I have been looking at the 4wd options in the Skoda range but cant get the right combination of transmission/engine type/engine size at the moment.

So, a question.

If I get a 2wd with full ESC will this cope with mild off road work (i.e. not 6 inches of soft mud but the odd wet grassy incline and snowy path)?

I know it is not as good as full 4wd but is there any real "limited slip differential" type ability in the ESC set up that would get me out of the more common sticky situations?

When we bought the first Yeti, due to delivery times, we decided to go for a 2WD. We needed the ground clearance and "mild" offroad capability.

I have to say the 2WD didn't let us down - it's more to do with the driver than the vehicle. With the new Yeti, we're now getting 16" alloy rims and winter tyres and from what I've heard that'll give us as good an offroad/winter capability as a 4WD with summer tyres.

You don't say what Nissan you have, unless it's an Xtrail, Patrol or a top spec Quashcai you will be coping without AWD already.

A good driver with appropriate tyres and a bit of ground clearance will easily cope with grassy fields and slushy car parks. In winter on winter tyres the Yeti is a capable beast.

I'm not sure if this is right, other may know more, if you go for two wheel drive then I think manual will be better than dsg. also without four wheel drive you won't get hill desent also you will have to watch over reving to protect the clutch. You say you can't get the right combo at the moment what's the combo you want? just not worth waiting for or don't make? ie 170 tdi with dsg?

The 2wd versions are fairly capable.

You just need to be aware of the limitations.

For example: Traction going up hills, as the drive is to the front when the wheels have less weight on them.

If there is a tricky bit, momentum can often get you though. Unless it's quite bad.

I'm hoping Skoda release the 1.8tsi 4x4 DSG with the facelift. I could find a home for that.

AFAIK the 1.2 DSG copes very well with sticky situations and can be overridden, within certain parameters, to manual mode.

The hill descent is not standard but is available within the optional off road button, only on 4x4.

As said above, the 1.2 2WD is quite capable with winter tyres fitted.

Having driven the 1.2 DSG, the 110 4x4 and the 140 4x4 DSG, The best for my needs would be the 110 but with DSG.

Not an option so I went for the 140.

The 1.2 is great for every day use but runs out of puff for overtaking at motorway speeds.

Best advice would be to drive all on your short list and decide from that.

Agree with previous comments. I drove a 1.2 TSI DSG Yeti one winter (Obviously 2WD) with proper winter tires, and it was by far the best car for tricky situations I have driven (and with almost 20 years of driving experience in Finland I have tried quite a few). The ground clearance was really more important than I had imagined, and the DSG when handled properly gave me better control over traction than what I usually get with a manual. So as previosly said many times: unless you plan to do either

- towing heavy trailers regularly

- go really offroading (deep mud etc)

the FWD Yetis are more than up to the job. And during winter: a proper set of winter tires will outperform a 4WD on summer tires any time, so use some of the money you save on 4WD vs 2WD for a nice set of winter tires and you will be fine!

_{All the comments makes lots of sense, too many people by 4x4's thinking they are invinsible, but anything is as good as the weakest link, more often than not that's the driver, but then it's the tyres, I have a awd 140 dsg but this year I invested in winter tyres too it's is amazing the difference it makes.}

Thanks all for the helpful comments, really useful. Cotswoldlad you ask what I am looking for. I started out enquiring about a 1.4 or 1.8 petrol, manual 4x4 but dealers advised manufacture of these 2 engines was being stopped in the run down to this years facelift. I cant go for diesel (SHMBO, don't ask). Hence considering 2wd as a possible solution. Or could wait for these engines to come back on the Facelifted version but no date for that yet.

All indications are that the FL will be the end of this year.

Why not go second hand; for a 1.8TSI this often makes sense due to the depreciation;

Appears Lee down at Preston Motors has a nice sounding Elegance spec which is just coming up to two years old;

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=602936866

TP

Thanks TP but second hand is out (SWMBO, I have long given up looking for the logic, clearly it sits on a higher plane).

Thanks TP but second hand is out (SWMBO, I have long given up looking for the logic, clearly it sits on a higher plane).

Have you asked dealers / SUK if any 1.8TSI's are still to come of the line or are sat in stock somewhere :wonder:

Just a thought.

TP

Also don't forget 4wd 2 litre SE 140 holds it's price better than the rest.

Maybe someone has one as showroom stock on it's way. I thought that dealers could look into the 'system' and see what stock was around or on it's way. OR maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.

Due to go to the dealers this weekend so will have a chat and see what is available.

Also don't forget 4wd 2 litre SE 140 holds it's price better than the rest.

As a percentage, possibly.

This is what the car industry is obsessed with, because it hides the fact that "premium" cars devalue far more than "budget" cars.

I did the sums when buying my Wife's Yeti, which had to be a DSG.

Figures based on a few years ago...

The 1.2 DSG was around £17k and the 2.0 4x4 DSG was around £21k.

If the 1.2 DSG loses 30% of it's value in the time the 2.0 4x4 loses only 25% of it's value (far lower depreciation, technically), you still lose £150 more on the 2.0 4x4 and pay out £4k more for the vehicle in the first place.

Simple fact is the 2.0 diesel is several thousands of pounds more, but won't be worth several thousands of pounds more when it's old (say, ten years for example).

So it's got to devalue more over it's life, even if in percentage terms it's slightly better in the short term.

So for me it made sense to buy the 1.2 DSG which has turned out to be a cracking car.

I have nothing against the 4x4 versions, I have one myself.

But to me they only made sense if you need one.

Having tried the 1.2 DSG on all season tyres I'd guess 80%+ of Yeti owners don't.

Another thought on the safety, all Yetis are 4 wheel braking, so winter tyres are the key safety differential in snow and ice.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Have'nt all cars been four wheel braking for decades? Or have I misunderstood what you are getting at?

Have'nt all cars been four wheel braking for decades? Or have I misunderstood what you are getting at?

that's my point, 4wd doesn't give the magical safety over 2wd that some people think it does, in the stopping and steering dept, tyres are the crucial thing.

Some tyres aren't called ditchfinders for nothing

Winter tyres are best for winter conditions whichever drive version. A front wheel drive car on Winters does the job most of the time but 4wd on winters has a big traction advantage if you need to do a hill start on snow. If you live in an area where you need to do this a lot then the 4wd is worth the extra.

And just remember that what ever you have fitted, downhill gravity is the ultimate force.

downhill gravity is the ultimate force.

Not Phil from Eastenders.

Sorry couldn't resist that.

:lol:

Domnhall, sorry, but I still don't understand what you are on about. All cars have 4 wheel braking, and plenty of good tread does help. But why did you mention "all Yetis are four wheel braking" as it's nothing to with 2wd or 4wd if it's brakes you are talking about. If it's safety you are meaning, then in poor conditions most trouble is caused by too much speed, not what kind of tyres you have fitted.

It doesn't matter how many wheels are driven if you're sliding down a snowy hill unable to stop.