Hi,

I’m considering coming back to Skoda after a few years away with my beautiful 16plate VW Touareg (262ps R-Line)...

My work commitments have altered and my journey has increased, therefore I’m considering an L&K 190tdi DSG 4x4 estate...

I need the space as I have a dog and the 4x4 drivetrain as I have a twin axle caravan.... 

In every respect apart from towing the caravan the Superb ‘should’ be better, i.e cheaper to run/maintain, more kit, more nimble on the roads, quicker and more fun to drive....

 

What are the good/bad points about these models? 

In particular I’d be interested to hear off anyone who’s towed with one and how good/stable they are....

 

Many thanks,

 

Steve.

 

Hi.

I've towed something like 1500kg with my car which matches your spec.

 

Due to the towball being placed a fair bit away from rear axle towing an empty trailer gives a smooth ride. This also equals to the superb being quite demanding regarding correct towball pressure. 

I've never towed with the car empty so I can't say anything about that, but with fully loaded car it is really stable on the road.

 

Low end grunt - The 2.0tdi engine paired with a DSG lacks some low end grunt.  This becomes obvious when manouvering in tight spaces or trying to reverse and turning upphill on grass. 

 

You will find that the programming of the Haldex 5 unit won't make it as good as your Touareg in slippery conditions but it will get you where you want

 

I would like bigger mirrors just like Touareg, Outback or XC70. 

Gearbox programming is simply dreadful as it tries to stay in the lowest part of the Rev range all of the time so is often in the ‘wrong gear’.  You are also torque limited as the clutches can only cope with 400Nm.  Your Toureg is very likely to be better than that?

 

As above, the low end grunt isn’t there as low as it should be.

 

Keep the Start/Stop turned off or it will catch you out at junctions, it also turns the engine off whilst the car is still rolling - but the Toureg may be the same?  No other car make I have driven with Start/Stop does this!

 

Fuel economy is in the very low 40’s, so better than the Toureg but not as good as it should be.

 

Having seen the number of VW/Audi cars with transmission failures at our local gearbox specialist, I would stay away from anything with a DSG box again.  Fine when under warranty but no way otherwise.  Towing a heavy caravan may put too much load on it and you may be close to the upper limit anyway.

^^^ Are these 6 speed wet clutch DSG that you see in with Transmission failure, 

or are the the VW / AUDI CVT ones and the DQ200 7 speed twin Dry Clutch DSG?

Briskoda is a pretty big forum with lots of owner / drivers of VW Group vehicles with DSG Transmission but not a high number reporting failures of serviced on schedule boxes.

There is a fair few have been reporting Haldex Issues, but that is usually of ones not serviced to the schedule / guidelines.

By the age of them (three to five years) they could be both versions.

 

The specialist used to be full of BMWs when the 1st Gen 6-speed ZF was in use, but now their yard had 70+ VW/Audi cars - only a couple of Škodas.  When talking to them it was clutches that were the biggest issue.  Failure to service could very well play a key part in the issues - as it so often does.

 

When we ordered our BMW Gran Tourer 220xD to replace the Superb, two of the sales people were recent ex-VW and not very kind about the VW box version, referring to it as the Dog S*** Gearbox.  What differences there are between the Škoda and other VAG cars I don’t know.

Maybe the number of vehicles equipped with the DSG is the only difference!?

 

Thanks for the feedback folks, in every other respect the superb would be far better for me, but as you’ve stated, the gearbox and lack of grunt would be an issue when towing....

my touareg has a DTUK 3 channel box on it and is simply insane when pulling (310hp & 500lbs/ft torque)...

As I tow for 5/6 holidays a year reliability and longevity has to be considered, as the VW’s gearbox is the same as what they used in the Audi Q7 4.2tdi v8/6.0tdi v12 I know it’s totally bullet proof.....

 

Thanks for your honest opinions and advice, it is massively appreciated.

 

Looks like I’ll be sticking with my VW.

 

Steve.

Edited 28 August, 20187 yr by Steevie Wonder