Hi All,

New to the forum here and just looking for some advice. I’m looking at purchasing my first Skoda superb mk3 sportline 2.0L 220ps. It’s done 60k miles and is in good condition apart from a few dents to the bodywork, some scuffs to the alloys and a small section of peeling lacquer. Inside is really in good nick, I’ve taken it for a test drive and its smooth and has no noticeable issues. It’s just been serviced and MOTd with no advisory’s and has had 1 owner.

It’s from a private seller who’s got it on for £15,700. Really just looking to understand if this is a good price and anything I should be looking out for with this model.

From me just the usual when buying an unknown car, buy on whole car condition (not just cosmetic condition) and check and cross reference any information you get particularly the history to the car.

You've not put the year of the car or it's engine really, an engine code is useful. or gearbox. You might get more responses and more detailed information by looking at and/or asking in the 'Skoda Superb Mk3 (2015 - 2023)' forum (link at bottom of post) where owners of the model have real world experience o them and may have a better idea of costs and values of the model.

Modern (VW) Škodas are very much VWs but with things arranged so they don't get too close (or overtake) the more expensive named brand. Also of course many parts are VAG (VW, Audi).

General info from me. -

The car you have driven may be an excellent, mechanically and electrically very well kept example but unless you have driven a few of the same model, year, engine, gearbox, possibly trim level it will be (very) difficult to know how good just (this) one is with another or others as a comparison.

The "services" on these modern cars amounts to little more than an annual engine oil and filter change, which isn't even a service for the engine let alone the car and it's more important systems, components and parts. The "service" includes a look see for any chargeable work which often are quite rightly turned down or ignored. The "services" need to have been done thoroughly (uhmmm) and on a timely fashion.

Then VWŠkoda UK have "maintenance schedule" items which really should be part of services but the German marques have their own way of doing things (and specification numbers in addition to what others use). These items also need to be done thoroughly (uhmm) and in a timely fashion.

So check what "services" and " maintenance schedule" items and work should have been done to this particular car at times and mileages, whichever is sooner in each, that these have been done and on time, check and ross reference all.

An MoT is reassuring especially with no advisories but it is only to one person's (hopefully trained) opinion at that one point in time that the car meets the minimum statutory standards it doesn't mean that the car is as good as it should or could be or that it might not fail the MoT as it's driven away from that MoT.

If the car didn't get regular use and/or mostly short journeys do check the state of charge and health of the battery as these modern cars, particularly those with start/stop rely heavily on the 12v battery to keep the complex and intertwined computer systems and programs happy and if the state of charge (and health) is too low for them they will make you suffer for it with all sorts of unexpected issues, warnings, warning lights, unseen error codes, even when the headlights seem bright enough and the engine starts. Plus a Superb often has more electrical "assists", "aids" and comfort gadgets. Often all that is required to sort things is to properly recharge the battery or (expensive) battery replacement and possibly 'coding'.

Good luck, I'm not a VW fan so I would always suggest an older Toyota or Honda.

Skoda Superb Mk3 (2015 - 2023)' forum. - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/299-skoda-superb-mk3-2015-2023/

Agree with Nigel @nta16 - you need to give us more details if you want a knowledgeable(ish) answer.

At a guess, I'd say it's petrol, so is likely to be the EA888 gen 3 engine, which is a fairly robust unit. But is it manual or DSG (DQ250?)?, what service history does it have, any out of service repairs, what MOT history, any insurance history? Can you show us the advert?

Gaz

1 hour ago, Gaz said:

At a guess, I'd say it's petrol, so is likely to be the EA888 gen 3 engine, which is a fairly robust unit. But is it manual or DSG (DQ250?)?, what service history does it have, any out of service repairs, what MOT history, any insurance history? Can you show us the advert?

Gaz

Thank you both for the replies @Gaz @nta16

Realised I didn’t put enough info in the there!

