Superb vs Mondeo Estates

[PaulRT]

I have towed our 2 berth caravan, currently a Coachman Pastiche 460/2, many miles (and French kilometres) with our 2005 Mondeo Estate 2.2 TDCi (155bhp) and it has been excellent in every respect. However, it is now time to update it. I had assumed we would go for a low mileage new Mondeo Estate with the 163 bhp diesel. However, after reading the various reviews and a test drive (solo), I am very tempted by the Skoda Superb Estate with the 170bhp diesel. It has an even larger boot and seems better equipped than the equivalent priced Mondeo. I know it was CC towcar of the year last year, but I am rather sceptical about such 'competitions'.
Has anyone had recent experience towing with either of these?
Cheers
Paul

 

[RogerL]

If I was in the market for a fwd estate I'd have a Superb Estate without any hesitation - it doesn't have the 4wd and high ground clearance of the archetypal towing SUV but that's all it's missing. - you can get 4wd versions but there's no Scout/Allroad version.

 

[Tukums]

I have also asked the same question and taken the advice from Skoda Superb and Octavia owners, they all have said, what good towcars, they pull and handle well. You could go for the 4x4 model. The Superb was on the large size for my requirements, so I ordered the Octavia Estate 4x4 2.0TDi 138bhp, only problem still waiting for it to be built, ordered in June. You could also try the link below and ask the question, I did and got some good feedback, especially about pulling the van off a muddy rally field with the Haldex 4x4 system.
http://briskoda.net/forums/forum/136-skoda-superb-ii/

 

[Martin24]

I can only offer advice regarding the marques not the individual cars, SWMBO has a focus TDCI 07 and this year it's been in and out of the garage quite a bit, all minor but inconvenient! Mother has an 07 fabia estate 1.4 tdi, she's had it from new and it's never missed a beat. On the whole much better built and nippier and more fun than our Focus. We've been looking at replacements for the focus but SWIMBO won't consider the octavia estate which is a shame because it's a lot cheaper and I think better looking than the golf that she really wants!! I would recommend skodas to anyone on the experience of that little Fabia!! Not impressed with our local dealer though!!

 

[Bluebird1]

Cant comment on the Skoda however the current version of the Mondeo is an excellent towcar . Currently have 2008 2.0 TDCi 140 Estate version and have towed at 95% for past 3 years - very stable. Is also a great car to drive solo and has proved very reliable.

 

[ValA.]

We tow with a Mondeo (and they have all been great tow cars) and have looked at the Superb and the Superb Estate - but they have a very low recommended (by Skoda itself) noseweight........... I think only something like 60kg which put us off somewhat.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I can understand that you may have reservations about the the capability of the Superb as a tow car because of its comparatively low nose load capacity.

Nose load is just one of several criteria that must be balanced for good towing, and whilst many of us recommend using as much of the available nose load capacity, in point of fact the nose load only needs to be enough to maintain the stability of the outfit. Just because you have 90Kg available does not mean that the caravan may not be perfectly stable at 55Kg.

I cannot vouch for either the Mondeo or Suberb from personal experience but others have found them to both be excellent tow cars, and have been roundly praised in the motoring and caravanning press.

 

[PaulRT]

Hi All
Thanks for the various comments. I am still pondering, but tending towards the Skoda.
In response to recent posts, the noseweight limit of the latest Skoda Superb Estate is 80kg, which is not too bad. The latest Mondeo's is 90kg and my current (2005) Mondeo has a limit of 75kg, which I can live with.
Cheers
Paul

 

[NigelDonnelly]

Paul R T

Have towed extensively with both cars - we ran a Superb 4x4 170 TDI for seven months in 2010 and we are on our third Mondeo estate. Both are excellent towcars. Personally, I feel the Mondeo is a far better car to drive to solo - steering and handling are sharper than the Skoda. When towing however, there is little to choose between them. And the Skoda is fabulous value, which will make the decision for a lot of people.

Having towed with 2wd and 4wd Superbs though, I'd question whether the 4wd option is worth going for. When tried back to back at the 2010 Towcar Awards, the 2wd estate was a formidable towcar - the 4wd was equally good but between the judges, we could find little advantage during the dynamic stability testing, hill starts or straight line high-speed runs for the 4wd version.

I'm sure someone will come on and tell me I'm an idiot and that I don't know what I'm talking about, but as someone who has towed with both, unless you really need 4wd, I would not bother with it.

Cheers

 

[TrevorM]

I have just checked in my 'Superb' brochure and it gives max noseweight of 80Kg. I would think that should be enough for most people, except, perhaps those wanting to carry bicycles on their A Frames.
Hope this helps.
Enjoy your holidays.
Trevor M.

 

[xtrailman]

Paul R T

Have towed extensively with both cars - we ran a Superb 4x4 170 TDI for seven months in 2010 and we are on our third Mondeo estate. Both are excellent towcars. Personally, I feel the Mondeo is a far better car to drive to solo - steering and handling are sharper than the Skoda. When towing however, there is little to choose between them. And the Skoda is fabulous value, which will make the decision for a lot of people.

Having towed with 2wd and 4wd Superbs though, I'd question whether the 4wd option is worth going for. When tried back to back at the 2010 Towcar Awards, the 2wd estate was a formidable towcar - the 4wd was equally good but between the judges, we could find little advantage during the dynamic stability testing, hill starts or straight line high-speed runs for the 4wd version.

