I'm having the annual urge to change my car. The absurd rationale this time is that (a) I am getting no interest on my savings (b) inflation is rising, eroding the value (c) VAT goes up 2.5% in January, etc etc.
I have cleaned the CRV so it's like new inside (a few minor scuffs outside but nothing serious) but the feeling hasn't gone away yet.
Candidates (new) are
CRV EX diesel (dearest),
Skoda Superb CR 170 Elegance 4x4 estate,
Citroen C Crosser HDI Exclusive (cheapest).
I would also consider a late used BMW diesel.
It has to be 4x4 or RWD and have leather seats. I was warming to the idea of the C-Crosser on purchase cost grounds, until I read HJ's reports of clutch problems when towing, owing to the high first gear.
I really like the Superb, test drive tomorrow. I've not had much luck with VAG, but I haven't had one since 1993 (Audi 80) so that may not signify.
The CRV is coming up 5 years old and has 83,000. This time next year it will be a 100,000 miler - not necessarily a problem from a durability point of view, but probably means a step change in the value?
Any advice, other than save the money for retirement?
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I've never seen one but i understand that C Crosser was recently made available with auto, seeing as it's a Mitsi Outlander in another frock i imagine it will be a proper auto.
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>> I've never seen one but i understand that C Crosser was recently made available with
>> auto, seeing as it's a Mitsi Outlander in another frock i imagine it will be a proper auto.
>>
Unfortunately not. The Mitsubishi has the SST (Sports Shift Transmission) twin clutch box and Citroen call it the DSC transmission.
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>> Unfortunately not. The Mitsubishi has the SST (Sports Shift Transmission) twin clutch box and Citroen
>> call it the DSC transmission.
>>
Please no they can't have fitted an automated manual.
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>> Please no they can't have fitted an automated manual.
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Yep!
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Bet the Superb is superb.
Me ? I'd keep the CRV and have better holidays for the next few years instead. Maybe. Having said that, I had the use of a fully blinged 3.0 diesel X5 last year for a while and it was marvelous. Didn't care if tofu eating sexually confused librarians hated me either.
:-)
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My wife works in a library... :-)
I'd say Superb too but I could get one next car change and save money. And I might rule it out now even (12 months away before I could order it).... why? Too big for my needs. And I don't like the styling of the Octavia enough. A Superb would have to be an estate.
Although if I save enough, I could take the savings and justify a FIAT 500 to replace the Seicento for the trips where a big car is not needed.
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Good luck trying to get a drive in a Superb Estate. When trying to decide on my new company car earlier this year I phoned both Skoda UK and the local dealer asking for a test drive in one, and I registered my interest on Skoda's website.
I'm still waiting . . .
I haven't actually seen one on the road yet either.
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"Any advice, other than save the money for retirement?"
Humph: "Me ? I'd keep the CRV and have better holidays for the next few years instead."
I think that saving the money for retirement and having better holidays are both good ideas. If they don't appeal to you, how about giving the money to a good cause?
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>>I think that saving the money for retirement and having better holidays are both good ideas. If they don't appeal to you, how about giving the money to a good cause?
I think everyone should give something to good causes, but on this scale if I have anything left I think my children will be a good cause. I shall be having a more or less penurious retirement, with or without a nice car.
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"I think everyone should give something to good causes, but on this scale if I have anything left I think my children will be a good cause."
Indeed. I've just read a story in the paper about a spinster who died and left £1,800,000 to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and something like £2,000 to her nearest relative who was her executor. If I had been the next of kin, I'd have been a bit annoyed. I've made a mental note to avoid doing that sort of thing myself.
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>> I think that saving the money for retirement and having better holidays are both good
>> ideas. If they don't appeal to you, how about giving the money to a good
>> cause?
>>
I'm a good cause !
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>>Good luck trying to get a drive in a Superb Estate
Drove one today - even the right model. The leather is not of the finest quality, and the TDI CR 170 is a bit growlier than I expected under acceleration, but otherwise it's hard to fault. I'd prefer the 17" wheels and higher profile tyres of the SE to the 40 profile tyres and the 18" wheels of the Elegance, but the ride is nevertheless very good.
Depreciation will be significantly higher than a CRV, so it would have to be a keeper.
It doesn't knock the CRV II into a cocked hat though, which shows how good that car is.
If the deal is good enough I'll probably go for it if sense doesn't return.
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Lovely car the Superb, but its a bit of a paper bag job.
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>> bit of a paper bag job.
Pot, kettle, black ?
:-)
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>> Lovely car the Superb, but its a bit of a paper bag job.
I wouldn't describe any Skoda as beautiful, their looks I would describe as workmanlike.
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I think the Superb is a very long vehicle. I have seen them parked and the parking slots always look too short. I would also be wary of the new CRV, i say this as i am not happy with my CRV 09reg gears. I believe the new model has same gear box, also if buying diesal it comes with the dreaded DPF.
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I've seen 2 new Superb estates, and to my eyes they look far better than their saloon counterparts that have rear lights that must have been copied from some 70's monstrosity.
