2 hours ago, Timmyboy said:

Despite some answers above, I went through this exact same thought process in the last few months and was down to either Golf R estate or Superb 272/280 hatch or estate - clearly very different but both ticked my must-have (4x4, enough room for family of 4 plus Golden Retriever, THAT engine with a possible stage one remap). Drove both, loved both.

 

Changed my mind a few times - the key points for me in the end were toys/options, space in the rear, likelihood to be nicked (work a fair bit in big cities including overnight parking) and relative value for money - the Superb edged it but probably would have been happy/compromised on either. As it is I have a 25k 2019 L&K 272 for roughly the same prices as would have got me a 2018 Golf with a few more miles. Resale values clearly favour the Golf though.

 

 

One of the reasons I didn't get the "R" version of my car.....I tend to leave mine in remote places to go hill walking & cars have been known to be stolen..& yes I know much rarer than in the cities, but an "R" shouts almost as much a "Cossie" back in the day for "nick me".

Have to be honest, I hadn't driven one before the test drive before buying it. But I'd read plenty of articles on the vehicles I was considering.

 

I wanted something that was quick and so I created a spreadsheet that recorded 0-100 and its novated cost per year to run. I'd later ditch novated leasing because you can do it about 3K a year cheaper in Aus than what they offer but they never mention that fact.

 

So then I produced a point graph with time on the Y axis and cost per year on the horizontal axis. I had a bunch of cars that I'd like to drive. I wanted something with a mechatronic gearbox because my wife could then drive it.

 

I'd say anything under 5 seconds is reasonably quick. A mid eighties supercar such as the 930 did it in about 5.5 seconds.

 

 

The actual cost above is a little incorrect but its consistent from a rating point of view. The vehicles vary in age from new to a number of years old.

 

Based on the graph I liked the Golf R. I already drive a Skoda Superb so its not much of a jump to get to a Skoda Sportsline 4x4 when you think its the same drive train with more room for less money.

 

I'm pretty happy with the Skoda, It has a couple things that could be fixed up like a worn passenger side sill trim which I don't understand. But I think I can address these economically.

 

The big question will be - do I make mods before the warranty ends in 2024?

 

I might give myself six months to find any warranty issues first

 

Andrew

Mine's under Skoda warranty until November 22, so will have a proper think about a remap nearer the time. In the meantime have made a few tweaks and picked up a 2nd hand pedal box on Ebay. 

 

Interesting reading some earlier points - the MY20 L&K has leather and digital dash as standard and again that swayed me more toward the Superb, more so than if looking at 2016 to 2019 models. 

 

My particular car is 'lucky' depending on your point of view; here in the UK, newer cars above £40k list price attract a £500+ road tax for the first 5 years - mine is missing just enough options (sunroof etc) to dip under that, so costs just £140 ish per year. 

 

Most surprising find on my journey to the Superb, was driving a Seat Leon Cupra 300 ST 40 minutes before the Golf R estate - didn't like it at all. The Golf was so much nicer for a number of reasons, mostly cabin/cosmetic but was amazed how different 2 such closely related cars could be. 

The financial impact I'd agree with thinking about, but there's a lot of analysis over a time difference you'd be lucky to notice.

 

For what its worth, Golf R Estate, Seat Leon Cupra 300 Lux Estate (or if lucky with pricing Cupra R Estate) - Skoda Superb with the EA888 engine.

 

Golf R needs DCC as an option. Most don't

Seat will lose value although the R's are rare so would hold better value

Superb was an L&K (Sportlines rarely having digital dash as option) has room on tap even in hatchback, plethora of equipment. More car for the money - more grown up. DCC Sport mode is plenty firm, ventilated seats are infectious. 

 

You've def picked the right car OP

On 31/12/2021 at 09:42, Legion said:

Hi all,

 

I'm just looking to get some advice regarding the two cars. I currently drive a 2011 125TDI which has been totally reliable. I'm looking to buy a new used car and I was looking for something a little quicker. I've worked out for me the best value 0-100km per dollar in Australia is probably the Golf R. The Superb 206 variants appear to have the same engine and drive train as the Golf R and I've been following elfensin's alloy wheels thread and Gandalf's build and they look like nice cars. I'm not sure why leather seems to have disappeared off Aussie cars.

 

Why is the Superb a second slower than the Golf R

 

Superb 206

   Engine code    CJX

   Tare weight     1578 Kg

   Power              206Kw @ 6500rpm

   Torque             350Nm @ 1700-5600rpm

   0-100kmh        5.8 sec

 

Golf R

   Engine code    DJHB

   Tare weight     1450 Kg

   Power              213Kw @ 6500rpm

   Torque             380Nm @ 1850-5300rpm

   0-100kmh        4.8 sec

 

There is 128Kg difference in tare weight, a few kw down, and 30Nm down. The Golf R has a 7 spd gearbox while the Superb has a 6 spd gearbox.

