Hello all.

I bought a 2016 SEL 2.0tdi Estate in black, manual shift with 19" wheels when it was 2 years old with around 8k on the clock.

It has been the best car I have ever owned in overall terms. Hard to better.

Spacious, smooth, ridiculously economical, quick enough in real world motoring, and good to look at.

So once it reached just under 50k miles recently I decided that the only thing to replace it was - another nearly new Superb!

I have bought a '23 plate L&K hatch 190 tsi, dsg box.

As expected, the tech is more up to date, but there are a few things that to me indicate that some costs have been cut along the way since my earlier car.

My old car had lovely thick front mats with "Superb" embroidery. The new car doesn't. Just a small point but presumably a money-saver.

The old car had cooling air in the glove box as well as the centre console. The new one only has it in the centre console, unless I am missing something.

My old car had luggage nets, which I am not sure if they were standard or not, but I miss those.

On the tech side, I made the mistake yesterday of turning down the setting on my heated seat whilst sat at some traffic lights. Immediately the navigation map on Apple car player that I was following disappeared and was replaced by a graphic showing how many lights were illuminated on the heated seat. This seems unnecessary to me.

On the plus side, both front seats on the L&K are electrically adjustable and seem a bit more comfortable than my old SEL.

The DSG gear box changes smoothly up and down , and changes can be made manually very quickly. In traffic I could drive more smoothly with the manual, albeit with more left leg action required!

The Canton sound system is definitely a step up, but overall, I feel that the plethora of electronic gizmos such as virtual cockpit are very obvious, but they do not for me , and this is only my opinion of course, represent a step forward, and the 24 model with its "ipad plonked on the dashboard" as made popular by Tesla looks even worse to me.

It is still a highly competent car of course.

I would love to know what others think.

I had a 2016 L&K 280tsi and now I have a 2023 L&K 280tsi. So I know where you are coming from. Yes the little details like no cooling air.. well in mine there is no cooling air in the centre console either! But then again, it wasn’t something I needed or used.

The heated seats thing - if you have ventilated seats as I do then pressing the button pops up the display and allows you to select between heated and /or ventilated. But whatever was displayed before doesn’t disappear, it just dims. If you touch the screen again it all goes back to normal, so I don’t find it too annoying.

A few things are worse (satnav is terrible, no volume knob) but lots of things are better including the matrix headlights, heated steering wheel, faster warm-up (aux electric heater), the 7 speed DSG (apart from the mapping), Kessy on all doors. So overall I’m quite happy. Agreed, the stupid bolt-on iPad on the mk 4 is ludicrous and once Mr Musk gets his comeuppance, I predict the fad will disappear rapidly.

+1

2016 220ps Style -> 2023 280ps L&K

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/510961-2023-280ps-lk-replaced-2016-220ps-style/

Here's some bargain mats for you!

https://www.kopacek.com/skoda/superb-iii/superb-iii-original-skoda-interior-floor-mats-prestige-grey-line-rhd/3v2061404a

My '22 Superb has Superb embroidered mats, maybe it was an option

15 hours ago, nicknorman said:

I had a 2016 L&K 280tsi and now I have a 2023 L&K 280tsi. So I know where you are coming from. Yes the little details like no cooling air.. well in mine there is no cooling air in the centre console either! But then again, it wasn’t something I needed or used.

The heated seats thing - if you have ventilated seats as I do then pressing the button pops up the display and allows you to select between heated and /or ventilated. But whatever was displayed before doesn’t disappear, it just dims. If you touch the screen again it all goes back to normal, so I don’t find it too annoying.

A few things are worse (satnav is terrible, no volume knob) but lots of things are better including the matrix headlights, heated steering wheel, faster warm-up (aux electric heater), the 7 speed DSG (apart from the mapping), Kessy on all doors. So overall I’m quite happy. Agreed, the stupid bolt-on iPad on the mk 4 is ludicrous and once Mr Musk gets his comeuppance, I predict the fad will disappear rapidly.

Thanks nicknorman for your insights.

Thanks for the explanation about the heated seats and the dimming display.

You are quite right about the headlights. My old car had the active headlights but these are really nice.

I am nor sure about the aux-electric heater. I am not sure if my car has it, or if it does, if you need to do anything with it, or if it needs to be activated from a program somewhere.

