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I'll probably receive a warning for this: the saying locally is 'once bitten, twice shy'. We're just buying our 4th new Skoda, but all except the first have been sourced from a Skoda main dealer in England. We even take the car to the UK for servicing.

Humph! I'm still waiting for info - any info - about my new Roomster, a spec'd up 1.2 TSi DGS SE. Ordered it on 7 Aug with a 12-14week delivery. Had one phone call about a fortnight later to let me know there was no news. Now, ten weeks on, I'm getting restless. Have emailed the garage, Wings of Peterborough. They're usually great to deal with. I have to get a date because need to book the ferry from channel islands to UK to pick it up. (Jersey prices for Skodas are jaw-dropping and after-sales abysmal, hence going down the personal import route for the third time. It's also cheaper to take a trip to the UK to get the car serviced than have it done in Jersey). Moan over. Feeling better. BTW would run a Yeti if I lived on mainland UK, but CI roads too narrow. BTW2 I'm a native Channel Islander, not a tax dodger!

Tactical 87 - I just love the Punisher logo!! Agree Rapid is on the bland side of dull. Also too low - tries to look sleek but holds no appeal to anyone trying to load ankle-biters into the back seat.

Maybe current Fabia Hatchback isn't much roomier than Citigo? On the other hand, Fabia Estates are tardis-like. More rear passenger legrooom than (the original) Octavia, plus a boot large enough for two family dogs / week's shop / buggies / glider tow-out gear and parachute. I think Skoda have missed a trick by not marketing the Estate more aggressively.

Seems very like the Fabia Estates to me. Fabia estates are the best glam super-mini load-luggers around imo. Are the Fabia's days numbered?

Hi - have had 2 Fabia 1.9's. They go like the proverbial off a shovel. Great drives and surprisingly good fuel economy too. Enjoy!

Hiya - love the piccie!! Boot liners. My Fabia has a rigid boot liner that I got from a Skoda dealer. If you trawl around Briskoda's site, you'll find a recommendation for www.theskodashop.co.uk which is the online shop for Hortons in Lincoln. The Skoda boot liners are about £50 but they are very good quality and ideal for transporting dogs (we have several pooches). Hope this helps :sun:

Hiya, I'm a new-ish Briskoka member. Have a 2008 diesel Fabia estate. Can't help you on the technicals, as my Fabia is one of the old 1.9 turbo diesels, but can reassure you that Skodas are rock-solid when it comes to reliability. Hubby and I have still got our original 2002 Octavia with over 100,000 miles on the clock. It's used daily. I do around 10,000 miles a year in my Fabia and she's brilliant. Great acceleration and fantastic mpg. urban is mid 40s, and motorway cruising once got a stunning 72 mpg, but more usually high 50s to mid 60s mpg. Can carry 2 leggy teenagers in the back with ease: a bit of a squeeze for 3 adults in the back. Boot ample for week's shop or 2 large dogs. Folded down, rear can accommodate an armchair (have done it). Also very safe. I had a 2006 Fabia estate that was written off in 2008 when I was overtaking a 44 ton artic on the A1 at 70mph; the driver pulled out and pushed me into the central reservation. That Fabia took a massive impact, but I survived with minimal injury. We were so impressed that we replaced her with our current Fabia estate. That said, I'm about to buy a Roomster - but it's only because I need a mini MPV. The Fabia's being passed on to one of our sons as he needs the load-space to ship disco equipment around. Good luck with your search.

Congratulations on the 'baby'. Loads of Citigos on Jersey's busy, narrow roads. My newest Skoda (Roomster) is due end October. Am daftly excited. Enjoy your baby!

PS Didn't opt for climate control. The Fabia has it, and I don't get on with it. Our '02 Octavia has manual aircon and it's just fine.

I've just ordered 'my' Roomster. Got excellent help from Briskoda members, as well as doing my own research. Decided to avoid the Scout because of the larger (firmer ride) wheels. SE currently has decent spec. Added: factory-fit spare wheel (essential), passenger airbag off switch (should be standard), third rear headrset (expensive to retrofit), protective side mouldings, front fog lights, cruise control, heated front seats, black roof rails, and 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel. Dealer will fit mudflaps, rigid bootliner (vital for muddy dogs), door sill protector strips, and AutoGlym Lifeshine inside and out. Our 2008 Fabia Estate is top spec, and I'd recommend spending the extra to get as high a spec as possible. Going the extra transforms a good car into a fantastic car. I'm not selling the Fabia - she's being passed on to one of our sons. Buying the Roomster as now needing MPV - but a narrow MPV. Current Roomster is 1684 excluding the wing mirrors, which isn't much more than the Fabia's 1642. Buying my Roomie from Wings of Peterborough - our third Skoda from Wings as we've had outstanding service from them. We actually live in the Channel Islands (natives, not tax exiles!), but the dealership in Jersey is so awful that most people don't go there twice.

Shame new Roomster will look like bland and soul-less like the VW Touran ... or the new Citroen C3 Picasso ... or the new shape Seat/Peugeot/everyone else's offerings. As Paully said, VW didn't knock the public off its feet with the Touran. Google this year's Telegraph Driver Power Survey (worst 20 cars section) and you'll see the Touran came 99th out of 100. In 2012 it was 66th. That's the opinion of 46,000 car owners.

Hiy'all. Thanks for the warm welcome. Your suggestions and comments very helpful. Have been playig with the Skoda website car configurator and think I've a-l-m-o-s-t made my mind up [NB blonde, female, middle-aged, so it may take some time!]. The Roomie will be SE spec. Originally fancied the Scout, but decided against after reading about wheel size / ride comfort, plastic under-tray, and - worst of all - the sunroof was optional extra. I've got to get my act together soon because next week I'm flying in from the Channel Islands to the UK to visit my favourite Skoda garage (Wings of Peterborough) as they're having a tempting promotion. My family have bought 3 Fabias from them over the last few years, and saved between £1000-1700 each time on the Jersey price. Plus their aftercare is outstanding.

Joy of joys - Briskoda! I've been researching the purchase of our fourth Skoda and stumbled on your site. You all seem as devoted to your Skodies as my husband and I are. Visited the site as a guest, and your posts have been very helpful in refining the spec for the proposed purchase - a Roomster SE. Our Mk1 Octy estate and both our Fabia estates have been diesel. But I'm probably going for the 1.2 TSI 105PS DSG having read the comments about short, cold runs and diesels. We live in the Channel Islands (natives, not tax exiles!) and no trip lasts more than 20 minutes, and mostly at 30mph if there's not too many tractors sharing the road. Although our cars get taken for holidays in England a couple of times a year, I reckon petrol is the right way to go - particularly as hubby prefers automatic gearboxes. I'm prepared to compromise, so long as I get the sunroof! But we have really enjoyed our diesel cars, and changing back to petrol feels a bit odd. Please reassure me, someone. By the way, your news that the Roomster is to be remodelled like a VW box is dreadful. Skoda owners are far too individual for that.