RE: Happy 20th birthday Skoda Superb!

RE: Happy 20th birthday Skoda Superb!

Friday 10th September 2021

Happy 20th birthday Skoda Superb!

Many were unsure of an executive Skoda saloon in 2001; more fool them



It's rare we ever remember the exact date that exciting things happened in the history of automotive. And yet here we are, celebrating the exact moment (...give or take a day) we saw the debut of the 21st century Skoda Superb. Revealed at the Frankfurt motor show ahead of production kicking off in the October and sales commencing in 2002, it was uncharted territory for Skoda under VW: the Felicia, Fabia and Octavia had shown considerable promise, but a large (4.8m long) executive saloon wasn't like anything it had attempted before.

There had been Superbs in Skoda's back catalogue, however, dating all the way back to 1934. In fact, almost 900 were built in the 15 years to 1949, with six-cylinder (640 and Type 902) and V8 (Type 913, 919 and 924) models offered. So there we are, tangible history - not just corporate confidence with VW's money behind them.

The Superb story has been an extremely successful one since then, with 1.5 million units delivered - more than 700,000 of those being the current generation. The combination of space, quality, style and value has made the Superb popular with British buyers, too, not least with some intriguing engine choices. Over the past 20 years the Superb has been offered with both the 2.8- and 3.6-litre VR6, the 2.5-litre V6 TDI and, perhaps most memorably, a 280hp version of the EA888 2.0-litre turbo. As well as proving a fantastic addition to the PH Fleet, the Superb 280 was launched to the world in a drag race with some classic supercars. And that's cool.


The Superb's popularity can be seen by how many are for sale. Currently PH has 244 Superbs on offer, which is the same amount as the Karoq and almost twice the number of Yetis. And, well, it would be rude not to see what was on offer given the significance of the anniversary...

The Superb has, unsurprisingly, become a Shed favourite over the years, and they're still available for a pittance; the V6 TDI may not be the best bet 160,000 miles into its life, but doesn't the original look smart in red? The second-generation car was most notable, for PH at least, in offering the 3.6 V6 as a profligate range-topper; our recent Spotted on a wagon was one of the most read stories of July, showing how much it's loved. That car has sold now, and sadly no others are available, but this must be just as rare: a Laurin & Klement TDI estate, in Petrol Blue with Dakota Brown heated and cooled (!) leather. Your family will thank you for spending £11k on that one.

Finally, we couldn't do this without mentioning the 280hp cars. Inevitably the estates hold the most appeal, but you'll need £25k for one of those currently available on PH. Or even more for one of the later 272hp cars. So, how about this? For £17k one of the early hatches is available, in Executive trim with 32,000 miles. On small wheels and an unassuming colour, it's peak Superb 280 - looks like a cab, goes like a Golf R. And if you need it faster still, don't forget PHer 'micloi' made one with 560hp...















Author
Discussion

BigChiefmuffinAgain

Original Poster:

1,054 posts

97 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
In some of its guises, probably the best Q car ever made....

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
I want one. Been keeping an eye out for a dragon green diesel estate with a pan roof for ages.....

waynecyclist

8,600 posts

113 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
Chicken Chaser said:
I want one. Been keeping an eye out for a dragon green diesel estate with a pan roof for ages.....
I would avoid the sunroof option, tend to leak badly

loudlashadjuster

5,083 posts

183 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
Had a fully-loaded 2017 L&K 280 estate. Literally, superb.

Better than current 2020 A6 Avant in almost every way, despite its list price being almost double the Skoda's.



Edited by loudlashadjuster on Friday 10th September 10:40

ChrisCh86

832 posts

43 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
Bought my 2016 Superb 280 L&K in March 2020, fantastic car for the family - especially once I'd updated the infotainment to the later MIB 2.5 version.

Not the sharpest handling (what do you expect), but a fantastic all-round package and fast too.

rjfp1962

7,611 posts

72 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
I worked at a Skoda Dealership between 2006-2012 so became very familiar with the MK1/2 models..
Not my kind of car personally, but very comfortable and well built.. Brilliant for putting the miles under your belt on the motorway, and I do remember when the MK2 came out, I think in late 2008, the dual operation boot system was impressive as was the self parking itself between 2 already parked vehicles...!

N-ry VIII

1,032 posts

236 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
I'm still disappointed that after naming the Superb, they didn't continue the theme.

Imagine the Octavia being called the "Reasonable" and the Fabia being called the "Meh"..... hehe

benzinbob

750 posts

55 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
waynecyclist said:
Chicken Chaser said:
I want one. Been keeping an eye out for a dragon green diesel estate with a pan roof for ages.....
I would avoid the sunroof option, tend to leak badly
As with all sunroofs, can be repaired with some £££s

waynecyclist

8,600 posts

113 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
benzinbob said:
waynecyclist said:
Chicken Chaser said:
I want one. Been keeping an eye out for a dragon green diesel estate with a pan roof for ages.....
I would avoid the sunroof option, tend to leak badly
As with all sunroofs, can be repaired with some £££s
Yes but why bother with the hassle, no sunroof means no issues

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
N-ry VIII said:
I'm still disappointed that after naming the Superb, they didn't continue the theme.

