Hi Briskoda,

 

I am considering buying a Skoda Superb MK 3 sportline and have reserved an approved used car. The car is in really good condition for a 5 year old car but I always thought the front end of it looked a little strange. After studying it for a while, I realised that the front grill is a chrome one instead of black. I am not entirely sure why this has been done. I am now wondering if this car has been in a front on collision? If so there is no other evidence of this on the panels or engine bay.

I was wondering if anyone knew if this was possible to spec on the factory fit original car or if this is a modification that has been done by the previous owner?

 

I have included some pictures of the car including some of the front panels and wheel arch.

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Thank you!

 

 

It maybe there was damage to the grill as the bottom trim in the bumper is still black along with the side trims as well as the mirrors.

I might be seeing things due to lighting conditions, but the front parking sensor looks a little pushed in.

 

If it is, I'd guess front end damage resulting in replacement grille and not 100% perfect sensor replacement.

 

Here's a picture of my Mk3 2019 Sportline front end for comparison.

 

Definitely worth making sure all parking sensors are working correctly as well as front assist systems, headlight alignment and check for any signs of damage in the engine bay.

14 minutes ago, Rikochet said:

I might be seeing things due to lighting conditions, but the front parking sensor looks a little pushed in.

 

If it is, I'd guess front end damage resulting in replacement grille and not 100% perfect sensor replacement.

 

Here's a picture of my Mk3 2019 Sportline front end for comparison.

 

Definitely worth making sure all parking sensors are working correctly as well as front assist systems, headlight alignment and check for any signs of damage in the engine bay.

Yes i agree the left parking sensor looks like it has been pushed in. Very good spot! I did not notice that. I wonder if it would be worth sending an AA or RAC mechanic around to check the engine bay etc. I am not that mechanically minded.

Definitely the grille has been replaced and they've used the wrong version.

Sportline cannot b specc'ed with Chrome trim in any market.

55 minutes ago, lexia said:

Yes i agree the left parking sensor looks like it has been pushed in. Very good spot! I did not notice that. I wonder if it would be worth sending an AA or RAC mechanic around to check the engine bay etc. I am not that mechanically minded.

 

You could do a check via an online reporting company such as carVertical: https://www.carvertical.com/gb/sample-report in the first instance as they may have some info cheaper than a full AA/RAC mechanical inspection. Not saying you shouldn't get a professional to take a look, but if you see something drastic in an online report, it may save you the money on an inspector if you want to walk away.

 

Hope everything checks out - they're great cars and I've been really impressed with mine 😀

Personally I’d walk away.

 

if they’ve not repaired it properly by either cheaping out on parts or a lack of attention to detail to notice ‘black != chrome’, well then what else have they messed up or done wrong.

The wheels have been re-finished without the diamond cut too. Not a bad thing IMHO (I have done similar to mine) but perhaps an indication of a previous owner 'personalising' the car, maybe they have done similar with the grille? 

 

I'll be honest I would probably still walk away.

@lexia

Welcome to the forum.

You say you have 'reserved an approved used car'. 

 

Is this a Skoda Approved Used car coming with a 12 or 24 month warranty?

How many miles on it, what engine / gearbox? 

 

Is if FSH or FMDSH & what is the Service History they have?

 

Fixed or variable services, Pollen filters twice, AC Servicing, Brake fluid once or twice etc etc. 

So Serviced to manufacturers guidelines, recommendations, schedule or even spec.      As a Warranty supposedly requires.

?

Or are there missing items?

 

?

Have the Body Inspections & Reports that Skoda UK often seem to want been carried out over the past 5 years.

The ones that are supposedly done at Services and Skoda UK want done when there is a claim on the corrosion warranty even though the Warranty T&C's does not state as being required, annually, bi-annually or at Extended Scope Services.

Certainly should be carried out on a Skoda Approved Used Vehicle though as a Pre-Sale inspection, even as the Dealership received in a car and do any prep. 

 

 

 

With Skoda Approved Used car programmes AA / RAC inspections should not be required.

