Having enjoyed reading posts on this forum for a few years, and learnt a lot, I wanted to share my experiences with my two Roomsters.

First was a 2010 1.6CR Tdi SE, which I had for nearly 5 years, travelled 47,000 miles at average 56mpg. Loved the car, the space for passengers, the flexibility of layout which are streets ahead of my previous car, a Seat Toledo MkII. The engine was gutsy and much quieter than the 1.9 Tdi in the Seat. Reg No is FR10 JAO if anyone on here has bought it?
 
I decided to trade in for a petrol version last year after the “VW dieselgate scandal”. I didn’t have the NO emission fix applied. I wanted another Roomster as it meets my requirements perfectly, but having become increasingly frustrated with the effect of emissions controls on diesels, I reluctantly moved back to petrol. Despite doing weekly 80 mile motorway journeys, I still often found the DPF needed regeneration. On one occasion I was stuck in central London in the rush hour and it was impossible to get to any road where I could burn off the soot. The only repair outside of normal servicing I had needed was to the DPF pressure valve.

I now have a 64 plate 1.2Tsi SE DSG, bought just over a year ago. I have travelled 10,000 miles at average 45 mpg. At the last service I had the software fix applied to reduce oil pressure in the dsg gearbox, but otherwise no faults to report. This car has Amundsen ICE and sat nav but is otherwise identical internally. One small niggle – there are no holding straps for the rear seat belts ( there were on the 2010 car) allowing the buckles to fall down and rattle on the hard plastic moulding behind the seats.

The petrol car is much quieter around town, but both seem to me to have excessive road (tyre) noise at speed. I tried Michelin and Continental tyres but haven’t really achieved a good result. It is just as fast, but seems to lack the “urge” that the diesel car had.

I take a lot of different passengers as I do some charity work taking older people to medical appointments. They have been universally impressed with the comfort and in particular with the space and ease of access to the rear. I regularly take 3 passengers with two folding wheelchairs in the boot and there is still ample space for shopping. 

Other cars now feel to me claustrophobic; I have been spoiled by the panoramic roof and the high roof line in the back. I dread trying to find a worthy replacement!

I record fuel and other costs on Sprit Monitor. This is a German site holding records of hundreds of Roomsters across Europe.

On 29/06/2017 at 12:48, moleinaroomster said:

One small niggle – there are no holding straps for the rear seat belts ( there were on the 2010 car) allowing the buckles to fall down and rattle on the hard plastic moulding behind the seats.

 

 

You will find slots cut in the plastic panels by each of the outer rear seats.  The seat belt buckle slots in there.  Crude but reasonably effective.

Thanks, I did start using those slots for the buckles after reading about them elsewhere. However rear passengers never put them back in the slots!

11 hours ago, moleinaroomster said:

Thanks, I did start using those slots for the buckles after reading about them elsewhere. However rear passengers never put them back in the slots!

Passengers eh!!  Biggest gripe I have with 'em is the way they try to pull the door handles off as they try to get out before I remove the key to unlock the doors. That double handle pull is not intuitive. 

Hello Mole,

I've switched to Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance tyres, 195/55 R 15" if I recall, much quieter, I have them fitted all round.

HTH

Richard

Have just reached 60.000 miles in my "08" Roomster. Hoping to keep it till I retire from racing my RC cars. "Rooom" wise, best car ever. Was miffed when they brought out the Yeti just after I got the Roomster, but when I looked at the boot space there was no contest, would have had to put back seats down every time I went racing. I'm with you "Mole" what do you get next, maybe wont have to if it keeps going another 60.000. Will be looking at customizing a wheel chair by then.

Richard

 

Thanks for the suggestion re. Goodyears. I see that they are quoted as 68dB compared with Michelins at 70dB, so I may give them a try when I next change tyres.

Hello again, Mole,

You're most welcome! When I bought this car second-hand in Sept 2009 (traded in Mk 1 1.4tdi PD Fabia hatch) it was fitted with some VERY noisy tyres whose tread pattern was a series of giant "V"s nested together, like a continuous band of Citroen's chevrons, (which I recall harked back to Andre Citroen's early years as a maker of bevel gears.)  

