Skoda Superb, wow.

Tea 1000 · 06-01-2010 02:29AM

flamegrill wrote: »

The dual opening boot is what swong it for me. We almost went with the Opel Insignia 160PS but the boot in the Superb and all the extras won me over. That and it was 4500 euro cheaper than the Opel.

It's not 4500 cheaper if you go for a more comparable engine in the Superb. More like around 2k or there abouts. You get more space and park assist in the Superb, and you get a nicer interior and better driving dynamics in the Insignia. So there's more to think about than a dual boot, which, if I chose a hatch-back Insignia, I wouldn't ever miss. You'd swear that Skoda are after bringing out a Bently Continental GT for €12,000 the way some people are reacting! It's a comfortable, well-spec'd car for an excellent price, but lets not get carried away here!

Nonoperational · 06-01-2010 02:42AM

Fine car, looks big and imposing. Id have it over a passat any day.

EPM · 06-01-2010 09:27AM

Best of luck with the new car. I know not the best looking from the back but there are some nice details. I personally like it. Would be the perfect car for a long commute.

Padraig Mor · 06-01-2010 10:13AM

unkel wrote: »

And that last photo doesn't do the car justice. It was probably taken with the front seats the furthest back. I had a look in one today in the dealer and the leg space in the back is comparable to a Merc S-class or BMW 7-series.

I actually don't know how Skoda managed to design this thing! More leg room than a long wheelbase Jaguar XJ (according to Parker's) and the biggest boot - well, pretty much ever. And yet, it's no longer than a 5 series. It just doesn't add up!

flamegrill · 06-01-2010 10:41AM

Tea 1000 wrote: »

It's not 4500 cheaper if you go for a more comparable engine in the Superb. More like around 2k or there abouts. You get more space and park assist in the Superb, and you get a nicer interior and better driving dynamics in the Insignia. So there's more to think about than a dual boot, which, if I chose a hatch-back Insignia, I wouldn't ever miss. You'd swear that Skoda are after bringing out a Bently Continental GT for €12,000 the way some people are reacting! It's a comfortable, well-spec'd car for an excellent price, but lets not get carried away here!

It actually was. By the time I got the 160PS engine, Sat Nav, Bluetooth (900 euro!!!) and the other bits that I wanted that come as standard on the Skoda it was 4500 euro dearer than the Skoda.

The hatch-back insignia which I drove 3 times on separate occasions before choosing the skoda was a very nice car. I just didn't like the rear view window. The view out the back is terrible, almost like driving a van. I had to consider my partner who is a learner driver when choosing aswell as it's "our car" and she wouldn't have managed it.

As the skoda drives similarly to my existing 06 passat it was the way to go. I didn't choose it just for the boot there was other issues aswell we took into consideration.

Both have adaptive front lighting which is a nice touch. The Opel has Opel eye which doesn't work in Ireland. What a pointless feature.

Paul

pburns · 06-01-2010 10:42AM

Tea 1000 wrote: »

It's not 4500 cheaper if you go for a more comparable engine in the Superb. More like around 2k or there abouts. You get more space and park assist in the Superb, and you get a nicer interior and better driving dynamics in the Insignia. So there's more to think about than a dual boot, which, if I chose a hatch-back Insignia, I wouldn't ever miss. You'd swear that Skoda are after bringing out a Bently Continental GT for €12,000 the way some people are reacting! It's a comfortable, well-spec'd car for an excellent price, but lets not get carried away here!

Yeah, this Skoda worship is getting a bit OTT.

To me the Superb looks like a European interpretation of those fugly, wafty American cars - a Lincoln Town Car kinda yoke... Irish people always loved to get the biggest car they could afford even if it had a tinsy engine. These days the CO2 tax-bands and diesel means smaller engines are no longer a necessary evil (ironically!) but the the maxim remains the same - cover as much acreage for as little money as possible and to hell with aesthtics, dynamics or subtlety. I think it's deep within the Irish psyche - goes back to the obsession with land and having a big enough freeholding to feed your family!

Unless you need the space the Insignia is a nicer, much better-looking car that's nicer to drive on twisty Irish roads and easier to manouver in town (the Superb NEEDS park assist!)

