Skoda Superb 2002 test drive - 2008 -

Gay, Slavs!

The car in our country should not cause a sense of class hatred. Auto -pipe recommends officials to look at Skoda Superb.
A strange name for a Czech car. Moreover, the word was chosen not Czech, but English. Superb means rich. Not in the sense of having money in the account, but in the meaning of a richly trimmed or rich equipment. And its appearance in the catalogs of Skoda is nostalgia for the past. It was Superb who headed the lineup of Czech cars from 1934 to 1949. The most powerful version was equipped after the Second World War with a 4-liter 8-cylinder engine with a capacity of 95 hp. And now - the second coming of Skoda Superb, created on the basis of Passat, collected by the VW concern in China for important election officials.
Knedlik is right. If you go around the car around, then this is first of all Skoda. In a continuous city stream of cars, it cannot be confused with Volkswagen or Audi. All Czech cars are distinguished by a large grille of the radiator, a low molding of the front bumper and a high trunk. The new Superb is no exception - at first glance, all its external elements repeat the Octavia style. Only a picky observer can notice that the shape of the anterior and rear optics has changed - headlights with plastic diffusers have a modern shape of quadrangles with a beveled line. By the way, headlights on
 
Superb is not just xenon, but are made using Audi proprietary technology - they work equally in near and high light mode. The rear scatters practically repeat the design of Octavia, only a little in a different way are white strips of rear light. Otherwise, the Superb design is still conservative, but quite elegant. This is an undoubted plus of a car - he will not attract immodest glances, but it will not look a white sheep in a parking lot near a solid office.
 
Nevertheless, it was not possible to get lost in the city's crowd: oncoming drivers escorted us with careful glances. The reason was explained by Major of the traffic police who stopped us on the garden ring. The modest officer was the owner of Skoda Octavia and immediately noticed that an incomprehensible car without numbers is much larger than his swallow. Indeed, the Superb base is 2805 mm - this is one of the highest rates among cars in class D.
 
Hotel four stars. Together with the curious major, we moved to the Superb salon and began to compare. The main impression can be characterized by a phrase moderate chic. Inside, the Classic machine does not indulge in the presence of prestigious finishing materials - a fabric interior, front panel and doors upholstery are made of plastic, however, decorated in some places with the skin. Like the steering wheel that seemed thin. But all the details are adjusted inquently, and even by touch they do not make the impressions of the cheap oriental consumer goods. The owner of the Octavia immediately noted that the stylistic decisions of the front of the cabin have changed for the better: following the example of the Audi, the central panel organically goes into the central console. And, pleasant, Superb is not so close to the legs, and numerous owners of A6 often complain of this.
The lack of skin and wooden panels is redeemed by a very good serial complete set. In our case, there was no only electrical adjustment of the front seats. Everything else was found in standard VW places for the concern: electric windows, stereomagnetic, on -board computer, climatic installation and even two refrigerators for drinks. One is in the glove compartment, the other is in the armrest.
 
The rear passengers are not forgotten. They provide a separate air conditioner control panel and a central armrest with cup holders. Behind the armrest was even a hatch for transporting long -sized objects with a cover, as in expensive cars. But the back of the seat, alas, does not develop. School for the sake of note that in other, more expensive versions, there are both a Eurolank for a nut and leather seats with electric drive.
BRAINSTORM. A 2.8 liter V6 engine was installed on our Octavia. The same as installed on Volkswagen Passat. This is already a guarantee that it departs at least 250 thousand kilometers. If only the Czech -made injection unit was installed on it: the descendants of the brave soldier Schweik were worn out with firmware - he sometimes buggy with German engines with German engines.
With this engine, Superb goes simply amazingly: 193 hp. For one and a half tons of own weight - this is even a bit too much. The accelerated dynamics and the sensations experienced at the same time are quite comparable to riding Audi or BMW. But the gearbox seems to have inherited from Octavia one not very pleasant feature. The autopilot had already complained that on the Skoda the move of the gearbox handle is always a little long, and Superb is no exception - it is impossible to switch the gears with one finger. But the first and second gears are quite long and require a minimum of switching during an acceleration maximum.
 
Judging by the fact that the on -board computer communicated with us in Czech, we got the car from the domestic market, not yet adapted to Russian all -resistance. Despite this, the suspension behaved very worthy. She swallowed the tram tracks and other minor troubles, and only a trembling ran on the body on a heavily battered asphalt. From the nerves, probably. I liked the work of the electronic stabilization system of the DSC course stability. She intervened in the process of driving a car extremely rarely and did not wrap it with her yellow eye at the time of any sharp start from the place, as is the case on the editorial BMW 530.
 
Those who are not satisfied with the standard radio can order a car with audio training. It includes 8 speakers and Antenu. But such buyers are unlikely to be found-Skoda offers a choice of 3 systems: a simple cassette and more advanced Symphony and Rhapsody audio systems with the ability to connect a CD chamber in the trunk
Envy is not a vice. At the beginning of the article, we invited our officials to pay attention to Superb. A powerful, but not in the richest configuration, visited the autopilot test. For the most meticulous customers, a huge list of additional options is provided, as on an adult business class car. For example, the central part of the back of the front passenger can be thrown forward, freeing up the legs of the rear VIP shock. And the front chair itself can be moved back and forth from the remote control, located on the armrest of the rear sofa.
In the list of additional options, we also found electroregies of seats with memory, a stereo system with duplicate control on the steering wheel, and even an automatic curtain on the rear window. The overall impression of this machine can be characterized in one word - enviable! It is enviable that the Czech brothers-Slavs were able to raise their auto industry. Let not independently, albeit within the framework of a large family, but could. And they did without prohibitive duties.
Those first Superb made Kvashins at the old factory in the city. Now in its place a new modern production with a capacity of 35 thousand cars per year has been built. Whether they will afford them - they will show the time and how successfully the first part of the plan to save the domestic automotive industry will be implemented.
Model/modification Skoda Superb
Manufacturer/country Skoda Auto A.S./ Chemchia
BODY
Type sedan
Number of doors/places 4/5
ENGINE
Basin type with electronic injection
Front location, transversely
Working volume (cubic cub) 2771
Number /location of 6 cylinders /V-shaped
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 142 (193) at 6000
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 280 at 3200
TRANSMISSION
Front drive
The gearbox is mechanical, 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front/rear independent type Mcpherson, reptile stabilizer/independent, multi -link, reptile stabilizer
STEERING
Type gear rack with a hydraulic booster
Min. The diameter of the turn (m) 11.8
Brakes
Front/rear circular ventilated/disk
›ABS 4-channel, with a DSC system
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4805/1765/1470
Wheel base (mm) 2805
Mass weight (kg) 1500
Tires/discs 205/55 R16/7J
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 237
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 8.0
Economy
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 14.3/7.3
The price in Moscow from $ 27 thousand.

 

Source: "Autopilot"