 

 

Edited 14 December, 20223 yr by toot

On 14/12/2022 at 09:39, edwards said:

The wheels have been re-finished without the diamond cut too. Not a bad thing IMHO (I have done similar to mine) but perhaps an indication of a previous owner 'personalising' the car, maybe they have done similar with the grille? 

 

I'll be honest I would probably still walk away.

Maybe they took the chrome finish off the wheels and stuck it on the grill 🤪🤪

I've got a "hybrid" front grille on mine - black outside trim with chrome slats inside.

Basically I replaced the chrome surround with a black surround.

I like it.

 

Matches my hybrid badge....

 

 

Completely agree with all the points above. I have pulled out the deal.

 

I now am debating between two cars. A 18 plate 27000 miles Octavia vrs mk3 fl petrol with lots of options dcc/rear camera/ automatic for £19500. Full dealership history bought and serviced by Skoda dealer with all recommended services. Have sent an AA mechanic down for a pre-purchase inspection and it is in great condition.

 

I have just found a Skoda superb sport line 280ps automatic 18 plate low mileage for £24500 lots of options on it too. Just getting it checked out. It’s more expensive but a better car. I only have one kid though and my wife’s kodiaq is already AWD. 
 

There are a few things putting me off the Octavia. I have had an Octavia vrs mk3 pre fl diesel before and it was a great car probably my favourite car I have owned. The only downsides were road noise (it was on 18 inch rims the new one is on 19 inch rims so likely to be even worse), the interior is nowhere near as good as a superb and dreadful grip in the snow, I remember going sideways on the motorway which hadn’t been gritted particularly well. I was thinking I  could fit all season tyres ideally crossclimate 2 but finding all season tyres to fit around 225/35/19 Y tyres is terrible. Also I don’t really want to go down the route of fitting 235/35/19 and declaring to the insurance if I don’t have to. 
 

The Skoda superb doesn’t have any of these problems but is £5k more (which is fine), is bigger (do we really need a kodiaq and superb for one child lol!) also it will have to be parked on the road and the running costs will be more haldex service and increased fuel costs.

 

I know a few Briskodians have changed from Octavia vrs to superb 280ps just wondering if it is worth the extra £5k plus more hassle parking and increased running costs.
 

 

1 hour ago, lexia said:

Completely agree with all the points above. I have pulled out the deal.

 

I now am debating between two cars. A 18 plate 27000 miles Octavia vrs mk3 fl petrol with lots of options dcc/rear camera/ automatic for £19500. Full dealership history bought and serviced by Skoda dealer with all recommended services. Have sent an AA mechanic down for a pre-purchase inspection and it is in great condition.

 

I have just found a Skoda superb sport line 280ps automatic 18 plate low mileage for £24500 lots of options on it too. Just getting it checked out. It’s more expensive but a better car. I only have one kid though and my wife’s kodiaq is already AWD. 
 

There are a few things putting me off the Octavia. I have had an Octavia vrs mk3 pre fl diesel before and it was a great car probably my favourite car I have owned. The only downsides were road noise (it was on 18 inch rims the new one is on 19 inch rims so likely to be even worse), the interior is nowhere near as good as a superb and dreadful grip in the snow, I remember going sideways on the motorway which hadn’t been gritted particularly well. I was thinking I  could fit all season tyres ideally crossclimate 2 but finding all season tyres to fit around 225/35/19 Y tyres is terrible. Also I don’t really want to go down the route of fitting 235/35/19 and declaring to the insurance if I don’t have to. 
 

The Skoda superb doesn’t have any of these problems but is £5k more (which is fine), is bigger (do we really need a kodiaq and superb for one child lol!) also it will have to be parked on the road and the running costs will be more haldex service and increased fuel costs.

 

I know a few Briskodians have changed from Octavia vrs to superb 280ps just wondering if it is worth the extra £5k plus more hassle parking and increased running costs.
 

 

The tyres sizes you said is wrong, standard is 235/40/19 for 19’s. When the tyres on it die get the Goodyear asymmetric 6’s, lovely and quiet

 

If you’re going to be spending that much money, bargain on the price a bit then buy your own full winter alloys, but with the 280ps I’m not sure if the 17” still fits.

