Big family car - Skoda Superb or??

[drgoatboy]

My 2nd Daughter has just been born but I am struggling with the size of my octavia estate. Although its a big car I am a tall chap and can't get the drivers seat far enough back to be properly comfortable with the kids seats in the back.

Skoda Superb estate looks like a good choice and there are some cracking lease deals out there or make a lot of sense 2nd hand but can anyone suggest something of a similar size that won't break the bank?
It also needs to be reasonably fuel efficient and its got to be auto. (I will commute in the car)

I'm trying to avoid big SUVs as they are just so thirsty and I'm running out of other choices.

Audi A6 is virtually the same as the superb but twice the price
BMW 5 series isn't any bigger inside than the octavia.
E-class, although I haven't tried one, I understand isn't much bigger inside.

Can anyone else suggest a big estate car?

Does anyone know how any of the japanese estates fair for interior space?

Thanks (and sorry for another one of those threads!)

[drgoatboy]

Thanks. Does anyone know if the mondeo or insignia are any bigger in the back than an octavia?

Forgot to say, I can't bring myself to buy an mpv!!

[drgoatboy]

Thanks superhoop. Integrates ting about the sedan. I have a lanky friend with the cx5 and he is struggling with 2 baby seats in the back. Is it similar in size to the 6 inside?

[drgoatboy]

Thanks everyone. Interesting about the Mazda 6. Is the sedan actually a saloon? I always assumed it was an estate?

Disco and xc90 are tempting but too big and heavy (read thirsty) for my commute.

V70 is tempting in r design but so hard to find one in the right spec. The superb is looking more and more tempting...

Anyone know what the big kia or the Hyundai are like?

[drgoatboy]

Superhoop said:

Sedan is the saloon, tourer is the estate....

Thanks. Was trying to avoid saloons. Loading buggies would be a bind.

[drgoatboy]

Thanks again everyone.
Some very interesting posts. Superb is looking great really.
Interesting the v70 is tight in the back and interesting the mondeo isn't!

I did have a look round the new superb yesterday and it would need to have the electrically adjustable leather. The base adjusts for tilt which it doesn't on the standard seats and it makes it so much more comfortable. May mean I end up looking 2nd hand rather than new as the lease deals seem to only be great on the se business.
Just have to sell my laguna coupe now...

Edited by drgoatboy on Sunday 29th November 19:41

[drgoatboy]

I have the seats a long way back. I'm 6ft5

[drgoatboy]

So after recommendations on here I had a quick poke around the new mondeo at my local showroom today. It is indeed very large inside and the boot is cavernous. With seat in optimal driving position I could just about sit comfortably in the back so would be fine for my kids in their seats too I think.
In my vet unscientific approach I would say there is very little in it between the mondeo and the superb in terms of legroom. Maybe the superb just edges it but not much in it. The superb feels more
Luxurious though and therefore somehow feels bigger inside. The mondeo is nice and has loads of cool tech ( the digital speedo is brilliant) but I think the Skoda would be the nicer place to be for a long drive..,

At similar prices I am leaning towards the superb but I haven't driven either one yet.

[drgoatboy]

I haven't looked at the Mazda. I was kinda put off by people's comments about interior space in the estate. Maybe I am being hasty.

[drgoatboy]

Ah yes. But it's not boot space I am after but rear seat legroom

[drgoatboy]

flatso said:

With small kids, especially babies get a used minivan, prefferably with sliding rear doors. No need to crouch down and nail the kids head everytime you put her in/take her out of the car, no worries about banging other cars with your doors in tight parking lots, room in the boot to chuck the stroller in without the need to fold it up/take it apart every time etc.etc. Speed limits averywhere, small kids in the back, you will not be rallying any car around. Look at the Mazda 5, S-Max and the likes.

I just couldn't bring myself to do it... I have kids but have not (yet) lost the will to live.

[drgoatboy]

Shaun_E said:

The only thing I've never got on with properly is the seats - they are VERY firm. It took me a long time to get them adjusted to a comfortable setting although I am a) short (5'5") and b) fidget constantly in most car seats - taller drivers apparently get on better although the seat pan is quite short. The steering wheel doesn't adjust enough for my preferences but it's OK.

Thanks Shaun thats a good tip. I'm not a fan of VAG seats generally (having had a few VAG cars over the last 5 years or so) and actually not keen on the seats in our current Octavia. I sat in a few Superbs at the weekend and would want the electric adjustment as the angle of the base is all wrong for me on the none electric seats and not adjustable.
Steering wheel seemed to adjust enough, I can never get it perfect in any car (except bizarrely in a corsa VXR I tried once which had a perfect driving position).
Its a tough one to judge though as you never really know until you have driven it for a couple of hours which is pretty much impossible to do on a test drive, I generally try and make sure I sit in a car for as long as I can on a forecourt if buying 2nd hand but its just not the same....

[drgoatboy]

Hemel

[drgoatboy]

I quite like the way the 508 estate looks but all the reviews I have read have said it was quite small inside. Any first hand experience?

[drgoatboy]

R-class is an interesting shout, I had forgotten all about them. Buts its still an MPV (albeit a bit more estate like) and they appear to be rather thirsty from the specs I can see.

Its a no from me! But thanks for the idea

[drgoatboy]

As a bit of a follow up I've been and looked round a few of the suggestions now.
Mondeo was quite big in the back but was a bit uninspiring.

Mazda 6 estate was smaller in the back than the mondeo but a bit bigger than the octavia, but only a bit, not enough to warrant changing. Great looking car though. Also had a look round a cx5 whilst at Mazda which felt like it had more room in the back but a smaller boot.

Eclass estate was bigger than the mondeo inside and a nice place to sit. Huge boot! Quite a bit of money though.

Superb is probably the biggest of the lot. Nice inside, but not a fan of the standard seats so would have to go high spec to get the electric seats. These are currently quite rare and there is a nagging doubt about buying a vag diesel at the moment with unknown mods that could adversely effect performance and residuals...

Think it's between the eclass and the superb really. Think I prefer the eclass but the extra purchase and service costs are making me think hard about it.

[drgoatboy]

Yep picked up my l&k superb at the weekend. It's a lovely thing but I am struggling to get comfortable in the seats. Hope I can sort it out as otherwise it's perfect.

[drgoatboy]

H

nick heppinstall said:

Take it you've purchased a stock vehicle ?

2013 car in the end....