I have never been sold on KESSY but again it's personal choices and preferences.

What did you mean about the mapping of the DSG?

Last October I went from a 2016 2.0 TDi to a 2023 TSi and I'd go along with what's been said already. I find the TSi is much more responsive and doesn't hesitate like the TDi did. I haven't made any long journeys in it yet, but we've a trip to Lithuania scheduled for later in the year that'll put it through its paces.

A couple of things I don't like with the sat nav on the 2023 car are

• You can't enter you destination using coordinates. Before I could pinpoint the exact spot I wanted to go, but it's not so easy now. I've also noticed that if you try and put in the street name in the city where you're heading, it doesn't always pick it up, even if it's a main street. I end up adjusting the destination using the map to find where I want to go.

• The list of destinations are in the order you entered them and not in alphabetical order. OK, you can search for them, but the in the 2016 car it was easy to scroll down the list.

Another irritation is having to change the mode to individual each time the car is started, but overall I'm pleased with it.

On 07/03/2025 at 13:05, Pooroldcodger said:

Thanks nicknorman for your insights.

Thanks for the explanation about the heated seats and the dimming display.

You are quite right about the headlights. My old car had the active headlights but these are really nice.

I am nor sure about the aux-electric heater. I am not sure if my car has it, or if it does, if you need to do anything with it, or if it needs to be activated from a program somewhere.

I have never been sold on KESSY but again it's personal choices and preferences.

What did you mean about the mapping of the DSG?

Not sure if the aux electric heater is fitted to the tdi. It is standard on my 280 tsi. You don't do anything to activate it, it is automatic. It just results in the heater starting to work much quicker on a cold start. As I understand it, it is an electric heating element in the coolant system that runs from the alternator and makes the coolant heat up more quickly. You would think that the tdi would need it more since diesels are slower to heat up than petrol.

By DSG mapping I mean the way the gearbox decides when to change down a gear(s). With the older car, it tended to keep the engine rpm above the minimum for turbo boost / reasonable amount of power. So pressing the throttle a bit from overrun at low speed would result in immediate change-down and plenty of power. The new gearbox is much more reluctant to change down under the same situation. So you press the pedal down more, then it changes down but hurtles off! Or if you don't press it down more, after a period of sluggish acceleration it suddenly hits the power band and hurtles off even though you haven't changed the pedal position. My technique is to press the pedal down quite far, but briefly. This encourages it to change down without the "hurtling off" thing. Obvioulsy this behaviour is all about increasing the official mpg, but really one shouldn't have to adapt driving style to get arround the bad mapping and poor drivability. Maybe the tdi is different, it will certainly have different mapping from the 280tsi.

Thanks for your insights. My "new" car is a 23 plate 190 tsi , not tdi.

I see what you mean about the mapping. I haven't got the hang of it yet. I agree, in normal driving mode it is quite reluctant to change down.

The DSG mapping on mine is really quickly going to the n.1 bother, I drive most of the time in sport or manual, otherwise is really bothering, keeping the engine continously under the ideal boost band, and forcing the driver to apply brakes more than necessarily, since you have no engine brake.

Truly an idiotic programming, which surely passed emissions/consumption tests with flying colours ...

The aux heater should be indicated with a sign on the center console to activate manually when desired, or it is found int he infotainment under "heating", or there should be a separate remote to activate it. Obviously there are cases in which will not run (battery voltage, temperature, ecc.).

My 2016 SEL had a "secret" drawer under the passenger seat.

The 2023 L&K doesn't have this drawer, but instead has what appears to be a heater unit, but I might be wrong.

There is no aux heater selection button, so if this is a heater unit, is it automatic?

Because the owner's manual covers all possible options, it is not clear to me what this is.

I bought a manual Superb Mk3 "Business" 2.0 CDi estate in 2016........best car I've ever owned in terms of practicality, economy, and performance.....and I've been around for a long, long while and had quite a few cars...

I really would like the part number for a replacement windscreen, and I asked the supplying dealer...still waiting for the phone call.

It's not cracked or chipped, just well scratched due to gritty dust and wet days on the motorway.

Apparently there are many options, but I would have thought that the reg or vin number could quickly give the answer.