 

Anyhow, the decibel number sounds a bit lower than other makes, but decibels are on some mathematically weird scale so that 68dba is A LOT quieter than say 71dba (DeciBel Angstrom).  And there was A BIG AND WELCOME reduction in noise from these newer tyres, I started out with two, now got all 4 (except for the spare, which, on a steelie, is something different.)

 

Richard

59 minutes ago, RichardatWakefield said:

Hello again, Mole,

You're most welcome! When I bought this car second-hand in Sept 2009 (traded in Mk 1 1.4tdi PD Fabia hatch) it was fitted with some VERY noisy tyres whose tread pattern was a series of giant "V"s nested together, like a continuous band of Citroen's chevrons, (which I recall harked back to Andre Citroen's early years as a maker of bevel gears.)  

 

Anyhow, the decibel number sounds a bit lower than other makes, but decibels are on some mathematically weird scale so that 68dba is A LOT quieter than say 71dba (DeciBel Angstrom).  And there was A BIG AND WELCOME reduction in noise from these newer tyres, I started out with two, now got all 4 (except for the spare, which, on a steelie, is something different.)

 

Richard

Richard

 

dB are an logarithmic expression of sound intensity. A 10dB increase equates to a tenfold increase in sound intensity. BUT this only sounds twice as loud. Hence a 3 dB reduction in tyre noise is not anywhere near as much as halving the perceived noise, but it is still a significant reduction.

I wonder though if the quieter tyres have a shorter life or increased rolling resistance ( = increased consumption) . I expect to get at least 20,000 miles out of Michelins or Continental. It's not easy finding out - need a Which magazine type test I suppose. I'll see what I can research.

I barely got 13000 miles out of a pair of Continentals (I think, was a few years ago and two sets since). But that wasn't too bad considering they were only on the front. And our one is diesel. Could have extended that if I'd swapped them to the rear for a while. 

 

Currently on Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons and they're doing very well. Been on two years now, front's are still a good five mm and rears are good fours having swapped them six months ago. 

 

With regards to the noise issue, our roads are noisy anyway so tyres don't make much difference up here. In response to your wondering about the quieter tyres being softer, grippier tyres, the latest big brand ones are being marketed as giving the best fuel economy but best wet grip so they should in theory last as well but in practice... Not sure.

12 hours ago, HeavyMetalRich said:

I barely got 13000 miles out of a pair of Continentals (I think, was a few years ago and two sets since). But that wasn't too bad considering they were only on the front. And our one is diesel. Could have extended that if I'd swapped them to the rear for a while. 

 

Currently on Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons and they're doing very well. Been on two years now, front's are still a good five mm and rears are good fours having swapped them six months ago. 

 

With regards to the noise issue, our roads are noisy anyway so tyres don't make much difference up here. In response to your wondering about the quieter tyres being softer, grippier tyres, the latest big brand ones are being marketed as giving the best fuel economy but best wet grip so they should in theory last as well but in practice... Not sure.

Thanks for the info, Heavy. Most of my driving is on A and M roads in the south of England, and all I hear is the road noise that changes with every different type of road surface! Very little wind and engine noise. Mrs Mole is always adjusting the radio volume according to the type of road surface.

I'm pretty sure I got around 28,000 out of Continentals on my last diesel Roomie (did swap front to back) then put on Michelins which were still on the car 20,000 miles later when I sold it. I see that Black Circles.com give specs of the tyres they sell, including noise, grip, longevity, so I will use that to guide me when I'm in the market for new tyres, probably next year.

Might be of some use, but fit extra "aero" as quietened my MK7 Golf estate...

 

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/roomster/ro/2013-699/8/825-825010/

 

Say the full skid tray for under the engine which is metal...item no2

Thanks "fab", I'll look into that.

Our TSI DSG needed new rubber this season.

 

ended with Toyo CF2s in 195/55. Think their load index is 88, and the car needs 84?

 

Been very happy with their response (for an eco tyre), price level, and noise level.

Edited 28 October, 20178 yr by WAUOla