Some random thoughts, questions and opinions...

[Guest001]

Actually the speedo reads FAST as in higher than actual speed. It is illegal for it to read slow.

Mine reads 106 when doing 100 by GPS or from the ECU in the secret menu in my NAV

Also if you set your cruise on 100 you will actually only be doing about 95

I set mine for 105 and ECU tells me it is on or about 100 actual. My two Blackvue cameras back that up

My drivers seat moves back and forward to the correct place each time but I set it as instructed in the manual

Dont know about the B8 but I have folding mirrors in my B7 as well

[doc_777]

The 2.0 Quattro A4 has "only" 180kw. However if you pick yourself up an RS4 Avant with 331kw, you could argue that the 206TSI Passat has "only" 206kw...

It could be argued that VW Group are trying to increase the market share of the Skoda brand in Aus - hence some of what those in the industry call "surprise and delight" features - like umbrellas in doors.

Simply, Aus buyers tend to be rather conservative. The reason that Skoda don't sell as many Superbs in Aus as VW sell Passats is really quite simple - market presence. Joe Public generally associate the VW brand with semi-premium. Skoda is almost like the poor cousin. Pricing reflects that. Same really as the relationship most people associate between Audi and VW.

As for the relative "features" of the two vehicles compared - that is up to personal preference. For example - I don't regard the hands-free tailgate as a "gimmick" - I regard it as a great feature that makes life simple when having both hands loaded with grocery bags for instance. But like another poster, the back-end of the Superb wagon has too much rake - makes it more of a "lifestyle wagon" - more for "poodles, not pallets" as I once heard a different brand described. Being the owner of two large dogs, they would NOT be comfortable in the back of a Superb - just not enough room. Again - preference for ones needs, not a statement on which is "better" because that is arbitrary.

Vented seats - yeah, had them in my previous Y62 Patrol. They were nice, but I regard them as a gimmick. Give me decent aircon and window tinting to PREVENT the car getting hot in the first place. Rear seat heating - no doubt at all, that would be lovely. But I don't sit in the back, so the kid can suffer

Those door umbrellas really are toys though. Very small. My wife and I each carry golf-sized umbrellas in the back of our Passats, under the floor. When needed- they're available sure, but even living in cold wet Tassie winters, that is rare.

There you have several examples of what one buyer prefers over another - nothing to do with which is arbitrarily "better", only what one person's needs make preferable. No matter what the feature mix, there is always a buyer who wants "not what that vehicle has". Manufacturers are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Skoda are currently receiving a sweetheart deal on the MQB platform. They basically are getting the IP for free from VW (who developed it on behalf of the entire group), and BIG discounts on the shared component costs. VW have said that Skoda will no longer be getting that kid of deal, now that they are growing the brand to its current levels - and that will see the cost of shared platform vehicles increase by up to 10k on higher end vehicles in the range (like the Superb). Basically, Skoda are currently not paying full price to the rest of the group for the shared supply of all MQB components - that is chassis and suspension components, electronics suite, drivetrain components... Pretty much everything that is not unique to the Skoda vehicles (so doesn't include things like panel stampings, external lighting, some glass etc).

VW are the parent company - they are positioning each brand EXACTLY where they want them to be

[Rocket36]

What’s this BS about Skoda getting a deal from VW? Skoda is VW. Just like Audi. Think of it like an airline. Audi is First Class, overpriced for what you get but the premium product. And a lot of people just love saying they fly First Class. VW is Business Class, still too expensive for what the product is but you can justify it because you want some extra comfort and to feel good. Skoda is Premium Economy. Hardly anyone buys it because it’s in no mans land between economy and business but there will always be someone that wants it. But most will settle for Economy because it’s the cheapest and gets to the same place in the end anyway.

Actually saw the new Skoda Superb today. Nice but needs the same screens up front and better styling. Something that says class rather than “my Dad’s European and my Mum’s Asian”. That rake on the tailgate makes that space useless for those of us with large dogs.

[rsp8]

Skoda is Premium Economy. Hardly anyone buys it because it’s in no mans land between economy and business but there will always be someone that wants it. But most will settle for Economy because it’s the cheapest and gets to the same place in the end anyway.

Actually saw the new Skoda Superb today. Nice but needs the same screens up front and better styling. Something that says class rather than “my Dad’s European and my Mum’s Asian”. That rake on the tailgate makes that space useless for those of us with large dogs.

Hardly anyone buys it because there’s hardly any dealers and it’s a little bit of an eccentric choice, at least in Australia.

If I’m in premium economy I’m happy - someone just brought me all the beer and wine, some real cutlery and noise cancelling headphones whilst the guys up beyond the curtain (let’s call them BMW drivers to avoid a war) are wondering why they only get a packet of Nobby’s Nuts, and the plebs behind them have bigger screens. Larger seats and full meals were probably optional extras.

