I’m looking at a buying a used superb Sportline estate. Obviously not getting much choice on how I spec the car, but what are the thoughts on the standard spec for the car? Are there any absolute “must haves” for the car I should be looking out for in terms of options that would prevent me going for standard spec only? Or is standard spec more than good enough? This will be used for around town driving and motor way cruising with the family. 

 

I know now there any more toys with the L&K but do prefer the look for the Sportline for the estate, personal preference only.

My opinion is it depends on you! Some options are must haves for some and not for others. 

 

What are you currently driving? The spec of that might help you decide what your ideal spec might be 😁

 

For me, personally, I love the reverse camera and the canton speakers. Though I am in an SEL Exec model (Style if you're in Europe etc)

12 minutes ago, boydeee said:

My opinion is it depends on you! Some options are must haves for some and not for others. 

 

What are you currently driving? The spec of that might help you decide what your ideal spec might be 😁

 

For me, personally, I love the reverse camera and the canton speakers. Though I am in an SEL Exec model (Style if you're in Europe etc)

VW Golf Match. Only thing I would like is the rear reversing camera which I currently have, but heard the front and rear sensors are good. Perhaps just a case of getting used to it without the camera.

Just now, FamilyGuy81 said:

VW Golf Match. Only thing I would like is the rear reversing camera which I currently have, but heard the front and rear sensors are good. Perhaps just a case of getting used to it without the camera.

Ah nice. That's a well equipped model. The sensors are very useful, they became standard on the SEL in MY19 so I forgot to mention them before.

 

I'd hope that sensors would be a popular selection on any used cars. Good luck with your search!

Some things you don't know you "need" until you've had them. I didn't know I needed an adjustable suspension. I didn't know I needed a rear view camera. Never needed one in the past. 

 

I bought a demo Sportline hatchback that came with an abundance of extras. The Canton stereo is very nice. I won't have a car again without a rear camera for parking – especially a car this long. The suspension is trick, but if I had a normal suspension I could change it to suit me. I mainly leave it on one setting, anyway. And I wait for it to go wrong after the warranty is expired. So, that would be any day now...

 

Find a car you can afford in the colour you like. You can always fix it up later.

 

(edit) Oh, yeah – the TSI 220 psi is a terrific engine, unless you absolutely need 4WD.

Edited 6 November, 20205 yr by freelunch

I'd echo the reversing camera. I've not got one and want it badly! At least it can be retro fitted. 

I'd agree that reversing camera and front sensors are a nice thing to have given the size of the Superb.

Both can be retrofitted but probably looking at around £450 for each.

Have you looked for a Sportline Plus within your budget?

Adds a few nice features like heated seats, electric bootlid, bigger infotainment screen, blind spot detection etc.

 

2 hours ago, freelunch said:

Some things you don't know you "need" until you've had them. I didn't know I needed an adjustable suspension. I didn't know I needed a rear view camera. Never needed one in the past.

 

This is very true, for me the electric bootlid and virtual pedal are things I wouldn't have been fussed about but I'd miss them if I didn't have them now.

Edited 6 November, 20205 yr by AidanF
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Another way around it is to buy an L&K to get all the options, and then black wrap all the chrome. 

As above really. Watch out as front sensors were an option below L&k on earlier models. It is a big car but front end is similar to golf/ octavia as they share the same pkatform. The back of the car is however a very long way away. Rear sensors work fine even without a camera.

My must haves were heated seats and a heated screen having come from a mondeo with them. Engine was non negotiable 😁. (280).

I waited and got a young high miler in the right colour with the toys i needed. Love it still after 2 years.

10 hours ago, AidanF said:

I'd agree that reversing camera and front sensors are a nice thing to have given the size of the Superb.

Both can be retrofitted but probably looking at around £450 for each..

