Superb Estate Mk3 for Towing Caravan

[DrVenkman]

Hello all, 

 

I have been lurking on here for a little while and picking up bits of info here and there, but I wanted to get your opinions on a Superb Estate Mk3 purchase that I'm planning on making in the new year. I need something with enough weight/torque/power to pull a medium sized caravan and after quite a bit of research I've settled on a diesel 190BHP model. I've been driving a Fabia which I inherited 6 years ago and I consider Skoda extremely reliable and don't want to go anywhere else. I'm looking at spending around £15 - £20k, which, based on my research so far puts me in the 2016 - 2017 range, and around 30k-60k mileage. I've settled on either an SE L executive or an L&K if the right deal comes along, I don't want to pay extra for the Sportline although there seems to be a lot more of them for sale at 190 than any other version. I know that I'll have to pay to get a towbar fitted with dedicated electrics and it's possible that some cooling prep will need to be done on the car, has anyone ever had this done? I'm based in the NE and planning on going to this company for the fitting. Some other questions:

 

1. Are the DSG gearboxes cooled? I was advised to check that one by someone with lots of towing experience
2. Where should I be looking other than AutoTrader, Gumtree, Exchange and Mart, etc?
3. When I go to see the cars, what sort of things should I be checking for especially? Particularly on the L&K models which have so many features
4. If I go a bit cheaper, what sort of mileage cutoff would you advise? My Fabia currently has nearly 200k on the clock and is as reliable as ever but I'm not sure how high is wise to purchase a DSG?

 

Any extra advice much appreciated.

 

I've had my eye on this L&K for a while which has been listed for months and seems to have extremely low mileage for the price?

[highflight130]

Have a 68 L&K 190 dsg7 4x4 and tow a 1700kg caravan without problems.  I'm sure others on here with more knowledge than me will mention getting the haldex oil changed and the filter cleaned.  Mine doesn't have the tow prep as i had bar fitted afterwards with vcds intergation.  I have noticed on very warm days the oil temp sits about 10 deg higher than when not towing.  Only once have i seen the coolant temp start to climb which lasted for about 10 secs before it came down again while going up a steep hill in 29 deg heat of the summer last year.  4x4 works a treat in traction over grass getting on and off the campsite fields as well.  

[DrVenkman]

1 hour ago, highflight130 said:

Have a 68 L&K 190 dsg7 4x4 and tow a 1700kg caravan without problems.  I'm sure others on here with more knowledge than me will mention getting the haldex oil changed and the filter cleaned.  Mine doesn't have the tow prep as i had bar fitted afterwards with vcds intergation.  I have noticed on very warm days the oil temp sits about 10 deg higher than when not towing.  Only once have i seen the coolant temp start to climb which lasted for about 10 secs before it came down again while going up a steep hill in 29 deg heat of the summer last year.  4x4 works a treat in traction over grass getting on and off the campsite fields as well.  

 

Thank you. I forgot to mention that I'm getting a 4x4 version. I'll edit the OP. Sounds like the tow prep might not be a deal breaker?

[the_worrier]

I am no Skoda expert but wanted to add that I am due to collect my car from a Skoda main dealer this weekend. It is a 65 plate 190ps TDi manual (non-4wd) SE L Exec with 63K miles and full Skoda SH. I have a 3 year warranty and it was under £11k. I will be using it to tow my 1375Kg MTPLM caravan. 

[DrVenkman]

11 minutes ago, the_worrier said:

I am no Skoda expert but wanted to add that I am due to collect my car from a Skoda main dealer this weekend. It is a 65 plate 190ps TDi manual (non-4wd) SE L Exec with 63K miles and full Skoda SH. I have a 3 year warranty and it was under £11k. I will be using it to tow my 1375Kg MTPLM caravan. 

 

That sounds like a bargain. I need to get in touch with a dealer.