I applaud the fact Skoda offer something different in the Superb and recommended one to a good friend with a family who wanted to move away from a MPV. But personally I don't believe it to be the dog's undercarriage many on here would have you believe and that there are more sophisticated options.

ianobrien · 06-01-2010 10:49AM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Even if they got rid of those lights on the boot door it'd look so much better, as it is they don't quite match up.

AFTER

Doesn't that look like the back of a Renault Migrane saloon?

niceirishfella · 06-01-2010 10:54AM

pburns wrote: »

Yeah, this Skoda worship is getting a bit OTT.

Agreed. It reminds me of all the Suburu Legacy posts............HOLD ON, they were by you!:D

ToxicPaddy · 06-01-2010 10:55AM

For that money its a lovely car, the estate version would be the one Id buy but with slightly larger engine, iirc there is a 2.5TDi engine and an auto box which would suit nicely..

I think what most people are amazed by is the spec, sure you can get crap cars that have loads of gadgets but in the end they are crap cars. Skodas, esp Octavias and Superbs seem to be good solid safe reliable cars and now are available in spec'd out with goodies that you would normally expect in higher prices marques..

I think thats what all the fuss is about..

Nice car and I can see a lot of people switching to this instead of buying a lower spec'd Passat or A4 as now they can have the VW build and all the goodies too..

Tox

R.O.R · 06-01-2010 10:58AM

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I actually don't know how Skoda managed to design this thing! More leg room than a long wheelbase Jaguar XJ (according to Parker's) and the biggest boot - well, pretty much ever. And yet, it's no longer than a 5 series. It just doesn't add up!

Skoda's patented TARDIS technology - only explanation I can think of

ToxicPaddy · 06-01-2010 10:59AM

Those alloys look very like the E-Class alloys.. Nice though..

TestTransmission · 06-01-2010 11:28AM

Comes as standard now apparently

633576375299705363-antitheftskodafinallystartedinstallingsecuritysystemsontheirbasemodels.jpg

Tea 1000 · 06-01-2010 12:12PM

flamegrill wrote: »

It actually was. By the time I got the 160PS engine, Sat Nav, Bluetooth (900 euro!!!) and the other bits that I wanted that come as standard on the Skoda it was 4500 euro dearer than the Skoda.

The hatch-back insignia which I drove 3 times on separate occasions before choosing the skoda was a very nice car. I just didn't like the rear view window. The view out the back is terrible, almost like driving a van. I had to consider my partner who is a learner driver when choosing aswell as it's "our car" and she wouldn't have managed it.

As the skoda drives similarly to my existing 06 passat it was the way to go. I didn't choose it just for the boot there was other issues aswell we took into consideration.

Both have adaptive front lighting which is a nice touch. The Opel has Opel eye which doesn't work in Ireland. What a pointless feature.

Paul

Fair enough if it has Sat Nav as standard with the Elegance spec, but anyone would want to be a bonehead to pay for an in-dash Sat Nav in this country. The only time you really need it is going abroad, and your Sat Nav back in the long term car park is feck all good. That and they're usually way more expensive than a Garmin or Tom Tom that do the same thing, except with the added benefit of usefulness without your car!

Matt Simis · 06-01-2010 12:39PM

Confab wrote: »

The estate is much better looking but the saloon is still fantastic. OP, did you get it with DSG? Manual in that thing would be a travesty!

The Estate absolutely looks better indeed, Saloon isnt too bad though.
Now bear with me, but I think it could be modded via aftermarket to look far far nicer. Some wider bigger wheels and slightly lowerer, blacked out rear taillights on the boot area only etc.

Also needs meatier engines.

.Longshanks. · 06-01-2010 01:08PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

The Estate absolutely looks better indeed, Saloon isnt too bad though.
Now bear with me, but I think it could be modded via aftermarket to look far far nicer. Some wider bigger wheels and slightly lowerer, blacked out rear taillights on the boot area only etc.

