F31 330d or Skoda Superb 280?

[clockworks]

2 quite different cars, but they both seem to fit my requirements:

Estate - for longer loads, rather than ultimate capacity
Decent performance
Reasonably comfortable
Budget around £20 to £23k

This will be to replace my Touareg. I have a Citigo for local journeys, so it will only be used a couple of times a week, usually for 30+ miles at a time. Annual mileage is likely to be less than 5k.
Very few 6 cylinder petrol 3 series estates out there, hence the 330d. Skoda 280 gives similar performance (at least on paper) and comes with 4wd.

£22k will get me a late 2016/early 2017 330d M Sport with reasonable miles from a main dealer. Skoda probably a year newer and less miles.

BMW will probably cost a bit more in maintenance, but use less fuel, so they will likely cost the same to run (assuming no major problems!)


I'd get more car for my money with the Skoda, but I've got my doubts about resale. I feel I'm likely to lose a lot more if I buy the Skoda and sell it in few years.

Your thoughts?

[SWoll]

Wasn't this already being discussed here? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[strath44]

Have you driven them both? Fairly different experiences on handling and power delivery.

Personally I would rather have the 330d - they are cracking cars and IMO you never grow tired walking up to them in a car park!

[ilikejam]

I'm pretty sure you'd be happy with either. There's a few 335ds around your budget that I'd probably go for over the 330.

Soper Lincoln are advertising a sub-5k mile 340i for a smidge over budget. No pics though.

Similarly an extra £1.5k (before haggling) gets you the one I'd go for purely because I like spangly things
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[clockworks]

It was sort of discussed in my earlier post, but I'm down to just 2 options now, figured I'd get more responses by asking a more specific question.

I haven't driven either yet. I have this unfortunate habit of buying a car as soon as I take it for a test drive, unless it's awful. I try and do a bit of research first.

I have driven a few older BMWs, including a couple with the 3 litre diesel. I owned an E61 525d for 3 years. The F10 5 series is a bit too big, so I'm thinking about an F31 instead.

The Skoda is a left-field option. It gets plenty of good reviews, is pretty much the same size as an E61, and the local Skoda dealer is very good. I had a look around a couple last week, but they didn't have a 280, so no point in having a test drive. Sales manager is trying to locate one for me to try.

335d is another option, but not sure about the added complexity for the extra performance which I won't really need.

[Shiv_P]

With your mileage I'd be looking petrol. The superb 280 is faster, petrol and probably equally well equipped . It may depreciate more but who knows what will happen with diesel cars as well

[ninjag]

What about the 330d with X-Drive? It's an excellent system and launch control is fun also. I had great fun with mine, it's pretty much a 5 second 0-60mph car and almost impossible to crash.

Shiv_P said:

With your mileage I'd be looking petrol. The superb 280 is faster, petrol and probably equally well equipped . It may depreciate more but who knows what will happen with diesel cars as well

I would have thought the trip mileage is more important than annual mileage? 30+ mile trips would justify a diesel I reckon although I wouldn't be put off a decent petrol either.

[was8v]

Pretty different propositions! Comparing apples with oranges!

3 series doesn't have a massive boot 495l, smaller than an octavia or mondeo.

Superb has a massive 660 litre boot, biggest in class (unless you get an e class).

3 series is renowned for balanced handling and a glorious 6 cylinder engine.

Superb isn't.

3 series if you somewhat enjoy handling finesse and that engine, or go 5 series if you need a decent boot.

If you don't care about that then get a superb, which will feel like it has a small boot compared to the over 800 litres of a touareg.

[clockworks]

I agree that I'm looking at 2 quite different types of car, but they both fit my needs - on paper, at least.
The Skoda seems like the best option for a petrol engined estate (given that petrol 6 cylinder 3 series BMW estates aren't exactly plentiful), but it's not the best driver's car. Plenty of space without being too big externally.
The BMW will be the better driver's car, but gives a lot away in terms of load space.

The Touareg may have a bigger boot, but it isn't really that long. I don't need a huge volume, I need something that will carry long items (with half the rear seat folded down) and is easy to load. The Touareg isn't that good in that respect.