 

On paper it doesn't seem a huge difference.

 

Do they both have the same turbocharger unit?

 

Would a light tune bring the 0-100 under the Golf R?

 

thanks

Andrew

 

As others have said, the Superb is much much bigger, heavier, way more practical but, slightly down on power / torque to the Golf R. The difference in power is down to VAG brand differentiation. Skoda cannot have more power than a VW - even from the same engine. A stage 1 remap would easily solve the power / torque deficit & add another 80bhp/62kW & 130nm making the already quick Superb a bit of a hooligan sleeper car. Add a few suspension mods & it will go around corners better as well. TBH I just run my 280 (now 360) L&K Superb Estate on 100 octane fuel & in the Sport Mode setting which firms up the adjustable dampers enough for what I need without rattling the fillings out of my teeth. That said some stiffer sway bars would help it keep a bit flatter around the corners. 

 

I'm guessing that your hot summer weather is the reason that leather seats & sunroofs don't feature much on Aussie car specs. I can just imagine what leather seats would be like when getting into a car with shorts on that's been standing in 35-40c heat for a few hours🥵. We have the opposite problem in the UK - my wife complains that my Superb leather seats are too cold in winter so I have to warm them up before she gets in! What a Diva! Heated seats were a must have for her when we recently changed her car. It's funny how we all get used to having some features in cars that were not even available years ago. I can remember cars with no power steering, drum brakes, no heated rear windscreens & some where even the heater was an option!

 

Unless you want the boy racer image & the much smaller space of the Golf R, I would go for the more practical Superb. Even in hatch format the rear seat legroom & boot space in the Superb is huge & IMO it looks classy in an understated way. I guess I'm biased but in the real world the Superb is just as quick & it doesn't draw as much unwanted attention from others or, the police🚔.  Good luck with your deliberations.   

17 minutes ago, Colin170CR said:

I'm guessing that your hot summer weather is the reason that leather seats & sunroofs don't feature much on Aussie car specs.  

Still a lot of leather and a lot of sunrooves around in our cars here though! Entirely overrated, but what can you do.

Yep. Most Golf Rs I looked at had sunroofs. I don’t see the point. Can’t use them in winter, summer or the rain. They are heavy, usually take up headroom and for some reason the drains get blocked causing problems.

 

I’ve had leather for the last ten years and it hasn’t been a problem. My dads first car was a white type 3 TLE fastback. After an afternoon at the beach in summer the black vinyl would melt the skin off your arse. The chrome buckles were something special.

4 hours ago, Colin170CR said:

Add a few suspension mods & it will go around corners better as well. 

Would there be a thread that covers that somewhere?

3 hours ago, Legion said:

Would there be a thread that covers that somewhere?

There are many threads on this site about Superb suspension mods e.g. uprated sway bars, lower springs, wheels tyres & replacement dampers etc. The search bar is your friend. 

One in particular is pretty extensive & was written by JJ RS from Canberra. Link below. That said, there are many other threads by some very knowledgeable people as well.

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/488943-gandalfs-evolution/?tab=comments#comment-5490304

4 hours ago, Legion said:

Would there be a thread that covers that somewhere?

H&R front & rear sway bars on my 280 (now 380, pun intended) and It made the car even good fun on a track, nevermind a fun A or B road. Takes away 90% of the floatyness. 

Next step would be KW DCC coilovers but I don't think its worth the cost.

 

Anyway, plenty of in-depth information available on the forum.

7 hours ago, Legion said:

Would there be a thread that covers that somewhere?

 

the Superb shares many of its suspension components with the mk7 Golf, and Passat B8.

if u have a 206 - get parts that suit a mk7 Golf R. 

if u have a 162 - get parts that suit a mk7 Golf GTi.

 

highly recommended suspension (handling) mods:-

- thicker rear swaybar

- lower springs.  Eibach and H&R seem to b the popular choice.  if ur lowering, i recommend getting adjustable front & rear end-links, so the swaybars aren't pre-loaded.

- bilstein shocks n springs, if u've got the $$$$.

i was initially planning to get a set of bilstein shocks myself, but instead i re-calibrated my DCC shocks after getting Eibach springs installed.  car doesn't wallow/bounce.  comfort levels r great, it handles well n stays composed.  super happy.

Edited 11 January, 20224 yr by JR RS