Skoda Superb 3.6 | Spotted
There's now been a Skoda Superb for a quarter of a century - but only one with that VR6...
This month Skoda is celebrating 25 years of its Superb. Having made its public debut at the Frankfurt show in September 2001, there have been four generations and almost 1.8 million sales. Understandably then, Skoda is pretty proud of its achievement - you can imagine the jokes that definitely still would have circulated about Skoda calling a car Superb in the early 21st century. But through a combination of value, quality and being absolutely ginormous, the Superb has won over plenty of fans, from minicabbers to caravanners and plenty in between. In the nicest way possible, the current car is about as close to the first as is realistic 25 years later: unpretentious, very useful, with a strong powertrain lineup and a certain style as well.
Skoda has even made the effort to create performance derivatives over the years. The previous 280 enjoyed a favourable (and deserved) reputation as a Golf R for grown-ups, with punchy turbo power, all-wheel-drive usability and some smartly judged styling tweaks in Sportline spec. Its replacement, the 265, has slightly less power but promises much the same thing.
But there was a performance derivative (of sorts) before the 280 - remember the Skoda Superb 3.6? A car that could only have been signed off pre-2008, it paired perhaps the plainest Superb of all in the Mk2 with VW’s iconic VR6 in the nose. Not quite the full 300hp as in the Passat R36, but with 260hp it was more powerful than any Golf R32 ever was. That generous displacement meant a hearty 258lb ft, too; paired with the six-speed DSG it meant 62mph in six and a bit seconds as well as 155mph. Plus, just as importantly, the legendary drawl of the narrow-angle VR6.
Yet there was nothing sporty about the Superb 3.6. It was all about luxury, the prestige of having a large multi-cylindered engine rather than anything more enthusiast-oriented. Ideal Q-car fodder, basically, because it really was just the badge and modest exhaust pipes to mark a 3.6 out. A Passat looked like a touring car by comparison. Probably Skoda never envisaged selling many in the UK, and they’ve always been a rare sight. Those who wanted a Superb would likely be content with the humbler (read: diesel) engines; those who wanted the same lump in something practical would probably stretch to the Passat. Or any of the more ostensibly sporty alternatives that were around at the time.
The running costs will have impacted the popularity as well, and that will only have become more of a consideration recently. You’ll be lucky to get 30mpg, and a VR6 Superb (it still sounds odd) is in the highest VED bracket. Which is never going to get less expensive. On the other hand, it’s the most affordable way into a great engine.
How affordable? This one is just £4,995, which seems like a whole lot of engine (and car) for not much money. It’s in flagship Laurin & Klement spec, meaning heated leather seats for all, a pano roof and a smart set of 18s (that look in really good condition). The 120,000 miles with two owners look to have been gentle given the condition of the seats (the 3.6 is not the engine to have for urban use!), and there’s a flawless MOT that runs until the Superb turns 15 years old. What more Czech curio does the family need?
SPECIFICATION | SKODA SUPERB 3.6 V6 LAURIN & KLEMENT
Engine: 3.597cc, V6
Transmission: 6-speed DSG automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 264@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@2,500rpm
CO2: 235g/km
MPG: 28
Year registered: 2012
Recorded mileage: 122,320
Price new: £27,000
Yours for: £4,995
So, following the Granada recepy to the letter.
If you bought using their finance it nearly doubles the price!
I had one of these in Elegance trim, albeit the 180bhp diesel and it was a lovely thing with an almost limo feel to it. I could get 3 MTB's in the back - vertical with the front wheels off. The Columbus sat nav was brilliant.
However not sure I could stomach the tax and fuel bill on this - a later model 280 would be a much better bet.
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