 

Have you looked how much insurance is and road tax, being 280 I doubt it’s cheap, and like you say running costs but that’s everything atm 😞 

1 hour ago, Danoid said:

The tyres sizes you said is wrong, standard is 235/40/19 for 19’s. When the tyres on it die get the Goodyear asymmetric 6’s, lovely and quiet

 

 

I believe he's referring to the mk3 Octavia tyre sizes.

They come on 19x7.5" rims, unlike the Superb which has 19x8" rims.

8 hours ago, Danoid said:

...but with the 280ps I’m not sure if the 17” still fits.

 

17" rims will fit even the most powerful Octavias, Superbs, and Kodiaqs that use the big 340x30mm front brake discs.

Test drove the superb sport line 280. Was nice but not worth the £5k extra to buy over the Octavia vrs mk3 fl.

 

The superb sportline 280 still suffered from road noise which I was surprised about. I was expecting it to be really well dampened perhaps it was because the tyres were Bridgestone potenzas? Admittedly the road noise was better than in a Octavia vrs but no where near as quiet as my wife’s 150ps edition kodiaq. 
 

If the superb was the same price as the Octavia I would definitely have  the superb but the Octavia vrs mk3 fl is already such a good car it’s difficult to justify additional outlay on the purchase price and running costs. 
 

I think I will just run summer tyres on the Octavia vrs  (any suggestions on tyres to reduce road noise? I am thinking about Michelin pilot sport 4s) and then use my wife’s 4x4 kodiaq on cross climate 2 if the weather is snowy/icy. 

Another idea is I can get Goodyear all season vector 4’s in 235/35/19 Y for the Octavia vrs, will have to let the insurer know about the modification and not sure how good the tyre noise will be on that tyre. Anyone tried the Goodyears? I really cba changing tyres from summer to winter every year 😂. 

59 minutes ago, lexia said:

Another idea is I can get Goodyear all season vector 4’s in 235/35/19 Y for the Octavia vrs, will have to let the insurer know about the modification.

 

Will you be letting your insurer know that you plan to fit the 235/35R19 tyres to illegally narrow rims, as 235/35 tyres need at least an 8J rim width?

 

The Octavia MK3 19" X-TREM rim is only 7.5J width.

 

ETRTO approved rim widths

225/35 7.5-8.0-9.0
235/35 8.0-8.5-9.5

Bridgestone Potenza are a noisy tyre and horrible grip levels in wet/cold weather. Great in the summer though. 

Yes Skoda did skimp on the sound insulation in the Superb however I've added some and it's a big improvement. I will be upgrading to 19s and planning to get some Goodyear Assymetric 6

50 minutes ago, Awesam said:

Bridgestone Potenza are a noisy tyre and horrible grip levels in wet/cold weather. Great in the summer though. 

Yes Skoda did skimp on the sound insulation in the Superb however I've added some and it's a big improvement. I will be upgrading to 19s and planning to get some Goodyear Assymetric 6

I run Bridgestone Turanza T005 without any issues on my superb. 

13 hours ago, Awesam said:

Bridgestone Potenza are a noisy tyre and horrible grip levels in wet/cold weather. Great in the summer though. 

Yes Skoda did skimp on the sound insulation in the Superb however I've added some and it's a big improvement. I will be upgrading to 19s and planning to get some Goodyear Assymetric 6

 Have to agree with Awesam  regarding the Bridgestone Potenza tyres being noisy.  I have a FL 2.0 TSI  SE L Superb on 19 inch wheels I bought at 2 years old fitted with Potenzas  and could not believe how noisy the  car was when driving. After months of agonising about whether I should  get rid  or go to 17 inch alloys with all season  tyres ( about a £1400 outlay ouch!!) I finally decided on fitting Michelin crossclimate 2 to the original 19 inch rims ( £720  outlay )

 

All I can say is the car ride quality has been transformed from clunky and noisy to very smooth and much quieter to the point where I am now actually enjoying the car as it should be. 

Cheers