Euro NCAP report on Skoda Roomster - should I be worried?

Minerva69

I am learning to drive at the moment and have started looking at cars to buy for when I pass my test! Top of my list is a Skoda Roomster mini-MPV, as I need something that will fit my toddler's pushchair into the boot (as well as all the shopping!).

The road tests I have read seem to like the car, but I have read a report on the Euro NCAP crash test site which worries me. The car was given the full 5 stars for passenger protection and 4 stars for child protection, however in the details of the report, it said this (taken from http://www.euroncap.com/images/results/mini_mpvs/car_275_2006/Skoda%20Roomster%20Datasheet.pdf

In the first frontal test, cables attached to the battery were damaged, shorting out the electrical supply. As a result, the seatbelt pre-tensioners failed to fire and the airbags fired late. Euro NCAP allowed Skoda to re-test the car with modifications to address these areas of concern. In the re-test, the cables were again damaged, despite Skoda's efforts to protect them, but the airbags and pre-tensioners fired as intended thanks to a re-programmed control unit and a capacitor in the circuit to the control unit and the pre-tensioners. Skoda have informed Euro NCAP that they do not intend to modify cars already sold to customers. Despite the success of some of Skoda's modifications, Euro NCAP remains concerned that all of the main electrical supply cables are so vulnerable in a frontal collision. While it is not considered a fire risk, a vehicle could be left without any of its electrical systems (hazard lights etc) functioning after an accident.

I don't understand why the car has been given the full 5 stars if Euro NCAP are concerned about the electrical cables to the battery, even after Skoda had modified them I also can't believe Skoda are not intending to modify cars already sold. This is the only thing that is putting me off getting this car. I haven't found any mention of this problem other than on the Euro NCAP website. My other half thinks we should get one anyway and just hope that we don't have a frontal collision! I would be grateful for any advice from anyone who knows about cars. Thanks!

anewman

You could always modify the connectors yourself, they're a couple of quid from halfords. But to me it sounds like you have nothing to worry about if you intend to buy new if Skoda make the modifications to new cars that they suggest. If presented with that pdf a skoda dealer may make efforts to reassure you that all is fine, even to the extent of making efforts to put it right.

May I suggest (in the aim of money saving) that unless you have substantial savings, that when you pass your test it may be more economical to get a smaller second-hand car. Plenty of these will fit a pushchair in the boot along with shopping. When you pass the test you will probably still be learning when you go on to get a car (just you have reached the standard to do it on your own without paying a driving instructor), so driving a second hand car means if you make a little mistake and bump it, it won't matter so much. It also gives you the opportunity to build up no claims discount on a car that you have selected for both meeting your needs and giving you cheap insurance during that time. Then you can either sell on or scrap the car and go on to get a nicer car.

Also, you may be surprised to know that if you look in autotrader it is not too difficult to find cars with all mod cons like power steering, sun roof, abs, even air conditioning, electric windows, electric mirrors and heated mirrors all in for under £1000.

If you're looking at a car in terms of an investment, ie. selling it on in 3 years time and buying a new car, consider the likely re-sale value of the car you purchase new. The cost of the car to you in every case will be what you pay now, + service costs (almost essential to ensure good resale value) minus what you get back when you sell it on. The lower the depreciation the cheaper the cost of the car to you in the end. The Skoda roomster is new so their depreciation has not yet been proven, but from what I can tell Skoda tend to depreciate moderately, and my guess is that unless skoda make a success of marketing the roomster (and this is a very competitive market that the type of car) they will possibly depreciate a little more.

Minerva69

Thanks very much for your reply anewman, it was very helpful. I did think of getting something second-hand, but I will need an automatic car and there don't seem to be many used cars available with the features I'm after. I'm learning in an automatic so will only be able to drive one after I've passed my test. I'd like a 5 door model with a large boot and preferably air conditioning. Safety is a strong factor in my choice as well as I have a young daughter so want a car that has performed well in safety tests for both front passengers and children. I thought the Skoda would be a good choice as it seemed to meet my requirements, although I don't know much about cars!

We are planning to pay for 50% of the car from savings and the other 50% from a personal loan, as hopefully we should be debt-free (apart from the mortgage) by the time I have passed my test. We were planning to keep the car for a while so that's another reason I was looking at a new car rather than used, but I'm open to suggestions if anyone can think of other suitable models that might be appropriate.

neil1965

I was very impressed with the roomster after a test drive and even liked the rather strange looks. The only thing that disuaded us was the fact that it was a new model and we were worried that it might inherit some of the problems of the fabia (on which it is partly based). In the end we went for a year old Octavia estate 1.9 diesel Ambiente ( same spec as the level 2 Roomster). Enormous boot, lovely car to drive, safe and very cheap to run. With our budget of £12000 we managed to get a lot of car for the money.

If you have any questions about the Roomster try "briskoda.net" a very good skoda owners forum.

Enjoy your new car.

DavidHM

For under £6,000 you could buy an automatic, four-year-old example of a Mazda Premacy (more likely to be a little older and a little cheaper as it's quite rare), a Citroen Picasso, a Vauxhall Zafira or Meriva, Nisan Tino or Renault Scenic. The Mazda and Nissan are likely to be most reliable, then the Vauxhalls, then the Citroen and probably the Scenic will be worst - especially as Renaults around 2001-2005 had particular build quality issues which are improving on newer cars.

Alternatively there are numerous small estates, such as the Skoda Fabia, or a little larger like the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus, that are relatively small and easy to park with a large boot.

For under £1,000 you could get a 10-year-old Scenic auto if very lucky (but that might not be reliable) or just about any 10-year-old small estate.