Removed

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by adamc260

Hi Adam,

Just been reading your tale of woe in the Fabia section. Sorry to hear you have had so many problems with yours and I hope it gets fixed to your satisfaction.

Yes, the Roomy kicks absolute ass. Mine has the glass roof, which adds to its appeal as a family car and increases the "tardis" effect. You may be surprised to learn that the Roomy is only 214mm longer than the Fabia hatch. In English, this translates to just over 8 inches, or the span of one hand.

Good luck with your motor.

Rob

Yes, its actually quite a narrow and short car for the amount of space inside... The only thing you have to remember is that the rear axle is wider than the front... if you take a bend too sharp you'll kerb the back wheel! I've heard that the CR diesel requires a totally different driving style to the PD units - I'm looking forward to my test drive in one tomorrow! As with all engines its a question of getting to know how it works best and then changing your driving style to suit as it certainly won't change its driving style to suit you!!

Removed

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by adamc260

I've owned about 10 different engined diesel cars and driven quite a few others... One thing is noticeable, there are no two alike, even the same engine in a different car can make a difference... I just don't feel its possible to generalize "like most dervs" as they are all different... To get the best out of one you need to find out its strengths and weaknesses and then drive it accordingly... that applies to petrol engines as well... Too many people think that they are all the same and then complain when their car isn't as economical as they thought it would be!

Removed

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by adamc260

Several of my cars have had nothing until the turbo kicked in at around 2/2200rpm, the exceptions being n/a diesels such as the VW SDi and Perkins Di and of course the 1.9 PD... The power delivery is more difficult to explain, I've never had any issues with "running out of power", though I can understand someone who is used to a petrol where the torque curve and bhp delivery over a much wider rev range experiencing it... I suppose it goes back to my thoughts earlier, you drive the engine to what suits it, if that means changing up at 3k then so be it...

I suppose if I wanted a car to "race" others away from lights, etc, i wouldn't buy a diesel, but i don't, I want an engine with a lot of grunt from 1500 or so up to about 3000rpm and some modern diesels suit that driving style, it allows me to take a more "lazy" attitude to gear changes and makes driving more relaxing... Some, however don't, the 1.2 in the Greenline being one with the 1.4PD and the 1.5 TD from a '97 Corsa being a couple of others... I can't wait for tomorrow now and the test of the 1.6 CR Golf... and the 113bhp C'eed!

Well I'm back from the two test drives, the Golf 1.6 CR TDi 105bhp and the C'eed 1.6 CRDi 113bhp... First off I'd say both were very good engines and the final decision on which we go for will be quite difficult...

However re the Golf's engine, I found it very flexible from 1300rpm upwards, I had to be careful in 5th gear as they have made it quite a bit higher than the Roomster's 1.9PD, at 70mph it was showing 2000rpm whereas the Roomie's is 2500rpm... Which is actually good news for me anyhow... Both cars would set off from rest in 2nd without any hassle, same as the 1.9PD and that's the way i prefer it... That was in marked contrast to the Focus which I found very inflexible... If I got the Golf the only change I would have to make to my driving style would be to have to allow for the higher 5th gear, other than that I found it very similar (but quieter!) experience to the Roomster engine-wise... Though it has to be said that the Golf was also the best riding and handling of all the cars I have driven over the past few days...

Reading how some of you have to drive the CRDi makes me wonder if Skoda perhaps haven't got the gearing quite right for the engine as i found it an absolute delight to drive, never getting caught out in the wrong gear (after sorting out the high 5th) and it was smooth and responsive all the way from 1300rpm to 3500rpm on the odd occasion I went that far... As I said i don't drive like a vRS driver would, all revs and acceleration, so it probably suits my style better...

Just have to make the decision now...

Edited 6 August, 201114 yr by The PM

Removed

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by adamc260

No I didn't bother as the Advance Payment (its a Motability car) for the cheapest diesel version of the Octy Estate was over £2500 which is way too much, I don't want to spend more than a grand!

Re the choice, yes you are right, the C'eed was certainly a good car, but the Golf just felt that bit nicer inside... Its still going to be a difficult choice as there is about £600 difference on price (C'eed cheaper needless to say!) and it has a couple of nice-to-have extras like automatic climate control and reversing sensors... My gut feeling is to go for the Golf though and stuff the extras...

No I didn't bother as the Advance Payment (its a Motability car) for the cheapest diesel version of the Octy Estate was over £2500 which is way too much, I don't want to spend more than a grand!

Re the choice, yes you are right, the C'eed was certainly a good car, but the Golf just felt that bit nicer inside... Its still going to be a difficult choice as there is about £600 difference on price (C'eed cheaper needless to say!) and it has a couple of nice-to-have extras like automatic climate control and reversing sensors... My gut feeling is to go for the Golf though and stuff the extras...

Just interested why not a Roomster 1.6TDI?

A Golf or a Ceed eh? If its just £600 Id go with the VW, the Ceed will lose loads more money over time. But yes, why not a Skoda?

why not a Skoda?

To reply to both of you! Estate versions in all three cases, resale is irrelevant as its on lease so the only costs I will have is fuel and living with the car for 3 years...

Fabia is too small behind the front seats, though the boot was ok...

Octavia is too expensive...

Superb (believe it or not!) would be manageable price wise... But its just tooo big!

Roomster... I did keep going back the Roomie for another three years but I eventually (and reluctantly) ruled it out for two reasons... At high speed it uses too much fuel due to its high roofline and I'm a stingy bugger when it comes to that... Secondly the alternative engine, the 1.2 in the Greenline I felt would just not be up to it after I had a test drive in the Fabia Greenline and felt that even that could struggle fully loaded at speed on big hills...

Don't get me wrong, for many people it would be acceptable, but I just din't feel it could hack it for me! So, reluctantly as I said before I've had to look elsewhere... Though at least I would seem to be heading down the line of staying within the VAG group!

I'd heard rumour that Skoda are looking at a possible car in the gap between the Fabia and Octavia... Anyone know if there's any truth in the rumour?

Edited 7 August, 201114 yr by The PM

Yes, that is true as Skoda do plan on building a car to sit between the Fabia and Octavia.

Good, as long as they do an estate version I'll be back in three years time! Any more info on it, L?

Edited 7 August, 201114 yr by The PM

Removed

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by adamc260

Sounds familiar, there was a concept wasnt there?

Removed

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by adamc260