Looks like a proper estate car too, as said they are very long but no worse than similar cars from other makers that don't have the masses of rear passenger space going for them.
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>>I think the Superb is a very long vehicle
True. At 4.838m / 15' 10.5" it's 10.5" longer than a CRV III. Half the difference is in the wheelbase, half in the overhangs.
Parking sensors front and rear will be sensible - once you've done that, "park assist" is very little extra on top - it sizes up the space as you drive by, then twiddles the steering wheel while you operate the pedals to parallel park.
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yeah - seen that demonstrated.
Do you value your NCB?
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Manatee mind and keep your CRV for me - I never did manage to get one.... :(
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Why 4WD or RWD? - BMW/Merc without winter tyres are worse than useless in the snow.
Keep the CRV and spend your money gold-plating it.
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>> Why 4WD or RWD? - BMW/Merc without winter tyres are worse than useless in the
>> snow.
I agree. It's personal preference/prejudice as much as anything. And if I had such a car I would leave it at home in snowy weather, or fit the appropriate tyres.
Some front wheel drive cars can be poor as well, or at least used to be - one of the worst I've had was an Audi 100.
Lots of people do of course tow with front wheel drive, but steep hill starts in the wet are not always easy; RWD is better, and surprisingly also better on wet grass with 75kg or so of trailer noseweight.
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What model of CRV are you - Sport or Exec?
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>>What model of CRV are you - Sport or Exec?
Exec. I got a good deal originally.
Last edited by: Manatee on Sat 7 Aug 10 at 21:44
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mmm, what did that have over the sport?
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VSA, leather, sat nav. Can't think of anything else.
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No - this is a CRV II, 2005 registered.
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"Vehicle Stability Assist" - ESP.
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Manatee, for what it's worth I tow my Eriba with an A6 Avant 2.0 TDi CR170 - same engine as the Superb Estate. It has enough power - just. Actually feels less powerful than the Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDi 130 which it replaced, maybe because the car is a bit heavier. I did consider the 3.0 TDi Quattro, but that's quite a bit more expensive to buy, insure, tax, fuel etc. If you go for the Skoda, ask me again about towbars. The VAG/Westfalia one isn't very satisfactory, despite the arm-and-leg price.
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Interesting. On the test drive the Skoda didn't feel quite as tractable as the Honda, though first gear felt to be low enough for that not to be a fatal flaw.
Have you had any problems with hill starts? Traction control seems to be the problem. A caravanner with a Passat estate told me that it was difficult sometimes to set off without wheelspin, whereupon the traction control would cut in and the whole thing become bogged down - not much good for getting out of junctions.
I'm interested in the towbar information - Skoda offer 'towbar preparation' which the dealer says not to bother with. Neither do I really want a dealer fitted towbar, I suspect they don't do many and the labour charge will be astronomical. The (non-Honda) Brink detachable on the CRV has been fine, but was fitted independently using third party electrics (13 pin wiring).
This might get a bit tedious for the general audience - do you mind if I ask the mods to send you my email address?
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>> Interesting. On the test drive the Skoda didn't feel quite as tractable as the Honda,
>> though first gear felt to be low enough for that not to be a fatal
>> Have you had any problems with hill starts? Traction control seems to be the problem.
>> A caravanner with a Passat estate told me that it was difficult sometimes to set
>> off without wheelspin, whereupon the traction control would cut in and the whole thing become
>> bogged down - not much good for getting out of junctions.
Its never a problem, you can switch it off on Passats.
>> I'm interested in the towbar information - Skoda offer 'towbar preparation' which the dealer says
>> not to bother with. Neither do I really want a dealer fitted towbar, I suspect
>> they don't do many and the labour charge will be astronomical. The (non-Honda) Brink detachable
>> on the CRV has been fine, but was fitted independently using third party electrics (13
>> pin wiring).
The Skoda uses full can bus wiring and you will need an interface box and maybe some poking around witht he VAG COM tool.
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>>Have you had any problems with hill starts?
No, not especially. The Audi has the electromechanical handbrake, which works probably better than I expected in practically all situations, including towing hill starts. The only situation that it doesn't like is a hill start on a loose or slippery surface, when you don't generate enough torque at the rear wheels to release the brakes, but pushing the switch down manually disengages the brakes immediately, so not really a problem there either. Traction control (ESP) seems to work OK - it doesn't seem to kill the power completely, but stops that nasty hammering axle tramp which you get otherwise. Ideally I would have liked Quattro or a 4x4 and ideally I would have liked an auto box. One of the first cars I wanted to look at was the CRV, but Mrs DF didn't like it and isn't happy with autos either.
No problem with exchanging e-mail addresses. Bottom line on the towbar is that I would recommend a VAG original wiring kit (not much chance of a universal kit interacting properly with the VAG systems) but I think the Wesfalia detachable towbar is rubbish, and so would look elsewhere for the hardware. And a good independent towing specialist will beat your franchised dealer on know-how every time.
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Decisions, Decisions - -