[Paul R T]

Hi DrVenkman

We have been caravanning for nearly 20 years, both around the UK and in France and Spain, usually towing about 5k miles per annum (but not this year!). We currently tow a Coachman Pastiche 460 (MPTLM 1350kg) with a 16 plate Superb III SLE Estate 190 manual. For the previous 5 years I had a 2010 Superb II Estate 170. They have both been excellent tow-cars. There is plenty of power and torque when you need it and they are extremely stable even in some vigorous side winds.

There can be some confusion about ‘kerbweights’ with Skodas. The brochure quotes a ‘kerbweight’ without a driver, whereas the owners manual quotes an ‘operating weight’, which includes 75 kg for the driver. (The two do tally.). The latter operating weight including a driver should be used as the ‘kerbweight’ for matching purposes.

As you will be aware, it is usually recommended that the MPTLM of the caravan is less than 85% of the kerbweight of the towcar. With the 170 we towed a Coachman Pastiche 460/2, which had a MPTLM of 1420kg, which was a 92% match. I never had any indication of instability (and I tend to tow fairly briskly). I believe that the Superbs are particularly stable towcars, which has contributed to them winning towcar awards on several occasions.

As regards the tow-bar fitting, it is best to get it done by a tow-bar specialist, rather than a Skoda dealer. Make sure that you specify a full electrical connection including charging the leisure battery and powering the fridge while towing.

I don’t think there is any need to worry about any cooling prep. Normal fast motorway towing may produce oil temperatures around 105 degrees and ours has, for a short while, climbed close to 120 on the long inclines on the A75 in the Massif Central in hot weather, but the water temperature stayed constant. Nothing to worry about.

Best of luck in finding a good car and enjoy towing with it.

Cheers

Paul R T 

[DrVenkman]

3 hours ago, Paul R T said:

Hi DrVenkman

We have been caravanning for nearly 20 years, both around the UK and in France and Spain, usually towing about 5k miles per annum (but not this year!). We currently tow a Coachman Pastiche 460 (MPTLM 1350kg) with a 16 plate Superb III SLE Estate 190 manual. For the previous 5 years I had a 2010 Superb II Estate 170. They have both been excellent tow-cars. There is plenty of power and torque when you need it and they are extremely stable even in some vigorous side winds.

There can be some confusion about ‘kerbweights’ with Skodas. The brochure quotes a ‘kerbweight’ without a driver, whereas the owners manual quotes an ‘operating weight’, which includes 75 kg for the driver. (The two do tally.). The latter operating weight including a driver should be used as the ‘kerbweight’ for matching purposes.

As you will be aware, it is usually recommended that the MPTLM of the caravan is less than 85% of the kerbweight of the towcar. With the 170 we towed a Coachman Pastiche 460/2, which had a MPTLM of 1420kg, which was a 92% match. I never had any indication of instability (and I tend to tow fairly briskly). I believe that the Superbs are particularly stable towcars, which has contributed to them winning towcar awards on several occasions.

As regards the tow-bar fitting, it is best to get it done by a tow-bar specialist, rather than a Skoda dealer. Make sure that you specify a full electrical connection including charging the leisure battery and powering the fridge while towing.

I don’t think there is any need to worry about any cooling prep. Normal fast motorway towing may produce oil temperatures around 105 degrees and ours has, for a short while, climbed close to 120 on the long inclines on the A75 in the Massif Central in hot weather, but the water temperature stayed constant. Nothing to worry about.

Best of luck in finding a good car and enjoy towing with it.

Cheers

Paul R T 

 

Thanks Paul, that's really helpful and reassuring about the cooling. I haven't been able to find any for sale anyway. I looked into the kerbweight and car/van weight ratio extensively before I made my choice to buy, it's one of the reasons I settled on the DSG/4x4 spec as that has my ratio at 86% which is close enough for me as an inexperienced tower. Thanks for the tip on the fridge and the battery.

