I'm pretty much settled on my next car being a Superb Sportline hatch.  I've cherry picked my options, made a colour choice and got a good price from a local dealer.  It's a case of just making my mind up, trying to find every possible review on Google and putting some money down.   Having owned two Octavia's (PD140 Elegance and TFSI vRS) and a Fabia vRS (PD130) previously I know what I'm getting and I trust the brand. TBH I quickly regretted going elsewhere.  Lesson learned! 

 

I'm interested to know how people have found theirs so far (I appreciate their may not be too many about just yet).   

 

I currently have the Leon ST FR 184 diesel and whilst the engine is potent enough I found it an underwhelming step up from the 150 version; I had the Leon FR 150 diesel and actually preferred that engine, smoother, quieter and a more readily available band of torque.    So I'd go for the 150ps diesel in the Superb.  It seems to be the popular choice in car reviews and based on previous experience I think it will suit my needs better than the 190.  I also don't want a DSG. 

 

Any options that people have found to be a waste of money and others that they feel make owning the car that little bit better/easier?  I'm thinking of getting -  heated screen and washers, front parking sensor, rear wiper (no cost), LED rear light pack (no cost), heated front seats, backrest release in boot and the Canton sound system.     I was tempted by the sunroof but it's not panoramic in the the hatch, the aperture seems pretty small and doesn't really allow enough light into the cabin to make it seem worthwhile, which would be my main reason for wanting one.   

 

Any advice and input would be appreciated.  Thanks! 

 

 

 

 

I umm'd and arr'd about the rear view camera, I'm very please I went for it in the end.

I have many of the options you are considering on my L&K. I would not pay any extra for:

Canton - doesn't sound any better than the standard setup to my ears

Reversing camera - the sensors are enough

Backrest release - I've not actually had my seats folded down yet. I don't think it will be a tremendous hardship to release them from inside the cabin when I do.

I would not like to be without:

Front sensors - they've made me lazy but I rely on the sensors for all low-speed manouvering.

Heated front seats - don't need them all year of course, but marvellous when getting into a cold car

Heated front screen - used mine twice so far, but it's much better than chipping away at the ice

Rear wiper - no cost of course, but really useful

My SportLine is going to be at the Dealers next week for pick-up. So whereas I haven't got it yet, all I have gone for is the additional Front Parking sensors (which I'm a bit aggrieved aren't standard) and the rear wiper... So all pretty standard.

 

My dilemma, when always looking at the options list is "How much is this worth to me, vs the amount of times I will use it". An option may only cost about £200, but if I only use it 2/3 times during the 2 years I'll likely have the car, it's barmy paying all that money for c£100 a use!

each to their own, but for me the camera is very useful to get the back of the car up against the back of a bay (on the line or against a wall) this point is well after the sensors have gone to a continuous tone.

 

The car is such a huge beast you need every available cm.

Thanks! The rear view camera was something I thought I'd spec based on the proportions of the Superb but on a test drive I found the visibility and rear sensors adequate enough. 

 

The backrest releases are something that come as standard on my Leon ST and I find them really useful as I load bikes into the boot on most days and I've found them to be a nice convenience.  I was surprised you have to pay for them on the Superb! 

 

Interesting call on the Canton sound system @Silverage  Most reviews I've seen say it's a noticeable step up from the standard system.  Having had the 'SEAT Sound' upgrade in my Leon I found it to be much better than the standard system. Why do you think it's not worth it? 

I had a Passat and a Golf before my Superb, both with the standard sound system. The Canton doesn't sound any better than those to me. I listen to mainly speech radio and Union Jack occasionally. The rest of my music is streamed over Bluetooth from Spotify.

I compared the standard and Canton sound systems, the Canton is a lot clearer with much better bass.

 

Haven't needed the heated washers yet but have found them very useful in past cars in winter, means you can clean salt spray off when it's freezing. Ditto with heated front screen.

 

All round parking sensors definitely worth it (standard on L&K which I went for), didn't pay extra for the rear view camera and don't miss it.

 

Backrest release seems pointless -- had one on my previous car and never used it, even though I often put the back seats down.

 

Heated seats are nice when it's cold but I'm not sure I'd pay for them as an option.

 

AFS/Xenons definitely worth it if you drive at night much (which I do).

Hi Penguin 17,

                             I have had my Superb Sportline 150TDi Manual hatch for 6 weeks now & love it. I opted for rear view camera but if i am honest can do without, i rely on the sensors but each to their own i guess. Plus added Heated front screen & washers, heated front seats, rear wiper (FOC), electric power boot opening, TSR & very importantly spare wheel.

                             I find the 150 TDi sufficient & could not justify an extra £1200 for the 190 & AD Blue every 5 - 7000 miles. Once the warranty has expired you can always Re-map for a fraction of the cost of £1200 up front. I ordered mine mid August & collected 3rd October (6 weeks in total).

                             Any questions you have feel free to DM me.

 

Regards Tisca

Hi Penguin 17,

                             I have had my Superb Sportline 150TDi Manual hatch for 6 weeks now & love it. I opted for rear view camera but if i am honest can do without, i rely on the sensors but each to their own i guess. Plus added Heated front screen & washers, heated front seats, rear wiper (FOC), electric power boot opening, TSR & very importantly spare wheel.

