Hi all. I'm new here and this is my first posting. As we now have very young grandchildren my wife needed to replace her two-seater and so we began to look at possible alternatives. An MPV seemed the obvious choice but which one? We decided to look at diesel models and began to read reviews of our shortlist of vehicles. Reviewers of Vauxhall Merivas and Zafiras had so many dreadful descriptions of faults (many repeat quality/stock/design faults and failures) that we just had to rule them both out. Then we stumbled upon the Skoda Roomster and whilst there are obviously far fewer of them than Vauxhall MPVs the reviews were a lot better, in fact generally very, very good. The Roomster also had the distinction of being completely different from anything else, especially in its looks that we both thought very appealing. Next we decided that we would look for a 1.9tdi PD 3 as we liked the panoramic roof and the reputedly more relaxed and quieter four cylinder engine. We contacted one of the closest Skoda dealers to ask about one that they had advertised. No-one was available to talk to me, so I called again half an hour later. Still no-one was available, so I left my phone number with their sales reception and was told that someone would call me. I never received a call but twenty-four hours later we drove over to have a look at the car. The price was high and they couldn't get anywhere even close to another Roomster of the same specification, age and similar low mileage that was being offered by an independent dealer 200 miles away. In fact the salesman apologized and said he thought that the £1,100+ saving that we stood to make would mean the journey would be well worthwhile. We made that journey and now own an almost as new Roomy. Today we had the rear windows tinted by Executive Tints in Burton-upon-Trent and they really look good against the silver bodywork. We have now covered over 500 miles in the car and averaged 48.9 mpg. The engine is remarkably low revving and we are so pleased to have discovered such an amazingly versatile, roomy, comfortable, torquey and economical vehicle. Our Dobermann also has plenty of the space in the back. I have had fun driving my wife's 'new' car these past two weeks and would happily buy one for myself.

Next we decided that we would look for a 1.9tdi PD 3 as we liked the panoramic roof and the reputedly more relaxed and quieter four cylinder engine.

Welcome! I guess at the time the diesel alternatives were the 1.9 and 1.4 engines. Now, of course, there's the 1.6 CR in various states of tune. It may be quieter than the 1.9, but seems to have less low-rev pull by all accounts, and is probably no more economical. I rather like the old "lump" and am dubious about changing to a car with the 1.6CR engine.

Stuart

Welcome to the site and congrats on choosing a a Skoda. You will find this site really helpful. Hope you enjoy your new herring!

Now, of course, there's the 1.6 CR in various states of tune. It may be quieter than the 1.9, but seems to have less low-rev pull by all accounts, and is probably no more economical.

Stuart

It also has a Diesel Particulates Filter which is another reason why, like Stuart, I rather like the old "lump" and would not want to change it for the newer 1.6CR.

Welcome, Vroomy

Rob

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new car

Update:-

We have had the Roomster 3, 1.9tdi PD for nine months now and covered several thousand miles. It's my wife's car but I drive it now and again and the car still amazes me with its head room, leg room and all round versatility. It's no slouch either, accelerating really well, and it pulls like a train, even up hills. It's also very comfortable and I would recommend this car to everyone but as we know, it's 'car make and model snobbery' that determines most people's car choice, over and above practicality and sensibility.

as we know, it's 'car make and model snobbery' that determines most people's car choice, over and above practicality and sensibility.

you missed out value for money

I'm amazed at the leg room, particularly in the rear. I used to have a Yeti, which was amazing in that regard, but the Roomy seems even bigger if anything.

I get looks of disdain when driving my Roomy, from other drivers, who obviously expect it to be driven like a slug, but a few of them end up surprised, as its actually pretty capable.

It is bigger than the Yeti in the back (seats and boot combined), one reason we ruled the Yeti out when we were looking round for a replacement recently...

