Hello All,

 

I am a newbie here who has taken a fancy to a 3.6 as my next car. I currently have a 330d estate (e91) and am looking to change it for something with much more space for the family but also retain some automotive excitement for me. Budget wise I am looking at pre facelift 3.6s and am comfortable with rubbish mpg, £540 VED and high running costs. I do about 6k miles per year. I got close to a lovely looking 2010 estate on Autotrader and eBay last week just 10 miles from me, which some of you may have spotted, but the seller then pulled the car before I got to drive it.  I suspect he had multiple offers and it may reappear at a higher price soon.

 

There are currently only two 3.6s of interest on AT, the nearest being 60 miles away (the silver two hatch) and the other 100 miles away, so before I go any further I thought to ask here what particularly I should be looking out for when viewing one either in terms of service history and/or nice to have options.

 

Which of the pair below would you favour and why?

 

2012 twin hatch - £7495

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201804195724033?make=SKODA&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&maximum-badge-engine-size=4.0&sort=sponsored&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.5&model=SUPERB&postcode=bh26pb&page=1

 

2010 estate (heated rears, upgraded stereo, wrong wheels?) - £5990

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805306987311?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&model=SUPERB&maximum-badge-engine-size=4.0&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.5&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=bh26pb&sort=sponsored&make=SKODA&page=1

 

FWIW I like the estate maybe a little more but wish it had the proper Elegance wheels. Against this the lower miles on the saloon, 1 owner and newer makes it a close fight.

 

Educate me on what I need to know please. I would welcome your thoughts.

 

thanks!

 

 

The most important thing - service history - engine, DSG, Haldex. 

 

Would be great if you can take with you someone knowledgeable plus VCDS would be a great addition.

Agree service history and VCDS to me is a must. Good luck.

Thank you both. Buying VCDS might be a bit of a step too far for me for a test drive but will scour service history for haldex and DSG fluid changes according to schedule. I do have a standard OBDII reader so might take that along to see if it shows anything. 

 

Looking like next next weekend now unfortunately, so both these will probably have been sold to Briskoda members by then. I will watch out for their threads..

Okay, I am a bit biased  but the estate will be of more use to you I think given what you are searching for. It's just run in at that mileage, It's more practical, better looking IMO and does not have the intricacies of the 'twin hatch' set up - a lovely if expensive idea that was dropped on the later cars.

 

The 3.6 cars are great value (can't believe the price of that estate in the UK...) and built to last - the 3.6 a proven, chain driven unit. I had a problem with my tensioner (rare on these....see my thread elsewhere on the issue...) but the 3.6 has been used in the VAG group for some time, from humble Skoda through VW Passat and to Porsche Cayenne. Its a proven lump.

 

As for the wheels...VAG share many, as long as offset is correct (assume PCD is right i.e. no chavvy spacers ) you can change/sell choose your wheels to suit.

 

Mine came with some upgrades from new (19" summer wheelsand 17" winter ones, lowered and uprated coil overs etc. etc.) and I have bought 18" wheels for winter (equiv. of £500/set alloys and tyres new off an online site).

 

The car works well on the 18's, looks great on the 19's (in my profile photo - I'm a tart ) but when loaded up with family and kit the 19's rub on the rear inside when at speed over 'floats' (IYKWIM), not the fronts as I would have expected (on full lock for example). 

 

So, things to look for IMO:

 

1. History of decent servicing with paperwork so you can call to ask (dealer, independent - no matter).

 

2. Listen to the engine, hood up, for that tensioner fail. 1:1000 is the issue (brittle plastic as opposed to nylon or similar) and most cars do not have the issue (especially in the UK as so few 3.6's were sold  )

 

3. The wet box 6Sp DSG unit is a dream and reliable. You can get an idea of dual clutch condition on the drive....like any car, a bit of delay or slip will tell you what you need to know. Mine has similar mileage to that estate in your ad and its still hardly worn (had it looked at when I had the tensioner issue).  Oil and filter service should be done on the DSG every 40,000 miles - so yours should have two services done. Important to retain smooth operation (and any hesitancy or mild jerkiness will disappear with this service).

 

4. Check footwells for damp in you have the sunroof - panoramic or other. Drain holes block...water ingress. Not a biggy to sort but be aware.

 

5. Check all electrics - a known VAG issue across all its cars but more solid on the Skoda I've found - windows, mirrors etc. 

 

6. Air con is the best I've had on a car - check its gassed up.

 

7. Electronic struts on rear hatch (if you have them) can fail but are reliable on the whole. Alibaba is your friend there if they do....

 

8. Rust surprisingly a non issue in general - rear arches, boot lid/hatch (behind number plate) and on leading edge of bonnet below and around plastic trim above grill - like any car really...

 

Thats about it really - as I said, I'm biased but they are cracking cars to drive and I looked at all the Audi's, BMW's, Jaguars at the time (used but similar ages) and the Superb 3.6 was streets ahead for performance/price, quality of build (really)  and space. You can see where cut backs have been made with materials in places but thats why its such good value otherwise Audis S6 would be in real trouble and looking at sales figures the Superb is tonking Passat and A6 sales in europe currently - the Octavia has destroyed A4 sales...foot, shot, in, the..,by VAG.

