How could the Superb Wagon be better?

[thejack72]

After almost ordering a Passat TDI Highline we looked at a Superb Wagon Elegance on a whim and have since ordered one.

Other considerations (all wagons) were the 407, Mondeo, Liberty, Mazda 6 & even the Sportwagon. Considering the Superb is really a Passat / Golf mix anyway and none of the competition came close on standard equipment it was hard to go past. The 3 spoke steering wheel would have been nice as standard but we optioned it anyway - I didn't mind the $400 after VW quoted 'Don't know, but it'll be over $1000' for the steering wheel with gear shift paddles to put on the Passat!

Things we would have liked to see as standard / options were:
- Reverse camera (the head-unit can handle it afterall)
- Retractable cargo barrier (a simple mesh one like the Passat, it's available overseas)
- Black dash / door inserts as alternate to the faux wood / brushed aluminium options
- Speed limiter

Because we have a very young child and are planning another the lack of reversing camera was almost a deal-breaker for the Ms, but she wanted Sat Nav & Xenons for the trips to Melbourne to see her parents. In the end she couldn't argue with the $10k difference between the (optioned up) Passat and the (standard) Superb.

The other thing we are a little frustrated with is the lack of accessories available yet. I even gave the dealer the Skoda part numbers from the UK website for a few things (mudflaps, luggage restraint nets, towbar electrics) but they can't do anything with them yet!

Overall very happy with the car and deal we got... now just waiting until delivery in October!

[Swuzzlebubble]

Thanks for sharing your experience Jack.
Sounds like you had similar considerations to what we currently have ourselves.

What other options/accessories did you go for?
Did you stay with faux wood or go for faux aluminium?

Will you get reverse camera installed after-market?
When looking at a C5 the dealer said he had one being fitted for another client ($1200).

[thejack72]

We stayed with the wood, although now I've seen it I prefer the aluminium (I think it suits the dark interior) but it's the Ms car & she want's the wood still.

Only other option ticked was the wheel as mentioned but I will look at installing the VW reversing camera myself (same headunit after all) and get somebody to sort out the inputs. I know you can get aftermarket ones but I'd rather keep it neat.

Will probably also order the rear seat screens for the DVD player, cargo barrier, mudflaps, boot storage netting and threshold protector strip from ebay UK or Germany. All these are available and probably considerably cheaper than they will be here - e.g. Mudflaps - £20 + postage on Ebay UK, the price VW wanted for the Passat ones when we nearly ordered it gave me a heart-attack!

[Swuzzlebubble]

I found it a bit odd that the Superb has a cigarette ashtray in the rear.
Just seems out of place in this day and age and considering people (us) would have kids in there.
Is this an “executive car” thing perhaps? Like they get driven around smoking a cigar or pipe or whatever?

[BlackSuperb]

Maybe built for Europeans? Everybody still smokes like a chimney over there and ashtrays are a necessity.

Or maybe it's for the kids?

[woofy]

I'm a scientist (or a reformed one anyway) and from school onwards etc, it has been illegal to not only smoke but put anything in your mouth in any lab. It gets more stringent in the restricted DNA working labs where I was, you can't have cough lollies, paper on benches etc. Let alone smoke anywhere inside a govt building now.

We have had people come from all over the world, and 99% of Europeans, not only smoke, but do so while at the lab bench....so an ashtray in a car would be a showstopper for them.

Safety/health is a funny thing, they are refined and some of the worlds safest/best health in the world, and yet still light something and inhale the toxic fumes....then again the US put tonnes of airbags in cars, but couldn't be bothered using seatbelts....

[Swuzzlebubble]

Any thoughts here on Adaptive Cruise Control ?
Available in Passat and some Audi modles.

Autonomous cruise control system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Autonomous cruise control is an optional cruise control system appearing on some more upscale vehicles. The system goes under many different trade names according to the manufacturer. These systems use either a radar or laser setup allowing the vehicle to slow when approaching another vehicle and accelerate again to the preset speed when traffic allows. ACC technology is widely regarded as a key component of any future generations of intelligent cars.

Radar-based systems are available on many luxury cars as an option for approx. 1000-3000 USD/euro. Laser-based systems are available on some near luxury and luxury cars as an option for approx. 400-600 USD/euro.

