VW to Skoda ...

[DionM]

We've been looking around for a new family car. The Jetta is too small now - primarily in legroom. I'm 2m tall, and my 6yo son is growing rapidly. When he sits behind me there's just no room for him.

Contemplating moving from the Jetta (07 TFSI DSG) to a Superb, probably a 103TDI or 118TSI. The Superb has excellent rear legroom plus rear curtain and side airbags. Not many cars have that combination under $60k.

However, at the back of my head a couple of things are nagging at me ... our run with the Jetta has gotten very bumpy since it turned 4yrs old. There was a problem with front suspension that took several times to fix, the DSG is crunching into 2nd gear occasionally and just recently (at 6yrs) the air con compressor, drivers power window and drivers seat base all had to be replaced.

Will Skoda be the same story again, in terms of issues? Or worse?

And has Skoda managed to shake the reliability tag? Looking at resales on Superbs, its not great, and I'm trying to gather if that is because of their smaller sales numbers, their links to VW, their quirkiness or the fact that people think they might not last the distance in Australia (cue Seat and Opel)? And the tiny number of dealerships has me concerned as well ...

[THE_EGG]

We've been looking around for a new family car. The Jetta is too small now - primarily in legroom. I'm 2m tall, and my 6yo son is growing rapidly. When he sits behind me there's just no room for him.

Contemplating moving from the Jetta (07 TFSI DSG) to a Superb, probably a 103TDI or 118TSI. The Superb has excellent rear legroom plus rear curtain and side airbags. Not many cars have that combination under $60k.

However, at the back of my head a couple of things are nagging at me ... our run with the Jetta has gotten very bumpy since it turned 4yrs old. There was a problem with front suspension that took several times to fix, the DSG is crunching into 2nd gear occasionally and just recently (at 6yrs) the air con compressor, drivers power window and drivers seat base all had to be replaced.

Will Skoda be the same story again, in terms of issues? Or worse?

And has Skoda managed to shake the reliability tag? Looking at resales on Superbs, its not great, and I'm trying to gather if that is because of their smaller sales numbers, their links to VW, their quirkiness or the fact that people think they might not last the distance in Australia (cue Seat and Opel)? And the tiny number of dealerships has me concerned as well ...

I've heard some pretty good stories from people who own Skodas. They seem to have far better after sales support than VW here in Australia as well. Also, Skoda - as far as I know - doesn't have the newest of the newest components so they should be tried and tested and should be fairly reliable. DSG well personally I wouldn't buy another VAG DSG equipped vehicle after my experience with Polo TDI but up to you on that. Also their resale won't be great as it is, well, a Skoda and also with the DSG issues showing up in the media that will also bring resale down. Personally I'd get the 103TDI Superb over the 118TSI. Have you considered the Peugeot 508 or Citroen C5? Safe and very comfy (especially C5 with the hydractive suspension) and has room. the new Octavia is supposed to be longer than the last so maybe that could be another option as well.

Not sure what you mean with 'quirkiness' in a Skoda...citroen owner here

[woofy]

If anything Skodas tend to have less issues compared to the rest of the VAG family. If you were to compare reliability with Citroen and Pugs, then the simple figures of reliability of vehicles done show Skodas to be above and beyond any other euro car.

If you don't want any more niggles, the best option I could suggest at this point in time is look at the new 6 sedan, they are huge compared to the outgoing one, and we never had a single issue in 6 yrs of owning a 6. Our Skoda Octavia RS has been fine as well, whereas a friend with the same car as you has had to replace a few door locks etc that failed out of warranty. My only issue is that we don't get a manual Superb here, but most of the DSG woes apparently have been now sorted. The new Octavia is longer, but still will be nowhere near the new 6 or a Superb.

[DionM]

The Mazda 6 is way too small in the back seat, its the same as a Passat. I have to have the front seat all the way back at its stops in most cars, and this usually results in a tiny distance from back of the front seat to rear seat base.

The 508 doesn't have rear side airbags (only curtain) so it gets dropped on that basis alone, plus I suspect it would be too small anyway. Ditto the C5 - they're only avialable on the top spec Exclusive model.

The Superb only made the list (And its quite a short list) because it has extra generous rear legroom and those rear side airbags (Total of 9) - to be honest I do have reservations from our VW experience (hence the thread) and if I had more choice, I'd leave it out just based on that. But, since there's such slim pickings to begin with ...

The only other real options I have found is the MB B class (which has excellent packaging and thus decent rear legroom - almost as much as an S class) or the BMW 3-series GT, which is probably too expensive for my budget anyway, but it has rear legroom that is more than a 5 series and almost 7 series like.

[brad]

If you have a look through the Skoda section you'll find most of the Octavia & Superb owners are pretty happy. A few disgruntled owners but that's probably statistically normal.

I have no idea why they depreciate so much but if it was me, I'd take advantage of the situation & but a slightly used example - preferably one of the units that came with 5 years factory warranty or buy 2yrs warranty insurance.

125tdi with 6sp DSG would be my pick

Otherwise - Statesman

[IN2VWS]

A mate had one, the after sales service in Melbourne was crap.
His turbo blew.....It took 9 weeks to repair. Why? The dealership only had 1 Skoda technician, and he was on leave. The original dealership that sold him the car, was no longer a Skoda dealership.

So, I don't know what the dealership situation is in Brisbane, but down here it is crap.

If you have your heart set oon getting a Skoda, then buy a used one where someone else has taken the depreciation wholop.

[pologti18t]

What about a Commodore....

[DionM]

What about a Commodore....

No side airbags in second row, only curtain.

[THE_EGG]

Something from Volvo maybe? S60 or S80? V60 as well if you want an estate.

Honda Accord?

[DionM]

Something from Volvo maybe? S60 or S80? V60 as well if you want an estate.

Honda Accord?

Nothing from Volvo has enough rear legroom, Accord has poor front legroom and rear legroom too.

The list of cars that suit:
- Mitsu Outlander, Nissan Almera, Nissan Pulsar (no rear side airbags)
- Skoda Superb, MB B-class, BMW 3GT (with side rear airbags)

Yet to visit Audi and Subaru. Been everywhere else ...

[brad]

What is the fascination with side rear airbags? Do you carry rear passengers that often? If you do, what is the risk of having a crash?

We all want our passengers to be safe but given the possibility of a side impact crash is "very unlikely" I'm not sure that it would be a "must have" for me.

[DionM]

VW to Skoda ...

Yes - I carry my kids there.

[brad]

Yes - I carry my kids there.

What? like every trip?

I carry my kids in my car too but it would only make up 10% of my total mileage. Take into account the number of accidents I've been involved in in the last 20 years (zero) & the total number of accidents from the side in 35 years of driving (zero). Add in several defensive driving courses to combat the growing number of people running red lights & stop signs & the risk is negligable.

I guess I'm just a bad parent...

[DionM]

VW to Skoda ...

Not sure of your angle with your statements Brad. It's personal preference, simple as that. I replied to your question, and now you've taken this thread in some random direction about parenting.

[brad]

Not sure of your angle with your statements Brad. It's personal preference, simple as that. I replied to your question, and now you've taken this thread in some random direction about parenting.

Fair enough. I work in risk/whs so tend to pull things down into acceptable / non-acceptable risk. Bad habit.

It's a forum, threads sometimes take a random direction. OTOH, you've had your question answered on Skodas, so you may as well lock the thread.