What a head ache. Ordering a Yeti in Australia

[joel0407]

I have to admit this is partly my fault as I’m not the usual shopper. I’m a bit fanatical about my vehicles. I have read the Yeti user manual front to back and I haven’t ordered one yet.
First I had trouble getting straight answers from the sales people about what’s standard and what’s not here in Australia.
I did a lot of research about what I wanted and what I thought was available in Australia.
As much as a couple of sales guys tried to tell me that “Off Road Tech” only adds hill decent. I knew it changed ABS, EDS and ASR programs. I’m not thinking about using the Yeti as a Landcruiser but I as my friends live out of town on farms, I want to take the Yeti up the paddock sometime. At the moment everything is unloaded from my WRX and loaded in to their vehicles.

I have read it several times that the standard halogen lights aren’t the best and driving on country roads in Australia at night, it is inevitable that you’ll come across wildlife. So I have opted for the Bi-Xenon Lights.


The next 2 options were not absolutely necessary but I thought they would be nice.

I have driven over 100,000km per year for my job and think I can park reasonably well but I like park sensors on cars these days. I initially just wanted rear sensors but it’s not much more for front as well then it’s only a small step to get Park Assist. So that option went down as well.

The least necessary option was the “Sound System Upgrade” which as far as I can tell has the same stereo but more speakers.

In Australia we have to take what’s in stock here in Australia or order and wait 5 months.

I was told that there was no stock of any Yeti with “Off Road Tech” in Australia but I’d seen so many with the button. I ended up finding out it was standard on all 2011 models ordered for Australia and there are plenty of 2011 models still in stock in Australia. The only problem was that there are not many left with Bi-Xenon head lights and those that have the Bi-Xenon lights have other options like leather and sun roofs which jack the price up considerably.
So I had made the decision that I wouldn’t be happy with a vehicle with just Bi-Xenon lights or just “Off Road Tech” so I had decided to order my vehicle and wait.

Today my finance was approved and I contacted the dealer advising him I’ll be dropping in on 14 September to pay a deposit and order a vehicle. I asked at the time that since the “Annapurna Wheels” were the same size, just a style difference, were they a no cost option. He got back to me and said as my vehicle will be a 2013 compliance he is unsure of the pricing and options. Looks like I’ll be going through all this again with sales guys not really being able to tell me what I’m getting.

I like the current stereo on the 2011,2012. My luck it will change for the 2013.

[Desmo]

I have a 11/11 build, 1/12 complied 103TDI and the off road button was not included in my car. I would suggest it was standard on the MY11 models but not MY 12 which mine is.

I have the Bi-Xenons and they are great, as they also include cornering function and on dark tight country roads they work a treat.

I was actually going to order a 112 dsg 1.8l but could not find any with the minimum options I wanted (Xenons, Leather and Front and Rear sensors) I was not going to order one and pay full retail, the discounts offered were small.

I ended up buying a "demo" with 66km on it. It had only been registered a month and was very well optioned. As you mention the dealers tend to add a lot of features not just a few key ones. I ended up with Sunroof, Xenons, Columbus Nav (RNS510), Leather, Front and Rear sensor, cornering fog lights, MDI.

As it was a "Demo" and was an 11 build I got an $12k discount on RRP. So its worth loking around and seeing what is sitting in dealers inventories.

From what I have heard the upgraded stereo is apparently very good compared to the standard one.

[BJ75]

I've read and seen photos of the pretty dramatic difference you get from just upgrading the light bulbs in the standard lights to those Nightbreakers or the Philips ones - both are extremely 'white' when you look into them.

I don't do a heap of highway driving anymore since my dad passed away (who I used to visit in the small country town of Canberra), so I can't say if they'd help improve that much. But if it's that or a 5 month wait .....

[joel0407]

Looks like I have a dealer willing to take my order. I'm paying a deposit on Monday. Expecting a Mid January 2013 delivery.

Happy Days

[mark t]

I've read and seen photos of the pretty dramatic difference you get from just upgrading the light bulbs in the standard lights to those Nightbreakers or the Philips ones - both are extremely 'white' when you look into them.

I don't do a heap of highway driving anymore since my dad passed away (who I used to visit in the small country town of Canberra), so I can't say if they'd help improve that much. But if it's that or a 5 month wait .....

Agreed the standard lights aren't great (if you haven't got xenons), but probably no worse than my last 2 cars (Pajero and Forester). I fitted the Phillips white light H4 globes- the high beam is appreciably better, low beam seems about the same.