Jump to content

New 2015 Mk2 Roomster announced (now bigger & more expensive)


Recommended Posts

Thought I would try to put all the info in one thread.

 

Basically the current Roomster will no longer be made & as of May next year (2015) a new Roomster based on the VW Caddy will be built at the same plant as the Caddy in Poland.

 

1. The Roomster IS for the chop as it is, due to poor sales (%) & the fact it has two different platforms to make (front end Fabia, back axle Octavia/Golf).

2. Read on various newspaper/web articles of interviews with Skoda/VW top brass, & they all say that for Skoda that in the long term a small MPV & a big MPV, as well as a bigger SUV will be needed in the range. 

3. VW already has a small SUV & a large SUV, & it has 3 MPVs (Golf Plus, Touran, Sharan). Skoda has Roomster, & Yeti, however an extended Yeti was launched at a recent China car show.

4. VW has just put on sale the new Golf Plus, which is rebadged the SV (Sport Van), which is based on the Golf MKVII, but is 5 inches longer than the Golf Plus it replaces!

 

 

Found this out which is dated 15th May 2014:-

 

http://www.praguepost.com/czech-news/39054-thursday-news-briefing-may-15-2014

 

Basically they state that the new Roomster will be based on & made at the Polish Poznan plant which makes the VW Caddy. The new Roomster will be made as from May 2015. The new Roomster will be bigger & more expensive, & could carry over features from the Caddy such as sliding rear doors, & 4wd! As they state that the Roomster is the least demanded model, expect to see just a re-badge job! 

 

However................the Caddy is based on the VW Touran platform with VW Golf MKV front suspension.

There are two wheelbase lengths, Short = 4.406m long, Maxi = 4.876m long! The height is also big at 1.831m!!

Currently a Roomster is 4.214m long by 1.607m,

the Yeti is 4.222m long by 1.645m high

& the new VW Golf SV is 4.338m long by 1.578m high.

 

The Caddy is made in the Domestic trims such as Comfort line, Highline, etc. etc. & in both short & long wheelbases & with 4wd, but only the Maxi life is available over here with none of the short wheelbase versions! 

 

So what will it mean? I think that because of the poor sales record they will alter it as little as possible from the existing short wheel base VW Caddy "domestic" versions which we do not get in this country. They might just give it new bumpers / headlights / front wings / bonnet, & new trim, something along the lines of the rebadging between the VW Sharan / Ford Galaxy / Seat Alhambra. 

 

Current short wheelbase VWCaddy looks like this:-

 

post-70632-0-12554700-1400790393_thumb.jpg

 

Picture from VW Germany.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually quite like the Roomster but going by the number of projects in the Roomster forum (a whopping 2)  it's clear it wasn't as popular as hoped. Shame really as it is very practical.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actually quite like the Roomster but going by the number of projects in the Roomster forum (a whopping 2)  it's clear it wasn't as popular as hoped. Shame really as it is very practical.

 

My sentiments exactly. I was looking at Roomster to replace my Fabia if it gives up!

 

But the future I think will be in the new VW Golf SV as it is lighter, better on the mpg & better on the co2 when you compare the stats for the same 1.2TSI in the Golf SV, The Yeti or the VW Caddy (in the short wheel base domestic trim).

 

I hope to provide more info when I've got more time, but I think the VW Caddy is just too big for my needs so will probably get a Golf SV!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll get one if I ever part with my Fabia but it keeps going so no need to change the status quo right now. Sometimes I'm happy about that, sometimes I'm not :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll get one if I ever part with my Fabia but it keeps going so no need to change the status quo right now. Sometimes I'm happy about that, sometimes I'm not :D

 

Jesus mate you think like me........................... :rofl:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the name Roomster had a lot to do with the failure

of it to catch on and sell well. Only Skoda could balls up marketing

a people carrier. They literally sell themselves.   

What's in a name?  Would Elton John be so appallingly rich if he had used his 

actual real name Reg Dwight? Or what about Harry Webb?  I doubt it. 

It needed a Top Gear name and to look a little less like it should have a

wheelchair strapped to the floor in the back.

J5 you still have the best one BTW.   

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the name Roomster had a lot to do with the failure

of it to catch on and sell well. Only Skoda could balls up marketing

a people carrier. They literally sell themselves.   