An X drive BMW is a possibility, if I can find one in budget.

[ZX10R NIN]

My personal opinion is that the Mondeo is the better car than the Skoda;'s seem to depreciate a bit more heavily than the Ford, the BMW will depreciate the slowest but not by as much as you think.

Vignale 240

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

220 Sportline

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

SE L Executive

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

335i this would be my pick

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

or stretch to a 340i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Chestrockwell]

BMW is a much better bet for the money, if I’m paying 22 grand, I want a premium car, not an expensive version of a budget car.

There’s another problem, I don’t care how much power the Skoda has, it’s still a 2.0. I drove a new Golf GTI for a couple of weeks and loved the engine but that’s because it suited the car, small -ish hot hatch, manual box and FWD.

Once you get to Skoda Superb size and compare with a straight 6, it becomes a no contest.

I’m not saying the Skoda is a bad car, it’s definitely a good car and buy when compared to a Mondeo or Avensis but compared to a 330d BMW, it’s nowhere near as good.

I haven’t driven a Skoda Superb but I’m quite familiar with FWD biased transversely mounted engine saloons and they’re nothing more than a tool to compete with other cars on paper.

[Mr Tidy]

I'm biased as my last 6 cars have been BMWs!

But I just wouldn't enjoy driving anything as big as a Superb with FWD and a 4 cylinder turbo. Last time I had a FWD car it was an X-plate Seat Leon Cupra with just 180 bhp and it was like most VAG products seem to be - understeer city, with very limited traction when you try to accelerate out of a corner in anything less than perfect conditions.

But I really wouldn't want any diesel for doing just 5K miles a year!

I know petrol BMW Tourings are hard to find, but I managed to find an E46 325i Touring for a relative in 2016 and an E91 325i for myself last year. It was definitely worth waiting a few weeks.

[clockworks]

I ruled out the Mondeo because, on paper, the acceleration seems poor. 240ps and 8 seconds to 62, slower than my Touareg.

The 280 Superb is 4wd

[Big GT]

OP I went from the 330d to a Octavia Estate VRS (not the 280), and in that time I drove the Superb 4x4 (now back to a 530e)


BMW good...

Engine. The 30d unit is terrific, as much power as you need + torque and great economy on the long runs.
Great driving position
Solid interior feel
Good chassis balance

BMW bad...


DAB radio - Reception in BMW's is crap
Lacks steering feel
Less rear legroom than Octavia, less boot space
Common on UK road.


Skoda good...

Better steering feel (just) over BMW
Better looking car
Space - Massive amount of legroom and boot space makes it a good passenger car.
Better infotainment and DAB reception
Felt better screwed together than BMW

Skoda bad...

Not that the 2.0t was a bad engine (230bhp), just not in same league as 30d
Less economical - BMW ave 43mpg, 34 in skoda (but petrol is much cheaper now)

While build quality was great as above, the quality of interior and exterior materials is as good an probably where the cost are cut. For example so many paint chip on the front splitter and bonnet. Interior plastics felt cheaper and didn't wear well.
HOWEVER this was the Octavia. The Superb I drove had better perceived interior quality.
Better great grip and turn in traction, but chassis not as playful as BMW


Summary

Go for the Superb. But if you mainly drive alone in a spirited fashion and you can live with the terrible idrive then go for the 330d

But the Superb is the better car. Nicer to be in, nicer to look at, much more practical and shifts!

[ALawson]

Big GT said:

OP I went from the 330d to a Octavia Estate VRS (not the 280), and in that time I drove the Superb 4x4 (now back to a 530e)


BMW good...

Engine. The 30d unit is terrific, as much power as you need + torque and great economy on the long runs.
Great driving position
Solid interior feel
Good chassis balance

BMW bad...


DAB radio - Reception in BMW's is crap
Lacks steering feel
Less rear legroom than Octavia, less boot space
Common on UK road.


Skoda good...

Better steering feel (just) over BMW
Better looking car
Space - Massive amount of legroom and boot space makes it a good passenger car.
Better infotainment and DAB reception
Felt better screwed together than BMW

Skoda bad...