The car has cruise control (? only tried it once, no thanks), and a wiper setting that fires them up automatically when it starts raining.....presumably for nervous drivers who can't take one hand off the wheel for a second. These "features" apparently determine what windscreen type is required, and whether it's going to cost £350 or £770 to replace.

Nicephore

5 hours ago, leolito said:

The DSG mapping on mine is really quickly going to the n.1 bother, I drive most of the time in sport or manual, otherwise is really bothering, keeping the engine continously under the ideal boost band, and forcing the driver to apply brakes more than necessarily, since you have no engine brake.

Truly an idiotic programming, which surely passed emissions/consumption tests with flying colours ...

The aux heater should be indicated with a sign on the center console to activate manually when desired, or it is found int he infotainment under "heating", or there should be a separate remote to activate it. Obviously there are cases in which will not run (battery voltage, temperature, ecc.).

I think there might be some confusion. Some colder countries fit an auxilliary heater which runs on diesel (or petrol I guess) and can be used to warm the car up before starting. The aux electric heater is not like that, it is integral to the engine and automatically comes on when the engine is cold, to speed the coolant heating up, probably provided there is enough output from the alternator available (depends on other loads). There is no driver control for it, it is completely "transparent".

2 hours ago, Nicephore said:

I bought a manual Superb Mk3 "Business" 2.0 CDi estate in 2016........best car I've ever owned in terms of practicality, economy, and performance.....and I've been around for a long, long while and had quite a few cars...

I really would like the part number for a replacement windscreen, and I asked the supplying dealer...still waiting for the phone call.

It's not cracked or chipped, just well scratched due to gritty dust and wet days on the motorway.

Apparently there are many options, but I would have thought that the reg or vin number could quickly give the answer.

The car has cruise control (? only tried it once, no thanks), and a wiper setting that fires them up automatically when it starts raining.....presumably for nervous drivers who can't take one hand off the wheel for a second. These "features" apparently determine what windscreen type is required, and whether it's going to cost £350 or £770 to replace.

Nicephore

Yes the sensor for the automatic wipers is on or behind the windscreen I think. The automatic wipers are not for nervous drivers, they are for drivers who don't see the point in having to switch something on manually when it could be done automatically. Same with the headlights.

4 hours ago, Pooroldcodger said:

My 2016 SEL had a "secret" drawer under the passenger seat.

The 2023 L&K doesn't have this drawer, but instead has what appears to be a heater unit, but I might be wrong.

There is no aux heater selection button, so if this is a heater unit, is it automatic?

Because the owner's manual covers all possible options, it is not clear to me what this is.

No, the aux electric heater is part of the engine. That is some box of electronics, can't remember which one.

Thank you.

2 hours ago, Nicephore said:

I bought a manual Superb Mk3 "Business" 2.0 CDi estate in 2016........best car I've ever owned in terms of practicality, economy, and performance.....and I've been around for a long, long while and had quite a few cars...

I really would like the part number for a replacement windscreen, and I asked the supplying dealer...still waiting for the phone call.

It's not cracked or chipped, just well scratched due to gritty dust and wet days on the motorway.

Apparently there are many options, but I would have thought that the reg or vin number could quickly give the answer.

The car has cruise control (? only tried it once, no thanks), and a wiper setting that fires them up automatically when it starts raining.....presumably for nervous drivers who can't take one hand off the wheel for a second. These "features" apparently determine what windscreen type is required, and whether it's going to cost £350 or £770 to replace.

Nicephore

I had a windscreen replaced recently (not on the Skoda) and the windscreen was different if the vehicle had , or didn't have a rain sensor. That might answer your question above, but I don't know the reason for the price difference.

6 hours ago, Nicephore said:

I bought a manual Superb Mk3 "Business" 2.0 CDi estate in 2016........best car I've ever owned in terms of practicality, economy, and performance.....and I've been around for a long, long while and had quite a few cars...

I really would like the part number for a replacement windscreen, and I asked the supplying dealer...still waiting for the phone call.

It's not cracked or chipped, just well scratched due to gritty dust and wet days on the motorway.

Apparently there are many options, but I would have thought that the reg or vin number could quickly give the answer.