What's in a name?  Would Elton John be so appallingly rich if he had used his 

actual real name Reg Dwight? Or what about Harry Webb?  I doubt it. 

It needed a Top Gear name and to look a little less like it should have a

wheelchair strapped to the floor in the back.

J5 you still have the best one BTW.   

Skoda could have entered the small van market if they'd done what they did to the MkI Fabia Praktik. I bet quite a few small business' would have bought a panelled version.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Skoda could have entered the small van market if they'd done what they did to the MkI Fabia Praktik. I bet quite a few small business' would have bought a panelled version.

 

http://www.skoda-auto.cz/models/praktik

 

Not in this country of course though...

 

I expect they will for the new one if it is Caddy based.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

However................the Caddy is based on the VW Touran platform with VW Golf MKV front suspension.

There are two wheelbase lengths, Short = 4.406m long, Maxi = 4.876m long! The height is also big at 1.831m!!

Currently a Roomster is 4.214m long by 1.607m,

the Yeti is 4.222m long by 1.645m high

& the new VW Golf SV is 4.338m long by 1.578m high.

 

 

Pretty sure the Caddy will be replaced next year too and the new Roomster will be a twin of that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pretty sure the Caddy will be replaced next year too and the new Roomster will be a twin of that.

 

Not managed to find any info about that, but as they only face lifted the Caddy last year then it follows that no more than 4yrs after it will be replaced. Doubt they will change it much in terms or function as it's been a good seller in the commercial market which for this model comes first! So we are still looking at those existing sizes & won't see much change, if anything they might get bigger!

 

Also VW mentioned back in 2012ish that they wanted in the long term to produce a full range of derivatives based on the next Polo platform to compete with the MINI & it's derivatives! They mentioned an SUV but with a max length around 4.1m which is shorter than the current Roomster!

 

So in the far future you could get a shorter Roomster based on the Polo / Fabia platform, then you will have the Caddy based in short wheel base, with the short wheel base Yeti fitting in between, then the big MPV (long wheel base Caddy or Sharan based), then a big SUV based on Tourag...........................simples........... :rofl:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thought I would try to put all the info in one thread.

 

Basically the current Roomster will no longer be made & as of May next year (2015) a new Roomster based on the VW Caddy will be built at the same plant as the Caddy in Poland.

 

1. The Roomster IS for the chop as it is, due to poor sales (%) & the fact it has two different platforms to make (front end Fabia, back axle Octavia/Golf).

 

 

The same as the Rapid though.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think many people cannot get past the looks of the Roomster, and sadly the new Cadaver :rofl:  will be seen as a step in the right direction by quite a few. To be honest, with the right seats and interior, you can get the Caddy to Roomster's capabilities quite easily, but it will likely cost a lot more. Though I still remember the first VW Touran as the car with most uncomfortable driving position, at least for tall drivers, out of all VW Group family cars of that time. Hopefully they improved over it in the Caddy.

 

Current Roomster was and still is a steal bargain for the space, equipment and performance that you get. Looks aside, it matches performance of the Rapid, while offering better comfort, better visibility from rear seats and more versatile load space. My other half likes her Popemobile :giggle:  and so do my kids, as a family run-around it ticks all boxes (when the engine works, but that's quality control issue, not the design). Time will tell if the replacement model will be as good, though I sure hope VW Group have moved past their ~2012 petrol and diesel engine production quality problems. Incidentally, every other manufacturer has rapidly increasing sales now, but VW Group as a whole have stagnated, I wonder if it is the over-inflated pricing or the perceived loss of reliability?

Edited by dieselV6
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the percentage of buyers who care about looks is getting higher and higher. Brand and lifestyle image/statements are on the rise.

The small percentage of people that will drive around in anything as long as it's practical is reducing.

This doesn't bode well for the Roomster, sadly.

 

It's got a limited market that's getting smaller and it's offered at a competitive price when you think what's included.

SE gets panoramic glass roof and metallic paint as standard!

Presumably to try and help them sell.

 

People that like an odd/quirky car and have the money to buy new just don't exist in enough numbers to make chasing them viable IMO. :(

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the name Roomster had a lot to do with the failure

of it to catch on and sell well.    

