2023 Superb 280 Sportline Plus 4x4. A good buy?

[HappySam]

I’m thinking of trading my 2019 Octavia vRS TSI for a Superb. I had one as a courtesy car a couple of months ago (no idea which model, it was a diesel hybrid with lots of bells and whistles). I really liked the additional refinement and comfort (I think I’m finally getting old) and the fact it still had physical heater controls (the main reason I’m not interested in the Mk4 Octavia). Having looked at the model line up I really like the look of the 280 Sportline Plus.

 There are only two 2023 cars for sale on AutoTrader. They’re both at Marshall’s, have near identical specs and put on AT within a couple of months of being registered (presumably by the dealer). Both have been reduced in price by £4k and now sit around £35k.

Should I be concerned that both have been for sale for over 4 months?. Is this model / spec / colour a good buy or a bit of a white elephant? What would be a good buy price (will trade my vRS in elsewhere)?

Should I try to overcome my dislike of chrome and large arch gaps and look at the L&K? Is it a better spec than the SL+?

[Ootohere]

@HappySam  If a Superb Hybrid / PHEV was it not a 1.4 TSI engine rather than a diesel? 

[HappySam]

1 hour ago, Rooted said:

@HappySam  If a Superb Hybrid / PHEV was it not a 1.4 TSI engine rather than a diesel? 

 

Oops. Yeah. Question remains the same though...

Edited 7 February by HappySam

[Ranger]

Considered a 280 L&K before I bought my Kodi, got as far as a drive in it and I was sold on it, but I was doing more miles in those days and made the mistake of doing the sums and realised how much more I’d be spending on fuel. Next stop was the diesel Kodi!
 

L&K will likely be a better spec’, unless the SL has lots of options, but up to you at the end of the day.

[JR RS]

13 hours ago, HappySam said:

Should I try to overcome my dislike of chrome and large arch gaps and look at the L&K? Is it a better spec than the SL+?

 

nothing wrong with a bit of chrome

u can fix the wheel arch gaps by fitting some lowering springs.

 

L&K r nicely specc'ed.  Sportline not as good, but have other nicer looking trim options that u don't get on the L&K model.

 

mine is non-Sportline MY17 - no regrets.

 

 

 

[HappySam]

10 hours ago, Ranger said:

Considered a 280 L&K before I bought my Kodi, got as far as a drive in it and I was sold on it, but I was doing more miles in those days and made the mistake of doing the sums and realised how much more I’d be spending on fuel. Next stop was the diesel Kodi!
 

L&K will likely be a better spec’, unless the SL has lots of options, but up to you at the end of the day.

 

Thanks. I don't do enough miles to worry about fuel costs and specs are close enough I think  I'm more concerned - probably unnecessarily - about how long the ones on sale have hung around.

 

2 hours ago, JR RS said:

 

nothing wrong with a bit of chrome

u can fix the wheel arch gaps by fitting some lowering springs.

 

L&K r nicely specc'ed.  Sportline not as good, but have other nicer looking trim options that u don't get on the L&K model.

 

mine is non-Sportline MY17 - no regrets.

 

 

Thanks. That looks really good. I especially like the wheels. I probably wouldn't lower it as it'd still be in warranty.

[coppertop]

I wouldn’t worry about them being for sale for that length of time. They are expensive cars to start with, (don’t forget the increased VED for the first few years), there is new model coming out in the UK autumn of this year and people have other concerns with the cost of living, so i think there are fewer people with that kind of disposable income. You are purchasing from a dealer, with a warranty so I wouldn’t be too concerned. I bought mine, sight unseen in lockdown from a dealer and had no issues.

 

They are great cars and mine is a keeper, until i can get a Mk4 at a decent price.

[Dieselgate]

Mine was about 3 months old when I got it (a 4x4 TDI) - price had dropped at least £1,800 from when it was first advertised (it was a pre-reg) and that was a bit below list price already (around £3k I think). It's certainly been no trouble and I'm very happy with it. Perhaps the 4x4 versions aren't so popular and don't shift so fast.

[HappySam]

Thanks @coppertop & @Dieselgate. I do think I'm overthinking it. I think I'll try and get a test drive in one if the weather ever improves.

Edited 8 February by HappySam

[edwards]

Mine is 5 years old now and a little different to a 2023 model, but not much. Best car I have ever owned and I plan to keep it for a while yet. Test drive it in the wet, the grip will surprise you.

 

[Redboy]

5 hours ago, HappySam said:

Thanks @coppertop & @Dieselgate. I do think I'm overthinking it. I think I'll try and get a test drive in one if the weather ever improves.

@HappySam Yes stop overthinking  it. I have had a mapped 300 bhp Octavia and a GTI 245 PP. Both would be easily  beaten from the lights by my  272 4x4 Superb L&K. The 2WD cars just can't put the traction down effectively.  However once rolling the Octavia had awesome torque and could possibly catch the Superb. MPG in summer keeping up with most traffic  will be 32-35 MPG on short A road trips and up to 40-ish on longer trips. It will feel a bit 'boaty' after the VRS, so on the test drive try out it the DCC Sport mode if it has DCC and you'll realise how you can really push it along twisting roads despite its size. The equipment and comfort was fantastic and overall it's the best car I have had, particularly since it only cost me £26K at 6 months old with 2500 miles on the clock and £155 road tax. You get one life so if you can afford it, spend the money and enjoy. 

