....a new Rommie with DSG 1.2 TSI. I have my Superb with DSG and I am very impressed with it, but now also would benefit from having a smaller car (a bit higher) for my aging GSD (German Shepherd Dog - not a backwards gearbox!)

I would be interested in comments from owners on how you find them.

I loved my Roomster but coming from a Superb maybe a Yeti would be a better bet?

My wife and I have just bought a Roomster SE TSI 86ps and all I can say is GO FOR IT. The first thing is that it is so versitile with the rear seating araingements, and so comfortable. We test drove several other manufactures cars at about the same price and to be honest none of the came up to the build quality or the drive feel as the Roomster. Of course this is personel perspective I would recomend a test drive in several models from other manufactures and Skoda in the same price bracket and that way you will be able to make a decision on your own feelings. Apart from that all I can say is that we are over the moon with our purchase from Skoda, one other thing we found that the Skoda dealerships are exceptionaly good and do not pressure you in making your decision and the service they give is over and above some other dealers we have come accross.

P.S One of the reasons for buying a Roomster is that we have 2 medium sized dogs and the boot with the back seats up is square and is ideal for an elderly dog or dogs.

If you can live with the looks, Roomster is best space+value for money option. Yeti does look better, but does not have anywhere near as much space and versatility, and is more costly. For carrying dogs, Roomie is probably best option in Skoda range.

I find the Roomster just perfect for transporting my dalmatian about, plus its load space is so versatile.and 55mpg

We have a Suoerb estate, and bought a Roomy Scout to go with it. They are very different, but the Roomy is loved as much as the Superb, for different reasons. Roomy is less refined of course, but way more economical (170 CR vs 1.9 PD)

My opinion, do it!

Also looking at a Roomster due to a change in circumstances but my question is have they improved the headlights??. I had a 2010 Fabia where they were simply way below acceptable and avoided driving at night, where I could, they were so bad..If no improvement then I`ll cross it off the list..Thanks

you used to be able to get a dog guard that clipped in behind seats if memory is correct

also boot lip is not to high if you have to lift the dog in, but I have also seen some fancy lightweight ramps on the net somewhere if said dog is not as nimble as used to be (but I am sure some 3/4 ply, hinges and ingenuity can make something similar and cheaper)

Yes you can still the dog guard and it obvilously is removable for the backs are down. had ours fitted by te dealer on delivery of the Roomster last week. The ramps are available on the net I think they go for £50 upwards and they are folderbal for ease of storage.

Thanks everybody, I now know the way forward. Its a Roomy to keep my Superb company.

It seems however that there are some issues on build and delivery times. Will have to see what my dealer says when we meet up.

We had delivery of our Roomster within 2 weeks as the one we wanted was on the dockside in Germany waiting for a purchaser, so our salesman reserved it and all we had to do was wait. But if you want the extras above the basic S, SE, SE+ etc you will have wait for 12 to 14 weeks for delivery as they have to make them to order.

Also looking at a Roomster due to a change in circumstances but my question is have they improved the headlights??. I had a 2010 Fabia where they were simply way below acceptable and avoided driving at night, where I could, they were so bad..If no improvement then I`ll cross it off the list..Thanks

Lights are H7 projectors and not great stock, but easy to convert to high power HID (I run 50W/4000lumen per burner). Adequate road lighting and good beam shape after the retrofit, 20min job. Newer Skodas of similar size will not have a viable retrofit option (due to excessive glare), as the lights on Rapid and Octy 3 are reflector style, not projector.

Many thanks for that..appreciated and of great help

Also looking at a Roomster due to a change in circumstances but my question is have they improved the headlights??. I had a 2010 Fabia where they were simply way below acceptable and avoided driving at night, where I could, they were so bad..If no improvement then I`ll cross it off the list..Thanks

No they don't.

My Roomster has the single bulb H4 headlights. They are poor but better than the H7 headlights. To solve the problem I replaced the factory fitted light H4 bulbs to Osram Nightbreaker H4 ones and asked from dealer to slightly raise the beam. Since then it is a night to day comparison. I have perfect vision and guess what. No one drive from the oncomming traffic ever feel annoyed.

You can also fit Philips Xtreme Vision + 100%.

Edited 23 May, 201313 yr by stratosg

2011+ Roomster (with Fabia 2 front) does have H7 projectors, H4 lights were used in older Roomsters, and yes, in stock guise the H4s are better than H7 projectors on account of more light hitting the road (projectors lose ~50% light on the internal screen). The improvement through Philips Xtremes/Osram NBs is limited, ca 50%-80% light, or 20%-35% range, but it is a good option if you do not want to fit HIDs.

