Need advice on buying a Yeti

[joel0407]

I think the Yeti is the best car I have ever owned and I have owned over 36 cars.

I was considering the Tiguan against the Yeti when I bought it but the Yeti is just a better designed car. We have 2 kids (2 and 7), we leave the rear centre seat out and the 2 side seats that they use move in 1/4 so they have more room. So much stuff just gets put between the seats in the centre. Swimming bags, Groceries, whatever. It's just a perfect spot to chuck stuff. The boot has all these hooks and holes to put things as well.

There is one thing I don't like about the Yeti is there is a lot of wasted space in the boot. The wheel well is huge but it's filled with foam. Once the spare wheel is out there is a whole other layer bellow. If I get a chance, I'll take some photos.

Part are ridiculously cheaper in the UK. I have a dealer that has been great. The only down side is I have to call them in the middle of the night. My advantage is I am a shift worker so I am often up then any way. I also have a UK supplied tow bar and the wiring kit to match. I cant remember exactly now. You can search my threads as I posted how I got it and how I fitted if you like but it was something like over $700 from a dealer here and only $250 shipped from the UK. That was just the wiring kit and the tow bar was much the same.

I am finding the TDI is fantastic out of town. We recently drove from Darwin to Bathurst and back. We ended up doing 10,200km in 14 days. We left Darwin at 3:00pm on Friday and arrived in Bathurst by 4:00am Monday morning. The best I saw on the Maxidot was 5.4L/100km for a whole tank but I know the Maxidot is out by 0.3. A trip over the Blue Mountains from Bathurst saw 4.8L/100km but most of the speed limits are 60, 70 and 80km/h. Around town I am a bit of a lead foot. I did step out of a WRX before the Yeti so it's to be expected. I get around 8.5 - 9.0 were my wife gets 7.5 - 8.0L/100km. I use Fuelly.com for my fuel usage so my results are pretty exact. I don't drive for economy but I like details. I towed a box trailer from Canberra to Darwin on the previous trip up and mostly saw about 7.8L/100km.



I have never had a problem with the DSG. One thing I dont like though is how long the sports mode hangs onto gears. I like how sports mode changes down quicker under brakes into a corner but then I bump it up to normal drive on the way out. The thing with the diesel is the torque is high down low and then drops of up high, pretty much opposite to a petrol. I like to ride the low down torque when accelerating. One of the hard things to get used to coming from the WRX is where the power (torque) is. In the WRX if you where hooking along, you'd be higher in the revs and everything was pretty busy, you knew you where going. The Yeti on the other hand the Diesel can be at 2000rpm and the torque will be really pushing out of a corner. I find it a little hard to get used to, it's not very loud, the motor is not screaming but you are hooking in all the same.

I have no rear muffler and it made no noticeable difference at all removing it. I wanted some nice polished stainless tips so it didn't cost much more for 2 mandrel bends and flange at the same time. I sort of knew it wouldn't make any difference to the sound but damn the muffler was a heavy piece of kit. I'm glade it's out. All the engine sound is cut from the turbo and the diesel particle filter. It does however stop that sound of air rushing though a small hole sound. Anyone who has heard one accelerate hard while standing on the kerb watching will know the sound I'm talking about.

Any more questions. Just ask here or Briskoda Forum.

I have never heard of anyone being disappointed with a Yeti of any model.

Happy Days.

[seaninbrisbane]

I've had my 112TSI Yet for around a month now, so I thought I'd give some impressions.

Before buying it I had a look at several similar SUVs: Tiguan - too expensive for 4WD auto version, interior wasn't as nice, didn't have flexible seating. Kia Sportage: loved the looks, but engine and handling weren't as refined (felt a bit truck-like), although very good salesman and warranty. Mazda CX-5: didn't test-drive (couldn't find one in budget), but apparently very good. Mitsubishi Outlander: didn't test-drive, was a bit dated and too expensive for the auto 4WD.

The Yeti's engine is absolutely fantastic, feels quite sporty and good 0-100. Suspension is a bit firmer than I was expecting, but I prefer this as it corners exceptionally well for an SUV. No problems with the gearbox - don't understand why it has a rep for being hesitant at low speeds. The boot isn't huge, but the flexible seating solves this for me - I rarely need to remove or put the seats down. Lots of clever features, such as a rear seatbelt retainer for when seats are removed/lowered, lights that stay on to guide you home, auto wipers/lights, self-dimming rear view mirror, dual climate control - all in all it feels very well put together (no squeaks at all). Fuel consumption is also very good for a 4WD SUV (unless you drive it like a sports car then it gets thirsty)!