Not that the 2.0t was a bad engine (230bhp), just not in same league as 30d
Less economical - BMW ave 43mpg, 34 in skoda (but petrol is much cheaper now)

While build quality was great as above, the quality of interior and exterior materials is as good an probably where the cost are cut. For example so many paint chip on the front splitter and bonnet. Interior plastics felt cheaper and didn't wear well.
HOWEVER this was the Octavia. The Superb I drove had better perceived interior quality.
Better great grip and turn in traction, but chassis not as playful as BMW


Summary

Go for the Superb. But if you mainly drive alone in a spirited fashion and you can live with the terrible idrive then go for the 330d

But the Superb is the better car. Nicer to be in, nicer to look at, much more practical and shifts!

Nice summary, I have always looked in the boot of a 3 series touring and thought I wouldn't get much in one. Even the spacious Superb boot isn't the most practical shape.

[clockworks]

Thanks for that. I rarely use the rear seats for passengers, just carrying stuff that I don't want sliding about in the boot, so rear legroom is not a concern.

The fact that BMWs are so common, and that they all look the same at first glance, does put me off a bit. I agree that the Skoda does look nicer, inside and out. On the other hand, I'm sure a diesel BMW estate will be easier to sell on later - there are loads about because people like them.

Is the iDrive really that bad? I had an earlier version on my E61, and found I soon got used to it. I find touch screens a bit tricky to use on the move.

[The Voice]

BMW every time - a much more premium product than the Skoda. Looks better, handles better, better interior, better residuals etc.

The Skoda is big, but is a more basic / utilitarian machine than the BMW.

[Chestrockwell]

clockworks said:

Thanks for that. I rarely use the rear seats for passengers, just carrying stuff that I don't want sliding about in the boot, so rear legroom is not a concern.

The fact that BMWs are so common, and that they all look the same at first glance, does put me off a bit. I agree that the Skoda does look nicer, inside and out. On the other hand, I'm sure a diesel BMW estate will be easier to sell on later - there are loads about because people like them.

Is the iDrive really that bad? I had an earlier version on my E61, and found I soon got used to it. I find touch screens a bit tricky to use on the move.

The I drive is great in my opinion, navigating music is a lot easier than the system in the Skoda which the Golf had.

Not taking away anything from the VW system because it is good but I prefer the swivel wheel in the BMW, easier to type post codes and artists names while driving than the touch screen in the Golf. I never used the VW’s Satnav as it had Apple CarPlay so I used google maps. If you get a 2016+ BMW with the updated I drive, you can retro fit Apple CarPlay for 100 pounds.

It all boils down to how they both drive, again, the Skoda would be more comfortable and spacious with better visibility but it’s just a tool, with every BMW I have driven, I feel like you become a part of the car when you drive it, you sit low and everything surrounds you opposed to the armchair nature of most FWD budget saloons.

[Swervin_Mervin]

The Skoda's less likely to spend 3mo sat in a field because of an EGR cooler recall that's taking an age to resolve...Plus it's not a diesel, which in itself is reason enough. I'd rather be comparing to the 340i tbh.

As for the Skoda being an expensive version of a budget car - wrong way around. It's a budget version of an expensive car. Won't feel quite as premium as the BMW, but it's really not far off at all. We tried the similar sized Arteon and despite having a few nicer design touches, the build actually wasn't as good as the Skoda.

Handling, can't say as our Superb 272 hasn't yet arrived, nor have I driven the F31. I'd expect the BM to be more competent.

However, I have an E91 330i, been in a couple of F30 cars, and the wife has an F20 125i, and prior to that an E8x 120d. I find the later F-models feel far less inspiring in the handling stakes than the E models. There's a loss of solidity in the chassis - it's hard to describe but it feels as though the damping is far less well controlled. Maybe it's the shift to active damping and it simply not being as good as the old fashioned setup. It's firmly put me off replacing mine with a 340i though.

[Jag_NE]

Chop the Citigo in and get a 340i/335d. I don’t see the point in having a tiny car for local journeys when a 3er isn’t exactly big anyway.