Here’s the link to the auto trader ad -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501218234963?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios-app

It’s a DSG 6 speed, 2.0l petrol. Full Skoda service history with no out of service repairs that he’s told me about. He’s got paper print outs / copies of the services which I’ve seen but doesn’t have a service log book, is that normal? Can I check the services and what’s been done somehow? Standard things like oil change and filters have been done but hard to see if for example the panoramic sunroof has been serviced or the gearbox etc. He purchased the car from a friend who works at a Skoda garage and had the car as is company car, I think. So he’s technically the first owner but it was originally registered with the garage, is that normal? Most of the services he’s had done are at this garage.

MOT history is full and looks pretty standard, one fail due to a nail in tyre, shock absorber with light misting, wiper that needs replacing. He's only put 2k miles on it in the last year I think because he’s been wanting to sell.

He’s had the front pads and discs replaced recently and had a new water pump recently fitted. I’ve read that new advice concerning the timing chain is that it doesn’t need replacing until 120-140k miles is that right?

I’ve done a HPI check and everything looks good, no outstanding credit etc. I’ve cross checked the VIN number on the v5c to the one on the car and they match up so that’s all correct.

Visual inspection of the car looked good, apart from a few dents and some peeling paint, it does look like he’s taken care of it. The test drive was good too but I'm not an expert or hugely knowledgeable on cars as you can probably tell so hard to know.

What else should I be looking at, and what do you think about pricing? This will be my first used car purchase so a little out of my depth here.

Edited 7 April7 Apr by Rotcon

It's got the same engine and DSG (yes it will be the DQ250) as I have in my current 2018 Golf GTI, and the same as was in my previous 2015 Octavia vRS. So it'll also be the EA888 gen 3 engine. I like both the engine and DSG, which have both been robust in my experience.

As it has a timing chain, there is no change interval like there is with belted engine (until couple of years ago, belted engine had a much more frequent belt change interval). Autodoc says the timing chain should be changed every 150,000km.

The DQ250 DSG should be serviced every 40,000 miles (oil and filter), so you should expect to see evidence of one service at least (Looks like he's had it since June 2020).

It looks tidy enough from the photo's, and I'd have said the price was quite reasonable. MOT history looks sound, and unremarkable. What are the tyres like?

For servicing, it obviously depends on who serviced it. You could have a chat with the garage that did, or maybe pop into your local Skoda and ask if they have any info on the car. It's normal for there to be no service book - all digital these days I'm afraid. If you want peace of mind, why not have in inspected by a third party.

If it helps, had this car been for sale a year ago, I'd have gone to look at it.

Gaz

Edited 7 April7 Apr by Gaz
Not reading the previous post properly. Doh!

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

but doesn’t have a service log book, is that normal?

Yes they have PITA digital (on a computer/in the ether) service records now which if the car has had the services done at VWŠkoda garages should be recorded, a Dealership given the reg and VIN should be able to give you a paper printed copy of the "Complete record" that is on that database - as with all databases and information there can be errors and omissions, and I can personally assure you VWŠkoda (UK) can have errors in the record (how from the Dealership inputs is beyond me but you are not only dealing with humans but also humans and their computers inputs and programming.

Do bear in mind very little work is done at a "service" on the engine let alone the much more important systems, components and parts on the car. The "Maintenance" work offers a little more scope and should be shown on the "Complete" or "individual" service records.

Does anything need servicing on a panoramic roof (other than keeping your 12v battery in reasonable condition, I doubt any clean, and if required lubricating, would come under any "service" or "maintenance". schedule.

5-6 years old company car I'd expect to see changes of brake fluid, cabin and engine filters, sparkplugs, air-con service, some I'd expect more than one change.

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

but it was originally registered with the garage, is that normal?

Sounds right - but don't expect too much that is good to be normal with the UK motor trade. Unless the owner's friend left working for the garage I'd wonder why he didn't have it serviced at the place.

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

MOT history is full and looks pretty standard, one fail due to a nail in tyre, shock absorber with light misting, wiper that needs replacing.

Note what I put before about MoTs (particularly if done in-house, in-trade or maters). VWŠkoda dampers ("shock absorbers") seem to be poor quality and "mist" from months old and fail far too early, the have to be replaced with better quality ones to break the replacement cycle.

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

He's only put 2k miles on it in the last year I think because he’s been wanting to sell.

