Turns out the Yetis on display at the motor show are NZ models. The alacantra and leather in the 77TSI won't be an option for Australia.
Today, I was able to speak to a guy who works for Skoda Australia head office, not one of the grid girls. He was the one who told me the show vehicles were NZ models and not Australian spec.
I showed him the Skoda Australia website where it said Columbus Sat Nav was standard on 4x4 103TDI and he said that was wrong and that he would make sure the web people fixed that first thing Monday. Also showed him the poor fit of the cupholders and he just shrugged and said that is European spec, so guess we will have to like it or lump it.
I asked about what options would be available, eg Electric Seat adjustment, Heated seats etc and he basically said the Yeti Brochure on the Skoda Australia website is the most accurate in terms of specifications and options that will be available for Australia at launch.
I asked if they were going to do a Yeti Premium, like the Scout Premium (with Leather, Sunroof and Columbus for $4k extra) and he said not at this stage - obviously confident the Yetis will sell well anyway.
He said delivery time for special order models (ie unique combination of factory fitted options) would be about 4 months. He said there were about 200 Yetis about to go into production for dealer stock at launch in October. These would primarily be standard vehicles with limited options, but some dealers had requested various option combinations. All dealers will be able to see what stock is in the country so if you want options like sunroof and/or leather you may get lucky with the initial production run even if it is on the other side of the country, otherwise I would say if you order in October you are probably looking at Mar 2012 delivery.
Maybe something else this time around Zelig? Unless you can get a rightly-specced Yeti for a reasonable price then an ASX Aspire is particularly appealing to myself, mostly because of the amazing level of kit it gets (apparently it's new 1.8 diesel is very good too).
I haven't ruled out the Yeti just yet.
After two visits to the Motor Show, it has just reminded me that there is no such thing as the perfect car. Every one of them has a little niggle here and there or is missing some feature.
You are right, the ASX Aspire is blessed with a tremendous level of kit for the price and is a definite consideration, provided of course that you are happy with the Mitsubishi "Shark" nose look. I am not a big fan of that nose, although I will say I think it works better on the ASX than it does on the Outlander or Lancer.
Don't forget, I still haven't driven the Yeti or many of the others yet.....
I predict these are going to be in high demand, as they have been overseas -- hence the delay into Australia.
Personally, I'd like a 125TDI version, but that doesn't seem to be on the cards
2015 White German SUV
2013 White German hatch
2011 Silver French hot hatch
2008 TR Golf GT TDI DSG
My next vehicle (approx 18 months) will be a SUV type, the VRS just isn't really me as a vehicle despite being a great car and at the moment the Yeti and the Q3 are the two likely front runners. I can't see myself in a Tiguan but I can see the extra value in the Q3 over the Yeti. Owning a vehicle is not just dollars and cents it has to have some emotional pull or you wouldn't even look twice at a particular product and every car would be the same.
I'm not totally practical, it just seems that the Q3 doesn't offer a lot more than the badge (in a similar way to the A4 allroad in Europe, where the question has been roundly "why" when compared to the Scout).
Then again, if the Superb Scout doesn't eventuate, my next car will prob be an allroad...
Brilliant Silver Octavia Scout 2010
The Scout isn't out of the question for me either. It was the Skoda I originally went to buy but at that time it was just lacking in a couple of areas like having the old PD engine. I wouldn't go for a Superb AWD even a version that is raised a little like the Scout or XC Volvos, again it's just not the vehicle I want to own although it's a great vehicle in it's own right.
As far as the Q3 is concerned yes you don't get much other than the badge and the fit and finish and the cutting edge engineering that is a couple of years away in the Skoda range and none of that probably justifies the price difference but as I said I and most other people don't buy purely on the dollars. With dollars EXCLUDED from the scenario I would probably rank them Q3, Yeti, Tiguan. The Tiguan just does nothing at all for ME and I haven't seen a Yei in the flesh yet. Other people I'm sure would have a different order for the vehicles.
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