Edited 8 February by Redboy

[JR RS]

11 hours ago, HappySam said:

Thanks. That looks really good. I especially like the wheels. I probably wouldn't lower it as it'd still be in warranty.

 

It's the L&K standard 19" wheels.

[numskull]

Yet another post from me to say the 280 (now 320 or there abouts) is the best car I’ve owned or driven as a company car and that includes vehicles like Escort and Sierra Cosworth 2 and 4x4, Scorpio Cosworth, Fiat Turbo Coupe, Nissan 200SX. Oh, and a few Ford Luton’s and Transits! So, I won’t be selling it. Next big job with be getting it rustproofed in the Summer so I need to investigate and select the best products and supplier. 

[HappySam]

Thanks everyone for the reassurance. Definitely going to arrange a test drive somewhere once the weather improves a bit.

[HappySam]

1 hour ago, JR RS said:

 

It's the L&K standard 19" wheels.

 

They're nicer than these wheels which seem to be on most 280 L&Ks. Much less fussy.

 

Edited 8 February by HappySam

[numskull]

9 minutes ago, HappySam said:

 

They're nicer than these wheels which seem to be on most 280 L&Ks. Much less fussy.

 

They’re truly ghastly. Our 280 has 19” anthracite Trinity, which I think were the standard L&K alloys in 2016. 

[Paulinkeighley]

They're the wheels on my 3 week old 190 L&K and I think they look just fine! In any event I can't see them when I'm sat behind the wheel. Traded in my 280 Sportline and the 4x4 really made a huge difference to handling. Lovely car but I was ready for a change.

[HappySam]

8 hours ago, Paulinkeighley said:

They're the wheels on my 3 week old 190 L&K and I think they look just fine! In any event I can't see them when I'm sat behind the wheel. Traded in my 280 Sportline and the 4x4 really made a huge difference to handling. Lovely car but I was ready for a change.

 

I'm sure they look better in the flesh 😁

[Esseesse200]

I’ll just leave this here. Amazing vehicle, does everything I ask it for. Epic colour. And loads of scope to tune if and when you get the urge. And it bloody quick 

[HappySam]

@Esseesse200 Love the colour. Is it lowered or have you stuffed the MIL in the roofbox? 😄

[Esseesse200]

4 hours ago, HappySam said:

@Esseesse200 Love the colour. Is it lowered or have you stuffed the MIL in the roofbox? 😄

Love that idea. 
nah it’s lowered. Koni special actives with H&R springs, pics are with winter wheels on 18” but normally run the standard 19’s 

[MarkyG82]

@Esseesse200 how are you finding the konis? I'm 2½ years in and it's never felt right. Admittedly they were fitted incorrectly in the front which was corrected by a good friend mechanic while doing another job for me.

That was after 6 months so I've been going 2 years as is. I find the frequency selective bit to blow through the travel when I would rather it gave support. I have often hit the bump stops particularly on the front. More so than any other car I've owned by a big margin.

Been looking at swapping out for bilstein B6. Had the same spring/damper combo on my Octavia and it was great. That was a torsion beam rear though and a lighter car. I keep going round in circles with what to do as swapping out will be ~£1k.

I've tried to find someone with this platform that has tried both but it's like a one or the other situation.

[SkudMissile21]

I had the Koni’s fitted to my 280 a year ago and have done 13k on them with no issues so far. Handling was hugely improved for my local bumpy roads and driving style as I found the standard shocks tended to allow a dangerous amount of uncontrolled bouncing that seemed to get worse and worse when pushing on to the point I felt I was going to lose it! Since fitting it’s never felt like that and I do like to use the power frequently!

[Esseesse200]

On 11/02/2024 at 22:20, MarkyG82 said:

@Esseesse200 how are you finding the konis? I'm 2½ years in and it's never felt right. Admittedly they were fitted incorrectly in the front which was corrected by a good friend mechanic while doing another job for me.

That was after 6 months so I've been going 2 years as is. I find the frequency selective bit to blow through the travel when I would rather it gave support. I have often hit the bump stops particularly on the front. More so than any other car I've owned by a big margin.

Been looking at swapping out for bilstein B6. Had the same spring/damper combo on my Octavia and it was great. That was a torsion beam rear though and a lighter car. I keep going round in circles with what to do as swapping out will be ~£1k.

I've tried to find someone with this platform that has tried both but it's like a one or the other situation.

Something doesn’t sound right there mate. Mine have made a huge difference. I live in Ireland now and the rural roads are quite undulating to say the least but the kinks keep it absolutely spot on. 

[travs]

On 11/02/2024 at 07:37, HappySam said:

@Esseesse200 Love the colour. Is it lowered or have you stuffed the MIL in the roofbox? 😄

Only what's left of her