[DrVenkman]

3 hours ago, Paul R T said:

Hi DrVenkman

We have been caravanning for nearly 20 years, both around the UK and in France and Spain, usually towing about 5k miles per annum (but not this year!). We currently tow a Coachman Pastiche 460 (MPTLM 1350kg) with a 16 plate Superb III SLE Estate 190 manual. For the previous 5 years I had a 2010 Superb II Estate 170. They have both been excellent tow-cars. There is plenty of power and torque when you need it and they are extremely stable even in some vigorous side winds.

There can be some confusion about ‘kerbweights’ with Skodas. The brochure quotes a ‘kerbweight’ without a driver, whereas the owners manual quotes an ‘operating weight’, which includes 75 kg for the driver. (The two do tally.). The latter operating weight including a driver should be used as the ‘kerbweight’ for matching purposes.

As you will be aware, it is usually recommended that the MPTLM of the caravan is less than 85% of the kerbweight of the towcar. With the 170 we towed a Coachman Pastiche 460/2, which had a MPTLM of 1420kg, which was a 92% match. I never had any indication of instability (and I tend to tow fairly briskly). I believe that the Superbs are particularly stable towcars, which has contributed to them winning towcar awards on several occasions.

As regards the tow-bar fitting, it is best to get it done by a tow-bar specialist, rather than a Skoda dealer. Make sure that you specify a full electrical connection including charging the leisure battery and powering the fridge while towing.

I don’t think there is any need to worry about any cooling prep. Normal fast motorway towing may produce oil temperatures around 105 degrees and ours has, for a short while, climbed close to 120 on the long inclines on the A75 in the Massif Central in hot weather, but the water temperature stayed constant. Nothing to worry about.

Best of luck in finding a good car and enjoy towing with it.

Cheers

Paul R T 

 

Sorry, I meant to say I haven't been able to find any 190 manuals for sale, I keep looking for a way to edit posts on here but it doesn't seem to be possible. As I said, I've settled on the DSG anyway for the little bit of extra weight, providing that people think it will be suitable for towing.

[unclerichy]

Stop messing about and just get a 280. Win the traffic light Grand Prix whilst towing a caravan? What's not to like 

 

Joking aside, they make great tow cars. One tip from me - having some weight in the boot if there's just the two of you helps with stability. I also have DCC on mine and the sport setting seems best for my outfit.

[the_worrier]

34 minutes ago, unclerichy said:

Stop messing about and just get a 280. Win the traffic light Grand Prix whilst towing a caravan? What's not to like 

 

Joking aside, they make great tow cars. One tip from me - having some weight in the boot if there's just the two of you helps with stability. I also have DCC on mine and the sport setting seems best for my outfit.

When towing, use ‘sport’ setting when on cruise?

[unclerichy]

17 minutes ago, the_worrier said:

When towing, use ‘sport’ setting when on cruise?

 

I'm referring to the sport setting for the DCC suspension - it stiffens it up slightly which is handy when you have a caravan hanging off the back that wants to pitch up and down, especially on poor road surfaces. Ditto the steering as I find it quite light in the Superb.

 

Otherwise I leave the driving mode as normal and just use the paddles if I want to drop a gear or two.

[Baverhanne]

I'm towing a 1900kg caravan with my -17 superb 190tdi 4x4 DSG6.

Never seen the temp raised no matter outside temperature.

I've been sceptical towards the superb as a towcar and actually used another car for towing. But the summer of 2020 we went on vacation with the superb and it was a really good experience. My fear was that the DSG would be a problem in tight campsites but it never struggled or disengaged no matter how much I abused it.

I'm still preferring the old school automatics with torque converter for towing but I will never hesitate to use a Superb for towing again.

[DrVenkman]

9 hours ago, unclerichy said:

Stop messing about and just get a 280. Win the traffic light Grand Prix whilst towing a caravan? What's not to like 

 

Joking aside, they make great tow cars. One tip from me - having some weight in the boot if there's just the two of you helps with stability. I also have DCC on mine and the sport setting seems best for my outfit.

