We're due to change cars in a year and a half's time (it's a Motability car) and whilst the Golf Estate we have is nice I'm looking back to the Roomster as I really liked the one we had before the Golf...

Does anyone know what Skoda's plans are for the Roomie, are they going to replace it or just do another revamp of the existing model?

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/265438-the-next-skoda-roomster-artistic-impression/

This thread seemed to suggest the new Roomster would look like everything else on the road ,ie ok but very boring.

I will be ordering my new car in under 6 months, and although I have loved my Roomster I am now finding the seat a little low for entry and exit. It's not too bad at the moment but some days it's not as good as it could be. (I can raise my seat a bit more but being over 6''5" I'll bang my head).

I have just been to look at the Fiat 500L, it's the same length as the Roomster but taller. The drawback is the autobox is 5 speed and only available on a 1.3 multijet diesel, but it's currently my other option should the Roomster change and/or my mobility gets worse. (both highly probable!)

Is there a date for the next roomster?

Hi John,

I'm sure you will have considered the Yeti 1.2 TSI DSG as a replacement for your Roomster.

May I ask why it is not an option?

It's still on the list, but it didn't seem any higher than my Roomster, Butt to road height when getting in that is. I reverse park my butt then swing my legs in, the Fiat steering wheel was better to adjust to stop banging my knees on entry and exit than my Roomster (I have a 36" inside leg and size 12 feet). My main concern is an 85 bhp diesel against my 105 tsi and the 5 speed auto. I haven't driven the Fiat, it could be a right bag of poop, but it is on my option list.

Probably depends on your local dealer too... I've sworn off ever buying Fiat/Chrysler in the Reading area. There's ONE franchised dealer, and my in-laws' experience has been terrible. An electrical fault (of course) with the airbag light - All the independents said they couldn't do it. So it went to the only authorized Fiat place, who charged £140 for a diagnostic, and reported back there was nothing they could do, plus it came back with the ABS light active which they insisted was there previously; he hadn't done a comprehensive walkaround when he brought it in. After a couple months of sitting around due to failing the MOT a Polish mechanic spent 4 hours tracing the shorts in the wiring loom. £100 job done and no more electrical faults.

Skoda/VW on the other hand, has many ex-VAG professional independents and you're spoiled for choice where to go, and the franchises aren't bad either.

I've previously had 3 Fiats and no problems, my wife loves them but even she drew the line at a Multipla! I now change my cars every three years, now on Motability contract, but before that usually every 18 months to 2yrs ish, private purchase, and never get out of warranty. The only Fiat dealer problem was about 13yrs ago when one insisted I needed new front brake pads and discs. He was talking rubbish and then got put on the back foot when I told him so, and I trumped his mechanics qualifications. I'd had the car on a ramp the night before and checked the braking system (discs still in tolerance thickness etc.) as I had been warned this was the dealers party trick on unsuspecting customers. Skoda dealers are a whole different ball game, servicing good, but when looking for the Roomster, one was so off hand I wouldn't buy another car there, even though my father used to get his new cars from them, and another who having taken the order seemed to forget about the other bits, i.e. telling Skoda of the order, keeping me up to date, replying to call and emails etc......

The Roomsters a brilliant car though but I'm keeping my options open, I don't need a 4x4 or fake 4x4, I've had Vitaras and Landrovers when required. Horses for courses, I just need a tall, comfortable, economical automatic hack that swmbo can also drive.