Skoda Roomster test drive since 2006 -

The treasure of the nation

The interest caused by Rumster on the streets of Prague was perhaps not only a car, but also a national character. On busy central squares, the car was examined by old and young, approvingly shaking their heads; Drivers on the roads turned on a new skoda neck
 
Advertising posters met us at the airport and accompanied us throughout the Czech Republic, as if in the country there was a pre -election campaign. The company desperately needed a new model, and it is just such as Rumster: not requiring large investments, but original, unlike other cars of the Volkswagen concern. And, of course, in demand by the market.
 

How to realize all these requirements in the same car? The recipe is this: the imagination and fresh look of designers plus the widespread use of already produced units and chassis elements. The concept of two rooms of a driver’s knife and living space behind we were already able to evaluate a few months ago during a hat dating (ZR, 2006, No. 3). Now it was necessary to try it on wheels.
 

Crew commander

Skoda Roomster light-beige salon is perceived inside optimistic: transplanting into a car with a more familiar dark finish, you notice it instantly. The nature of gasoline engines clearly demonstrates the red tachometer zone, starting with 6000 rpm. Yes, for sure. This is what I experienced for the first time finding myself behind the wheel of Rumster: a sense of security. It arises, since the front panel is made in a monumental German style, and the lateral glass is not too large. This is the fault of this is the high waist line of the cabin of the pilots with a bully bend in the corner of the driver's door. Although this smoothed angle outside looks very impressive, from the inside it is already perceived as a kind of disharmony of the door frame is actually rectangular. As if the unexpected course of the exterior designers was stunned by the creators of the salon and they failed to find an adequate solution
 

The test route ran along the picturesque surroundings of Prague. Oddly enough, there is much more space here than in neighboring Germany or Austria. We climb onto the hills and enjoy the view of well -groomed fields and forests, and the picture does not spoil all sorts of buildings and wires and the paths liked the paths: narrow, abounds with blind turns, but not oversaturated with road signs and almost empty. How can you not give gas! However, you did not want to do this.
 

Skoda Roomster luggage compartment in a five -seater configuration is very solid. 1.4 L motor with a capacity of 85 hp For me, not enough for the car with a equipped mass of almost two hundred tons. No, the engine is generally not bad. He has an even character and is quite confident in the interval from 3,500 to 5500 revolutions. But if the arrow of the tachometer falls below, then there is no need to talk about more or less serious acceleration, although discontent from under the hood is also not heard. The turns above 5500, it seems, do not bring anything but an annoying rumble. The mechanical box works wonderful: clear, although not the shortest moves, reliable fixation.
 

It is not difficult to remove the rear seats after a small rehearsal in a matter of seconds. Admitting to the character of the engine, I completely do not pay attention to how the car leaves behind one steep turn after another. Paradoxically, the high Rumster flatly refuses to fall on its side or screech with tires! Only completely presumptuous test pilots, he sharply stopped, starting to throw forward the stern and fall out for the axial marking. The explanation of this was found at a press conference. It turns out that the front suspension and steering went to the Rumster from Fabia, and almost all the rear iron migrated from the octavia tour. Both chassis are very good, and the wheels are placed in the very corners, which adds tenacious to the Rumster.
 

On the horizon, a monumental structure from the stoned stone Charlstein castle loomed on the horizon. It is a pity, there is no time when I still find myself at the distance of an outstretched arm from the most famous medieval monument in the Czech Republic? But there is a lot of interesting Rumster with a 1.6 motor ahead. The first kilometers are slightly surprising: and here is exactly 105 hp? Feeling, acceleration did not become noticeably faster, the increase in traction is modest, dislike of both too high and low turns also remained. It becomes clear only with the growth in speed that the potential of this motor is slightly higher.
 

Suddenly, the diesel was most pleased. With a similar 1.6-liter power, it does not disdain gasoline revolutions, but it is much more willing to go below. Yes, vibrations and noise at idle are more persistent, but at speed they are not as noticeable as on gasoline brothers.
 

Suburban two -rods are replaced by a high -speed highway indicating the path to the capital. Overflowing on a rumster with a diesel engine are given quite easily. In the heat of one of them, he glanced at the speedometer: God, there are definitely no police cameras?! The speeds far beyond 100 km/h practically do not feel the tires drowned out, the runaway flow of air also does not create discomfort. I must say, for the whole time in the Czech Republic I saw only once. Ambush! It flickered in my head when the white-blue coloring sedan was attended by the side of the road. It turned out that it was parked at the local restaurant culinary traditions and the schedules here honor no less than the law.
 

So, at speeds even higher than the permissible Rumster remains comfortable and rather quiet. Nevertheless, having left the steering wheel of gasoline modification, he tried for a long time to understand in which ear it buzzed in me. It turned out like Frequen's side in both. There is a dilemma: either you are not going too quickly, but quietly, or the motor has to be twisted and then it begins to annoy not too strong, but an annoying sound. There is another option to buy diesel! And I really like everything from behind, my thoughts were interrupted aloud. I forgot that he was studying the salon there! Time to change.
 

The best for children

It seems as if he had not moved back, but moved to a different class car! I enter the salon almost as proud as in the London Keb; I sit down by the window, feeling the supply of space over my head; I put my hand on a low windowsill, throw my foot on my foot ... Touch! Here, children will probably like a lot of light, a review as if from an excursion bus.
 

For his size, Rumster is more than worthy of praise for the scope in the passenger compartment. He failed only one test: when three adult uncles tried to sit on his sofa, in the lowest of which 181 cm of height, and he turned out to be the easiest 84 kg. Then I had to talk. It did not even save that the side seats move back and forth by 150 mm. But together here is just great! The middle part of the rear sofa is taken out of the car, and the remaining thirds are shifted closer to each other by 110 mm. By aircraft standards, the difference is almost the same as between the economy and business class. A double configuration is one of the nine possible and, most pleasant, easily achievable.
 

So, in order to transport the maximum of the cargo, it is enough to pull the handle and fold all the parts of the sofa forward: a couple of clicks, and just take them out of the passenger compartment. With a certain dexterity, it will take about ten seconds. By the way, I am almost sure that after a while the truly tuning van will appear on the basis of this model, but this is already a separate story
 

Do not dare to throw candy wrappers to the ground! The young mother, without raising her voice, strictly raised a guilty five -year -old son. Caring for the purity of its cities becomes more noticeable in the Czech Republic. The country and its inhabitants want to prove to the world with all their might, and most importantly to themselves, which is no worse than Western neighbors. And they get a lot, at least in part of the cars. A clear example of Skoda Rumster.


Rumster is in a hurry to Moscow

At high speeds, Rumster is very comfortable. The suspension copes well with a trifle, only the wind no, no, yes it pumps a tall body with another impulse. In Russia, the car will debut at the Moscow International Salon. According to preliminary information, it will go on sale by the end of the year with a full range of engines (1.2; 1.4; 1.6 l (64105 hp gasoline volume), 1.4 and 1.9 liters diesel (69105 l. C). A little later, a version with a six -speed automatic, which is combined only with the most powerful gasoline engine, will appear. The basic price of the Rumster will be in the range of $ 1515.5 thousand.
 
Mikhail Gzovsky
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"