 

I think that the only problem Skoda has to overcome in getting general market acceptance is their choice of names.  Sales appear to be in inverse proportion to the awfulness of the name.

 

Most popular - Octavia, Fabia - both good car names

Up and coming - Citigo - also a good car name

Doing pretty well - Yeti - name has its detractors but not too bad

Lagging behind for sales - Roomster, Superb, Rapid - 3 really good cars blighted by stupid names!

 

In my experience of the Roomster more people are put off by the "Its a WHAT?" name than by the quirky looks.

 

So here's a challenge!  What should Skoda have called the Roomster?  What should they call its successor?

 

How about continuing the "Citigo" theme - The "Carigo" 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lagging behind for sales - Roomster, Superb, Rapid - 3 really good cars blighted by stupid names!

 

 

Globally the Rapid is the second best selling Skoda now. See where you're coming from though, although maybe these names sound less silly in other languages!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bit incorrect that the Caddy is based on the Touran.  It's the other way round.

 

The next Touran will also be rebadged for Skoda (Roomster) and Seat using the MQB platform.  Seeing conflicting reports as to whether the rear doors will slide.

 

The next Caddy will also appear about the same time.

 

This is the Touran:

2015-VW-Touran-side-view.jpg+

 

http://www.carreviews2015.com/2015-vw-touran-release-date/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bit incorrect that the Caddy is based on the Touran.  It's the other way round.

 

The next Touran will also be rebadged for Skoda (Roomster) and Seat using the MQB platform.  Seeing conflicting reports as to whether the rear doors will slide.

 

The next Caddy will also appear about the same time.

 

This is the Touran:

2015-VW-Touran-side-view.jpg+

 

http://www.carreviews2015.com/2015-vw-touran-release-date/

 

 

I still trust the info that I got for my first post which states that the Roomster will be built at the same plant as the Caddy & therefore will be based on it.  It also follows that as it has been such a poor seller for VAG that to continue to offer a "token" model, VAG will base it wholly on an existing model. The current Caddy is made in "Roomster" spec with 4x4 on a short or long wheel base, just that we only see the long wheelbase & diesel engines.

 

As for the Touran, I think that the above will not sell that many as the new Golf SV (although smaller) is a great car

 

As for the platforms, the MQB will be used for a lot of models.....................infact all models will be based on the design principals which are very good, and offer more possible variant combinations in the future!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

tbh i couldn't care lol i like my 2007 1,6 roomster a lot,personally i thought skoda were doing ok

yes ive spoken to a few who are badgish and want an audi.........erm hello my missus has it stamped all over it and thats 2012 model

no problems whatsoever just sailed through an mot with me needing 2 tyres and a bulb

for practicality it can't be beat .......................look at it another way theres a tad more room in them than a yeti,which i think is nicer than a poxy range rover anyday, i find it drives well ,looks ok it's a vw ,i have no problems with engine etc or anything ,modern even for a 6year old car.

look at the skoda vrs , a well sought after car,the new one ,fails big time ,including high end petrol not many people could afford for a bit of fun,apparently it lacks everything the old model has about it, i think they should have put one of them engines in a roomster for fun as with the correct tyres etc it handles pretty good on corners,yes a bit of a roll but ive been all over in it and found it great(26 miles up hill windy roads in the  middle of middle earth in north wales pitch black and raining lol)

i might add also my insurance for an octavia ,superb probably rapid etc is higher even though i am 43 (but feel younger thanks)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only my opinion but the name has nothing to do with the poor sales.

 

If that was the case then the Yeti would also be suffering.

 

Let's face it the Roomster is a little hard on the eye. Quirky yes, good looking no.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They should have kept a bit more stance that the concept had, sadly due to it being based on the front of a Fabia it didn't help keep it's presence on the road... 

 

The Yeti does a really good job of holding it's own on the road and looks tough. 

 

Skoda-Roomster_Concept_2003_800x600_wall

Skoda-Roomster_Concept_2003_800x600_wall

Skoda-Roomster_Concept_2003_800x600_wall

This was a really fresh concept when it was released. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife likes her Roomster to the point that we are in the process of ordering an (near) identical replacement! 

 

Different colour and replacing Tiptronic for DSG.

 

Guy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Community Partner

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to BRISKODA. Please note the following important links Terms of Use. We have a comprehensive Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.