Here we go again: pictures hitting the net before an official debut. Snaps that prove that Volkswagen's European bargain brand Skoda does VW better than VW does VW. Skoda, a Czech company whose cars were punchlines for years ("A friend of mine got a new side mirror for his Skoda. Sounds like a fair trade to me"), has been churning-out one reasonable reskinned VW after another. The first generation Superb was a stretched, bargain-priced Passat. Skoda passes 'at with a new model based on the current Mk6 Passat (currently sold Stateside). The Superb may not live-up to its name, but it a looks damn sight better than the Passat: more stolid, more German and more "European." Best of all, there are non-wild ass rumors coming from VW's American HQ that the Superb could be headed stateside a in lightened content form. As a re-badged Volksie, the Superb would serve as a lower-priced mainstream replacement for the Passat, as the Passat Coupe moves upmarket. What do you reckon: should VW NA pass or play?
Find Reviews by Make:
How soon do we see Chinese Rivieras grace the floors of Buick dealers?
Is Skoda quality/reliability any better than VWs? If not, don’t bother.
Crackers is right, I like VW’s but would never buy/recommend one based on their abysmal reliability record (which isn’t improving.)
VW, get it together and you will be a sales success in 5 years. (After we can all forget the messes that are currently driving around.) If not, continue in your lackluster state.
We have a Passat Coupe?
Skoda quality is way ahead of VW. People tend to forget that Czechoslovakia was the industrial athlete of Europe before WWII. Strong engineering and industrial heritages, combined with a true insight into machining, metallurgy and fine engineering.
Foreign companies establishing themselves in the two countries formerly known as … can’t believe their luck: cheap master engineers galore.
And btw – VW have sent people to the Skoda plants to find out how they manage to achieve their superb close tolerance fit. Have a look at the bodywork on a Skoda, and take a look at a VW. You’ll be surprised.
I’ll second Stein’s comments above. As I recall, Ferdinand Porsche was of Bohemian/Czech descent.
Of course, no wonder he was inspired to make the Type 1 shape. He saw it in all of the Tatras driving around in his hometown.
“Best of all, there are non-wild ass rumors coming from VW’s American HQ that the Superb could be headed stateside a in lightened content form.”
Will they call it the Dasher? Or maybe the Quantum?
@willbodine
Yes, and maybe I should have added that anything manufactured during the Soviet post-war era that didn’t fall apart was most likely to have been engineered in Czechoslovakia – from military equipment to kitchen toasters. The black market prices of products manufactured there were always the highest, compared to other Eastern Bloc countries of origin, and would sometimes rival those of products from the West.
The Czec Republic and Slovakia are serious engineering contenders.
(And I was a little imprecise in the post above – the VW engineers who descended upon the Skoda plants went there to find out why VWs manufactured at that plant were put together better and with closer tolerances than at VW’s own plants in Germany.)
Sounds good to me. The recent Passat redesign reminds me of the hash Ford made of the Taurus in 1996. Prior Passats were visions of Bauhaus efficiency and beauty while the current one looks like Japan’s second string designers had a go at it.
While de-contenting it they could get rid of foolishness like electric parking brakes and that stupid dash fob starter thing. What exactly is wrong with using a key to start the car? Ditch the fancy automatic climate control as well. I’ve never found an automatic climate control system I like as well as a simple knob to turn from cold to hot.
Build it in the Czech plant and we should have both higher quality and lower production costs.
Offer a choice of the Jetta’s 5-cylinder gas engine or a 50-state qualified diesel engine in the thing, sell it for $20k-$25k and start moving 100k units in the US per year. Make sure to offer the wagon version and I’ll buy one!
Yes Skoda has achieved unbelievable success in fit and finish. Even the cheap Roomster could compete with the new Cadillac CTS in gap tolerance department. I dare to say that VW Passat has immaculate precision of fit and finish and material texture. Something even top Luxury US divisions could learn from! Skoda Superb – will be probably one of the biggest underestimated cars.
Skoda IS the smart man’s VW and Audi. They share most of the engines, gearboxes, suspension details and electronic components. Skoda’s interior materials and design is at the same level with VW. Road feel, driving dynamics and character of the car is very similar with other more upscale VW/Audi products. I would choose the Superb any day over Audi A6 – at half the price. Skoda makes the Audi and VW look bad. Interesting that VAG Group hasn’t figured it out themselves.
The worries about build quality are unfounded if you read the european press… Skoda consistently rates in the top few manufacturers for quality.
Well Skodas are nice cars.
I had leased one during my europe trip and drove it (as it was the most value for money rental saloon) from Blackburn to Frankfurt and it was good (though not Superb as the model name said).
The quality is better than say a Hyundai,Kia or even the new camry but not in the league of an audi or a merc.
The 2.8 liter petrol (the top of the line engine yet) needs more power(though the car did 155mph on an autobahn without a fuss).
I would buy one, if the quality i saw is maintained or bettered.