Morning Folks!

I’m currently looking at getting a used Superb for my commute to work over the winter months, it’ll be 50 miles each day and it’s a 4 on 4 off rotation so around 800 miles a month.

My budget is around £5k tops, which includes tax and insurance.

I’ve narrowed my choices down to a few, with the following spec;

2014 2.0 TDI DSG Elegance 4WD estate @ 167k miles

2012 2.0 TDI manual elegance hatch @ 128k miles

2008 2.0 TDI DSG Elegance hatch @ 102k miles

2012 1.6 TDI Manual Elegance Greenline estate @ 154k miles

2011 2.0 TDI Manual 4WD Elegance estate @ 160k miles

I appreciate this is quite the variety, with almost all of them being pre facelift. A lot of posts I’ve been able to see are from a few years back, and so maybe don’t provide the most accurate picture in 2025.

Any advice or guidance will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

If you go for 4WD try to find out if the Haldex unit has been properly serviced. These will be Gen4 I think which involves a removable filter and fluid change. Skoda don't recognise they have a removable filter so they often won't get changed and then block up which causes the pump to burn out. They also need the pump to be demounted to clean the strainer. The control units are also known to go faulty as the cover corrodes which damages the PCB. I know from experience having had to deal with all of the above...! Haldex however can be fully serviced as a DIY job if confident enough.

I have no experience on DSG boxes (mine is a manual) but I know there can be issues if not serviced.

Manual box is great but the clutch slave cylinders are known weak points.

Estates can be bad for rear inner wall tyre wear, worth checking that, you have to bend right down to get a close look at the inner edges.

Mine has done nearly 100k miles now and has had front and rear lower arms due to corrosion and wear, track rod ends, front and rear springs, front top mounts...plus usual servicing, brakes etc.

Try to get one with good service history, receipts etc.

1). 10K miles servicing will ensure engine is in good nick and turbo will last.

2). Look for good body work. Check rear arms are not too corroded. If they are not big issue they will just need replacing at some point. If they do change the shocks and springs at the same time.

3). Unless you need 4wd don't bother.

4). Unless you need an auto, stick to manual allow £700 for new clutch flywheel AND slave cylinder to be swapped at some point.

5). On manual car over 100K change gearbox oil. It will love you for it.

6). Odd ball tyre ware can be cured by wheel realignment. However to achieve this you may need some of the alignment bolts to be replaced.