 

Adding front sensors might be close to that price but a rear camera shouldn't be:

- Genuine highline rear cameras with moving guidance lines should be £80

- Aftermarket versions with moving guidelines are closer to £40

 

 

To the OP, if you find a car that meets your spec but is missing a camera, there is a guide to retrofit one for an Octavia below. The Superb should be very similar but with longer wires

 

 

If retrofits are possible, don't forget it's often more expensive than a 2nd car already equipped with.

As @UndertheRadar, I think it will be easier to chose a L&K and to wrap or replace the chrome parts...  Probably also quicker and less efforts...  

In addition to that, a lot of options ticked on a Sportline may become more expensive than a L&K with the same equipment. An important point to think about...  

 

Tricky one..  it's one thing deciding what you want and then trying to find the right car is something else! I settled on an L&K as I found one in a fairly unusual spec and its even a Hatch which is proving to be absolutely fine for family duties!

 

 

Edited 7 November, 20205 yr by Max M4X WW

Tough one but what one person considers essential is very subjective.

this is my 3rd Skoda over the last 14 years (octy mk1 vRS, superb 2 diesel then the 280 mk3) and each has introduced something new while maintaining some common extras.

parking sensors all around, octy had rear only, mk2 had all around with park assist (which was brilliant but rarely used) and the mk3 has just all around without park assist. I can live without that as I hardly ever used it but the front sensors I’d consider essential.

Reversing camera is new on the mk3 but very very useful except when the lense gets covered with water.

Heated seats - new to me on the mk3 but always wanted.

Cruise control, all 3 have had it but the adaptive on the mk3 is another level and I’d never want to be without it now.

Sunroof - mk3 has it, wasn’t advertised on the Skoda details (but was listed on the autotrader advert), didn’t want it, won’t use it but like the clear view above so it’s a bit “meh”....

kessy - again new on mk3, dubious before but love having it now apart from having to buy faraday pouches to keep the keys in to prevent the theft risk.

Mine’s a sportline (top of my budget so couldn’t afford any of the 272 newer models) but doesn’t have the trick suspension though I find mine to be ok.

didn’t like the less sporty look of the L&K models and the only one around was in black but with naff wheels and white interior (just no.....) so I was a bit limited.

business grey sounds boring as hell but I absolutely love the colour now!

Edited 7 November, 20205 yr by SkudMissile21

Rear camera is a super easy retrofit. The SportLine is an odd trim level, the initial release was a single spec, for MY19 the range diversified with SportLine getting a spec reduction and the Plus model picking up where the old spec left off and added some essential options like heated seats.

 

Where the SportLine lacks for me is the lack of lane assist as standard, this is such an omission on a car of this price, especially as the Mk3 Octavia vRS which is several thousand £ cheaper and an older model of car got it as standard. Only the Plus gets heated seats as standard and the power bootlid, heated screen and front sensors are other essential options IMO. The facelift cars have the A5 camera for Dynamic Light Assist as standard from SE-L and above so that’s an improvement. Don’t discount the L&K, the spec is killer, there’s a reason they are so desirable.

Edited 7 November, 20205 yr by SashaGrace

Yeah the power boot lid would’ve been nice (and I didn’t realise it was even an option not standard) but I’ve never had it before and I haven’t found myself wishing I had it either so far.

Thanks for the replies everyone, definitely gives me some food for thought. I prefer the sporty look of the Sportline, but think I’d miss some of the nice touches that come with the L&K (front as well as rear sensors, auto boot opening, heated seats, park and lane assist) but of course that comes with a price tag. One to mull over. I was looking at the model below but only standard spec, so tempted to wait to see if a Sportline with some added options comes onto the market that might persuade me to buy...

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009173858034?postcode=n134as&transmission=Automatic&price-from=18000&make=SKODA&include-delivery-option=on&radius=1501&price-to=22500&aggregatedTrim=SportLine&fuel-type=Petrol&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&year-from=2017&body-type=Estate&sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&model=SUPERB&page=1

Looks nice spec that and very similar to mine minus the extra 60 horsepower and 4x4 

few contradictions in the spec list though, the photo looks like it has the Columbus screen the same as mine rather than the “bolero” & “amundsen” which doesn’t sound right at all!

