Skoda v Volkswagen v Audi

redlead

The prestige of the badge aside, what's the actual difference between the different VAG brands? I currently have a Passat which I think has been a great car for the four years that I've had it. It's very comfortable, is nice to drive (underpowered though) and you get the feeling that it will run forever. I'm thinking of changing and the new Skoda Superb has caught my eye. I think it looks a lot nicer than the new Passat and you get serious spec for about 32k ie 170 HP engine, leather seats etc...

For the above money you are looking at a much more basic Passsat or a 1-2 year old A4 with crap spec and an underpowered 120 HP engine. Essentially what I would like to know from those that know more about cars than me is to what extent are the parts the same between say Skoda and Volkswagan cars? Do they have the same engines and gear box etc? Do they use cheaper materials to make the Skoda versus a Volkswagan? Essentially, I know what I'll be getting with a Passat or an A4 in terms of quality and I don't want to deviate from that.

ianobrien

OP, quick and dirty they share major components and chassis design. My Leon and the Fathers Octavia have various combinations of VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda markings on the mechanical parts.

Marketing means Skoda are for a driver looking for transport (basic sound deadening, comfort chassis settings). They do have some toys mind. Seat are for the younger more sporting driver (look at the Leon Cupra for example) so will have more flashy toys and sporting chassis setup. Audi are for the "discerning" driver looking for a bit of sporting luxury so will have more sound deadening, better plastics etc.

For example, the Fabia Rapid, Polo, Ibiza, Toledo & A1 are on the same chassis. The Golf, Tiguan, Octavia, Leon, New Passat, a3, Q3, TT (and probably the Yeti replacement) are all on on the same chassis. Its economies of scale.

wotswattage

I found you'd know straight away the differences in the interior quality of a Skoda compared to an Audi. This was comparing an mk1 Octavia VRS to a B5 A4 sport. The switchgear, road noise, plastic quality, stereo (especially the stereo!!) and fabrics used were all in different leagues.

The build quality of the Skoda seemed just as good -albeit using much cheaper components.

OldMrBrennan83

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keithclancy

Patww79 wrote: »

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Where does Seat sit in there ?

OldMrBrennan83

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vectra

redlead wrote: »

I'm thinking of changing and the new Skoda Superb has caught my eye. I think it looks a lot nicer than the new Passat and you get serious spec for about 32k ie 170 HP engine, leather seats etc...

Where did you get that price from?
Also I think you are wrong with the 170 engine.

It would be 150 / 184 .

Oafley Jones

keithclancy wrote: »

Where does Seat sit in there ?

Not even VAG knows what they're supposed to be now.

godtabh

ianobrien wrote: »

Its economies of scale.

Its modularity

redlead

vectra wrote: »

Where did you get that price from?
Also I think you are wrong with the 170 engine.

It would be 150 / 184 .

I was looking at Skodas website but that is for the current model. From searching online the diesel on the new one will be 148/187. It remains to be seen how much more the new one will cost I suppose

vectra

redlead wrote: »

I was looking at Skodas website but that is for the current model. From searching online the diesel on the new one will be 148/187. It remains to be seen how much more the new one will cost I suppose

Add approx 10%
Check a 140 elegance
add 10% for the new model with the 150
I think the passat 150 highline would be cheaper.

bladespin

keithclancy wrote:

Where does Seat sit in there ?

Younger drivers I think is where they're aiming.

Jesus.

What about the drive? What if someone didn't give a fiddlers about plastics, seats, stereos etc?

Are they that much different on the road? Is it just sound deafening that differentiates them?

vectra

vectra wrote: »

Add approx 10%

Is there a source for that?

ianobrien

Jesus. wrote: »

What about the drive? What if someone didn't give a fiddlers about plastics, seats, stereos etc?

Are they that much different on the road? Is it just sound deafening that differentiates them?

As somebody who doesn't give a fig about how soft the plastic is, how much dampening is in the grab handle or how many speakers the radio has (as long as its FM and full iPod integration I'm happy) its simple. The Skoda is set to comfort and are a comfy place to be for a long drive. The Seat is set for a sporting drive. The Leon has the same slightly numb steering feedback as the Golf and maybe slightly firmer suspension for example. The VW is a middle of the road and set to be all things to all men.

When I was looking, the VRS was 3k more than the FR, and the GTD 6k more when spec'ed to what I want. Thus, as they all are mechanically the same, I got the FR.

wotswattage

Jesus. wrote: »

What about the drive? What if someone didn't give a fiddlers about plastics, seats, stereos etc?

Are they that much different on the road? Is it just sound deafening that differentiates them?

Again my examples stretch a few generations back... The mk1 VRS was faster + more fun to drive than the 1.8t A4 sport I drove. Felt a lot lighter too. I haven't driven a normal Octavia or a standard A4 (I believe the sport suspension pre-dated the S-Line suspension) but could imagine an Audi being much more comfortable but a bit dull.

^The interior of a car is very important to me as I spend the vast majority of my time driving sensibly in traffic or on the motorway. It'd be a big factor in me choosing a 'premium' brand over a lesser one. Now don't get me wrong I love a nice car to drive but the reality of life is 95%+ commuting

vectra

Deleted User wrote: »

Is there a source for that?

That is the general estimation on them

Sobanek

ianobrien wrote: »

Its economies of scale.

"As the output increases, the cost per unit decrases as fixed costs are spread over a larger amount of units."

By the way, I would like to thank my Business Studies teacher for making me learn this definition off by heart 7 years ago and still not forgetting it

As on the topic. Audi>VW>Skoda>Seat in my opinion, but they're very close nowadays which means I would honestly consider a Superb over an A4.

ianobrien

Sobanek wrote: »

"As the output increases, the cost per unit decrases as fixed costs are spread over a larger amount of units." :confused.

