Hi Everybody,

We're on the verge of ordering a new Roomster SE Plus with a couple of factory-fit options. I have a couple of questions:

We're thinking of getting the 105ps diesel engine, is there any good reason to go for the lower powered one? According to the brochure the fuel consumption is exactly the same! So aside from a very small price difference and a minuscule difference in insurance premium, what's the point of the lower powered engine?

Secondly, what's the situation like with delivery now? Have asked the question, but haven't had a response yet. It's probably going to be a deal-breaker if I have to wait six or seven months...

One final question, According to the print-out of the configuration the car has WFT... WTF is WFT?

Thanks

The various power outputs are achieved from the same engine just with different turbo boost pressure maps, hence really I guess the price difference is just representative of likely repairs costs they'll need to cover in warantee (not saying there will be any problems of course, just averaged over the entire population) plus a margin of course.

The long lead times are down to (lack of) availability of the DSG gearbox mostly. If you do find dificulty, keep calling local(ish) dealers until you find one with your chosen engine/gearbox combo on order in any trim already (as demonstrator/stock car) and get its configuration changed to your spec

The diesel will obviously come in to its own if you do mega miles or need the extra tow weight, but otherwise the petrol 105bhp could be a better bet.

Thanks for the reply.

Dealer has come back to me, and is saying about 13 weeks for delivery - so not too bad. Want the diesel though as we do about 15k a year - not mega miles but enough to make the diesel worth-while (I think).

Could go either way at that mileage I'd say, my last motor was a Fiat 500 diesel but with hindsight a basic petrol version would have been cheaper in that case. My desire to change it now is because of the potential for big money bills with diesel engines out of warantee - obviously if you plan not to keep the car much beyond warantee then that isn't a concern anyway.

Depreciation wise it looks pretty even with the Roomster, obviously the petrol will use a bit more fuel of course.

By my rough calculations, we'd save about £300 per year in fuel costs, plus the reduced road tax. So as you say not much in it over three years on a total cost basis. I must admit I quite like the torque of a diesel. Our diesel Panda was is much nicer to drive than the petrol version we had previously. On the other hand, I've heard that the Skoda diesels are a bit noisy, so perhaps I'll test drive both this weekend...

Would be looking to keep the car for three years, so hopefully not too much expensive servicing and repair work!

Cheers

I've have and have had both the the "old" roomster in 1.9 TDI verson and now a FL Roomster with 1.2 TSI 105 DSG, and both engines are really great. The older 1.9 TDI at times felt overpowered for this type of car, and the new small turbocharged petrol feels just right. It has quite a lot of tourque in the low revs so it is quite diesel-like to drive, and fuel economy is not too bad either when driven nicely. I have managed an average on over 42MPG for the first 6000 miles, and quite a lot of that is commuting and short trips. On longer runs at speeds of 60 mph and below I can get 50 MPG.

But as always it's our decision, so I too woukd advice you to try to drive the cars you are interested in. The petrol is quite popular currently, so the wait times could be longer for that one, and the DSG will definately increase your wait.

As pearce_jj pointed out it's really the same engine with different software (At least I think so), so my advice would be to go for the 105 spec.

I agree with the_raz (since I actually bought a tsi 105 model)

When it comes to the difference between diesel and petrol, I can add that here in Italy the break even point in saving money when buying diesel is at more than 20.000 km/year (12.500 miles/year). I used pretty precise algorythms on a Consumers' Association site and compared my TSI 105 with a 1.6 TDI 90hp.

As always, things change in every country due to insurance and tax costs, etc.

I would say that the TSI is a pretty money-saving engine, smoother and quieter than the diesel. On the other side, diesels have wonderful torque values at low revs. It is also a matter of taste.

Have done the calculations again and there's not much in it really. I'll have to test-drive both and see which I prefer - and also see what difference it makes to the finance figures as far as the three-year depreciation is concerned. As so many people seem to be recommending the petrol, it would be daft not to investigate.

Thanks

Had a good long test-drive of the Roomster in both petrol and diesel have surprised myself and placed an order for a petrol SE Plus!

Found the diesel very noisy - In a gruff kind of way, seemed a bit unrefined. It was a bit quiter when warm, but not much. The petrol was an absolute peach, very smooth and responsive and the gear ratios seemed very well matched to the engine.

Decided to go for the 86hp version, this is what we test drove and it was fine, never really felt underpowered. The fact that there was one ready built and available in two weeks was also a big bonus - four month plus wait for the 105hp!

Very impressed with the handling for such a tall car, very neutral and sure footed, really threw it around on some twisty country roads!

Only one problem, the available car doesn't have the front fog-lamps, which we wanted - dealer seems to think its a factory-only fit and can't be done by the dealer. He's going to check for us, would seem strange if a dealer can't retro-fit fog lamps, especially as kit is available from the Skoda Shop!

