I've just disposed of a 2012 Roomster 1.2 TSI - sadly through insurance write-off.
The 1.2 TSI engine was very amiable and easy to live with, and never gave any hint of trouble. We had the 85bhp version of it - there is a ~105bhp version, which is identical in every respect other than sone software (IIRC you could change from one version to the other by setting a single setting in VCDS, although I never did) - and perhaps is more stressed.
It was moderately economical if driven gently in undemanding conditions. On a long motorway run in warm weather at 60mph I could see 50 genuine MPG (55 on the in-car MPG display). However if driven hard, economy was pretty bad - I often saw 15-25 MPG from short local trips, and driving down the motorway at 80-90 would have you doing 30 MPG. All the economy advantages of the small engine disappear if it's driven hard, and the garden shed aerodynamics hurt at speed.
We enjoyed driving it on trips with children, where it rewarded sedate, pensioner-like driving and felt calm and dependable. On short runs in town, or in a hurry, it was not fun and the gearchange felt clumsy. It was a very useful size and could do the "4 people to the airport with 4 proper size suitcases" job with ease. The badge, shape, and name meant it could be parked anywhere with no worries about whether it would still be there when we got back. Parts were cheap (mostly) and every garage was happy to work on it.
HOWEVER, even before it was crashed & destroyed, I was considering swapping it, because it had got to the annoying stage of life where there was almost always something awaiting attention. Nothing electrical had ever gone wrong, but always there was a suspension/brake/exhaust type problem and as soon as one was resolved, another started up. Prior to this, we had 9 years (bought from new) with zero maintenance other than services once a year, tyres, wiper blades.
With this in mind - I wouldn't choose to get another one at 10 years old.
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