Hey,

So I'm in the market for a new car, up until now I've been driving a Peugeot 307 (which is slowly falling to pieces). I've found a decent deal on a 16 plate superb with only 25k on the clock. With my second nipper on the way along with things like putting my bike in the back of the car & being an avid multi day hiker the boot size and mpg seem to be all winners. This will however be the only car for the house and I'm wondering about the practicality of it in everyday use? It's just the S version that I've found in budget so no parking sensors or anything. I was hoping if anyone here could give some anecdotal pros and cons. I have viewed it and I know it's a bit long but it doesn't seem overly wide. I'm not averse to parking further away at shops and places like that anyway but I'm assuming with no parking sensors multi stories are going to be interesting/no go zones? Also if anyone has any experience of taking it down some more narrow country lanes (talking places like Brecon Beacons or the Lake District) that would be extremely helpful as I'm usually up and around these places once a month when there isn't a pandemic going on.

 

Obviously going to test drive it to get a feel for it anyway but you can't always cover every base in a half hour test drive, it's always better to go in with some advice than go into it blindly. I'm not incredibly restricted by time if I have to find something else more appropriate but I would quite like to get something sorted this side of xmas and the Superb seems to tick an awful lot of boxes.

Welcome to the forum.

Hopefully Superb owners or past owners will be along to help.

?

What engine / gearbox has the car you are looking at?

It's the 6 speed manual 1.6 TDI that I'm looking at

 I don't have a superb but the superbs only 300mm longer and 100mm wider than the Octavia which I have, however like you I'm very much into hiking and biking with regular full 2-4 days away, I recently fitted 2 bikes and all kit in the back of the boot (rear seats down)and fit nicely ( bikes laying down) if it was estate they would have been able to stand up (front wheel off) and I would have looked into building buying a front axle mount - I think the Supberb has, or can have a rail system in the boot for fittings such as this .

 

the Octavia and superb (in your case) are very capable cars and stuff on Skoda's are not too hard to retrofit  say if you wanted to update the MIB etc. 

 

driving round the lakes/wales/Cornwall with some very narrow lanes  irton / waas****er spring to mind,  the Octavia never felt big and navigated with ease I assume it would be a very similar story for the superb. multi stories are fine too 

Do like the superb lovely car mate.

20 hours ago, lukebgm said:

Hey,

So I'm in the market for a new car, up until now I've been driving a Peugeot 307 (which is slowly falling to pieces). I've found a decent deal on a 16 plate superb with only 25k on the clock. With my second nipper on the way along with things like putting my bike in the back of the car & being an avid multi day hiker the boot size and mpg seem to be all winners. This will however be the only car for the house and I'm wondering about the practicality of it in everyday use? It's just the S version that I've found in budget so no parking sensors or anything. I was hoping if anyone here could give some anecdotal pros and cons. I have viewed it and I know it's a bit long but it doesn't seem overly wide. I'm not averse to parking further away at shops and places like that anyway but I'm assuming with no parking sensors multi stories are going to be interesting/no go zones? Also if anyone has any experience of taking it down some more narrow country lanes (talking places like Brecon Beacons or the Lake District) that would be extremely helpful as I'm usually up and around these places once a month when there isn't a pandemic going on.

 

Obviously going to test drive it to get a feel for it anyway but you can't always cover every base in a half hour test drive, it's always better to go in with some advice than go into it blindly. I'm not incredibly restricted by time if I have to find something else more appropriate but I would quite like to get something sorted this side of xmas and the Superb seems to tick an awful lot of boxes.

 

The Superb is a great family car, esp for the sort of thing you are talking about i.e bikes and lots of gear in the back. If you're going for the hatch, be aware there is quite a high loading lip to lift stuff over and in the estate I think it depends on whether or not it has the variable boot floor fitted as to whether or not there is a lip.