22 hours ago, SkudMissile21 said:

[...]

Reversing camera is new on the mk3 but very very useful except when the lense gets covered with water.

[...]

In reverse gear, just use the rear window washer. The camera lense will be washed in the mean time. There's a dedicated nozzle to clean the lense. It works pretty well !  

1 hour ago, Bap33 said:

In reverse gear, just use the rear window washer. The camera lense will be washed in the mean time. There's a dedicated nozzle to clean the lense. It works pretty well !  

Ooh I’ll have to try that 

@SkudMissile21 I didn't know too. I discovered that "accidentally"... 

5 hours ago, SkudMissile21 said:

Looks nice spec that and very similar to mine minus the extra 60 horsepower and 4x4 

few contradictions in the spec list though, the photo looks like it has the Columbus screen the same as mine rather than the “bolero” & “amundsen” which doesn’t sound right at all!

Good shout, I’ll check with the dealer. It’s lacking any additional options which is slightly off putting, including front parking sensors, However, I think I can cope without them. I think the standard spec is still pretty decent overall.

5 hours ago, SkudMissile21 said:

Looks nice spec that and very similar to mine minus the extra 60 horsepower and 4x4 

few contradictions in the spec list though, the photo looks like it has the Columbus screen the same as mine rather than the “bolero” & “amundsen” which doesn’t sound right at all!

No DCC either, but have heard mixed reviews over ether this is nice to have vs essential. It’ll be transporting the family, so just need to make sure the ride is comfortable and not too harsh. I’m assuming the drive select mode (eco, normal, sport) will be just fine for most needs?

16 hours ago, FamilyGuy81 said:

Thanks for the replies everyone, definitely gives me some food for thought. I prefer the sporty look of the Sportline, but think I’d miss some of the nice touches that come with the L&K (front as well as rear sensors, auto boot opening, heated seats, park and lane assist) but of course that comes with a price tag. 

 

if its the "sporty look" ur after, but all the L&K bells and whistles, u can get an L&K and then:-

- change (or plastidip) all the chrome bits (front grille + window surrounds) to black

- change the wing mirror covers to black cover

- change/swap the wheels to Sportline versions

- shocks/springs combo if u want to finish the look

 

the interior is a different story though and much harder to change as u get the following in the Sportline but not L&K:-
- flat bottom steering wheel (u can retrofit this)

- blackened interior roof-line and pillars (don't bother retrofitting this one)

- alcantara door cards (u can retrofit this if u find a donor car)

- sport seats

- performance monitor on the infotainment (u can't retrofit fit this)

 

 

.....now, this is the part i hide cause all the Sportline owners r going to start throwing projectiles my way!!!!  

Mine doesn’t have dcc and I find the ride comfort absolutely fine one up or family loaded.

The front sensors are a godsend though so I’d hold out for those or at least enquire if they could be retrofitted as part of a deal - it’s a long car and very difficult to see where the front is without them.

They also kick in automatically which is a nice touch when parking against a wall or when passing traffic closely in narrow road situations.

The driving modes are all ok too, eco is fine when you’re trying to squeeze fuel economy but I find the constant coasting then jerking back on the power a bit annoying so rarely use it now.

Drive is fine and sport is a hoot, once I discovered individual mode though I just set that up with everything on sport mode apart from the drive and that seems to be the best combination - still knock it into sport mode on the gearstick when I really want to shift but most of the time it’s not needed

Edited 9 November, 20205 yr by SkudMissile21

6 hours ago, JR RS said:

- performance monitor on the infotainment (u can't retrofit fit this)

Ahh but you can Either via ODIS or a quick hack. I have it on my 2014 Octavia vRS. It's hardly worth it though haha, I never use it!

 

Edited 9 November, 20205 yr by SashaGrace