That is not so good in two respects, very low mileage like that isn't good for the car, they are designed and built to be driven. Do check the 12v battery has been looked after during that time or replaced and that no "services" have been missed or later just because of the lack of mileage. Also not so good he couldn't sell the car in a year but that might be seller expecting too much money for the car or many, many other reasons, perhaps some might be good for the buyer now - or not good.

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

I’ve done a HPI check and everything looks good, no outstanding credit etc.

Sometimes depends how much you pay for these services as to how good and accurate the reports are, then they won't show anything that was never reported no matter how good they are, always get the best report you can and when certain on the car have it checked by a reliable mechanical/electrical/engineering service or person.

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

Visual inspection of the car looked good

I know I sound negative but it's not against you, however you say it's your first car purchase and even those in the car buying and selling trade for decades make mistakes and no one is born knowing so you want to treat your findings, initially at least, as ruling out cars you just don't like or want and not ruling them in without others actually seeing the car in the metal and then on to driving and mechanical/electrical testing.

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

and some peeling paint,

That doesn't sound right - why would there be peeling paint?

On 07/04/2025 at 08:39, Rotcon said:

What else should I be looking at, and what do you think about pricing? This will be my first used car purchase so a little out of my depth here.

You need to look and drive other examples of exactly the same to be able to judge and compare against this one. This is a large long car so should feel very comfortable, a better smaller shorter car may not feel as comfortable even though it's better. Until you have a lot of proof otherwise don't trust anyone related to the UK motor trade particularly car sales men (and perhaps some sales women), nor mechanics/technicians, sorry but that's the way it is generally I'm afraid.

The advert states "Excellent condition" and "perfect condition" you've said there are dinks and peeling paint, "FULL SKODA SERVICE HISTORY" so what proof is there of this and is it a full history, has ALL servicing and "maintenance" been carried out and at correct times(?). The advert blurb as usual has a lot of near meaningless stuff in it.

Do you want or need a panoramic sunroof and/or heated front seats, if not they're not features or benefits to you but more to potentially go wrong and drain your 12v (expensive) battery.

Do you need a big heavy (any VW product) car like a Superb (estate) or equivalent.

It's a 220Ps engin'd car so has it been ragged (driven too hard) or used for towing or lugging full on-board loads. 60k-miles isn't a lot but you know of at least one period of very low mileage/use have there been others or periods of very high mileage/use and late "services" and "maintenance".

19" wheels and tyres are large even for the decades of stupidly large impractical wheels and tyres fashion, are they too impractical for you and your use (on our 3rd-world state of roads).

I have no idea of the prices and values but to me near £16 grand is a lot of money and having wasted many, many, tens of thousands of pounds on cars over decades far too much to waste on any car (unless I get a big lottery win when I might go £20k on a "classic") and as I put before for an standard car I'd be looking at other brands of (slightly) older cars for the same money.

I don't envy anyone buying a car and particularly not in more recent decades, private sellers can be very unrealistic and trade sellers are well trade sellers, most are annoying nightmares that may have to be tolerated to some degree or made aware very early on not to try too much on if any at all. Remember there are lots of cars for sale and you are one-half of any purchase or contract so if you are unhappy with something and it can't or isn't sorted to your liking then don't be part of the sale or contract or exercise any right out of the sale or contract as early as possible, it's always buyer beware with cars in the UK.

Good luck.

On 05/04/2025 at 09:39, Rotcon said:

some scuffs to the alloys

Tr - careless parking.

And further to what everyone else has said, are the software and firmware up to date?

£16K for a 7 year-old car seems like quite a lot to me.

How old is your current car?

Look at the cost to change.

It's your money, and if it seems a good deal to you and you really like the car, then the opinions of other people don't really matter.

Bear in mind VAG cars need careful servicing and TLC. If you look after them and anticipate and employ preventative maintenance, they're great.

If you just get them serviced once a year/every 10K, you may find they can surprise you with some unexpected failures that you could have prevented by getting to know the expected failure points of the car and heading off the problem.

Edited 9 April9 Apr by EnterName