Cars are a personal and subjective choice, and price wise, certainly at the top end of Skoda, the difference actually isn’t that much - an R line Passat and a Superb Sportline are within a few k drive away of each other. It wasn’t about money when I made my choice, I genuinely preferred the Skoda (hatch) and just wish it had the active dash - but not enough to regret the choice.

Most certainly each to their own, I will certainly pay for mine in depreciation but that’s a few years off yet I hope.

[Rocket36]

The lack of dash and large centre screen was one of the main reasons I didn't even consider Skoda.

But you're right. Totally a subjective and individual decision.

[Micky 32]

Regarding the LED strips that change colour don't you have to change the strips? How can you tell if you have the coloured ones? I gather you mean smart LED headlights being DLA?

[Rocket36]

DLA..?

[curly747]

Auto-stop/start engine function defaults to on and must be manually turned off every time. But worse, and something I think is actually a defect/bug, is even if you leave the driving mode in Eco, you must re-select Eco at every restart to actually get the car to drive in Eco. Now I'm sorry, that last one is unacceptable. It's IN ECO MODE when I turn the car off and back on again but won't DRIVE in Eco mode until I manually reselect it. Auto-stop/start should have a driver configurable default position so the driver doesn't have to constantly turn it off if they prefer it off.

My B8 alltrack definately remembers if i have it in ECO mode next time i start the car. I am not sure it gets it right every time but it has done it every time this week. Maybe you should ask the dealer about that one beacuse i think it should remember for you. Perhaps its a setting or something to do with driver profiles?

Oh, that brings me to the drive mode and auto-stop/start buttons. Why don't they swap the sides for the RHD market? They swap the side for the round Start button and the spots are already there for the buttons on the right side of the shifter. I'm not one of those whingers when it comes to cup trays and park brakes, indicator stalks or why I push the shifter away from me for manual mode but the buttons, where they're already changing a button and have spots for RHD buttons. Argh

Completely agree. Argh. Its particularly bad because the gear lever obscures the buttons in my driving position. Hate that they did not bother to switch over those buttons.

[doc_777]

What’s this BS about Skoda getting a deal from VW? Skoda is VW. Just like Audi. <shop>

No. Skoda is a company that is wholely owned by VW. Skoda buys components from suppliers to build their vehicles-most of those components from suppliers who are also used by other VW group companies. Skoda currently receives prefential pricing on some of those components.

just because one company owns another does not mean they are the same company.

Audi owns Lamborghini. VW owns Audi. Does that mean VW owns Lamborghini? No. Audi does. And each of those companies must thrive or fail on its own merits, within the range of assistance that the parent company is prepared to provide.

As it turns out, VW has stated that they believe they have provided enough assistance to Skoda, and they now have enough market acceptance to survive without the same level of assistance they have received in the past. And if they don’t, they get either shut down or sold. After all, that is how Skoda came to become a VW Group company....being purchased as a failing enterprise and reinvigorated with HUGE amounts of investment.

[Rocket36]

Hahahahahaha... If VW own a company, then that owned company is VW's. No question. Yes Lamborghini is therefore an expensive, high performance, re-badged VW. It's simply in their interests to maintain the brands. Companies around the world do it ALL THE TIME.

And it's quite common in the car industry to refer to cars in such a way. I.e. the new Toyota Supra is just a BMW Z4 with a new body and interior.

If you dress as a woman but you're a man, you're still a man. Anyhow, we digress.

[DR074]

No, i'm pretty sure in the car world, he'd be a she.

[kaiserky]

My B8 alltrack definately remembers if i have it in ECO mode next time i start the car. I am not sure it gets it right every time but it has done it every time this week. Maybe you should ask the dealer about that one beacuse i think it should remember for you. Perhaps its a setting or something to do with driver profiles?

It will remember it is in ECO mode but it won’t use the coasting function unless you reselect ECO mode.

Ky

[curly747]

It will remember it is in ECO mode but it won’t use the coasting function unless you reselect ECO mode.

Ky

Mine will use the coasting function after a restart without reselecting ECO mode. I wonder what's different with others. I have an MY16 Passat All Track with 6 speed gear box.

[Rocket36]

It will remember it is in ECO mode but it won’t use the coasting function unless you reselect ECO mode.

Ky

Correct. And won't display "E" next to the gears either.

Don't get confused with coasting and coasting without gearbox braking. The latter is what Eco does.

[curly747]

Correct. And won't display "E" next to the gears either.

Don't get confused with coasting and coasting without gearbox braking. The latter is what Eco does.

When i restart the car it displays the E next to the gear numbers on the display. It holds gears longer than normal. It coasts .. as in it displays the E with no gear number if my foot if off the accelerator. There is no engine braking if its coasting. Its 100% in ECO mode and i have not had to reselect it. I wonder why the difference in behaviour between cars.