From the ashes a Phoenix must arise

[shyVRS245]

2 minutes ago, penguin17 said:

IME you'd be hard pushed to feel that much of a difference under 'conservative' or everyday driving.  Only when you get to the business end of the rev range does the extra power in the 280 really make itself known.  I dare say there's a big difference in the wet, under load but I had a dry and fairly warm Spring day for back-to-back test drives. 

 

If I couldn't have bought the 280 then I would have been just as excited and pleased with ordering the 220.....but  the child in me does really enjoy that area between 3-6.5k revs  

Taking running costs, depreciation etc into consideration then the 220 is likely the better proposition between the two.  I think you have to compare the 280 to other cars of similar performance/spec/price/practicality before you can really appreciate the whole package. 

 

 

Just don't drive a 336bhp Octavia first or the 220 would seem really slow and even a 280 a tad sluggish above 60mph.

[penguin17]

Just now, shyVRS245 said:

Just don't drive a 336bhp Octavia first or the 220 would seem really slow and even a 280 a tad sluggish above 60mph.

Yes but those that see my exhaust pipes know I have 276 Czech ponies under the hood.  You have to tell everyone that your Octavia isn't a 181bhp TDI oil burner. 

 

Embrace the Q car, just blend in.

[shyVRS245]

1 minute ago, penguin17 said:

Yes but those that see my exhaust pipes know I have 276 Czech ponies under the hood.  You have to tell everyone that your Octavia isn't a 181bhp TDI oil burner. 

 

Embrace the Q car, just blend in.

This time of year no problem spotting it's no oil burner as 2 plumes of exhaust gases emitted out of the 3" tailpipes either side of the car but still get the odd muppet in a Fiesta ST who thinks they can overtake me up a sliproad onto a motorway. Some people will never learn they need a bigger engine or a lot more power. Never had a Superb been able to keep up either come to think of it, perhaps it's time to get a remap, you might find you lose less fuel not having to rev it quite so hard. I rarely go over 5,000 rpm now as 330bhp on tap at this point so last 2,000 revs to the redline pretty pointless apart from more noise LOL.

[penguin17]

1 minute ago, shyVRS245 said:

This time of year no problem spotting it's no oil burner as 2 plumes of exhaust gases emitted out of the 3" tailpipes either side of the car but still get the odd muppet in a Fiesta ST who thinks they can overtake me up a sliproad onto a motorway. Some people will never learn they need a bigger engine or a lot more power. Never had a Superb been able to keep up either come to think of it, perhaps it's time to get a remap, you might find you lose less fuel not having to rev it quite so hard. I rarely go over 5,000 rpm now as 330bhp on tap at this point so last 2,000 revs to the redline pretty pointless apart from more noise LOL.

A remap and other hardware changes are something I’m defo considering but only when my warranty is up and I know it’s a keeper. 

 

 

[Ashmount]

Well, its the weekend and I said I'd be back with a decision. Its been tough. But for those with things to do with their lives my decision is the new Superb SE L Exec Estate 1.5TSI in Quartz Grey, with Pegasus wheels and variable boot floor and auto back seat release from the boot. Its built, in the UK and on its way to a dealer near me.

 

For those with more time... A lot of things come into play, including:

• The deal. I'm coming out of the accident in a good place due to GAP RTI insurance, and potentially I could put it all back ino a car, but I decided not to and set a deposit which will allow the residual to go to other things (daughter at Uni; son just moving into first home, holiday etc.). Second was my desire for low monthly payments on a PCP, with a realistic final payment.
  
  On used cars there is a substantial discount up front; always tempting. This particular Sportline was only 6 months old, had 3,362 miles and was an ex Skoda management car. It  has 9.2" Columbus and heated seats as options, inflating the price, but taking you half way to a Sportlibe Plus spec.
  
  Being used, to get my requirement for low monthly payments, would mean a hefty deposit. Managable, but was it worth it?
  
  Presently, Skoda's deal of a £3000 contribution, free servicing and 5.5% APR on PCP deals is hard to ignore. With keen dealer discount, (after all we are in the Feb doldrums as '19 plate registrations loom. Happily not an issue in Northern Ireland), the Skoda contribution and decent deposit, I am looking into a very good deal with low monthly repayments.
  
  That then, brings me to engine issue.
   