                             I find the 150 TDi sufficient & could not justify an extra £1200 for the 190 & AD Blue every 5 - 7000 miles. Once the warranty has expired you can always Re-map for a fraction of the cost of £1200 up front. I ordered mine mid August & collected 3rd October (6 weeks in total).

                             Any questions you have feel free to DM me.

 

Regards Tisca

Thanks Tisca, that's great.  I'd completely overlooked the spare wheel, good call!  Perhaps I may bin the backrest release and just go for the spare wheel instead.    I'm hoping a work colleague will enable TSR with his VCDS cable (if it's not already there, the brochure isn't clear on this)   

 

Some of the standard fit options are out of sync with where Skoda state the car sits in the line up, e.g SE-L has a power tailgate but the Sportline only has the electronic boot release.  The brochures led me to believe that the Sportline sits between SE-L and L&K but I may have got that completely wrong?!

Don't bother with the adjustable floor, get the standard one with a full-size (well, 205/16) spare.

Hi,

       The Sportline sits between SEL & L&K as i was informed. The Spec is based on SE plus other bits. TSR is a factory fit option which i find useful, if you can get a friend with VCDS i say get Him to enable it. The alloys are so easy to clean, you can get your hand in behind the spokes & look better in the flesh. Have sent you a DM Penguin 17.

 

Regards

The dealer called me (obvs getting close to month end    ) I've just added the full size spare to the quote.   Really looking forward to another test drive on Thursday.  Dealer had the same colour car in the showroom yesterday but the 280 4x4 DSG and it was lovely (Business Gray metallic).   

Don't bother with the adjustable floor, get the standard one with a full-size (well, 205/16) spare.

Just asked if I can have a full size spare and was told yes.  Space saver is apparently only an option if you don't spec the variable floor available on the estate.  You can spec either for the hatch so full size it is! 

Business Grey metallic, same colour as mine. Looks better in the Flesh on the Sportline.

I had TSR on my Passat, but it's not on my Superb. I thought I would miss it and briefly looked into finding someone local with VCDS to have it enabled. I didn't manage to track anyone down and now after a couple of weeks I don't find myself missing it after all so I'll probably leave it. I certainly wouldn't pay the £95 they want for it as an option.

About canton;

I have never heard canton but I think most people judge the standard system with MP3s.

I use flac (lossless) files on my bolero and standard speakers and I think they sound just fine - much better than my previous golf MK5's standard speakers (xcarlink playing MP3s).

Would I buy it? If I wasn't on a tight budget, yes. But it's a car we are talking about - with all the noise here and there, it doesn't make much difference to me, but then I don't travel a lot of long distances.

I had a Passat and a Golf before my Superb, both with the standard sound system. The Canton doesn't sound any better than those to me. I listen to mainly speech radio and Union Jack occasionally. The rest of my music is streamed over Bluetooth from Spotify.

 

I think the problem here is the audio source, so using Spotify and Bluetooth will never get the best out of the upgraded sound system. Heavily compressed Spotify music which is then streamed over a lossy BT audio connection are reducing the audio quality twice. In fact it could sound worse as the Canton will highlight any deficiencies in the audio compression which cheaper systems may mask through cheaper components and filters.

 

Play some lossless music (FLAC, ALAC) directly from a memory stick, SD card or HDD and the difference should be very noticeable between standard and Canton.

I think the problem here is the audio source, so using Spotify and Bluetooth will never get the best out of the upgraded sound system. Heavily compressed Spotify music which is then streamed over a lossy BT audio connection are reducing the audio quality twice. In fact it could sound worse as the Canton will highlight any deficiencies in the audio compression which cheaper systems may mask through cheaper components and filters.

 

Play some lossless music (FLAC, ALAC) directly from a memory stick, SD card or HDD and the difference should be very noticeable between standard and Canton.

My music library (mostly 256k/320k VBR MP3s which are indistinguishable from the uncompressed files in blind tests) sits on a 128GB SD card, and the Canton quality is pretty good, certainly better than most car systems costing less than four figures. Play 128k MP3s and it sounds crap, just like on my studio monitors at home.

With all the other ambient noises in the cabin of a car, particularly at motorway speeds; do you actually notice any difference between MP3 and FLAC format when played from an SD card?  I can understand that on a decent system at home, or with good headphones you'd appreciate the difference but do you in the car, on the move? 

 

I've always ripped files from iTunes and used the MP3-Converter app before transferring to a SD card. 

Think some photos are needed in this thread!

Just an observation on Sportline options list; front and rear heated seats are £400.  They are only £200 on the SE-L.   Typical VAG maths!  :clap:

Just an observation on Sportline options list; front and rear heated seats are £400.  They are only £200 on the SE-L.   Typical VAG maths!  :clap:

 

thats because the fronts are already heated in the SE-L, so you're only paying the extra for the rears

with the SportLine you can either pay 250 for just the fronts, or £400 for both

thats because the fronts are already heated in the SE-L, so you're only paying the extra for the rears

with the SportLine you can either pay 250 for just the fronts, or £400 for both

Thanks for clarifying.  My bad then, I hadn't paid close attention to the standard kit on the SE-L. 

It doesn't help that the configurator calls the option  "Front and rear heated seats" for a trim level that already has heated fronts

 

it's like the option for "front and rear parking sensors" they use the same name for the option whether the trim level already has rear sensors or not, it's just a different price respectively.