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Hi All
Thanks to the current Covid situation (lost my contract) I might need to sell our caravelle to save a few pennies. I have enough in it to have 10-12k cash to buy something else and was thinking about a superb. Need something comfortable for the family of 5, and we are used to carrying a lot of stuff when we go away, roof box and rack I think we won't be far off the Caravelle.
Nothing will be quite as practical as the caravelle for biking trips but anyone using a superb estate?
Alternative is to hang on to it and I've always got £££ sitting on it 😉
Thanks
Hang onto it for as long as you can. VW caddy maxi life might be a step down option?
Thats what I'd like to do, it has so many uses, wife is using it as an office on the drive at the mo :-). Another choice is to adjust the loan once things settle down, I haven't got to panic and sell it today but need to make sure I don't dig a financial hole. I suppose I could use it as a delivery van! I'll take a look at the Caddy - thanks
I've got a Superb Estate, I've always been slightly disappointed in the load area. Most of the extra length of the car is in the rear passenger area so you can easily get three 6 footers in there but the boot isn't much bigger than that of an Octavia estate. Also, the boot slopes quite dramatically so mtb handlebars etc don't fit as well as you'd think.
Otherwise - comfy, economical and reliable. Well I say reliable, mine currently won't start as the battery's dead after 3 weeks of sitting on the drive.
Thanks IvanDobski thats really useful info about the boot.
We're on our second Octavia estate - looked at the Superb but couldn't see we'd gain much in the way of usable bootspace for the extra size and money
Rear legroom is great - a friend with two growing teenage lads has a Superb for that reason
Big roof box and towbar mounted bike rack had seen us through family camping/biking trips
You can put loans and mortgages on a temporary holiday for a few months too to take any pressure off financially.
You selling the caravel....?!
Go on... I'm all ears!
DrP
Slight thread hijack, have been looking at Octavia and Superb and seem to think internally size wise much the same (estate)? also prefer the handbrake lever setup on the Octavia. So would it be fair to say you are paying another 3 grand for a fancier looking car ?
Basically it comes down to having a lot more rear passenger leg room or, with the seats folded, a slightly longer load bed.
The interior width of my superb is noticeable when I go in my colleagues Octavia.
Cheers Ivan Kids are up now so rear seats only used for shorter journeys also have camper if needed load space also just noticed I can get 19 plate pre registered 1.6 diesel for 14 grand was gonna go petrol but that is 3 grand dearer again.
I’ve got one that’s a couple of years old now on a silly cheap PCP deal. It’s been a good car - I needed something that could take a lot of miles as I was on a contract that was 120 miles a day to the office, got fed up of that so working a lot more local now.
I went for the superb as the local taxis all run them, usually a safe bet for what’s reliable. Mine has been fine so far. I don’t really have much need for such a big car any more as we bought a cheap van for riding as well, so may chop it in soon, but no complaints.
It’s certainly big inside, one of the most roomy in the back I’ve been in. I would say it’s noticeably bigger inside than an Octavia. It’s not been a bad car, even in a high spec, though, it’s not as nice as my old 5 series.
We had an E Class estate before getting our Caravelle and for what we carry weekly; dogs, kids, rugby kit plus then holiday kit, a large estate just wouldn't do it. We replaced our 'Velle with a Transporter last summer as we never used the 7 seats. I'd hang on as long as you can.
I had a previous model 13 plate Superb estate for four years. The only thing that went wrong with it was the switch to lock the doors became intermittent which was changed under warranty.
It was comfortable, very relaxing to drive long distances in, remarkably economical for such a large 4wd estate and had loads of room. The interior quality was a step up from the equivalent Octavia. If they had made a 4wd manual petrol model in the current generation I would have bought another.
The only issue is that for a big car you might not get three car seats across the back bench.
I've had my 17 plate superb since october, love it.
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If you're going to be using a towbar rack, try and get one with the factory fitted towbar as it folds away and is completely invisible when you're not using it.
SE L Executive or above is the spec to go for, gets you the xenon headlights plus a load of other niceties - try and get front parking sensors though as it's a big old car, when you get the front sensors you also get the 'all around' sensors so it'll detect stuff near the kerb.