 

My 3.6 is my first Skoda (purchased used in 2014) and I am very impressed four years on - it's a keeper and will drive it into the ground probably (or maybe, just maybe, go for a used 280 in five years time....)

 

As a footnote, the Suisse Gendarme used the 3.6 estates as fast pursuit cars and run them up past 350,000 kms without issue (I went to the service centre near where I live here in Suisse and spoke to the mechanics about the car....they loved them because they were naturally aspirated, unlike replacement Opel OPC Insignia estates, and were smooth, spacious, comfortable and effing quick).

 

Good luck with your choice/decision and don't hesitate to fire any questions....

 

Dave

 

 

I can't comment on the engine but that looks to be well covered here. As already said, the DSG should have had a fluid change every 40000 miles/60000 km. The Haldex unit on the rear axle needs fluid changes at the same interval.

 

If you can find a car with them, the front parking sensors are a useful addition to the standard rear ones. The Superb is a long car (>4.8 m) with long overhangs at both ends and it can be difficult to see where the nose is because of how the bonnet slopes down at the front edge.

 

After that, the usual used car buying advice applies: make sure everything works, especially electrical components. The aircon should feel very cold from the vents at the 'Low' setting. When I was getting mine, I found it useful to have a read of the owner's manual before going to look at the car. You can download the owner's manual from here: http://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Model/Superb_3T

 

Thank you very much Wile7 and Chimaera. An absolute goldmine of useful information there. Quite surprised to hear that front parking sensors were an option. I will definitely look out for them - the wife will go bananas if they are absent on a 4.8m car.

They (front sensors) are very useful and it's about the only option my beast does not have....but I'm considering retro fitting a set 

I wouldn’t have bought mine without the front sensors - I activate them with the button on the console just maneuvering into the work car park for example. Very useful to have - there’s quite an overhang at the front (more so than the Passat I believe).

 

On the haldex and DSG servicing, from memory I don’t think there’s even a tick box in the service book for it so you do need to see a receipt.

 

Both of those would apply to any mkII Superb for me. Still happy with mine after nearly 25,000 miles in less than 2 years...

 

Cheers,

Steve

I should add - I think you @SlowV6 need to decide what body shape you want. I have an estate and agree with @Wile7 that it’s better. More practical and I think looks better.

 

I also have the “flappy paddles” - definitely good to have if you want to enjoy the car.

 

Of the two you posted, I’d want the estate but I would definitely want to find out what it’s been used to tow. The v6 is the strongest with highest towing rating in the range - I don't think it’s an issue for the engine (although the towbar needs to be coded in correctly to prevent engine check lights/limp mode?) but I’d be concerned about rear shocks. It’s already a heavy beast before you add more weight...

Thanks spk. Yes estate it is. They do look better proportioned. Very frustrated the Christchurch one 10 miles from me fell through as the seller changed his mind (or will reappear selling at higher price). Ideally I would find this in descending order of priority:

 

estate

front sensors

upgraded stereo (what's the standard one like?)

Heated rears

 

Might be a long wait! Started browsing e61 535ds again in the meantime but would prefer a Superb.

 

 

Mine has upgraded stereo (amplifier under seat etc.) and TV but it's the speakers which let the system down in my opinion.....they need upgrading....

On 08/06/2018 at 11:26, SlowV6 said:

upgraded stereo (what's the standard one like?)

Heated rears

 

I have the standard stereo in mine; it's the only thing that's slightly disappointing about the car.

 

14 hours ago, Wile7 said:

Mine has upgraded stereo (amplifier under seat etc.) and TV but it's the speakers which let the system down in my opinion.....they need upgrading....

 

That's interesting, I'd been wondering about replacing the head unit this year anyway and hoped that might bring improved sound but I guess not... Something to bear in mind anyway.

 

Cheers,

Steve

IMO a good quiet set of tyres will make a lot more difference to the audio quality than expensive speakers.

 

The Columbus unit can be a bit slow, especially if it's booting up from cold. On the flip side it integrates perfectly with everything in the car since it was designed to do that. From what I've seen of the Chinese Android aftermarket units that are popular around here, there are always some things that don't work quite right with them when it comes to integration with other vehicle systems. Each of us have our own scale on these things though, so read up and decide what you're willing to live with. If you search around, there are plenty of people who have gone down this road and written up their experiences.

Thanks again people. The estate has now gone from AT. Currently no estates available and just the one twin hatch (no front sensors, no upgraded stereo and no heated rears) so not really keen. That said it is a 1 owner 12 plate and they have reduced it to £7k so still stonking value.

 

Question - Pistonheads threads occasionally make slightly mocking comments towards VAG FSi engines loosing their power as they age I think due to the FSi design. Is this a load of rubbish or is there any substance to this rumour and if so why would it be?

1 hour ago, SlowV6 said:

why would it be?

 

PCM valve, cylinder gasket, fuel filter ...