Hi guys and girls,

As the title says I've had back problems for about ten years now. In the past I've had to get rid of two cars, (Honda Civic, Audi A3), as they were making the problem worse. I'm currently driving a Volvo V70 with 87,000 miles on the clock and things are starting to wrong with it on a regular basis. Being a Volvo, the repair bill are costing me a small fortune, however it takes all the potholes, speed bumps and cobbled streets in Edinburgh with ease. I still think it needs replacing as repairs have cost me over £1000 in the first six months of this year and I still reckon three more jobs need doing to it. The new Volvo is expensive and it's ride quality isn't nearly as good.

I'm looking at Skodas because of the same reasons most of you on here will be. A 20 minute test drive at the dealership is no good to me and my local dealer will give it to me for approx 2 hours or so. I'm wondering what long term owners of a Roomster have found with theirs. Is the ride 'jiggly' or fairly smooth? I'm open to other Skodas of course. I've heard the Yeti ride quality is quite poor and the Octavia estate gets a pretty good write up for ride quality and handling.

It would have to be one of these three so i can transport my two dogs, (sometimes 4 dogs).

Any feedback on the seat comfort and ride quality of the Roomster or any of the others would be very much appreciated.

Edited 18 July, 201015 yr by grangejambo

Can't comment on the Roomster but I have had 3 V70's and we have a Fabia II the wife uses for shopping etc. both cars are autos.

I also have a back problem.

The Fabia is a joy around town compared to the Volvo, lighter steering easier parking etc. but on a journey more than around 20 mins the Volvo wins.

At 87,000 miles the your Volvo is not even run in, what problems are you having with it?

There is a Volvo forum http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forum.php maybe you can get some advice there to reduce your running costs with it.

Edited 18 July, 201015 yr by Chris_55

The standard Roomster seats are not the best for back problems, they can be a bit unsupportive, however this can be corrected with a lumbar bar

Agree with Decron, although I find the seats hugely better than those in my old Schitroen.

On your test drive, check the rear view mirror is not in your line of sight through the windscreen. For this reason, I have to set the seat lower than I would like.

Then I have to set the steering wheel higher than I would like because the top of the steering wheel obscures the speedometer.

OK for me, but may aggravate back problems for somebody else.

Finally, avoid the Scout - its low profile tyres make the ride jiggly over poor surfaces. HTH

Still love mine though

Rob

Hi guys and girls,

As the title says I've had back problems for about ten years now. In the past I've had to get rid of two cars, (Honda Civic, Audi A3), as they were making the problem worse. I'm currently driving a Volvo V70 with 87,000 miles on the clock and things are starting to wrong with it on a regular basis. Being a Volvo, the repair bill are costing me a small fortune, however it takes all the potholes, speed bumps and cobbled streets in Edinburgh with ease. I still think it needs replacing as repairs have cost me over £1000 in the first six months of this year and I still reckon three more jobs need doing to it. The new Volvo is expensive and it's ride quality isn't nearly as good.

I'm looking at Skodas because of the same reasons most of you on here will be. A 20 minute test drive at the dealership is no good to me and my local dealer will give it to me for approx 2 hours or so. I'm wondering what long term owners of a Roomster have found with theirs. Is the ride 'jiggly' or fairly smooth? I'm open to other Skodas of course. I've heard the Yeti ride quality is quite poor and the Octavia estate gets a pretty good write up for ride quality and handling.

It would have to be one of these three so i can transport my two dogs, (sometimes 4 dogs).

Any feedback on the seat comfort and ride quality of the Roomster or any of the others would be very much appreciated.

Seats are not the best. After SAAB and Volvo I havnt come across much to touch them. The ride on the lower profile rims is a little stiff as well. However getting in and out is a breeze.

Sadly though I wouldnt recommend it for very long journeys if you back is a problem. The Focus CMax I tried was quite good from what I can remember.

Thanks guys.

I don't have a bad back, but have done over 750miles in our Roomy in a day with no problems at all.

I haven't had any problems either, though the sports seats in my old Fabia were better than the current ones... but having said that the key thing with seats is to have them adjusted correctly, and thats one thing you can do with the Roomster seats better than many cars, they go up, down, backward and forward, etc, very good from that point... I've driven 6 hours plus in Europe withought any issues.

As someone else said that main issue is the hardness of the ride, its better on the smaller engined cars I suspect because they use higher profile tyres...

Finally, avoid the Scout - its low profile tyres make the ride jiggly over poor surfaces. HTH

Alternatively, if you like the styling of the Scout, spec some differnet wheels/tyres

I don't have a bad back, but have done over 750miles in our Roomy in a day with no problems at all.

