Lorenzo

Also consider having original roomster roof bars fitted by an authorised Skoda Service Point. It is not cheap, but you can consequently fit any kind of after-market equipment on the roof, which can be found at convenient prices. I think it is globally cheaper than the towbar solution, plus you keep 5 seats compared to the internal rack solution. Pity Skoda dealers do not tell buyers original roof bars are the only way to carry anything on the roof of the car :wonder:

In Italy (as well as in Greece, I suppose) summer temperatures rise well over 30 °C and it is not advisable to fit all-weather tyres (or, worse, winter tyres), since performance is bad and wearing is high. By the way, I read tests stating that all-wheater tyres have neither-fish-nor-flesh performances even at lower temps. If you live in areas where winter temps seldom fall under 6-7 °C, summer tyres are always the best solution. As to tyre sizes, also consider 'downgrading' to 185/60. Prices are lower, everyday performance does not change dramatically, comfort and fuel consumption both improve. I have 185/60 winters and I do not notice real performance gaps with the stock summer 195/55. Plus, no problem with chains.

Well, very useful. Are they noisy at high speed?

As to the marketing matter, I completely agree. I am very happy curtain airbags are stock in the UK starting from the S trim. It means Skoda UK thinks of you Britons as adult and informed buyers. They suppose you are able to appreciate the value of valid safety equipment when buying a car. Here in Italy curtain airbags are optional for the Roomster, even on the highest (SE equivalent) trim. According to Skoda Italy Marketing Dept. the most part of Italian Roomster (potential) buyers are more attracted by practically useless things like big alloy rims, leather details or metal paint. Or, when instinctively choosing an option between technological novelties like Amundsen Navigation System and ESP or curtain airbags, they would prefer the first. At the time I bought my car, I did not find any 'off the shelf' offer equipped with curtain airbags (but you must be certain metal paint and alloy wheels were always part of the various bouquets). The moral is I had to go for a lesser discount and wait for a built-to-order model, but I am happy nonetheless. I know curtain airbags are there and ready to work in case of (touch wood ) an accident. Back to the UK, I think the glass roof is more fit for your climate. It is very scenic, but in mediterranean countries sunlight can be very intense in summertime and a glass roof can change the interior into a hot greenhouse. I read a bunch of reports about AC being not able to keep decent temperatures under curtained glass roofs. Cruise control is also very useful on motorways and A roads.

The 1.2 tsi 77Kw is perfectly adequate to Roomster's needs. You get 175 Nm of torque from 1550 to 4100 rpm with a weight of 1250-1300 Kg. (it depends on each model specs). I think that with 3-4 people and some stuff is a perfect choice. It is not an engine you need to rev up hard to get the most out of it. Consumption: after 33.000 Km (20.505 miles) I get 5.8 lt./100 Km (48.7 mpg.). Let's say 20% town, 60% b-roads, hills and countryside, 20% motorways and A-roads. Normal driving style, usually avoiding brisk accelerations, etc. 195/55 15" stock tyres.

I really like your Postman Pat's Van! I wanted a white one, but my mother said you will not drive an ice cream man's van, then I wanted a black one, and my wife said you will not drive an undertaker's van, then I wanted a deep blue one, and my friends said you will not drive a 'Carabinieri' van! Being tired, I asked all of them to pay the extra for a very Italian CAPPUCCINO beige van! :sun:

Typical. This is 'the case'. Until now, no official fix, just advice to keep clean glasses and rubber rings...

Actually, those sporty seats are the only thing I am envious of. If only they were available for the roomy, here in Italy.

Simply said, it's a rebadged Touran

I usually fit 195/55 15" x 15" summer tyres with alloy rims. My winter set is 185/60 x 15" on cheap and dirty black steel rims. I recommend winter tyres with narrow section (more grip and penetration on snowy or icy grounds) and thicker shoulder (better comfort on country roads). A set of second hand black steel rims is cheaper and less delicate than your beloved shiny alloys and you can mistreat them with no mercy on salty tarmacs. Plus, both sets are ready to be fit and you can do it yourself any time. PS- Obviously they do not interfere with the front 288mm disc brakes

Agree, and for everyday rides with temps lower than 7-8°C winter tyres are absolutely the best and safest thing

IKEA furniture, just like pics in post #4 , mattresses, kids, uncles&aunts, and relatives of all sorts

Yeah, but that's the maximum allowed madness...if you're under 30 Ah, the 112 Abarth, wonderful toy.

Maybe you just need more space for the driver, if you like MPVs try Meriva, C-Max, or better (bigger) VW Touran etc.

In Italy all this kind of 'visual tuning' (stickers, spoilers, plastic extensions) is quite always associated with very bad, vulgar and juvenile taste ; Italians usually avoid it like the plague However, I am not fully sharing that national 'social status feeling' towards cars and I also think you cannot take a car like the roomy too seriously! Well, at the end I'd take the white&black rooooomy... :love:

One of the funkiest, maybe the funkiest roomster in all Europe

Never noticed. Remember 2010 FL Roomsters have the darkest blackest facia ever fit on a car 2006 series had some luxurious silver frames here and there. If you keep on complaining, try Citroen C3 or any Ford (Focus, Fiesta...) for some...enlightenment More seriously, you could try with some mat black fabric, and some velcro spots. More radically, you could have the plastic bit painted with that wonderful rubber-touch mat paint.

Thank you for the expert advice, V6 I think I will stick to the simplest fix, ie. fitting better H7 bulbs. I know it is not the best, but I do not feel like doing heavy tuning for some reasons (costs, technical complications, etc.) Just a little OT, I find xenon lights on most cars I meet on the road at night really really irritating for the sight. This is another reason I would not like to be a cause of such annoyance to other drivers. Maybe it is just bad lights setup, but that is the way it is. :wonder:

Is it street legal in UK? In Italy I'd have more than trouble with road police :wonder:

Agree. I recently fitted a pair of the same bulbs and did notice a positive difference, too. Do not expect xenon light performance, though. I guess a real xenon light upgrade could be THE solution, but I am very doubtful about costs and technical feasibility.

If you can save up a bit more, go for the 1.2 tsi dsg. It is another world, compared to the old atmospheric 1.6. 175 Nm of torque are available starting from 1500-1700 rpm and, if it is not a diesel, it comes close. What does it mean? Less noise and a more relaxed drivestyle. Not to mention (again) good consumption values. I get regularly around 49 mpg with my manual gearbox TSI. In some conditions a DSG can do surely better.

I was looking for something bigger to replace my '98 Polo that was scarcely able to carry all things needed for our recently enlarged family . Not too big, though. After some research, I realized I could not find anything more spacious or practical in 4.21 mt. of length. Plus, I really like new VW group's TSI engines for their low revs torque and relatively low consumption. And here we are with our beloved Roomy...

Agree. The 86 bhp TSI has very good torque for a petrol engine, and low consumption. Obviously, if you can afford it, go for the 105bhp TSI. Fuel consumption is the same but it has got much more oomph. After 23k km (14k miles) in all conditions (mainly out-of-town) I get 17.5 km/l (more than 49 mpg)

Agree! Go for the 105hp and you will not regret

As to me, I would not have bothered about DRLs if not for the attached fogs option. I do not see fog very often, but when it is the (rare) case fogs are very useful. :sun: