Hi Guys

 

I've currently got a Seat Toledo 1.2 TSI iTech and I'm upgrading to a brand new Skoda Superb SE L Exec on PCP finance :D.   Ordered week before last, can't wait.

 

Spec I've ordered:

- Hatchback

- 1.4 Petrol 150PS DSG Auto

- Business Grey Metallic Paint (possibly the hardest choice, terrible name, but the best of the bunch after a lot of thought and looking at piccies)

- 18" Pegasus Alloys

- Black Leather/Alcantara Seats

- Park Assist

- LED Light Pack

- Keyless Entry/Start

- Virtual Pedal

- Spare Steel Wheel

- Rear Wiper

- Cosmetic Warranty (not sure if a marshalls service or VWFS service...)

- 2 Year Servicing Plan

 

The car is being built end of August and hopefully ready end of September.   Managed to negotiate for a free set of floor mats (can't believe they aren't standard).   Will probably  get a rubber boot liner as well. 

 

TLDR:  I know I can still make adjustments if I want, and just wondered what any owners out there thought of the spec and is there anything else I should look at adding?  Don't have kids, mainly use the car for work travelling around fixing computers and ferrying myself, partner and friends around.    

 

 

I gather it's not worth going for the paint protection stuff, I'll probably treat the interior myself with hydrophobic stuff and maybe use some supaguard/wax I have somewhere on it.

 

Also wanting to ask about the internet connectivity malarky and smartgate.   Is it really worth the extra?  Doesn't look like it from reading what it does...

 

Thanks guys!  Looking forward to joining the fold!

 

Edited 27 July, 20178 yr by chrisoverson
forgot some stuff

Good choice, you've clearly thought this through well.  And bonus points for choosing a nice smooth petrol 

 

The only must-have option for me was gearshift paddles.  I use them once or twice on every journey and I'd miss them if they were gone.  I'd say the heated windscreen is well worth having in the winter as well.

 

On the flip side, neither park assist nor the virtual pedal are as useful as they sound, though they both do what they're supposed to.  I'd certainly choose a reversing camera over park assist.

1 hour ago, simhub said:

Good choice, you've clearly thought this through well.  And bonus points for choosing a nice smooth petrol 

 

The only must-have option for me was gearshift paddles.  I use them once or twice on every journey and I'd miss them if they were gone.  I'd say the heated windscreen is well worth having in the winter as well.

 

On the flip side, neither park assist nor the virtual pedal are as useful as they sound, though they both do what they're supposed to.  I'd certainly choose a reversing camera over park assist.

 

Thanks simhub :).    Yes I spent ages and many visits to the dealer with multiple test drives before I went ahead.   Most expensive car I'll have ever had but it's a lovely one to be sure.

 

Gearshift paddles for me are one of those things that if I'm only keeping the car 3 years I couldn't justify it for a bit of fun, or does it have a more practical usage?   I live down the south west ( in "sunny" devon ) so we don't often get frozen up here.   Maybe snow one or two days a year if we're lucky!  Hence why I didn't bother with heated screen.

 

Interesting what you say about park assist/virtual pedal... My thoughts on these are that I live in town and parallel park every single day on the hill outside and judging the sizes of the spaces is a constant trial.   I have been wondering about reversing cam though, I will ask the dealer if I can add that at this stage and how much, was very impressed with it in the demonstrator.

 

I went for virtual pedal because I ended up getting Keyless entry/start for free on a technicality so I thought I might as well :D.   Also I frequently carry computers and other stuff to the car to deliver to customers and often have my hands full :).

I use the paddles to get some more engine braking going down hills.  I also use them on my uphill driveway, otherwise the gearbox tries to do it in second then changes down into first just as I'm trying to edge gently up to the garage door!  They're not really needed, I'd just miss them now I'm used to them.

 

My experience of park assist is that it's not great at bay parking but really very good at parallel parking.  If you parallel park every day it's probably a good choice.

Nice spec!  Normally I would say don't bother with virtual pedal or even park assist but you appear to have practical uses for them and that's what options are for  - something that you really need and are going to use regularly, although there are very mixed responses from those that have virtual pedal (not always reliable an can be frustrating).  The Pegasus wheels  are well worth it and set the car off nicely.  As I'm sure you might have seen, the rear wiper is controversial and while it is practical, it does take a little from the sleek look IMO.

4 minutes ago, simhub said:

I use the paddles to get some more engine braking going down hills.  I also use them on my uphill driveway, otherwise the gearbox tries to do it in second then changes down into first just as I'm trying to edge gently up to the garage door!  They're not really needed, I'd just miss them now I'm used to them.

 

My experience of park assist is that it's not great at bay parking but really very good at parallel parking.  If you parallel park every day it's probably a good choice.

 

Ah fair enough.   Hopefully I won't miss it too much as I didn't find myself using it at all in the demonstrator when I borrowed it over night.   

 

I've never had an issue with bay parking and it's mainly for parallel parking on the narrow awkward streets of Bideford so fingers crossed that will be helpful.   Does the park assist help you get out of the space as well as in?  eek.

5 minutes ago, simhub said:

I use the paddles to get some more engine braking going down hills.  I also use them on my uphill driveway, otherwise the gearbox tries to do it in second then changes down into first just as I'm trying to edge gently up to the garage door!  They're not really needed, I'd just miss them now I'm used to them.

 

My experience of park assist is that it's not great at bay parking but really very good at parallel parking.  If you parallel park every day it's probably a good choice.

I agree on the paddles.  I find them very useful on hills as the DSG tends to do its own thing sometimes and it gives more control.

3 minutes ago, Superb170 said:

Nice spec!  Normally I would say don't bother with virtual pedal or even park assist but you appear to have practical uses for them and that's what options are for  - something that you really need and are going to use regularly, although there are very mixed responses from those that have virtual pedal (not always reliable an can be frustrating).  The Pegasus wheels  are well worth it and set the car off nicely.  As I'm sure you might have seen, the rear wiper is controversial and while it is practical, it does take a little from the sleek look IMO.

 

Thanks for the comments :).   Fingers crossed it will be reliable for me haha.   I do love the look of the superb but as I'm trying to justify this car as a... uhm.. "business necessity" I'm going for practicality over looks :).  Rear wiper is essential IMO.  

Edited 27 July, 20178 yr by chrisoverson

Haha, I'm still trying to justify mine. 

 

Park assist is great within its limitations.  It will align your car with the existing parked cars.  If they are a long way from the kerb then you'll end up a long way from the kerb.  If they are narrower than a Superb and tight to the kerb, park assist might reverse you into the kerb.

13 minutes ago, simhub said:

Haha, I'm still trying to justify mine. 

 

Park assist is great within its limitations.  It will align your car with the existing parked cars.  If they are a long way from the kerb then you'll end up a long way from the kerb.  If they are narrower than a Superb and tight to the kerb, park assist might reverse you into the kerb.

 

That's interesting... I might end up using the park assist to tell me if a space is big enough, then park myself using the sensors or camera if I get it added.   Mainly went for park assist as I definitely  wanted front sensors anyway and thought it worth the extra for the whole shebang.

49 minutes ago, chrisoverson said:

 

Interesting what you say about park assist/virtual pedal... My thoughts on these are that I live in town and parallel park every single day on the hill outside and judging the sizes of the spaces is a constant trial.   

 

Does park assist work equally well on a hill??? just a thought............

 

And what is virtual pedal??? Sounds interesting .

Just now, Tilt said:

 

Does park assist work equally well on a hill??? just a thought............

 

And what is virtual pedal??? Sounds interesting .

 

Park assist works up till a 70 degree angle I believe!  That's traction for you.   And I think virtual pedal means a holographic foot appears when you engage cruise control for more than one minute and it presses on a dedicated pedal in order to keep the speed correctly.

 

* ^^ troll ^^ *

 

No idea on park assist, although I hope it does.   Virtual pedal is when you kick under the bumper and it opens the boot for you, no idea why they used this word, it's almost like Chinglish you get in user manuals :P.   Funny story about this... when we went to the dealer to test drive (VW/Audi/Skoda dealer), my dad with his two sticks hobbled up to a golf in the showroom and said "How do you open the boot on this thing" and promptly kicked the bottom of the rear bumper.   He doesn't understand technology, bless him.   Luckily no cars or feet were harmed during this story.

Park assist only does the steering for you, so it should work just fine on hills.  And yes, it will get you out of a parallel parked space as well.

I bought the dealer's demo, so did not spec my own car. Things it came with that I would not have ordered myself include: Canton sound, sunroof, rear camera, front sensors. I use all these luxury options all the time and am glad to have them.

 

Things I would have specced that came with the car include: flipper paddles. I use these paddles not at all, preferring the console lever, but then I came from a manual. Where the above chaps use the flippers for engine braking downhill, I use the lever to flick back into 'S'. The paddles are okay when you're driving in a straight line, but in the twisties, your hands might not be over the paddles when you need them. But that's me.

 

I tend to use manual to hold a gear when I'm negotiating a long street of speed bumps to save the auto hunting around.

10 hours ago, simhub said:

Park assist only does the steering for you, so it should work just fine on hills.  And yes, it will get you out of a parallel parked space as well.

 

That's good  thanks, as the salesman didn't think it worked for getting you out, which sounded a bit odd seen as it can "get you into a space 50cm longer than the car!"

 

8 hours ago, freelunch said:

I bought the dealer's demo, so did not spec my own car. Things it came with that I would not have ordered myself include: Canton sound, sunroof, rear camera, front sensors. I use all these luxury options all the time and am glad to have them.

 

Things I would have specced that came with the car include: flipper paddles. I use these paddles not at all, preferring the console lever, but then I came from a manual. Where the above chaps use the flippers for engine braking downhill, I use the lever to flick back into 'S'. The paddles are okay when you're driving in a straight line, but in the twisties, your hands might not be over the paddles when you need them. But that's me.

 

I tend to use manual to hold a gear when I'm negotiating a long street of speed bumps to save the auto hunting around.

 

Thanks freelunch, yeah I think I'll be fine without the flappys, this will be my first auto car and all 6 cars before have been manual.   I think I'll find my hand hovering down by the gear lever anyway :).

 

Haven't gone for a sunroof and I don't listen to music much these days so I'm guessing the standard sound setup will suit me fine.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys.   I went to the dealer today and asked them if they can add the rear camera at this stage, they aren't certain but will try it for me in the morning (their system was broken today).   Fingers crossed it's a yes!

 

Any recommendations on boot liners or lip protectors?   The dealer has a liner at £65 and a lip protector at ~£80 ish, which as I load and unload computers and big stuff on a regular basis seems wise.

11 hours ago, chrisoverson said:

 

Thanks freelunch, yeah I think I'll be fine without the flappys, this will be my first auto car and all 6 cars before have been manual.   I think I'll find my hand hovering down by the gear lever anyway :).

 

Haven't gone for a sunroof and I don't listen to music much these days so I'm guessing the standard sound setup will suit me fine.

 

 

I drove manual cars for the last twenty years and this was my first automatic.  I never find myself reaching for the gear lever or clutch and after a few hours with the DSG Superb I forgot all about the manual which I didn't think would be the case.  Funnily enough, I drive my wife's manual Octavia a bit and when I'm in that I just click back into manual mode again and never miss a gear change.  Its easier than you think switching between both from my experience anyway.  On the subject of the sound system, the standard system is perfectly fine.  I even had Canton on my older Superb (albeit a lesser system than the current version of Canton) with the additional speakers etc and I don't miss it at all. 

1 hour ago, Superb170 said:

I drove manual cars for the last twenty years and this was my first automatic.  I never find myself reaching for the gear lever or clutch and after a few hours with the DSG Superb I forgot all about the manual which I didn't think would be the case.  Funnily enough, I drive my wife's manual Octavia a bit and when I'm in that I just click back into manual mode again and never miss a gear change.  Its easier than you think switching between both from my experience anyway.  On the subject of the sound system, the standard system is perfectly fine.  I even had Canton on my older Superb (albeit a lesser system than the current version of Canton) with the additional speakers etc and I don't miss it at all. 

 

Thanks :).   I don't think I'll have a problem going auto.   I'm a bit of a lazy driver, I don't drive for the thrills anymore and I do a lot of town driving :P.

 

Looking forward to trying the sound system, I think it'll be perfectly good for me too.   I was surprised how good the OEM setup on the Seat Toledo was, the Superb is bound to be better!

As with freeluch, my car was not new when I bought it (it was 8 months old), so the spec was what it came with.  However, being an L & K, it's not wanting for much.

 

It came with a sunroof and 19" wheels, which are options at £850 and £650 respectively, and I don't think I'd pay that much for either of these if I was buying new, but they're nice to have.  We've a private car park at work and I leave the sunroof open if it's a nice day.  If it looks like rain, I can close it using my key fob from my window.  The only option I would have liked is the reversing camera.  I would also have liked the TV tuner that I had in my MkII, but at £850 it's way too much.  I know most think it's a waste as you can't see it when moving, but we sometimes go shopping to retail parks where SWMBO enjoys trawling  through the rails in T K Maxx or Marks & Spencers and she's happier if I'm in the car with something to entertain me for an hour.