I'm sure someone will come on and tell me I'm an idiot and that I don't know what I'm talking about, but as someone who has towed with both, unless you really need 4wd, I would not bother with it.

Cheers

In your tests did you try a hill start on a road junction covered in gravel?
Or try to tow off a wet muddy field.?
Did you tow in snow?
Unless you did how can you say the 4x4 isn't required?

 

[Martin24]

Paul R T

Have towed extensively with both cars - we ran a Superb 4x4 170 TDI for seven months in 2010 and we are on our third Mondeo estate. Both are excellent towcars. Personally, I feel the Mondeo is a far better car to drive to solo - steering and handling are sharper than the Skoda. When towing however, there is little to choose between them. And the Skoda is fabulous value, which will make the decision for a lot of people.

Having towed with 2wd and 4wd Superbs though, I'd question whether the 4wd option is worth going for. When tried back to back at the 2010 Towcar Awards, the 2wd estate was a formidable towcar - the 4wd was equally good but between the judges, we could find little advantage during the dynamic stability testing, hill starts or straight line high-speed runs for the 4wd version.

I'm sure someone will come on and tell me I'm an idiot and that I don't know what I'm talking about, but as someone who has towed with both, unless you really need 4wd, I would not bother with it.

Cheers

In your tests did you try a hill start on a road junction covered in gravel?
Or try to tow off a wet muddy field.?
Did you tow in snow?
Unless you did how can you say the 4x4 isn't required?

Have to say the reason we stick to 4x4 (okay van requires a decent kerbweight) is mainly because of using the van all year round and rarely venturing away from CL's and CS's so feel happier with 4x4 and not got stuck yet, though it was close last February half term on the North Yorks Moors!

 

[Martin24]

Paul R T

Have towed extensively with both cars - we ran a Superb 4x4 170 TDI for seven months in 2010 and we are on our third Mondeo estate. Both are excellent towcars. Personally, I feel the Mondeo is a far better car to drive to solo - steering and handling are sharper than the Skoda. When towing however, there is little to choose between them. And the Skoda is fabulous value, which will make the decision for a lot of people.

Having towed with 2wd and 4wd Superbs though, I'd question whether the 4wd option is worth going for. When tried back to back at the 2010 Towcar Awards, the 2wd estate was a formidable towcar - the 4wd was equally good but between the judges, we could find little advantage during the dynamic stability testing, hill starts or straight line high-speed runs for the 4wd version.

I'm sure someone will come on and tell me I'm an idiot and that I don't know what I'm talking about, but as someone who has towed with both, unless you really need 4wd, I would not bother with it.

Cheers

In your tests did you try a hill start on a road junction covered in gravel?
Or try to tow off a wet muddy field.?
Did you tow in snow?
Unless you did how can you say the 4x4 isn't required?

Have to say the reason we stick to 4x4 (okay van requires a decent kerbweight) is mainly because of using the van all year round and rarely venturing away from CL's and CS's so feel happier with 4x4 and not got stuck yet, though it was close last February half term on the North Yorks Moors!

 

[Jenko]

Hi

I have to admit to being a Skoda fan, the Octavia is a good car but not as large as the Mondeo - Superb is on a parr to this, I have towed with the 4x4 petrol Superb in Wales with a loaded Avante 540. The Superb blew it away, also towed with the petrol Superb estate again great towcar though towing my own Ranger with it fully laden. Superb is large car with very spacious interior and super ride for such a large car but granted wont be as tight on handling as the Ford. However a new facelifted Superb is due out in the summer and I think Skoda are going to improve ride and handling.
I had the Scout (140 bhp) on test but didnt tow with it - however a trip into the lakes and up the hard knott pass 1in4 - tight bends and the Scout romped up. 4X4 will use a little more fuel - my Octavia VRS has the 170 CRD engine, it pulls well and towing my fully laden GT60 500/5 and I can get 30 mpg towing at 55-60-solo it can manage 58 mpg at steady 70 mph - also road tax is only £125 - and generally cheap to run fab boot space - estate better still. Great towcars for the cash - VW quality at a cheaper price!

Jenko
(on third Skoda!)

 

[PaulRT]

Hi All
Belated thanks for the useful replies to my original post.
In early December I managed to locate a low mileage 18month old Skoda Superb Estate SE 2.0 (170bhp) diesel. I have now had enough experience driving it both solo and towing to comment about it.
I have found it excellent to drive in both modes. Solo, it has a very smooth ride - feels like a 'limousine', but also will respond vigorously when required. As I have now grown up from pushing cars to the limit on corners etc, I have found it handles very well within my self-imposed limits. The legroom, particularly in the rear, is enormous and the boot is cavernous with clever devices for securing loads etc together with useful capacious pockets on each side. I seem to be getting over 50mpg on a run and about 42-44 mpg running around locally, which I reckon is pretty good for this size of car.
Towing (1380kg) seems very stable with bags of power and torque in reserve. Its gearing is a bit lower than my previous Mondeo, which means it will tow in 6th gear more readily on easy stretches. I tend to tow fairly briskly on dual carriageways and motorways. Towing mpg has ranged from 25-30 mpg (depending on the wind direction). The large space in the footwells between the front and rear seats readily accommodates plastic boxes with food/books/caravan paraphanalia etc, so the dog now has most of the boot, rarther than being constrained in a cage - she is also happy!
Just thought I would post to help anyone else considering a change of towcar.
Cheers
Paul