We can so easily take the cargo capability of the Roomster for granted.

Just had a very amusing time as a colleague met me to ferry on the contents of my Roomster in a smart looking Prius he'd hired. The Roomster was 2/3 full. The Prius was so problematic that he suggested that I left him to pack it - in other words struggle for 15 minutes to get in the boxes which 2/3 filled the Roomster. It meant I didn't laugh out loud.

Prius? Fail!

Stuart

To be fair, though, the Prius is a hatchback car, not a mini MPV/Estate like the Roomster...

I agree the Roomis is under-rated, as I've said in my thread on lost opportunities...

To be fair, though, the Prius is a hatchback car, not a mini MPV/Estate like the Roomster...

I agree the Roomis is under-rated, as I've said in my thread on lost opportunities...

But the Prius is 18" longer! And wider.

Stuart

Yes, there is more useable cargo space in my Roomy than there was in my Schitroen Berlingo - mainly because of the Roomy's removable rear seats and fully reclineable front seat.

I struggled to transport a double bed (folding base) in my Berlingo, whereas I transported the same bed in my Roomy with ease. Mattress folded lengthways with half of its length over the fully reclined front seat. Bed base alongside it in the rear. Bedside cupboards and other stuff in the remaining space. I wish I'd taken a photo.

The new Berlingo has removable rear seats but it doesn't count. It is a foot longer than my Roomy and it does not fit my garage. And it's French

You certainly can "load up" the Roomster

But the Prius is 18" longer! And wider.

And has a load of batteries under the floor! All I'm saying is that its an unfair comparison, the Prius is a hatchback, like a Golf or Focus, if they made an estate version of it then ok it would be a valid comparison.

The Roomster always has been a bit of a tardis, the old Austin Maxi and Landcrab/Princess were the same... It seems a dying art these days, car manufacturers seem more concerned with styling than practicality, if Skoda had got their head screwed on properly when it was launched in 2006 they could have made a killing on plugging this aspect, but they lost the plot for some reason...

Yes when my trusty old 95 Golf Estate (a real workhorse)turbo diesel started to get a bit rusty around the edges, I looked around for a replacement , preferably from the VW family.

Problem was no where could I find out the old cars internal volume?

My wife loves selling at boot sales and flea markets so it had to have lots of load carrying space.

I also wanted the same external dimensions so the car would go in my garage.

Another preference was plastic bumper and side protection.

Looking through the spec tables of WHAT CAR the Roomster seemed to have a very large carrying capacity with seats down when compared to everything else.

I think on paper it had more internal capacity than the last Vectra estate which is one big vehicle.

Also unbelievable was that on some estates the seat’s don’t fold completely flat!

Anyway my second-hand Roomster Scout 1.9 TDi fitted the bill , being shorter in length then my old Golf, and a similar width, yet having the same internal capacity.

I must confess the seats are a bit heavy to remove , and there’s a loading lip which the Golf didn’t have.

That said it’s a really nice drive with much more power and speed , although slightly coarse at very low speeds.

I think where the Roomster really wins is as a people carrier, not a luggage carrier. I'm 6ft 4", my daughters are now 5'10". In what other small car could they sit behind me in such comfort? None. Apart from either the Berlingo or Doblo which are not as comfortable. The only problem i find is that when in holiday mode luggage space is a bit tight.

Your right there about passenger space. When my wife is in hyper shopping mode , I retire to the Roomster and stretch out in the back seat with the radio on and a good book!

The Fabia estate is very similar, the only difference is lack of moving rear seats!

Regards the heavy rear seats, which would you rather have, seats that will stand solid in an accident or ones which would collapse, personally I'll take the heavy ones, thanks! :yes:

No quite agree , Im pleased they are substantial, and as you say safe in a crash.

And I am getting used to taking them and out.