Well, as you say you dont have a bad back... the Roomie lacks lumbar support, has a short firm seat squab and not much lateral support, which puts pressure on your lower spine when cornering.

I never used to find it a problem, but I broke my back a year ago and even after I was out of my brace and allowed to drive again my limit in the Roomie was about an hour before I needed to get out and unkink myself. Now its OK, I can manage four hours, but its really not the best. Then again its based on a small hatchback, so this is not unexpected. The Octavia I tried was not a lot better but had lumbar adjustment (which didnt appear to do much).

Was however impressed with the standard seats in the Ford CMAX, although I would rather buy some Recaros and keep the Roomie

Was however impressed with the standard seats in the Ford CMAX, although I would rather buy some Recaros and keep the Roomie

Perhaps thats the best option for the OP, just buy a suitable replacement drivers seat... I'm sure the "sports" seats had lumber support (mk1 Fabia)... perhaps someone could confrim one way or the other!

Hi guys and girls,

As the title says I've had back problems for about ten years now. In the past I've had to get rid of two cars, (Honda Civic, Audi A3), as they were making the problem worse. I'm currently driving a Volvo V70 with 87,000 miles on the clock and things are starting to wrong with it on a regular basis. Being a Volvo, the repair bill are costing me a small fortune, however it takes all the potholes, speed bumps and cobbled streets in Edinburgh with ease. I still think it needs replacing as repairs have cost me over £1000 in the first six months of this year and I still reckon three more jobs need doing to it. The new Volvo is expensive and it's ride quality isn't nearly as good.

I'm looking at Skodas because of the same reasons most of you on here will be. A 20 minute test drive at the dealership is no good to me and my local dealer will give it to me for approx 2 hours or so. I'm wondering what long term owners of a Roomster have found with theirs. Is the ride 'jiggly' or fairly smooth? I'm open to other Skodas of course. I've heard the Yeti ride quality is quite poor and the Octavia estate gets a pretty good write up for ride quality and handling.

It would have to be one of these three so i can transport my two dogs, (sometimes 4 dogs).

Any feedback on the seat comfort and ride quality of the Roomster or any of the others would be very much appreciated.

Writing this after traveling up to Glasgow, in daughters house 370 miles not one back ache nor leg problems. The seats in the Scout are brilliant. The only problem I have is a pain in the neck, but you have to take the missus don't you. Driving to Oban tomorrow and really looking forward to it. Do not get the 17" alloys.

JD

When I said the Roomster seats are not the best for back problems, I should have said I currently drive a Saab, which would probably mean my standards are quite high.

I'd add to the voices saying there are more comfortable cars out there than the Roomster. My previous car was a C-Max and I never got any back issues at all - not even a slightly stiff back.. In the roomster I get out after 2 hours and feel a bit stiff, regardless of how I adjust the seat - and I don't have a bad back. I'd say seat comfort is average.

I have just driven back from Scotland the scenic route in my new Scout and it was brilliant, enjoyed the drive. I have driven all the other versions of this type of vehicle and can safely say that it leads the field.

If I had any issues with the seat or ride the car would be on the market.

JD

Edited 21 July, 201015 yr by JDW

I have just driven back from Scotland the scenic route in my new Scout and it was brilliant, enjoyed the drive. I have driven all the other versions of this type of vehicle and can safely say that it leads the field.

If I had any issues with the seat or ride the car would be on the market. I too suffer with the back and cramp, the joys of age.

JD

I've heard the Yeti ride quality is quite poor

I don't know where you have heard this, but I would certainly not dismiss the Yeti without a decent test drive. The low-speed ride can feel a bit "knobbly" at first but in general, I think it is an excellent suspension setup, being compliant and well damped. I think the actual movement transferred into the cabin is quite small, and there is certainly not the constant jiggling which I experienced in, for example, the Honda Accord and M-B C-Class - nor the outright harshness of the 3-Series. In fact, the Yeti is remarkably similar to my XF overall. It just lacks that "old-school Jaguar" ability to iron out every last irregularity.

The other aspect is the seats - although perhaps not up to Volvo's best, the Yeti seats are pretty good and the (essential in my view) lumbar support is an £80 option on the SE and standard on the Elegance. And like the Roomster, you have a practical load space with the ability to move the rear seats forward if you need to.

Otherwise, VW's "Adaptive Chassis Control" was very impressive on the Passat CC which I drove, but I think the most practical model it is available on is the Golf GT range.

Mark