Mine is an L&K spec, the highest spec model which comes with all sorts of stuff, but it was £18k for a 2.5 year old 35k miles model from a main dealer, so over your budget. You might find an older/slightly higher mile model L&K for 14-15k.
Mine has electronic suspension, 12 speaker canton stereo, heated windscreen, dynamic lane assist (will steer to keep you in lane), tri-zone climate control, front and rear heated seats, smart light assist (blanks off part of the high beam around cars), plus all the usual stuff like radar cruise control, android auto etc.
Mine is the 150tdi, 2.0 tdi with DSG, I get 45mpg on the 11 mile commute to work, and 50-55mpg on motorways.
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I’ve had my Superb since June.
I ended up with a hatch because I couldn’t find an estate in the spec I wanted (Sportline 190 4x4 DSG).
It’s a great car, not sure the Sportline is worth having in retrospect, the ride is okay on the motorway but a bit crashy around town and woeful on speed bumps, seems all a bit too much for what’s not that quick a car.
Been utterly reliable but I’d expect that for a 2 year old car from a dealer.
Boot and interior are absolutely huge, perfect for work and holidays etc, but I carry my bike on the roof. It’s not going to be near Caravel size of course.
I test drove a Octavia VRS estate the same day, my Superb, even being one of the ‘posh’ ones has some cheaper feeling bits but the Octavia felt cheaper and more fragile again.
I’m glad I went for a PCP, the GFV they gave me them seems more than optimistic, seems positively reckless now. I won’t be keeping it at the end.
Had a Superb Estate for 5 years and have driven a few Octavias. The Superb is wider, a bit more refined, is made from nicer materials and has massive rear leg room and excellent rear seats. The Octavia boot is impressive for a car not much bigger than a Golf but the Superb boot is huge, even compared to an A6, 5 series or V90. I now own a V90 and while longer than a Superb, it's all bonnet. Great for safety but rear legroom and boot space are less impressive (still good but not... Superb). The Superb was also very economical (140 tdi front wheel drive 6 sp manual), easily getting 53mpg daily and 60+ on a holiday run. Can recommend.
Look at prices. I was buying 2 years ago. Local dealer wanted 16k for a 2 year old Octavia Estate. An extra 2k got me a new Superb.
I drive Skoda estates at work. Back to back the Superb is quieter. I suppose they must stick a bit more soundproofing in the Superb v the Octavia. Mine has the fold flat front passenger seat with that down I can carry 3m long planks inside the car.
That said I don't think there is any deal breaker between the two. Price and condition as always for second hand.
With 1.4tsi engine I get high 40s mpg at 75 on the motorway. Low 50s mpg at 55 to 60 mph Glasgow to the highlands A road driving.
I’ve just (couple of months ago) bought a 13 plate Superb estate.
Corny, but it really is Superb. It’s the Elegance model and it’s a step up from the Passat Highline it replaced. Except for the boot space. The Superb slopes at the rear window in comparison to the Passat. Otherwise it’s very nice. I can fit both my lanky Boys, both 6’+, in the back and both have said it’s far more room than they’ve had in any car.
The only thing I don’t like is the 18” wheels and lower profile tyres compared to the 17” on the Passat. It’s noticeably firmer ride and hates potholes.
thanks for all the replies, ta11pau1 nice looking car and they aren't crazy money used.
DrP - i'll let you know! Hopefully things will work out but I'll try to hang on for it, at least it shouldn't spank money. FYI: Grey, 65 plate, LWB, leather, active cruise, 150 DSG, 67k - bloody love it
2011 1.4tsi estate superb since it was a year old. Fantastic family cruiser, holiday luggage with kids, wheelie bins to the dump. Inability to get 3 kids seats across the back is a bummer.
I've got a T5 multivan (euro Caravelle) as my only car. Tend to hire a lot when I'm in UK and so far the Superbs have been the best I've hired. Including the odd S4 or C Class random upgrade.
Don't think I'll ever get rid of the van but if I did, I'd want a Superb.
I might be selling it now 🙁