By comparison, a 35W HID kit will provide about 60% range increase for like for like lighting level, and a 4000lm+/50W kit will nearly double it. This is separate from cutoff/ beam angle, which is consistently set quite low on VW cars, peaking at -1.0deg while MOT allows -0.5deg (double the VW range).

So the big advantage of H7 projectors is that they convert easily to HID, and you can put enough lumens there to make them better than even stock H4s with a premium bulb. I just chucked in an old HID kit that I used to carry in the Superb, 50W input/ 45W output onto 35W burners, and that is good enough for the Roomster low beams to be adequate even at "flat beam" setting (for driving across Europe).

Days of easy and trouble free HID retrofits will be over in a few years, as new designs (Rapid, Octy 3) come out with reflector only headlamps, only the factory xenons still use lenses on these cars (and cost upwards of £800).

Other things that were improved on the 2011+ Roomsters are brakes, very good now, and suspension, pretty much a copy of Mk1 Octavia "sport" suspension and also quite good. 2012 Roomster 1.6CR handles well, brakes well, uses reasonable amount of fuel out of town and on motorway (and is reasonably efficient at close to top speed of 120mph), and the only continuing downside is the 1.6CR diesel thirst in town. If I had to choose again today, I'd still buy the Roomster as a 2nd car (Mk1 V6 TDI Superb is the cruiser), though if they ever drop a 2.0CR into a Rapid I might reconsider.

Edited 23 May, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Well ehm... mine is a 06/2010 1.2Tsi 77Kw facelifted Roomster and has single bulb H4 headlights.

My 2008 Roomster Scout had H7 projector lights that were dismal at best.

Retro fitted a 35w 3500k HID kit for £28 and problem solved

I double checked Etka and it appears they put either set on seemingly random basis. Still, all ones I saw at a UK dealership had projectors, the one I own also has them.

I really don't know why. Maybe because it is the basic trim level, maybe it is because I live in Greece. Who knows; :think: There are a few Roomsters in my town and guess what. There are two pre facelift, one with H4 and one with H7 headlights. There are two Scouts, one pre facelifted with H7 and one facelifted with H4 headlights. Once again... Skoda, simply clever. And believe me you don't want to know the mess up with trim levels in other models. Chaos

And here are two shots of my car.

Edited 23 May, 201313 yr by stratosg

Hi

I have had my Roomster for almost three years and it's been brilliant for carrying my dogs. I have one Swiss Mountain, one cross Bernese (getting on a bit) and a mad whippet. After a long walk the older one needs a lift up into the boot but no big deal. A level floor would have been easier but they dogs don't seem to trip over it.

They all fit in nicely as the back is straight and all enjoy looking out of the rear window! Always funny to see the car behind looking and talking to the dogs! ?!

My contract is up in October and not sure what to do. I might pay off the balance as the car has been brilliant but also tempted with something different like the VW Passat estate, new Octavia or Superb Estate.

Heated seats on the car have been the best option ever!

Heated seats, yes, but for me the Roomster ones are only good for initial warmup on a cold morning. I find that after a while they are too hot even on the lower setting. By comparison, on the Mk1 Superb I have seats set to "2" or "3" out of 5 for most night trips across Europe, helps with circulation. It would have helped if there were at least 3 heat settings in the Roomster, not just 2.

I think your dogs will miss the ambience in a Passat/Octavia/Superb Estate, Roomster is more spacious in the back than these. Even the Yeti, seemingly similar, has less space/height and poorer access into the rear quarters. I guess for larger dogs it would make a noticeable difference.

I agree with the heated seats being too hot! ALways funny to watch a passenger sweat when they are on !:-)

I will probably end up keeping the Roomster for a few more years as it's been brilliant.

A recent trip from Swansea to Shrewsbury and running around for a week has clocked up over 575 miles with 200 indicated left on the range. The car seems to like the A roads around 50 - 60 mph and not town driving. 69.9 mpg was showing on the computer after the return trip!

So it makes the decision to change ever more difficult!

Got the Roomster and had it a week ABSOLUTLY BRILLIANT and great service from Caffyns of Ashford. Am driving down to Castle Cary Somerset next Friday.to see my Daughter and family so it will be the first long trip and real tes for the roomy Roomster.

I got my Superb from Caffyns Tunbridge Wells also excellent service