Superb test drive.

[pinzvidz]

Popped into Gold Coast Skoda yesterday arvo to finally meet John (who looks after Skoda sales and sold my dad an awesome Octavia RS) and got the chance to have a look at the Superb. They have a couple in stock at present. Didn't have time to go for a test drive, but had a bit of a look at both cars. Wow, absolutely beautiful motor vehicles!

The more and more I see Skoda product, the more and more I'm impressed. I feel they're even better than already impressive VW badged product. This is coming from someone who has worked in many different dealerships for over 20 years.

And btw, I highly recommend anyone chasing a Skoda to see John at GCS, he's a great bloke to get along with.

[Jake02]

I reckon instead of lowering the price, they should add stuff as standard (especially compared to Skoda NZ - the stuff they get is fit for a king, and the price is hugely similar to the Aus range). The Superb should get a manual tranny option (for maybe $2,490 less on the TSI/TDI), as well as leather trim as standard equipment on the Elegance non-V6 (especially starting from $48k).
The Octavia shouldn't be changed (apart from the 1.4TSI to replace the 1.6MPI) but I think the Roomster price could be lowered, as well as stuff added as standard (16" Atria wheels as standard etc).

Oh btw Micko, the Aus Octavia RS has ALOT more stuff as standard than the UK (I went to the Skoda UK car builder, and the price to Aus-spec was equivalent to about $4,000 more than what we pay) such as the alarm, curtain airbags, 18" wheels, heated seats etc. And I'm sorry but the Octavia RS is a clear winner over the GTI. Same performance, alot more room and its cheaper. It's not possible to argue against that!

Oh yeah, I took a Superb V6 for a drive at my dealer. Its FANTASTIC!!! So much quicker than my RS, yet so much more relaxing and modern! Wow, I'm impressed!

[woofy]

I don't think NZ do better than us, their RS cost nearly 50k, although with their crap dollar maybe it works out better.

[davidh]

I had a test drive 2 weeks ago and ordered a Superb Elegance (1.8TSI). I have to wait until at least October because I couldn't resist ordering it with leather, sat nav, solar sunroof and park assist. First one sold in Perth, but won't be first one on the road. They didn't have any with my wish list in Australia, so it has to be made for me.

I think that sat nav and/or leather should become standard in the Elegance, but the dealer didn't agree when negotiating price. They gave me a good trade-in price, though. And Perth is the most expensive drive-away price in Australia.

[Jake02]

davidh:
Congrats man. The Superb really is a fantastic car! Lol at your option list - thats quite alot more...but it should be awesome when you get it!

I'm quite arty, so I designed a 2012 Octavia and I'm planning to send it in to Skoda Aus. Also attached with that are suggestions to as what I think they should do (I've put it into three areas of improvements - Dealers - more, some in dealer hotspots, Ads - like the Roomster pic with the surfboard on top in actual surfing mags - and the Cars themselves - what stuff should be added to the spec for no extra cost and also what stuff is standard on NZ-spec cars which are the same price as here), the specs I think the Fabia (when it arrives) should adhere to, the same with the Yeti and a Roomster re-spec/price-lowering.

Are there any suggestions that you guys think I should put in? Eg davidh suggests that sat-nav/leather should be standard on the Superb Elegance (which I've already put in actually). I'm gonna send it in about a week so if you think something should be done then drop us a comment and I'll be glad to put it on!

[gregozedobe]

I don't think NZ do better than us, their RS cost nearly 50k, although with their crap dollar maybe it works out better.

You have to be careful comparing cars from different markets - we get more stuff as std fitment than NZ & UK for example (IIRC our vRS has 'leccie rear windows as std, theirs doesn't, and I'm sure there is some other stuff as well). As is so often the case, the devil is in the detail.

[woofy]

Yeah something that surprised me was that not only the passenger but all windows are auto up and down...from the drivers controls ...haven't tested the rear ones at the switch itself.

[Jake02]

woofy - have you tried the Global Close? If not, hold unlock for a few seconds and the windows go down until a point you want them to. Hold lock to do the opposite

[gregozedobe]

There's lots of goodies available if you have the full height MFD/maxidot eg auto closing of windows and sunroof if it rains

[woofy]

Yeah global close is in lots of cars...my parents old Maxima did that...but auto up down for all windows I have never seen before...really handy strangely enough...