What options should we get?

[Mr Statto]

Hi - first time post here.

We're looking at upgrading from a Mk1 Fabia Estate (1.4l, 68hp) to a Roomster. We're mainly getting it because a bit of extra room in the back seats would be really handy (the Fabia gets very cramped with 2 booster seats & an adult)

We're going to go for a Roomster 2, but we're not sure whether the 1.4l 85hp engine would be fine, or if we'd be better off with the 1.6l 105hp. What do people realistically get in terms of fuel economy - I'm sure the brochure for the Fabia mentioned well over 40mpg, but we only average about 32mpg.

Also, what additional options would people recommend - I can remember reading something on here about the middle headrest & the small cover between the parcel shelf & back seats.

And finally, one real bugbear about our Fabia has been the air conditioning system. I'm sure it was supposed to be a manual system, but ours seems to occasionally blow hot (sometimes very) air even when the dial is set just above minimum which leads me to believe it's actually climate control. Is the manual air on the Roomster 2 really what it says - does it blow air at a constant temperature?

[StuartBell]

You have to specify the middle seat headrest as a factory-fit option if you want it. Buying a pre-reg without, my garage got a trim expert to fit one; not quite a neat as factory-fit, but better than nothing.

The auto climate control (£250 extra ISTR) works superbly - recommended.

The fill in fabric between shelf and seats is a standard Skoda accessory, around £15.

As for engines, I'd look at one of the two TDIs - I went for the 1.9 as I plan to tow; if you don't, the 1.4TDI should be fine.

Stuart

[Mr Statto]

Thanks for that Stuart. Regarding the climate control, I would much rather have something that blows air out at a constant temperature than have one that continually adjusts depending on the temperature inside the car.

Is there enough room in the back for 2 children (in booster seats) & an adult?

[des_pd_ tdi]

Originally Posted by Mr Statto

Is there enough room in the back for 2 children (in booster seats) & an adult?

Yep, the seats allow for plenty of adjustment. In fact my wife has commented that it's more comfortable in the back than it is in the front.

Des

[Mr Statto]

That's good to hear. My wife has had enough of being very tightly wedged between two booster seats when we've had an extra person in the car!

[Mr Statto]

And one other question - does the middle seat have a lap belt, or a 3-pointer?

[PAArsko]

It has a 3 point fixing that stows back in the roof

[StuartBell]

Originally Posted by Mr Statto

Thanks for that Stuart. Regarding the climate control, I would much rather have something that blows air out at a constant temperature than have one that continually adjusts depending on the temperature inside the car.

Is there enough room in the back for 2 children (in booster seats) & an adult?

Booster cushions should be OK; 2 child seats and an adult wouldn't be, I'm sure. The middle seat is very narrow, the ratios being 40:20:40, but fortunately I have a narrow son! Three adults would be too much of a squeeze.

Stuart

[StuartBell]

Originally Posted by Mr Statto

That's good to hear. My wife has had enough of being very tightly wedged between two booster seats when we've had an extra person in the car!

BUT she would be squashed in the middle seat! You need to make sure that a booster cushion will fit there, so she can sit in one of the '40%' seats.

Stuart

[OctaviaT81]

Originally Posted by Mr Statto

We're going to go for a Roomster 2, but we're not sure whether the 1.4l 85hp engine would be fine, or if we'd be better off with the 1.6l 105hp. What do people realistically get in terms of fuel economy - I'm sure the brochure for the Fabia mentioned well over 40mpg, but we only average about 32mpg.

I wouldn't go for the 1.4, the 1.6 is better and doesn't cost much more.

I have the 1.6 petrol and it's not bad. Advantages over the diesels are that it's cheaper, quieter and lighter. Of course, the TDIs are torquier and more economical though.

I get around 38 on fastish dual carriageway/motorway driving, a little more on 50-60B roads and round town around 30, so it averages out pretty well.

I would get the climatronic as an option as it works well and looks nicer than the standard air con controls. It should regulate the cabin termperature and keep it comfortable, can't say I've noticed a problem.

[Mr Statto]

Originally Posted by StuartBell

BUT she would be squashed in the middle seat! You need to make sure that a booster cushion will fit there, so she can sit in one of the '40%' seats.

Stuart

Now that I know the middle seat has a 3-point belt it's less of an issue. I just didn't want one of the kids to just have a lap belt

[irfant]

In urban, 1.4 is superior over 1.6 in terms of fuel consumption. 8.1 vs. 10-11 liters/100 km.