The car has cruise control (? only tried it once, no thanks), and a wiper setting that fires them up automatically when it starts raining.....presumably for nervous drivers who can't take one hand off the wheel for a second. These "features" apparently determine what windscreen type is required, and whether it's going to cost £350 or £770 to replace.

Nicephore

I have a 2016 car, and the brochure I was given in 2017 shows that a heated windscreen was standard in the L&K, but optional in everything else - could this be the difference?

3 hours ago, nicknorman said:

No, the aux electric heater is part of the engine. That is some box of electronics, can't remember which one.

That should be the audio amp if you have the Canton system, at least this is what the underside of my driver's seat looks like.

I agree with the confusion above, I was referring to the auxiliary heater unit produced by Webasto and mounted on many cars as an additional accessory, and which allows independet heating of the engine and cabin by means of a timer, or remote.

On 12/03/2025 at 14:52, nicknorman said:

No, the aux electric heater is part of the engine. That is some box of electronics, can't remember which one.

It’s the canton amplifier.

Our 2016 L&K 280 has ventilated seats at the front, AC cooled glove box and centre console, remote release rear seats and a TV tuner. It’s now covered 51k and has been absolutely reliable with the exception of the NSR wheel speed sensor failing three years ago, a split in the AC condenser, the usual water pump failure and a new battery which I needed two years ago. Servicing costs are nuts due to the complexity of the 4X4 system, but I really don’t care as I have no intention of parting with the car. It’s the most comfortable car I have owned, now the quietest car I’ve owned and by far and away, the fastest car I’ve ever owned or had as an allocated company car.. and I’ve had Escort, Sierra and Granada Cosworths, Fiat Coupe Turbos, Nissan 200SX and ‘00’s of other so-called high performance cars. I really do think the 280/272 Superb will become collector Q cars in the true sense of the moniker, especially given the insane levels of tune the EA888 engines can achieve. But even with a stock vehicle, the acceleration, handling and grip are excellent for “normal” drivers. I love it! 👍🏻

On 13/03/2025 at 20:10, numskull said:

It’s the canton amplifier.

Thanks. All clear now!

On 13/03/2025 at 20:33, numskull said:

Our 2016 L&K 280 has ventilated seats at the front, AC cooled glove box and centre console, remote release rear seats and a TV tuner. It’s now covered 51k and has been absolutely reliable with the exception of the NSR wheel speed sensor failing three years ago, a split in the AC condenser, the usual water pump failure and a new battery which I needed two years ago. Servicing costs are nuts due to the complexity of the 4X4 system, but I really don’t care as I have no intention of parting with the car. It’s the most comfortable car I have owned, now the quietest car I’ve owned and by far and away, the fastest car I’ve ever owned or had as an allocated company car.. and I’ve had Escort, Sierra and Granada Cosworths, Fiat Coupe Turbos, Nissan 200SX and ‘00’s of other so-called high performance cars. I really do think the 280/272 Superb will become collector Q cars in the true sense of the moniker, especially given the insane levels of tune the EA888 engines can achieve. But even with a stock vehicle, the acceleration, handling and grip are excellent for “normal” drivers. I love it! 👍🏻

I agree - it is truly a "Superb" car. I am lucky enough to own a 400bhp "weekend fun car" so I couldn't justify even to myself going for the 280bhp version, but I was very much tempted!

Sounds like you have had some interesting cars - Nissan 200SX - quite a rarity!

Yep, here are a few more… Fiat Uno Turbo, Ford Escort RS Turbo/RS1600/XR3i, Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 2 & 4WD, Scorpio Cosworth…. Plus, in no particular order…Mercedes 230E, Ford Granada Sapphire, Escort 3 1.3L, Vauxhall Astra 1.6L, Cavalier 1.8iLS (I think, but had power steering I’ll have you know!) Carlton 1.8i, Ford Focus 1.6L, Sierra 2.0 Ghia X Auto (several of those) and some obscure stuff, Kia Sedona, Claris, Magentis and Shuma. One Christmas Eve I had a Transit van with a broken passenger window and busted OSR light unit.

Oh I should add something. The 200SX Turbos we had on the fleet were the even rarer than normal, as they were all autos.

Edited 17 March, 20251 yr by numskull