• Performance. Like @BriskodaJeff I have enjoyed the performance of my 190 TDI in the late Sportline, but it never matched in terms of enjoyment the all round ownership of my MKII 150TDI Elegance 4x4. I can safely say its the best car I ever owned. And that's the issue. Its not about engines or performance (for me) its about the whole ownership experience coupled to my lifestyle. I don't do the type of driving which exploits the thrills of a gutsy engine. While the power would be there, it would be seldom exploited.
  
  So that brings me to the 1.5TSI. Does it work in a Superb? Yesterday I went for a good test drive in a 1.5 TSI DSG provided by my dealer. There's a tiny bit of kickdown at lower gears if you want to get away quickly, but once in 3rd and beyond there is this sense of reserves of power coming on as I accelerated. There was no sense it was running out of puff. Certainly well enough for my driving style. On the motorway it is extremely quiet and relaxed and on A and B roads delivered plenty of power when needed. Other than the motorway, I don't have the conditions to get above 60 anywhere else. On congested roads 40-50 is about the average.
  One addendum. My test drive was in a new 1.5TSI Sportline hatch. It was a lovely engine dressed in the wrong suit. The 1.5 suits the SE/SE L livery and luxury as you move up the range. If you're going to get a Sportline get an engine to match the name. Apoligies if I've touched a nerve with anyone here.
   
• So, hands up, the 220PSI would be more fun for sure, ( BTW I have driven a 220 TSI before when searching for the Sportline) but its more than I really need. Getting into the Exec was like stepping back into the Elegance and I had a sense of coming back home (after a thoroughly enjoyable and rather racy affair with a svelte temptress, which unfortunately ended with a bigger bang than expected).
  Couple that with the deal available, the spec of the Exec, my driving style and I think I've come to a place where I'm buying with both the head and the heart.

So sincere thanks for all the views to this thread and responses advising me to get that 220. At the end of the day a car has to work on many levels and I think (for me)  I'm achieving that balance.

 

Cheers

 

Ash

[mulsoft]

Hi Ash,

 

In the end it's all about what you want from a car and you won't be disappointed with your 1.5!

[Credo]

<sigh>.. I've driven a multitude of company cars, big, small, fast, and awful,...  (All Cavaliers, please take a bow).
My Superb matches the name perfectly.... It was my money and I wanted great.
Top Gear car of the year for 4 or 5 years running,...  My 1.8 TSI Elegance is a wonder of modern engineering.
164 BHP which I could reportedly get "chipped" for +200 BHP.... although I'd not get the 41 - 43 MPG I currently see.
Get the 220 and smile all the way home.
 

[Ashmount]

Postscript

In my post starting this thead I alluded to my "excellent local dealer".  

Heard today that at the Skoda UK awards ceremony on Friday evening my excellent local dealer was voted UK Dealer of the Year 2018.

So take a bow Mervyn Steweart Skoda, Northern Ireland. They have been really supportive after my accident and gone the 'extra mile' and more to get me a car and a deal that worked.

 

NI dealerships have won this accolade 5 years out of the last 6. So if you want a great weekend's craic while you buy your next Skoda, come on over to NI and savour the customer experience, the Guinness and the grub.  Giant's Causeway optional...

 

And no...I don't work for Skoda or the dealerships, but I am proud of their achievement.

Edited 9 February, 2019 by Ashmount
typo

[Ashmount]

4 hours ago, Credo said:

 My 1.8 TSI Elegance is a wonder of modern engineering.
164 BHP which I could reportedly get "chipped" for +200 BHP....

 

 

Yes, if the need for speed overtakes me, chipping is always an option. 

Now where's my goggles and driving gloves...

[Bap33]

The 1.5 TSI engine should allow you to save some money. I often read from a french owner on a forum. And I regularly reaches ~900 miles with a full tank. I can't even reach than though I have a TDI engine... Too many horses, too thursty... 

Enjoy your future drives !  

[shyVRS245]

My 2016 1.4Tsi manual Superb did 700-740 miles per tank so an average of about 50mpg over 16,000 miles.

[Bap33]

6 hours ago, Bap33 said:

The 1.5 TSI engine should allow you to save some money. I often read from a french owner on a forum. And HE regularly reaches ~900 miles with a full tank. I can't even reach than though I have a TDI engine... Too many horses, too thursty... 

Enjoy your future drives !  

Sorry about this mistyping...