First a big hello to everybody. I am at present driving a 03 petrol freelander which does just about return 30 mpg with carfull use, bur being reently retired and now finding myself on a fixed income I have been looking round for something more economical. I still want a car of simalar size as I have at times two dogs to transport around, also based on the fact that I am still covering close on 10,000 Miles a year a diesel seems to make sense.

My first thoughts where a Meriva or possibly a zafira but both come with poor reliability issues, then I saw the Skoda Roomster advertised which seems to fit the bill perfectly.

Am I right in thinking that the Roomster is based on the VW caddy, because before retirment I had a diesel Caddy from new and in three years put 100,000 miles on the clock with no problems at all, also returned 55mpg without any thought of carefull driving.

Are the Skodas built to the same high standard as VW's,which is the better option in the range of diesel engines and what kind of mpg figures are peaple getting.

Regards

Tony

Welcome to Briskoda Tony

The Roomster is not AFAIK based on the VW caddy. It is a bit of a HYBRID!! as I understand it the front is the Mk1 fabia platform with a Mk2 Fabia skin job, and the rear end is apparently a MK4 golf?!

Spacewise, you can't beat them in my opinion.

SWMBO and I have a 1.9tdi PD Roomster Scout which has 105bhp as standard. You can rest assured on the reliability/build quality, my 2003/03 fabia which has the PD130 engine is now a shade over 150k miles despite being tuned from around 30k and is now in a heavy state of tune.

MPG wise for the roomy, on a decent run you can return 50+MPG, ours running 17" rims is not quite as economical but regularly sees 46+MPG.

To get better mpg from your freelander if you dont need 4wd remove both propshafts and just run 2wd. Did this on an 06 TD4 and regularly got 45mpg no problem. Stopped axle wind on full lock and ran smoother as well.

Are the Skodas built to the same high standard as VW's?

HIGHER

Hi Tony, and welcome to Briskoda.

With careful driving, my 1.9TDI achieves 45mpg about town - with 55mpg easily achievable on a run.

Build quality is excellent, there have been no warranty issues and nothing has gone wrong.

I cannot think of any other vehicle as tardis-like as the Roomy. I love mine!

Rob

Our previous car was a 1.9 TDI Roomster, and on A-roads (~50-60 mph) a fuel consumption of 60 MPG was fairly easily achieved. Since the gearbox is lacking a highway gear once the speed goes above 60 the fuel consumption increases radically.

Many thanks for all your replies, the information received is very helpfull. I have decided to have a look around and see if I can pick up a good used one , under three years old, 1.9 TDI is my preffered choice, any further tips would be more than welcome.

Tony

If you could find a nice Roomster 3 with climate, cruise and computer but without the 16 inch low profile Pirelli tyres that would be your best bet. I'm convinced that my life would be quieter and following the camber less pronounced with higher profile tyres. Other than that the 1.9 is quite wonderful.

Again many thanks for all the replys, after spending two weeks looking round skoda dealers and being quoted 6 months wait for a new one I have at last purchased a 2007 Roomster 1.4tdi with only 27000 miles on the clock from a main dealer in Morecome. Had a test run this morning and was pleasantly surprised with the perfomance for such a small engine.Managed to get the dealer to agree to renewing the timing belt, tensioner and water pump as the vehicle is 4 years old,all in with the purchase price. Pick it up next Saturday

Good choice FLman, I hope you enjoy your new car.

Good choice the 1.4 TDI, I was myself not very sure of the 1.4 when I purchased it in my Fabia, but it's a nippy little engine and you will grow to love it.

Davy

build quality good, reliability i would say good

mine is an 07 roomy 2, done 145k miles now, at 90k new front pads, 110k new rear pads, 120k had to replace a vacuum pipe to the servo as the non return valve failed, 130k had a wiring fault on the flap valve, and just had the MAF sensor fail this week at 145k, while underneath the other day i noticed the console bushes need replacement, but having said that mine does have a hard life as you can see from the milage

the most costly out of all that was the MAF sensor at £102 exchange from skoda yesterday

still on original clutch and exhaust

as to economy

round town 42-45mpg, steady 70 on motorway 52-54mpg, steady 78-80 46-48mpg go much over that and it starts drinking fuel like its a fish and uses oil as well, and that has been with a failing sensor that often has a negative effect on economy, as you can see not the most ecomincal of drivers if i try a little i can often add 3-5 mpg on those figure (which i am at the moment due to price of fuel)

Edited 2 April, 201115 yr by bluecar1

Picked the Roomster up on Saturday, First impressions-the vehicle was well presented by David Ian Skoda of Morcambe,the Service had been completed and new timing belt fitted,after 3 days of use I can honestly say that I am very impressed with both the build quality and the way yhe vehicle drives. the 1.4 tdi engine seems very good at motorway speeds, the gear change is the best I have driven in a long while.

To early to speak about ecomony yet but time will tell.All in all a very pleasing car and going by the number of replys I have had a first class forum.

Best regards to everybdy

To get better mpg from your freelander if you dont need 4wd remove both propshafts and just run 2wd. Did this on an 06 TD4 and regularly got 45mpg no problem. Stopped axle wind on full lock and ran smoother as well.

I'm surprised you got ANY performance if you removed both propshafts.

John

I'm surprised you got ANY performance if you removed both propshafts.

John

You would get good economy though,with all that engine ticking over & going nowhere!

You would get good economy though,with all that engine ticking over & going nowhere!

That would be 0mpg, wouldn't it?

Obviously you dont know the freelander 4wd system. If you take the propshaft off either side of the viscous coupling you're left with fwd only. This coupling is prone to seizing causing axle wind up and vibration. As I used mine on road only it was an easy way to get more Mpg and a smoother ride.

Edited 14 April, 201115 yr by des2

Obviously you dont know the freelander 4wd system. If you take the propshaft off either side of the viscous coupling you're left with fwd only. This coupling is prone to seizing causing axle wind up and vibration. As I used mine on road only it was an easy way to get more Mpg and a smoother ride.

I think the fact that you said to the o.p that he should remove both propshafts got the comments posted,I dont know my way round a freelander but i do now my way round a defender as ive worked on them for the last 13 years,remove both props from one of them & your going nowhere!

The REAL 4x4. Used to have 110 mk2,before that series 11a back when I could repair them,(makes my back hurt thinking about it)but fun on days out at tixover quarry.Always had a soft spot for the lightweights but never got one.