 

Haha, I have considered it! I have an 80 mile round trip commute to work, however, and I'm not keen on the extra fuel costs. Thanks for the tip on the weight, I don't think we'll have any issues there, always plenty of luggage!

 

[DrVenkman]

2 hours ago, Baverhanne said:

I'm towing a 1900kg caravan with my -17 superb 190tdi 4x4 DSG6.

Never seen the temp raised no matter outside temperature.

I've been sceptical towards the superb as a towcar and actually used another car for towing. But the summer of 2020 we went on vacation with the superb and it was a really good experience. My fear was that the DSG would be a problem in tight campsites but it never struggled or disengaged no matter how much I abused it.

I'm still preferring the old school automatics with torque converter for towing but I will never hesitate to use a Superb for towing again.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I've never driven anything other than a manual so it's good to know this. Our van is just over 1400 MTPLM so I don't forsee any issues at all using a 190 diesel to tow.

[busdriver]

I have been towing 48 years this year and had a wide variety of tow cars in that time.  I have also been a Skoda fan for a decade and towed with two Yetis and an Octavia Estate.  A year ago a got a very low mileage 2018 Superb SEL Exec, 190bhp, DSG and it is the best tow car I have ever had.  The cruise control and DSG works like a dream and the Caravan is rock steady.  The L&K that you are looking at looks a good buy - that model usually sells quickly, so get on with it if are interested.  Phil Taylor at Horndean, Hampshire is where I have had my last three towers fitted - they really know what they are doing!  Never had any overheating issues with any DSG Skoda - you won't need a cooling upgrade.  Good luck - - let the guys on here know what you finally settle for?  Best regards.

[DrVenkman]

4 hours ago, busdriver said:

I have been towing 48 years this year and had a wide variety of tow cars in that time.  I have also been a Skoda fan for a decade and towed with two Yetis and an Octavia Estate.  A year ago a got a very low mileage 2018 Superb SEL Exec, 190bhp, DSG and it is the best tow car I have ever had.  The cruise control and DSG works like a dream and the Caravan is rock steady.  The L&K that you are looking at looks a good buy - that model usually sells quickly, so get on with it if are interested.  Phil Taylor at Horndean, Hampshire is where I have had my last three towers fitted - they really know what they are doing!  Never had any overheating issues with any DSG Skoda - you won't need a cooling upgrade.  Good luck - - let the guys on here know what you finally settle for?  Best regards.

 

Thanks man, that certainly puts my mind at ease. Yeah that L&K has been listed for months now and seems really low mileage for the price? I'm starting to wonder what's wrong with it! I'm in two minds over whether to go for it as it's roughly 300 miles away from me.

[DrVenkman]

After thinking I wouldn't go for one, I've got my eye on a Sportline. What are people's thoughts on comfort? I've read some stuff about a less comfortable ride on 19" wheels and the harder suspension/lower ride? I'd also probably be loading it up quite a bit for trips away with the caravan.

[DrVenkman]

On 07/10/2020 at 07:14, busdriver said:

I have been towing 48 years this year and had a wide variety of tow cars in that time.  I have also been a Skoda fan for a decade and towed with two Yetis and an Octavia Estate.  A year ago a got a very low mileage 2018 Superb SEL Exec, 190bhp, DSG and it is the best tow car I have ever had.  The cruise control and DSG works like a dream and the Caravan is rock steady.  The L&K that you are looking at looks a good buy - that model usually sells quickly, so get on with it if are interested.  Phil Taylor at Horndean, Hampshire is where I have had my last three towers fitted - they really know what they are doing!  Never had any overheating issues with any DSG Skoda - you won't need a cooling upgrade.  Good luck - - let the guys on here know what you finally settle for?  Best regards.

 

I went for this.