Looking forward to becoming Roomster Owners, such a amazingly practical and quirky car - a million miles away from the Estelle my dad owned years ago, that was scrapped by the time it was four-years old!

Never used them in the last three years for their intended (and only, according to the Highway Code!) purpose, just to signal to other drivers that theirs are on when they don't need to be! My new Golf hasn't got them and I can't see any reason to fork out for some... Everyone to their own, I suppose!

Never used them in the last three years for their intended (and only, according to the Highway Code!) purpose, just to signal to other drivers that theirs are on when they don't need to be! My new Golf hasn't got them and I can't see any reason to fork out for some... Everyone to their own, I suppose!

We live out in the sticks, and drive a lot on unlined roads, so they do come in very useful at times - don't use the unless it is actually foggy though!

Half my daily commute of 20 miles is in the sticks, just I've always found that they only help if it is really foggy and I'm going really slowly, what most people who use them when its not foggy don't realise is they actually worsen your distance vision when used incorrectly as they brighten the road near to the car and darken the road lit by the normal dipped beams beyond the reach of the fogs...

Ah well, I know that no-one is daft enough to misuse them on this forum as we're all good drivers!

When I ordered my Roomster in Feb I was quoted a 16 week wait by the dealer (Skoda later told me I should have been quoted 25 weeks) but I got the car in 22 weeks. It was an SE spec 1.2 105 with dsg box. Extras were fog lights (which is where they put the daytime running lights), cruise control, climate, 3rd rear head rest and spare wheel. Someone at Skoda knows exactly what the current lead times are on ALL specs and models, you just have to make sure someone at your dealer knows how to get hold of the information.

Just coming up to 3,000 miles in my car and I am pleased to get over 500 miles from a tank of fuel (around 42mpg). The first few times you ask the engine for some oomph and the revs get close to the redline the engine really screams, but you get used to that and trust the computers not to let it do any damage.

Even with the DSG you need to remember you have some control so using S mode for twisty or hilly roads and manual changes for engine breaking as required. So far I am very happy with the car.

Edited 7 November, 201114 yr by hertsnminds

Just coming up to 3,000 miles in my car and I am pleased to get over 500 miles from a tank of fuel (around 42mpg). The first few times you ask the engine for some oomph and the revs get close to the redline the engine really screams, but you get used to that and trust the computers not to let it do any damage.

Glad to hear you're happy with it, and that the fuel consumption is ok - there seem to be some horror stories around these parts regarding the 1.2TSI. I expect we'll get a little less, as you have the DSG.

I'll say again, I wasn't expecting that kind of performance from a 1.2 petrol! (Even in 85hp form)

Glad to hear you're happy with it, and that the fuel consumption is ok - there seem to be some horror stories around these parts regarding the 1.2TSI. I expect we'll get a little less, as you have the DSG.

I'll say again, I wasn't expecting that kind of performance from a 1.2 petrol! (Even in 85hp form)

After 12.000 km (7500 miles roughly) I get 50-51 mpg from the on board computer. Not bad for a 1.2 105hp petrol engine. On the other side, the engine seems to have become more rumbling (with a low sound) with the passing of time. Plus, it seems that an audible tick-tick (service guy said it is from the injection system) has become louder.

Has anybody experienced it? Or is it just my becoming more acquainted with the car's sounds?

After 12.000 km (7500 miles roughly) I get 50-51 mpg from the on board computer. Not bad for a 1.2 105hp petrol engine. On the other side, the engine seems to have become more rumbling (with a low sound) with the passing of time. Plus, it seems that an audible tick-tick (service guy said it is from the injection system) has become louder.

Has anybody experienced it? Or is it just my becoming more acquainted with the car's sounds?

Mine sounds exactly as you describe after 22.500 Km and 16 months of ownership.

Another question. Has your dealer install an ECU upgrade as a service operation? Mine wanted to do it during 15.000 Km service but I refused, but they did it at a friend's Roomster and now he claims that turbo engages at about 2000rpm and it is not that bursting but smoother. Though the car, as he told me, is still powerful but more civilized and now is more brisky at low revs (1.000 to 1.800).

Edited 7 November, 201114 yr by stratosg

Mine sounds exactly as you describe after 22.500 Km and 16 months of ownership.

Another question. Has your dealer install an ECU upgrade as a service operation? Mine wanted to do it during 15.000 Km service but I refused, but they did it at a friend's Roomster and now he claims that turbo engages at about 2000rpm and it is not that bursting but smoother. Though the car, as he told me, is still powerful but more civilized and now is more brisky at low revs (1.000 to 1.800).

Until now I had no notice from the dealer. I will ask them next time. Anyway, I would be happy to have such ECU upgrade you described. Maybe I should start a new topic...we are going OT