Hi I have an elegance 2.5 tdi. The gear change is, in my opinion, too low. If i am driving at 30 mph and slow to about 29, the gears change down from 4 to 3rd. Like wise at 40, if I drive at 39, it changes from 5th to 4th. This using both auto and trip. Does any one know if a remap or some tweaking will allow me to stary in the higher gears at lower speeds. On todays roads, spending too much time in 3rd is pushing up my diesel consumption.

many thanks:confused:

John

I concur; furthermore, the gearbox completely fails to exploit the massive torque available from the engine. In fairness the Porsche Tiptronic system used for the gearbox makes it very easy to nudge a cog up or down more-or-less at will. Still, it should not be necessary.

The V6 and an auto box is not a happy combination if you want efficiency. The reason for the "premature" gear changing is to restrict the operation of the transmission in the low revs / high torque area where there would be massive torque converter slip. The V6 engine is old tech (VE pump) and is not an efficient unit in its own right - although nice to drive with a manual box.

VAG developed the DSG system to enable high torques from diesels to be handled by an auto transmission without excessive losses.

rotodiesel.

Hi tarzy sorry about that, dyslexic fingers :-)

Raptor

It does the same on my 1.9 mate, won't shift to 4th until over 30mph and 5th won't select until over 40 mph, I've noticed if you get behind some plonker going slow uphill the oil seems to drain back as it would due to gravity and then the box doesn't seem to willing to find the next gear until you get on the level stuff again.

The V6 engine is old tech (VE pump) and is not an efficient unit in its own right

Don't wish to seem funny mate, but this is not the first time you've had really negative comments regarding the V6 Diesel. I find its probably the best engine in the Superb range. Good MPG. A mountain of torque and a cracking all round powerplant. And after a re-map it becomes an awesome engine.

Without a doubt it's old technology.

However my wife has a new Octavia with a DSG auto and I find it rather asthmatic and underpowered. If this is the same engine (with a different gearbox) that they put into the heavier Superb, then I can only imagine the consequences. I drive both regularly and therefore have a direct comparison.

I find the 2.5 Tdi ideally suited to the Superb and as a motorway cruiser easily surpasses the old E class and A6 (I had them as company vehicles) at half the price.

Fuel consumption is obviously heavier with the 2.5, but it seems to have almost infinite 'go'. Plus the sound it makes.

I think the guy has a problem with the 2.5 Tdi and Skoda in general - beats me why he drives one!

Look at the figures (source, Superb brochure):

1.9 PD manual 154 g/km CO2, developing 130PS.

2.5 Auto 213 g/km CO2, developing 160PS.

This shows that the V6 gives a 23% increase in power but a 38% increase in CO2 over the 1.9 - old technology.

I have few problems with Skoda (the build standard is good) but a major gripe with VAG for re badging a car and selling it with known faults (see water ingress thread). I have also found the dealers, especially glass palace converts, to be technically incompetent and dishonest (see Rainworth Motors review).

rotodiesel.

No problem with the figures.

However, which is better SUITED to a large, exec-barge, the manual or auto?

I don't know what the figures are, but I bet most E class, A6 and 5 series vehicles (similar in size and weight) have the auto box. The A6 did have the 1.9 diesel and an auto box combination a few years ago (I had one) and getting to 60 was optional.

Skoda dealers used to have a good reputation that has rapidly gone downhill with the advent of the steel and glass palaces (like BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz). MB have totally lost the customer service ethic and think they are doing you a favour by selling you a car. Audi is better and BMW probably the best. But in any dealer network you can find dogs.

Get a good dealer (or independant) and stick with them. Mine's fine.

All this won't budge me from my opinion that the 2.5 Tdi is better SUITED to the larger vehicle.

All this holds for a private buy (like mine. I traded in and took the car allowance). For taxis the better engine/box is the 1.9/manaul (for obvious reasons).

Just my two pennyworth

Thank you to all who responded to my question. This is my first Skoda and it was this site that convinced me to buy one + the good comments made about the Superb. I have had the car for 4 weeks only so still evaluating it. I have asked Custom Car for advice regarding a re map. Will this help with the gear shifts or does it simply improve pulling power. Is it worth doing and are they a good company to deal with? The Superb is a very nice car:)

Regards

John

It won't change a thing regarding the shift timing, I would assume it's like it is so that the box isn't laboured to death by ppl wanting 5th gear at 20mph tbh, just enjoy it as it is, re-mapping wont improve MPG, it fools the maxidot, but it wont fool your wallet when you fill up.