases, the £2000 deposit contribution and low rate finance are not available. That seems perfectly fair and understandable.

Well you're just going to have to got for an SE L then arnt you ;-)