Also needs meatier engines.

quick 5 minute job

useless · 06-01-2010 01:09PM

Can you get a Superb Estate through a dealer in Ireland? The Skoda Ireland website has no details on it, but the Skoda UK website does.

flamegrill · 06-01-2010 01:25PM

I don't think the Estate will be available here till March 2010 or similar. But you should be able to order one soon from a main dealer... as they can take upto 12 weeks to come in.

nightster1 · 06-01-2010 01:33PM

the DSG box drives up car tax to the next bracket

nightster1 · 06-01-2010 01:34PM

looks like a pimped Eastern European car!

OldmanMondeo · 06-01-2010 02:05PM

I will be the first to admit that I was snobbish toward Skoda, but looking at the Estate, I would certainly consider it next time. On a quick look I tought it was a 5 series..

niceirishfella · 06-01-2010 02:10PM

Skoda have a decent range of cars these days. They have come a long way in the last decade. With this rate of improvement it'll be interesting to see what they have on offer in 2020.

daveharnett · 06-01-2010 02:13PM

unkel wrote: »

And it even parks itself :eek:

Can it park itself in a space that isn't large enough to accommodate a bus? Not exactly the most challenging maneuverer in that video!

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I actually don't know how Skoda managed to design this thing! More leg room than a long wheelbase Jaguar XJ (according to Parker's) and the biggest boot - well, pretty much ever. And yet, it's no longer than a 5 series. It just doesn't add up!

Apples and pears. The XJ and the 5 are rear wheel drive, and carry bigger engines - they need room up front to mount a straight six or V8 (edit: or V10:D) lengthwise, while the superb has 4 pot engines mounted sideways. Saving that much from the length of the engine compartment gives a lot more flexibility in designing the passenger area.

That double hinged boot is awfully clever, but the estate does look better to me.

TomMc · 06-01-2010 02:16PM

People are forgetting that Skoda's are cheap and cheerful workhorse vehicles, not style or design statements. Since most cars in the VAG family share the same mechanicals / underpinnings, even similar furnishings in higher spec cars, the cars are styled to differentiate from each other and appeal to diverse demographics, not compete against one another. (Tyre and electronic manufacturers do the same, create similar enough products, with different price points / markets without compromising parent brand identity and values. The prime focus to increase market share).

The styling of VAG vehicles reflects their indigenous origins. So a Seat primarily looks Spanish or mediterranean in flavour, a Skoda Czech or Eastern European, VW's Germanic and Audi's more avant garde. If you look back at Skoda's pre-VW ownership you will get a sense of where the dated (to some) or slightly oddball (to others) looks come from.

VolvoMan · 06-01-2010 02:39PM

I quite like the Superb, it's just I think the back is absolutely vile. The stingy Skoda image doesn't help either.

Just looking there, the 3.6 V6 looks extraordinary value for money if you can live with the 2k a year road tax.

Annuv · 06-01-2010 02:46PM

Longshanks100 wrote: »

quick 5 minute job

That looks great, very r36 like shape

Anan1 · 06-01-2010 02:53PM

VolvoMan wrote: »

Just looking there, the 3.6 V6 looks extraordinary value for money if you can live with the 2k a year road tax.

Was just thinking the same thing myself. It's also (quite bizarrely) the only model available with both awd and automatic.

.Longshanks. · 06-01-2010 02:54PM

Im not dying about the saloon, but the estate could really grow on me - especially after it was pimped

Alun · 06-01-2010 02:58PM

Longshanks100 wrote: »

Im not dying about the saloon, but the estate could really grow on me - especially after it was pimped

I agree, that back end on the saloon is truly awful, but the estate is a totally different thing altogether. A bit big for me though.

niceirishfella · 06-01-2010 03:31PM

TomMc wrote: »

People are forgetting that Skoda's are cheap and cheerful workhorse vehicles

not anymore.:)
They can't be shoeboxed into that statement for now on in.

beetlebailey · 06-01-2010 05:54PM

WOW...Reading these posts I`m amazed at how excited some people are about the prospect of owning a Skoda.:rolleyes:
And as for parting with 29k for the privillage:eek:

'its a cheap volkswagen\audi' ,who are you trying to convince?
Oh and I`m no badge snob, I drive a crappy Almera ffs! but atleast I`m under no illusion about it.:D

Skoda Superb, wow.

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