I had a bad experience buying my first Skoda from Bryan Byrt, Mount Gravatt - so I used James Frizells on the Gold Coast this time who were much, much better. Only thing was, when I picked up my car on a Saturday afternoon, there were two couples trying to get information on a car, but who left because there was nobody around! One chap just ate his Subway sandwich and said someone would be with them shortly (not his department)!

All in all, I am overwhelmingly pleased with this car - it ticks all the boxes. I don't think I'll be changing it for some time.

[bluey]

FWIW I'm not 100% into the whole "Diesel isn't good for stop-start motoring".

Certainly the DPF issue is probably the major one. But even that is probably minimisable by using a cetane improving additive (have been using Morey's Diesel Smoke Killer).

Apart from DPF issue, I think the "diesels are no good for short distances" is complete nonsense. At idle the 103TDI reports using 0.6-0.7L/hr. Polo TDI reports 0.8L/hr. Various rented Audi petrol engines 1.8-2L size report about 1.2-1.3L/hr IIRC, maybe more. So based on idle consumption, a diesel will use a whole lot less fuel in stop start traffic. Being able to take off from standing with gentle clutch and zero accelerator also uses less fuel than a petrol engine which won't go anywhere without revs.

Have to agree with BJ75 "I haven't been this satisfied with a car ever."

Given the current runout prices with new Yeti on the way, they are a bargain too.

[NotYet]

I've had the 103TDI since Nov 2011 and have done 45,000km, mostly country driving. My experience is similar to the others above: overall an excellent car.

Specifics:
- Fuel consumption about 6.8L/100km.
- Engine is responsive, with peak torque from 1750rpm. Overtaking is a breeze. Should tow well too - surprising the unbraked limit is only 650kg.
- DSG is great. Can be a little hesitant when cold, but I don't find that an issue. It's a smart transmission: eg will hold D4 or D5 going downhill. Manual mode is excellent, esp for windy roads.
- For country driving on hilly-windy roads with broken or rough surfaces it is fabulous.
- 4WD mode is very handy on slippery surfaces such as forest roads (I save the serious 4WD tracks for the Prado - Yeti lacks clearance and is not really built for it.)
- The optional Xenon headlights are great - they even bend around corners. Lighting is as good as the driving lights on my Prado.
- Interior is practical and easy to live with. Indicator stalk on the left, but that is like all Euro cars. I really like the SD card slot in the Bolero.
- I have a gripe about the tilt of the headrests, which push my head forward - but that is true of most new cars. Unlike some cars (eg Passat), the head restraint is not horizontally adjustable. Solution is either tilt seat back by more than 10-15 degrees, or (as I did) get a seat insert.
- Visibility is very good, but these days a reversing camera should be standard. Unfortunately it was not an option, but I got an aftermarket one installed for about $450.
- Spare tyre is temporary use (speed limited to 80km/h) - not ideal for the country. It would have been better if the boot had been designed to take a full size wheel/tyre standing up - all the depth in the well would then have been usable. But this is a losing battle as fewer cars come with full size spares (many now have no spare).
- Low profile tyres with 17 inch wheels give a firm ride, although ameliorated by good suspension. The upside is sharp handling.
- The supplied Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres are very grippy on bitumen, although not long-lasting.
- Brakes are outstanding.
- No niggles at all so far. (Skodas are very reliable: eg Yeti recently topped the reliability results for the rigorous German registration authority.)

As others have said, I am surprised there haven't been more sold in Oz.

[Boon]

Has anyone tuned their 103tdi to 125kw? Have to say it's good to drive as is but wondering about the extra fun and diesel savings

[brad]

At idle the 103TDI reports using 0.6-0.7L/min. Polo TDI reports 0.8L/min. Various rented Audi petrol engines 1.8-2L size report about 1.2-1.3L/min IIRC, maybe more. So based on idle consumption, a diesel will use a whole lot less fuel in stop start traffic. Being able to take off from standing with gentle clutch and zero accelerator also uses less fuel than a petrol engine which won't go anywhere without revs.

My 1.8tsi M6 uses 0.7L/hr (surely it isn't per minute!!) at idle with AC off. 0.9L with AC on. It pulls away from a standing start with no accelerator needed. I often change up at 1500rpm but normally wind it right out to 1800rpm before change up. I figure if I can't go fast then I may as well try for maximum economy (and live up to my award from Shell for "Australias most economical driver").

I wouldn't have an issue with using a diesel stop/start. Where I do wonder is all these suburban housewives who's hubby buys them a diesel for the 3km drive to the school / shops / hairdresser etc. Diesels need to be at NOT to be efficient & that takes about 10km at 20c ambient.