Imagine the Octavia being called the "Reasonable" and the Fabia being called the "Meh"..... hehe
biggrin

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
The new wave of Skodas are such good cars, they seem to have positioned themselves were Volvo were a few years ago now Volvo have gone chasing Audi. Its a shame they don't make things like the Yeti or Roomster anymore, The Yeti was a brilliant car and the Roomster was very quirky, both could have been replaced with things a bit more interesting than the bland crossovers that replaced them. I was recently looking at buying a Skoda but ended up with a Dacia, the Duster is a brilliant car for the price but I ended up with a Logan Stepway because of the huge boot, the recently announced Jogger looks spot on and probably as good a family car as you could get, kinda like a stretched Yeti in concept

benzinbob

750 posts

55 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
waynecyclist said:
benzinbob said:
waynecyclist said:
Chicken Chaser said:
I want one. Been keeping an eye out for a dragon green diesel estate with a pan roof for ages.....
I would avoid the sunroof option, tend to leak badly
As with all sunroofs, can be repaired with some £££s
Yes but why bother with the hassle, no sunroof means no issues
No I do hear you, I avoid four wheel drive cars because I don’t need it and i feel it’s £££s waiting to go down the drain if something goes wrong. I love a sunroof though, would be nice in a cruiser like this.

ahenners

594 posts

125 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
The generations show just how far Skoda have come as a brand over the past 20 years. For me a lot of their models are now better and more desrlirable than the equivalent Volkswagen alternative.

I'd quite like a Superb Sportline 272 if this crazy used market settles and a facelift example comes up.

Martin 480 Turbo

601 posts

186 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
barfed my lunch.

Not ph worthy.

Eysores all over Europe for 20 years now.

We were all good when Ford had killed off the Granada and Opel/Vauxhall their cheap fake wood, fake bling "near luxury" offerings.
Well, someone in VAG spotted a market there, and was right.

Will in turn be superseded by an until now unbeknown chinese barge bage, that will offer the same without the diesel sod, clogged filters and shot gearboxes.
Prefarably electric. Might have a key USP, that until now only Rolls Royce offers. A free umbrella? No. Perhaps silicone filled rims for "absolute" tranquil. Or a noise cancelling system for the always nagging spouse?

Let's ask shed for his suggestions. He will get one of them in 2035, anyways...

To all the Superb drivers out there: Start using your rearview mirror. You paid for it and seem to have stuck your views into that direction, anyways...

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
I always fancied a 2.5 tdi as my wafty work car, but I bought a Passat 1.9 tdi instead.

ecs0set

2,471 posts

283 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
Turbobanana said:
N-ry VIII said:
I'm still disappointed that after naming the Superb, they didn't continue the theme.

Imagine the Octavia being called the "Reasonable" and the Fabia being called the "Meh"..... hehe
biggrin
Have another! laugh

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
Where were the birthday celebrations for the Vauxhall Vectra, Volvo S40 and Toyota Avensis?

Escort Si-130

3,270 posts

179 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
It was a no brainer and if you was not a badge snob, it was a cut price Audi.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
The latest Superb isn’t a bad looking car. Not my cup of tea, but they’re pretty well made and vast inside.

The second generation is a very odd looking car especially in saloon format. It looks like there were two design teams, one for the front half and one for the rear half and they didn’t talk to each other.

donkmeister

7,999 posts

99 months

Friday 10th September 2021
quotequote all
The 3.6-litre Superb was a car I gave some consideration to for a daily load-lugger. A LWB R36 on the cheap.

Unfortunately, on the used market the "on the cheap" bit seemed to get forgotten with the 3.6s. No idea how readily they sold but the few I found were way beyond the 2.0T Mondeo / 2.8T Insignias for price.

ETA Here's a bit of madness... Autotrader currently has three 3.6s on sale. The first one has a one-way trip to the Moon mileage. The second gets you halfway to the Moon. So I've ignored those two as outliers.

The third is a 2012 with 67k miles and is up for £12k.

Whereas, there is a 2009 Passat R36 estate with 87k miles for £11k. Sure the Passat is older and has 20k miles more, but it also has an extra 30-40 bhp and won't attract any jokes about heated rear windscreens. Madness.

(I couldn't really find a suitable Vauxhall to compare as the closest thing to that Superb for age and mileage was an ex-cop car hence understandably cheap at £8k)

Edited by donkmeister on Friday 10th September 12:52


Edited by donkmeister on Friday 10th September 12:53