 

Never found width to be a problem really; we went on a family trip to the lakes a few years ago, up and down various types of roads (including single track) and didn't find the width an issue. Once you're out on the road, you don't feel the size so much, although the suspension is soft so it can have a tendency to wallow on partiularly undulating roads. Yes, it is a long car and you will find that it just won't fit in some shorter spaces. In terms of the lack of parking sensors I suppose it depends how precious you are about the car. On my old 2010 Octavia I didn't have rear parking sensors, I just used to keep reversing (very slowly) until I made contact with whatever was behind me; kinetic parking sensors, if you like. But that car was covered in scratches and dents, I never did that in the Superb! My wife didn't feel comfortable driving the Superb though, so if this is the only car in the household, that may be a consideration.

You can certainly have a rear view camera retrofitted, not sure about sensors.

 

You haven't said what sort of driving you normally do but if you tend to do quite a lot of short trips, I would avoid the diesel as the DPF could get clogged up. Not sure if that engine is also potentially affected by the emissions "scandal"? I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can confirm.

The 1.4 TSI petrol is a great engine, much quieter and more refined than the diesel, won't have any issues with short journeys, has more than enough power to pull the car (unless you are a petrolhead, but if you are considering the 1.6 TDI then I assume you are not looking for speed) and will still get decent MPG (On average I got about 46-47MPG with a mix of 70% motorway / 30% town driving) and of course petrol is cheaper than diesel at the pumps.

 

Just make sure you do a decent length of test drive as not everyone can find a comfortable seating position.

I've had my superb 3 years now. Mine is an estate. I am a Scout leader, walker and cyclist and I've used mine all over Dartmoor, in Wales, the Peaks and Lakes. I regularly put 4 bikes on a towbar rack on it, and these days I tow an 8x5x6ft twin axle box trailer with it for big trips. Never had an issue down country lanes etc in that time. Reversing with the trailer is interesting but that's my problem not yours :-) You can get a couple of bikes inside with the seats down.

 

I have quite tall children and the leg room is excellent in the back, which dependant on how long you keep cars might matter.

 

Mine does have sensors and a camera, and they are nice to have, but I drove a similar length Vectra estate for 15 years with no issues and no sensors. You get used to it. It is wide but compared to e.g. my Vectra, the mirrors are pretty tight in so its not too much of an issue.

 

I will admit if I am going to the supermarket I will take t'missus's Karoq if I have a choice but the Superb is useable, you just have to pick your space a bit more carefully.

 

I really like my Superb. Its the best car I've ever owned and if I had to replace it today I'd get another one in a heartbeat.

 

 

Wanted to just thank you guys, took it for a test drive but ended up going to the upper end of my budget for a 68 plate Octavia Estate instead, had a better spec and ticked more boxes in terms of daily practicality. Appreciate everyone that responded to the thread, happy to join you guys in owning what seems to be a great car :)

You're welcome. Good choice I think, the S trim Superb is a bit basic and you get more for your money and almost as much space with an Octavia.

 

When do you pick her up?

If it was me I’d get a slightly higher mileage SE Business Or SE Technology rather than the bottom of the range S Specification as they are very basic specified. The Superb is a well built reliable car so don’t worry about a bit higher mileage. If your going to be keeping the vehicle for a good while you will appreciate the higher spec models.

Also out and about in the hills. A bit late to this, so only for future reference

 

Honestly the best thing for lanes and alike is a small city car. You can squeeze onto the smallest of passing places in soctland and similar gateways in the lakes when the bus and camper vans approach.

 

The worst thing about the superb is parking. Just have to skip a fair few otherwise available spots. I've countered this by getting up earlier.

 

If you're keeping it till it dies, then bumpers etc can be used as bumpers. Otherwise go for a few more 'toys'.

The octavia isn't far off in overall capacity. I do have to tell myself I cant' carry all this stuff so why am I taking it With the citigo, it was easy, which rucsac and I putting in the boot

Please be very wary of the 1.5 TSI with manual box. I think there might be a design fault...just watch and listen! I'm being told it's normal. If you ever drive with the window down it will drive you CRAZY!

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3icfy9Zzs-KyRt02N02s5GZazpPllS6Q