Skoda Super 1.6TDI. Underpowered?

ballooba · 08-10-2013 09:44AM #1

Have a family member looking at these and I thought with the size of the car that the 1.6TDI might be a bit underpowered. From a bit of light research it seems like I was prejudiced? It doesn't need a 1.9 or 2.0?

YbFocus · 08-10-2013 09:47AM

The superb is a big car, the father has an octavia with that engine and it feels dead enough, can't imagine it in a superb!
As far as I know there is a 1.9 version.

ballooba · 08-10-2013 10:21AM

Just reading Honest John now and it looks like the 1.6TDI replaced the 1.9TDI and it outputs the same power.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/superb-estate-2010/?section=good

1.9 TDI 105bhp (replaced by a 1.6 TDI 105bhp in August 2010)

Sobanek · 08-10-2013 10:32AM

Power delivery is a bit different however.

1.9 TDI PD - 105PS @ 4000 RPM | 250Nm @ 1900 RPM
1.6 TDI CR - 105PS @ 4400 RPM | 250Nm @ 1500-2500 RPM

Top speed is also 187 km/h on the 1.6 TDI compared to 190 km/h of the 1.9 TDI.

TBi · 08-10-2013 10:47AM

The torque of the diesel makes it feel quite powerful. However as people said, the 1.9 and 1.6 have equivalent power. If you want something faster you have to look at the 2.0 and bigger.

ballooba · 08-10-2013 11:12AM

How would this compare to an Audi A4 1.8T? There looks to be about 200 kg difference in weight (superb is heavier). I have a B7 A4 with the 1.8T and 160bhp feels about right for the size of car.

TBi · 08-10-2013 12:19PM

You'd be better off comparing the torque than the bhp. The extra torque of diesel vs petrol makes it an easier drive.

jimgoose · 08-10-2013 12:21PM

Sobanek wrote: »

Power delivery is a bit different however.

1.9 TDI PD - 105PS @ 4000 RPM | 250Nm @ 1900 RPM
1.6 TDI CR - 105PS @ 4400 RPM | 250Nm @ 1500-2500 RPM

Top speed is also 187 km/h on the 1.6 TDI compared to 190 km/h of the 1.9 TDI.

Hmm. Am I reading that right? Is the 1.6 maintaining maximum torque flat over 1,000RPM? Bit of alright for a little jigger, innit?

stooge · 08-10-2013 12:27PM

Have a 1.6 TDI CR Octavia myself and it feels a bit sluggish sometimes compared to a 1.6 TDI Golf which is slightly lighter. Can only imagine how dead a superb would feel with the added weight. Superb is a great looking car inside and out though.

Drummerboy08 · 08-10-2013 06:36PM

I dont think its too bad in the Superb.

Big premium for the 2.0TDi.

ballooba · 08-10-2013 06:37PM

It would probably be a trip to the UK for the 2.0 TDI.

Bpmull · 08-10-2013 07:17PM

You can't compare a 1.6tdi octavia to a 1.6tdi superb. The superb engine is different and has a bigger turbo than the engine in the octavia so the superb actually feels quicker. At the same time the 2.0tdi would be better. But considering the size of the superb 1.6 tdi is not as bad as you would think in it.

My parents have an 11 octavia 1.6tdi and although it's not quick it's not sluggish either and it does 1100-1200km to a tank so you can't have it every way. My grandparents have a superb 131 1.6tdi and it's definitely quicker to drive.

Jesus. · 08-10-2013 07:21PM

Ridiculously under powered for a car of that size. Only in this Country would such a small engine be realistically considered by a significant amount of people for a large, heavy yoke like that.

A 1.6 in a big car is nothing but a bad joke.

ballooba · 08-10-2013 07:34PM

Jesus. wrote: »

Ridiculously under powered for a car of that size. Only in this Country would such a small engine be realistically considered by a significant amount of people for a large, heavy yoke like that.

A 1.6 in a big car is nothing but a bad joke.

It's also popular in the UK. Are you aware of the spec?

bazz26 · 08-10-2013 07:39PM

Jesus. wrote: »

Ridiculously under powered for a car of that size. Only in this Country would such a small engine be realistically considered by a significant amount of people for a large, heavy yoke like that.

A 1.6 in a big car is nothing but a bad joke.

You don't think they just designed and built a 1.6 Superb for the small Irish market? It is the entry level diesel engine of the range in most of Europe too. Also when it comes to diesel engines torque figures are more important than engine capacity or bhp.

Bpmull · 08-10-2013 07:40PM

ballooba wrote: »

It's also popular in the UK. Are you aware of the spec?

Op did your family member test drive one yet. Easy to drive one and if they find its slow you can get the 2.0tdi. In terms of spec aim for an ambient at least and ideally an elegance. The way people seem to be talking about the 1.6tdi you'd swear skoda took an engine out of an octavia and dropped it into the superb they didn't. They'll never be quick but the turbo kicks in early and hard in every gear which helps.

Jesus. · 08-10-2013 07:54PM

ballooba wrote: »

It's also popular in the UK.

bazz26 wrote: »

You don't think they just designed and built a 1.6 Superb for the small Irish market?

Indeed, that's why I said "by a significant amount of people" not a small amount of people like you'd get in most other Countries.