Buy the car with ESP, the rest is this and that

[Captain Sisko]

I'm interested in one myself

The options I'd pick are
Adjustable armrest in front, with storage compartment (£70)
Cruise control (£150)
Third rear headrest (£45)

Although if I wanted the Climate and wanted the to order today I reckon they would be willing to negotiate on a few and the price

I don't know what the Maxi Dot trip comp is.
All the other options (on the Roomter 2) seem ok but dont really appeal to my needs/wants.

[aubrey]

I got a Roomster 3 so the Arm Rest comes standard - I must say it is nearly always in the up vertical position and hence not used. If you put it down it makes it difficult to use the handbrake, you need to bend you arm to reach under the arm rest. The only time it comes down is on a long motorway run where I don't need the handbrake, and then it only comes down as it is there to begin with.

I've only got the basic Climatic A/C, but can't say it has been any problem to use. Just set the temp and that is it. £250 for the Climatronic seems a lot of money for a fancy display.

I would say the 3rd rear headrest is a must for the £45 and cruise control is great on motorways. Both of these are cheap additions, again cruise was standard on my model. I also got the maxidot (£110) since I wanted a temperature gauge but I must say it does look very good compared to the basic dashboard.

Steering Wheel Audio Controls, I can't see the point. I can easily just use the controls on the radio itself.

Glass Roof - The kids love it and it makes the car seem even bigger. Again Standard on the 3.

Roof Rails - I got these fitted as I may add a roof box if needed for holidays and the rails are factory fit and hence can't be added easily later. A box would spoil the glass roof outlook so it would only be when really necessary. By the way you don't see the roof bars out the roof unless you really put your head up to get the right angle.

Mudflaps - Cheap but can always be added later. The same goes for the door sill covers, get them fitted from new before you scratch your new car.

Sunset Glass - I got it as an extra as I thought it looked good on the Scout and again this would be hard to add later.

[aubrey]

Forgot to add the Boot Cover (£15) stops people seeing what is in your boot. This must be the most rubbish design cheap piece of flapping fabric possible, but it does the job and for £15 I would say it is a must. This boot see though issue and the rubbish Boot Cover to 'solve' it is my worst issue with the Roomster design.

And the boot mat (£30) to protect the boot carpet.

I also got the electric rear windows (£130) as I've got kids. Not because I want to save them the hassle of having to wind manually, but because of the off button at the front to stop the kids messing about with the windows. Again a must if you have kids that play with the windows all the time even though the car has A/C.

[Captain Sisko]

I didnt see a boot cover on the options list?

[OctaviaT81]

Originally Posted by Captain Sisko

I didnt see a boot cover on the options list?

It's in the accessories brochure. I have one but haven't fitted it yet - the sunset glass does quite a good job of blocking the view in anyhow.

[JudyLoz]

Welcome to Briskoda, Mr S!

We have a Roomster 2 and I agree with Irfant - ESP is the starting point. It's standard on the Scout. We went for that and let the glass roof go but then we don't have little people in the back anymore. I wish the Roomster had been around when we did because the back seat environment is superb. Des's wife is right!

I've only once wished we had the glass roof and that was when parked alongside Derwent Water whilst "the boss" shinned up Cat Bells and I was sketching the lake ... We chose the two-tone interior in silver/grey to lighten things up and, although not popular on here, it works for us.

Our other options were centre head rest, parcel shelf fill-in, rear bumper cover strip, door sills (very worthwhile imo) and rear parking sensors - which deafen the poor front seat passenger but do pick up all the bollards/kerbs and the perennials growing out from beneath our boundary hedge (so it's a continuous beep down 2/3 of our drive every morning!).

Re the ventilation/air con issue, I find that when selecting reverse the setting can change and certainly the fan note changes, just as the radio volume decreases. That's the only time I've found it belching out hot air suddenly. That hasn't happened for ages so I've probably got the hang of the appropriate settings now. V happy with the bog standard set up.

We're not far off 10,000 miles now so arranging the first service. We're getting 50+ from each tank of fuel in the 1.9 Tdi.

Hope that helps.

[JudyLoz]

Re the radio and the fan - in our case it's because we have the parking sensors. Sorry to state the obvious!

JL

[Decron]

Originally Posted by JudyLoz

Re the ventilation/air con issue, I find that when selecting reverse the setting can change and certainly the fan note changes, just as the radio volume decreases. That's the only time I've found it belching out hot air suddenly. That hasn't happened for ages so I've probably got the hang of the appropriate settings now. V happy with the bog standard set up.
.

This is standard on most cars and has been on VAG cars for sometime. It's where it automatically changes from intake for recirculation to prevent exahust fumes entering the cabin during reversing.