Yes, fixed costs like development, engineering etc for the common components. The research, development and engineering has to be paid for.

OldMrBrennan83

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tmg

bleh

tmg

retracted.

pippip

OSI wrote: »

No, the Octavia is in the same size and class as an A3 and Golf/Jetta. Superb, A4 and Passat in the same and A6 above them.

I'd be Octavia, Passat, A4 as same class.

I wouldn't exactly be comparing the Superb with the A6 for anything other than size, think these two are two far apart when it comes to class.

cadaliac

OSI wrote: »

No, the Octavia is in the same size and class as an A3 and Golf/Jetta. Superb, A4 and Passat in the same and A6 above them.

You might be correct, but its rediculus, the Superb is the same size, if not bigger than an A6.

vectra

pippip wrote: »

I'd be Octavia, Passat, A4 as same class.

I wouldn't exactly be comparing the Superb with the A6 for anything other than size, think these two are two far apart when it comes to class.

Well I can tell you for a fact the octavia is a class below the passat and the A4.

Octavia is > Golf > A3. > Toledo

Gazzmonkey

Octavia might as big as a B7 A4 but not a B8 A4, they're as big as the old A6 platform.

cadaliac

OSI wrote: »

A Superb is 2,761 mm wheel to wheel.
A Passat is 2,791.
An A6 is 2,912.

Fair enough, but, you know well what I mean.
A differencec of 121mm from wheel to wheel hardly denotes a class {size} differential, imo.
Anyway, as i previously pointed out, you are correct.





I know where my money would go.....

Jesus.

OSI wrote: »

An A6 is the class above the Superb though, so it should cost more. The A4 is the same class as the superb.

Size-wise its the A6=Superb though

OSI wrote: »

A Superb is 2,761 mm wheel to wheel.A Passat is 2,791.An A6 is 2,912.

Wheelbase? What's the overall length comparisons?

Jesus.

Size means just that, IE the total size of the car. The A6 is 193.5 inches (length) and the Superb is just under 192. The A4 is 185 inches.

The Superb is closer in size to the A6 than the A4

vectra

vectra wrote: »

That is the general estimation on them

So it's a guess, which I suppose is fair enough. I saw two sites suggesting different pricing figures for the UK. One said the new model would come in at more or less the same price as the current edition, while the other suggested a price increase of around 7%. But it looks as if they were both speculating.

I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.

vectra

Deleted User wrote: »

So it's a guess, which I suppose is fair enough. I saw two sites suggesting different pricing figures for the UK. One said the new model would come in at more or less the same price as the current edition, while the other suggested a price increase of around 7%. But it looks as if they were both speculating.

I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.

No,
That is not so much a guess. I spoke with 3 dealers and they all estimate around the 10% increase.

As for UK prices and specs?

Superb S
1.4 TSI 125PS £18,640
1.6 TDI 120PS £20,040
1.6 TDI 120PS DSG £21,440

Superb SE
1.4 TSI 150PS £21,190
1.4 TSI 150PS DSG £22,590
1.6 TDI 120PS £21,590
1.6 TDI 120PS DSG £22,990
2.0 TDI 150PS £22,090
2.0 TDI 150PS DSG £23,490
2.0 TDI 150PS 4x4 £23,590

Superb SE L Executive
1.4 TSI 150PS £24,220
1.4 TSI 150PS DSG £25,620
2.0 TSI 220PS DSG £27,020
2.0 TSI 280PS 4x4 DSG £31,120
1.6 TDI 120PS £24,620
2.0 TDI 150PS £25,120
2.0 TDI 150PS DSG £26,520
2.0 TDI 150PS 4x4 £26,620
2.0 TDI 190PS £27,320
2.0 TDI 190PS DSG £28,720
2.0 TDI 190PS 4x4 DSG £30,220

Superb L&K
2.0 TSI 220PS DSG £30,640
2.0 TSI 280PS 4x4 DSG £34,740
2.0 TDI 150PS £28,740
2.0 TDI 150PS DSG £30,140
2.0 TDI 150PS 4x4 £30,240
2.0 TDI 190PS £30,940
2.0 TDI 190PS DSG £32,340
2.0 TDI 190PS 4x4 DSG £33,840

Jesus.

Never thought I'd see cars as big as the Superb with 1.4 liter engines. Speaking of which, is the 1 liter ecoboost in the new Mondy on sale in Ireland?

vectra

vectra wrote: »

No,
That is not so much a guess. I spoke with 3 dealers and they all estimate around the 10% increase.

Cheers.

vectra wrote: »

As for UK prices and specs?

On the face of it, the prices listed suggest that if you want to buy an S or SE you'll pay a little less than for the current model, but if you're buying an SE L Executive or L&K spec you could pay a little more depending on which of the range you pick. I don't see increase in prices of the order of 10% there, though I may be open to correction on some of the figures, and of course the specs aren't directly comparable. And in any case that's the position in the UK, and what happens in Ireland may be a whole other ball game.

Current price list for the UK:

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/new-superb-hatch/prices/list-prices


And a link for the prices vectra quoted for the new model (you'll have to scroll down a bit to get to them):

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/143635/new-skoda-superb-for-2015-prices-specs-and-release-date

OSI

OSI wrote: »

Why? Do you sit in the boot?

The Superb has a huge boot - sure we'll all fit in it.

The new model, by the way, has a wheelbase of 2,841 mm rather than 2,761. Still short of the A6, but closer than before.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

That Superb is superbly vile. Aesthetically atrocious. Please don't buy one.

OldMrBrennan83

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