Hi all. I'm new here and this is my first posting. As we now have very young grandchildren my wife needed to replace her two-seater and so we began to look at possible alternatives. An MPV seemed the obvious choice but which one? We decided to look at diesel models and began to read reviews of our shortlist of vehicles. Reviewers of Vauxhall Merivas and Zafiras had so many dreadful descriptions of faults (many repeat quality/stock/design faults and failures) that we just had to rule them both out. Then we stumbled upon the Skoda Roomster and whilst there are obviously far fewer of them than Vauxhall MPVs the reviews were a lot better, in fact generally very, very good. The Roomster also had the distinction of being completely different from anything else, especially in its looks that we both thought very appealing. Next we decided that we would look for a 1.9tdi PD 3 as we liked the panoramic roof and the reputedly more relaxed and quieter four cylinder engine. We contacted one of the closest Skoda dealers to ask about one that they had advertised. No-one was available to talk to me, so I called again half an hour later. Still no-one was available, so I left my phone number with their sales reception and was told that someone would call me. I never received a call but twenty-four hours later we drove over to have a look at the car. The price was high and they couldn't get anywhere even close to another Roomster of the same specification, age and similar low mileage that was being offered by an independent dealer 200 miles away. In fact the salesman apologized and said he thought that the £1,100+ saving that we stood to make would mean the journey would be well worthwhile. We made that journey and now own an almost as new Roomy. Today we had the rear windows tinted by Executive Tints in Burton-upon-Trent and they really look good against the silver bodywork. We have now covered over 500 miles in the car and averaged 48.9 mpg. The engine is remarkably low revving and we are so pleased to have discovered such an amazingly versatile, roomy, comfortable, torquey and economical vehicle. Our Dobermann also has plenty of the space in the back. I have had fun driving my wife's 'new' car these past two weeks and would happily buy one for myself.

It's just over a year ago that my wife acquired the Roomster 3, 1.9tdi and we are now able to give a bit more feedback on what the car is really like. Overall, it is an amazing vehicle. It's fast, holds the road well and gives 44mpg overall. We do a mixture of city driving and high speed dual carriageway/motorway driving and the car has covered about 12,000 miles in the past year. A cambelt change is now due. The rear parking sensor was for a while intermittent but it has 'fixed' itself. One point worth mentioning is that the top edge of the front doors swoop back into a point and several times, when getting out of the front seats, we have got ourselves 'stabbed' in the head by the door. The engine of the 1.9 tdi is very torquey and in slow moving traffic, or when negotiating roundabouts, changing down into second gear can be worryingly coltish with a tendancy to surge forwards. Staying with the gearbox, reverse gear is very close to first gear which can cause some people (me), problems when manouvering in a tight space. When we first got the car there were some very noisy knocking sounds from the back doors but that problem has now vanished, I had a feeling that the very cold weather back in December 2010 was the cause. So, so far so good and we would both recommend the Roomster.

Hi All

 

My wife has now owned her Roomster for almost 3 years and it's still just as good as it was the daywhen she bought it.  We use it every day and alternate week-ends we do a 200 mile round trip.  Touch wood, it has never missed a beat, apart from when I filled it with a full tank of petrol a couple of months ago.  The AA quickly sorted it out and everything was fine, apart from my wallet being 240 quid lighter.  The thing is, this car is so good that we have no idea what to eventually replace it with now that the 1.9 tdi has been replaced by the 1.6 with particulate filter.  I cannot imagine the 1.6 engine to have anything like the power, torque or long-leggedness that makes driving the 1.9 such an amazing experience.  My wifes Roomster is on an '07' plate and so we will need to make a decision about what to choose next within the next year or two.  By then the grandchildren will no longer need car seats, so the choice will be bigger than it was when we bought the car three years ago.

Glad its still so good, I`m loving mine, its full of character...As for replacement how about looking at the petrol TSi either 86 or the very quick 105..These engines will return not far off what your 1.9 PD returns, very quiet and smooth,plenty of pull and no DPF to worry about...