 

Contrary to some opinions, I find the virtual pedal very useful and use it every day when putting what I need for work in the boot ie briefcase, lunch, etc.  and have never had a problem using it.  It's nearly caught me out a couple of times when loading or unloading and it's started to close as I've put my foot under the bumper.  Luckily, the buzzer's warned me to get out of the way!  I like having KESSY too, but find the driver's door temperamental.  Sometimes it locks  or unlocks before I hardly touch the handle and the next time I have to press the key fob as KESSY refuses to operate.  I can't comment on park assist as I haven't tried it yet.

11 hours ago, Penpusher said:

As with freeluch, my car was not new when I bought it (it was 8 months old), so the spec was what it came with.  However, being an L & K, it's not wanting for much.

 

It came with a sunroof and 19" wheels, which are options at £850 and £650 respectively, and I don't think I'd pay that much for either of these if I was buying new, but they're nice to have.  We've a private car park at work and I leave the sunroof open if it's a nice day.  If it looks like rain, I can close it using my key fob from my window.  The only option I would have liked is the reversing camera.  I would also have liked the TV tuner that I had in my MkII, but at £850 it's way too much.  I know most think it's a waste as you can't see it when moving, but we sometimes go shopping to retail parks where SWMBO enjoys trawling  through the rails in T K Maxx or Marks & Spencers and she's happier if I'm in the car with something to entertain me for an hour.

 

Contrary to some opinions, I find the virtual pedal very useful and use it every day when putting what I need for work in the boot ie briefcase, lunch, etc.  and have never had a problem using it.  It's nearly caught me out a couple of times when loading or unloading and it's started to close as I've put my foot under the bumper.  Luckily, the buzzer's warned me to get out of the way!  I like having KESSY too, but find the driver's door temperamental.  Sometimes it locks  or unlocks before I hardly touch the handle and the next time I have to press the key fob as KESSY refuses to operate.  I can't comment on park assist as I haven't tried it yet.

 

Thanks Penpusher, all very interesting!

 

I would have liked a sunroof, but only a panoramic one I think, and the extra cost of that combined with the estate was too much for me.  

 

From what you're saying though, does that mean virtual pedal works to close the boot as well?  I've been hoping it did, as the dealer said it only worked to open it!  That'll be very handy when I pick out customers computers and stuff to lug to their door.

1 hour ago, chrisoverson said:

 

Thanks Penpusher, all very interesting!

 

I would have liked a sunroof, but only a panoramic one I think, and the extra cost of that combined with the estate was too much for me.  

 

From what you're saying though, does that mean virtual pedal works to close the boot as well?  I've been hoping it did, as the dealer said it only worked to open it!  That'll be very handy when I pick out customers computers and stuff to lug to their door.

Yes, the virtual pedal closes the boot as well as opening it.

It's here!

 

I haven't seen it in the flesh yet, but the dealer sent me a video last night showing me how it was straight off the transporter.

 

Here she is:  https://video.citnow.com/vtxQtqxK4vG

 

Can't wait to go see for myself

Edited 9 September, 20178 yr by chrisoverson

Nice personal touch from the dealer. That in itself bodes well for you. Enjoy your car 

1 minute ago, widu13 said:

Nice personal touch from the dealer. That in itself bodes well for you. Enjoy your car 

 

Thanks widu, yeah they seem like a really good bunch of guys :).   Will be calling them this morning to see when I can collect :D.  

 

First thing I'll probably do is have a good read through the LED bulb thread, changed all the interior lights on my Toledo and it made a big difference.

I have to admit that apart from changing to boot lid LEDs which cost 7 quid, I will probably leave mine alone. I would love to change the incandescent DRLS to LED but it's a right PITA on mine and not designed as user replaceable.

 

All of my other cars that I've kept I swapped out to LEDs and I agree they make a huge difference.

Edited 9 September, 20178 yr by widu13

2 minutes ago, widu13 said:

I have to admit that apart from changing to boot lid LEDs which cost 7 quid, I will probably leave mine alone. I would love to change the incandescent DRLS to LED but it's a right PITA on mine and not designed as user replaceable.

 

All of my other cars that I've kept I swapped out to LEDs and I agree they make a huge difference.

 

I'll see how it goes, I don't want to tamper too much :P.   I know the standard boot LEDs are pants on a lot of cars I've seen.   Mind if I ask which ones you've used?