I'm always very careful the way I word things on this particular Site because, as you boys have proved, its very dangerous if you don't

maidhc · 08-10-2013 08:34PM

A fully loaded Superb, with all that boot full, and 5 adults is unlikley to move with that 1.6 engine, and if it does you will have transits blowing you off the road!

My experience of a 1.6TDCi focus (109bhp) is one of woeful underpoweredness if you are trying to make progress with a full load. It is grand with just the driver though.

Foxhole Norman · 08-10-2013 08:50PM

My dad had a 2009 1.9TDi as a company car that was also one of our family cars for 3 and a half years. Fully loaded with 4 adults and 1 child + boot full + roof box it still managed to get 50MPG while also managing to cruise handily at 120kph. When he handed it back it had 220k kilometres on it and the only thing that went wrong with the car was that the air con hose came loose which resulted in a small bit of flooding in passenger footwear, this happened upon delivery of the car though.

Leonard Hofstadter · 08-10-2013 10:14PM

The 1.6 TDI in the Passat is anemic (well with a 6 speed box anyway, perhaps the earlier 5 speed ones are better), I shudder to think how slow it would be in a bigger Superb. Only in Ireland would the 1.6 be deemed to have enough power:rolleyes:.

PS: bear in mind that I'm used to driving a 1.8 Avensis with no turbo and 127 bhp, not exactly a car noted for being very fast, and I find a 1.6 TDI Passat to be slow compared to that. So, compared to a 160 bhp turbo petrol it's really going to be a let down. I don't get this whole 'diesel torque' argument either, yes there's more go than a comparable petrol at low revs, but if you hang onto the gears in a petrol there's no shortage of go at the top end, either. Petrols, especially non turbo petrols, deliver their power at a different stage of the rev range than a diesel, if you drive a petrol in the correct gear when you need to overtake they're every bit as capable as a diesel of equivalent power at performing overtaking manoeuvres - if anything it is nice the way you can leave a petrol in second gear at 50 kph and don't have to change again till close on 100 if you're overtaking - you couldn't do this with a diesel, that's for sure.

gowley · 09-10-2013 12:07AM

we have superbs as company cars and the 1.6 i think is the greenline. this was adequate but i would recommend going for the 2 litre with 148bhp if you can. there is also a 168 bhp which is excellent. apart from your engine problem i would highly recommend the superb for spec value reliability and dealer service

Henry Ford III · 09-10-2013 06:40AM

captainspeed wrote: »

The 1.6 TDI in the Passat is anemic (well with a 6 speed box anyway, perhaps the earlier 5 speed ones are better)....,

What difference would the gearbox make?

TBi · 09-10-2013 10:00AM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

What difference would the gearbox make?

Maybe he's talking about the eco version, it has different gearing for higher MPG rather than performance. Keeping the engine in the economy rather than power area.

EazyD · 09-10-2013 10:10AM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

What difference would the gearbox make?

Gearing ratios

whippet · 09-10-2013 12:29PM

I've put nearly 80k miles on my 1.6Tdi Superb in just over 2 years and I can honestly say that the unit, while not a rocket ship isn't 'under-powered' as seems to be the thinking here.

I replaced my MKV GTI with the superb due to a huge increase in family size and mileage; so I was more than used to plenty of poke in my car.

Twice now I have taken the superb to the south of france; fully loaded with two adults and two children with associated luggage and it was perfectly fine. I have people who never even sat inside the car telling me it would be dangerous for over taking etc ...... nonsense, half of my significant commute is along backroads and single lane N roads and I have absolutely no problem overtaking anything safely (just be smart with the gears)

I have stated before here that I am averaging in the high 60's MPG wise on my commute, the only problem really is at over 120kph it become quite thirsty, but with some smart driving you get the benefit of lower fuel costs and a big comfy cruiser.

ballooba · 09-10-2013 12:43PM

That's a heartening post whippet, the prospective owner of this is coming from something a lot more pedestrian than a GTI Golf.

Henry Ford III · 09-10-2013 12:44PM

EazyD wrote: »

Gearing ratios

It's not impossible to change down a cog you know.

Henry Ford III · 09-10-2013 12:46PM

whippet wrote: »

....I have stated before here that I am averaging in the high 60's MPG wise on my commute...

That's tremendous economy. I'm getting c.10mpg less and I'm still very happy.

whippet · 09-10-2013 12:50PM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

That's tremendous economy. I'm getting c.10mpg less and I'm still very happy.

most people don't believe me, but on my fairly long commute, I tend to never use the brakes (within reason) and my speed tends to be fairly consistent. Tyre pressure makes a massive difference.

There are days when I will be in a rush and have a much heavier right foot and my economy dips quite a bit; but my nature is to be up 10 minutes earlier than I need to be and am never in a hurry !

EazyD · 09-10-2013 01:48PM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

It's not impossible to change down a cog you know.

Yes, yes you can. Chances of the average buyer actually doing it though?(Assuming most Skoda buyers are not the most motor savvy) You asked the question, I gave the answer.

Jesus. · 09-10-2013 01:57PM

whippet wrote: »

I've put nearly 80k miles on my 1.6Tdi Superb in just over 2 years and I can honestly say that the unit, while not a rocket ship isn't 'under-powered' as seems to be the thinking here. .

14 seconds to sixty? :eek:

Skoda Super 1.6TDI. Underpowered?

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