In my search for a better car, I took a Skoda Superb PD100 for a 24-hour test drive at the weekend. I have to say I was disappointed! Certainly no "magic carpet" ride particularly at low speeds on poor road surfaces. Poor handling and "wallowy", so much so that it was nearly impossible to come to a stand without jerking. No engine braking worth talking about and 10 mpg less than my TDi 90 Octavia on the same roads at the same speeds. I am not surprised it hasn't sold in the UK or abroad. What is it good for, IMO, a taxi for motorway work.
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A Superb is a Mondeo class vehicle, the Octavia is in the Golf/Escort sector.
I would have thought a PD100 engine to be a bit small to haul a Superb about compared to a TDi90 in the Octavia, which might account for the remarkably precise but short term Skoda fuel consmption figure being down in comparison.
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There only Passats underneath and they actually sell quite well in mainland europe it is Vw's Flagship motor that does not sell even though they are on offer in Germany and are approx £15,000 cheaper across the range than in the UK.When you go luxury the badge counts and DB and BMW are still king.
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>>it is Vw's Flagship motor that does not sell>>
Bit ambiguous. You need to make it clear that you (presumably) are referring to the VW Phaeton...:-)
Incidentally the Phaeton is a superb car (NO pun intended).
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I agree it is a lovely car but when I look at the factory in Dresden probably only about 4 or 5 a day are coming off the line and somedays the line does not seem to move at all.(You can see the full production from the roadside as the factory is made of glass).VW say the might abandon this model and make Rollers here or is it Bentley
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The Phaeton is a great car, the Superb is an elongated Passat with no better dynamics, that being said the 130 PD performs OK and is well equipped, I know someone who has one and they are happy based on VFM. Skoda (VAG) are on a hiding to nothing with the name though.
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>>Skoda (VAG) are on a hiding to nothing with the name though.>>
Not really - most people now recognise that Skoda produces excellent vehicles and are, in effect, a VW with similar build quality, often better specs and a very keen price.
Superb is the name of a much earlier Skoda model that has been revived.
Let us not forget that the Czecks were always excellent engineers and I've got pals who still fondly remember their past Skodas and the fact that, surprisingly, they were rarely let down by them; same goes for one mate, now sadly no longer with us, who had a Lada Riva for several years and went all over the UK in it.
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>Stuart Lada were Russian.. iirc
madf
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I think he was making a general point that cars made in Russia and Eastern Bloc countries didn't deserve the crap they got.
Whether I agree with him or not is another matter though ;-)
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Adam
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Got it in one Adam...:-)
The Skodas were better than the Ladas but these were the two main "cheap" cars for many years - remember the Skoda Estelle Rapide that was regarded as a poor man's Porsche?
In the case of the Lada, build quality was such that they were practically rebuilt when they arrived in the UK at Immington; however the battery and exhaust were intended to overcome severe Russian winters and, in the UK, lasted for years.
Same with the suspension. Made to cope with Russian "roads" so pretty bombproof.
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The Skodas were better than the Ladas but these were the two main "cheap" cars for many years - remember the Skoda Estelle Rapide that was regarded as a poor man's Porsche?
Regarded by who as the poor mans Porsche? The only similarity was the rear engine.
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>>The only similarity was the rear engine.>>
Plus the handling...:-)
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See:
www.octane.ie/cult/forum/showthread.php?p=3936
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