Examples of vehicles with adaptive cruise control

2005 Acura RL, MDX, ZDX
Audi A4 (see a demonstration on YouTube), A5, Q5, A6, A8 (with GPS and front camera input)[14], Q7
BMW 7 Series, 5 series, 6 series, 3 series (Active Cruise Control)
2004 Cadillac XLR, 2005 STS, 2006 DTS
2007 Chrysler 300C
2006 Ford Mondeo, S-Max, Galaxy, 2010 Taurus [15]
2003 Honda Inspire, Legend
Hyundai Genesis (Smart Cruise Control, delayed)
Infiniti M, Q45, QX56, G35, FX35/45/50 and G37
1999 Jaguar XK-R, S-Type, XJ, XF
2000 Lexus LS430/460 (laser and radar), RX (laser and radar), GS, IS, ES 350, and LX 570
Lincoln MKS, MKT
1998 Nissan Cima, Nissan Primera T-Spec Models (Intelligent Cruise Control)
1998 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, E-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, CL-Class, M-Class, GL-Class, CLK-Class
2010 Porsche Panamera, 2011 Porsche Cayenne
Range Rover Sport
Renault Vel Satis
Subaru Legacy & Outback Japan-spec called SI-Cruise
1997 Toyota Celsior, Sienna (XLE Limited Edition), Avalon, Sequoia (Platinum Edition), Avensis, 2009 Corolla (Japan) [16], 2010 Prius
Volkswagen Passat, 2003 Phaeton, Touareg, 2009 Golf
Volvo S80, V70, XC70, XC60, S60

[bobski]

Any thoughts here on Adaptive Cruise Control ?
Available in Passat and some Audi modles.

That'd be nice given the ratsh** drivers on Australian roads. The ability for people to not use cruise on freeways in cars equipt with it does my head in. I'm not so sure I'd pay big dollars for it though.

[thejack72]

That'd be nice given the ratsh** drivers on Australian roads. The ability for people to not use cruise on freeways in cars equipt with it does my head in. I'm not so sure I'd pay big dollars for it though.

Totally agree on both counts... I cannot believe people travel the huge distances we have without using their cruise control (and I'm talking about on late model cars you KNOW would have it!).

For the right price on the Skoda we would probably have ticked that box. We considered it when looking at the Passat but I couldn't justify the price, especially when the Lane Assist feature that shook the wheel if it detected you were crossing a lane marker was ANOTHER extra option. Not that I'd need the lane monitoring thingy but surely for the $'s they'd be the one package?!

Regarding the rear ashtray... I'm 99% positive the demonstrators we looked at all had the little rubber mat in the bottom meaning they were meant to be storage only. Initially I thought it was the cup-holder like in my Golf but that's actually located in the fold down armrest. Ah well, I'm sure Jr will find something (probably half-sucked and sticky!) to hide in there.

[4thchicken]

That'd be nice given the ratsh** drivers on Australian roads. The ability for people to not use cruise on freeways in cars equipt with it does my head in. I'm not so sure I'd pay big dollars for it though.

Whilst I dont do a lot of long distance driving, when I do I tend not to use cruise control. Actually enjoy the driving/feel of the pedal and imo having to be aware of speed/having a foot on the pedal provides greater response times to changes in traffic conditions - slowing down, speeding up, overtaking etc. Cruise control partly takes away that need to concentrate (as a driving aid) when driving and imo has the potential to increase road risk

[K1W1]

- slowing down, speeding up, overtaking etc.

I use the cruise control all the time on the Monash, East Link or the Eastern Freeway but not during peak periods. During the middle of the day or weekends I can often drive from Springvale Road to the 80 zone on the Monash entirely on the cruise control then reset to 80 to go through the tunnel although I rarely get all the way through without braking. If you are in a situation when traffic conditions dictate that you need to slow down, speed up or overtake then obviously a cruise control is not suitable but if you are only doing those things because it's your driving style then using the cruise control will probably have a noticable benefit on you fuel consumption and will actually make driving less stressful as you aren't treating the road as a race track full of chicanes.

[Swuzzlebubble]

They could combine the “adaptive cruise control”, “blind spot info system”, "lane departure monitor", “park assist” (i.e. steering wheel control) and GPS map data into a system that just drives the car on its own. Volvo are probably on it as we speak.

[bobski]

doing those things because it's your driving style then using the cruise control will probably have a noticable benefit on you fuel consumption and will actually make driving less stressful as you aren't treating the road as a race track full of chicanes.

I don't necessarily agree with the argument that it makes you less attentive. I don't set cruise and forget it. I use it to keep a constant, smooth speed.

On a freeway if its medium to light, I drive more using the cruise buttons up/down to adjust my speed in increments of 1-2km/h - call me a member of the playstation generation But I do it to keep speed with the people in front of me, and I do it to keep my driving smooth. If I jam on the brakes, people behind me jam on their's and so on. Just because I'm operating some buttons instead of a pedal, doesn't mean I'm not going to react when someone else does something stupid. My right foot is on the accelerator, and its right next to the brake - if I need either - its just a twitch of the toe...

For me, adaptive cruise is a great idea (if it does what it says on the box ).