Should I buy a used Skoda Superb diesel?

I am looking for a used Skoda Superb estate as our family car as I am 6-feet 3-inches and my teenage sons are 6-feet 5-inches and 6-feet 1-inch (and growing). We also have two Labradors to transport. The Superb seems to be the only car that provides the required legroom in both front and back. However, it will only be used for school runs and local journeys, with the occasional longer journey once a month or so. From reading your numerous letters in The Telegraph this usage suggests we should have a petrol engine. However, therein lies the problem.

The Skoda website shows just eight used petrol Superb estates in the whole of the UK. This drops to a mere four if you exclude the costly and thirsty 3.6 V6 and the presumably underpowered 1.4 TSI. I have also looked at E-class and Audi A6 estates up to three years old, although not as good on legroom, and again there are very few petrol examples. Am I right in avoiding the diesel engine versions?

Asked on 25 May 2013 by PC, via email

Answered by Honest John
If you are prepared to take the car for a longer run of 50 miles or so every week then you could go for diesel, but the Superb has not been problem free: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/superb-estate-...d and www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/superb-2008/?s...d

Adding a Mondeo estate to your list gives you a bigger net. Generally, readers have fewer DPF problems with Mondeo diesels than with Skodas, and the Mondeo 1.6i EcoBoost is a 40 - 45mpg car that avoids all diesel problems.
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