Fabcol

Hi, Thanks J.R. it's just what I was told this afternoon about the foam strips but I'll soon find out. I think before the car goes in for rustproofing I'll remove the liners at home then just replace the screws because of the pressure washing. What's the liners like to remove please because I've never removed any; do the wheels have to come off first? I wish I'd had the Yeti fully rust proofed from new but better late than never and I want it doing before winter is upon us once again. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, At last after much web searching I've found a local garage who are going to rustproof our Yeti on the 8th August; I'll deliver it and will be returned home then I'll be collected; it's booked in for two days; the wing liners will be removed then all the underneath pressure washed before being treated with this which I've just bought through eBay; I'm going to treat the cavities myself having already bought 5L of thinner Bilt Hamber. Rustproofing isn't the main business of this garage so I'll check if they want to do more asking if it's OK to post their details; I was losing hope of getting any garage to to the job. One thing I did learn was that the VW group on their cars install a type of foam protection strip between the wing liner and wing and this foam is terrible for causing rusting to the outer wing lip; it's going to be removed; we can spend a great deal on the upkeep of our Yeti before it even comes near to the money involved in trading it in; looked after our Yeti will become a future classic we just love it. Any member regretted parting with their Yeti? Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Many thanks for the information Schtum; yes it's helped a lot; there's a center only three miles away but I wondered what would be involved to do the work myself; one of the companies on the list had a short video so I then browsed YouTube with this new information and found these; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1awO8hZ9KvE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_CtXeH8rb8 The Bilt Hamber Dynax cavity rustproofing has just arrived I bought 5L I'll also buy Bilt Hamber heavier wax based material for the exterior surfaces. Ideally I'd like it done professionally but it means being without car; doing it myself I can spread the work. Yesterday I had the wheels off and cleaned the wing liners but to do the job correctly I'll remove each liner; I certainly want to do it sooner rather than later but now the rustproofing is here so is the rain; typical Yorkshire weather. I have a friend who owns two monster tractor units he's one of these guys who transports loads up to 350 tons; it was he who suggested Bilt Hamber he uses it on his own vehicles. Removing the wheels was not the easiest of jobs; if I only had the supplied wheel spanner I'd have never got the wheels off; I had to use my 1/2" ratchet with extended handle. I've now cleaned the corrosion away and applied copper grease to only the stud taper not the thread and now the wheels are back on just using the supplied wheel spanner; having struggled with such tight studs I've also cut a length of steel pipe about 15" long to slide of the handle of the supplied spanner; I rubbed the pipe with abrasive paper and it's now painted black; it'll go everywhere with the car in future; our Yeti has the space saver spare wheel. We've had many cars over the years but this Yeti is the only one we like so much to want to keep it. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Our Yeti is now seven years old and normally we trade in for a brand new car every two to three years. This Yeti is the best all round car we've ever owned both my wife and I still love it. I was concerned about its age and have been looking around for a suitable replacement but my eyes glaze over as I browse the web. So many cars these days appear clones of each other whereas our Yeti has real street presence. Cars with no hand brake lever? Definitely no electric car of any kind for us. I washed the Yeti two days ago and polished it yesterday; I felt real regret even at the thought of parting with it; it's only got 32,000 on the clock and still looks like new. It's now taxed for another year and already fully insured with Saga from the 16th when the LV policy expires; the service with MOT and brake fluid change is little over £300. I've just bought 5 liters of Bilt Hamber Dynax S-50 rustproofing to treat it with. For the last six years it's been on £30 per year road tax now it's suddenly gone up to £35; £550 for comp insurance it's not an expensive car to own and run and it's such a joy to own; I'd like to have it rust proofed professionally but can't find a local company to do the job. I must have suffered a senior moment even to consider parting with it. 🤢 Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Our Yeti is now 6 years old; last year it had the cambelt & water pump replaced together with service and MOT costing over £800. Last week it had a major service & MOT costing £432; with 30K on the clock it sailed through the MOT and no issues were found; DMK at Wakefield always look after it and it's never missed a beat whilst being a joy to own and drive; my wife and I love it; no chance of trading it for a car which these days looks like every other new car. Skoda made a huge mistake in dropping yeti production; we'd be now collecting our third Yeti and absolutely no way do we want a battery car. The government wanted owners in diesel cars a few years ago so we're in a diesel car and will stick with it; who wants to own a car that when the battery needs replacing it will be cheaper to scrap the car; this is progress? The only real expenditure other than servicing was to fit Michelin Cross Climate tyres because of our steep valley location; the tyres cost £600 a few years ago and were fitted by "Tyresonthedrive". DMK Wakefield always do a good job and our Yeti will never be taken to a back street garage to save a few quid; I was told if we did trade in our Yeti wouldn't touch the ground it would sell so quickly; it's in excellent condition and I'd like to have it fully rustproofed which I need to look into rather than bother trying to do it myself; it's the best car we've ever had the pleasure to own and it's a keeper. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Congratulations on your Yeti purchase Lee_D and the best of luck with it for the future. Our 2.0L diesel SE L 2016 has just had it's full 5 year service; cam belt; water pump; brake fluid and MOT by DMK Wakefield who were excellent collecting and returning it. Total cost £896 which is a vast saving on trading in again for a new car. We're now set up for another years Yeti motoring with a smile on our face; we love our Yeti. Our Yeti is always main dealer serviced for peace of mind whatever the cost. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Good luck with your Suzuki Cogra. Our Yeti is the 2.0L diesel SE L 2016 now just five years old and is currently with DMK in Wakefield who collected it early this morning; today it's having a big service including cam belt and water pump replacement; the brake fluid too is being replaced it having been replaced two years ago; MOT too; it's done just over 26,000 very enjoyable miles; a couple of years ago we spent £600 having Michelin Cross Season tyres fitted and just before winter it had a new battery; all work carried out by DMK. We normally trade in at less than three years old but this Yeti now at five years old is the longest we've owned a car since before 1990; we've considered trading in but nothing touches it for us certainly nothing tempting us to part with it; electric vehicles no thanks we just fill with diesel and drive. £30 per year road fund cheap running costs and resonable insurance; smiles all round. I've just received a phone call stating the car is now fully serviced with a total bill of £896 and it will be returned shortly. Not cheap but this is a major service and another years trouble free happy motoring ahead. Out of interest a gardener friend of ours had his van break down and he hoped to save on repair costs having a local general car repairer look at it; it ended up costing a lot of money and loss of earnings still not repaired I suggested he take to a main dealership which he did and they immediatly found the problem; in future he'll be using the main dealership. Sorry to side track but we've decided to keep our Yeti unless it starts to cost a great deal in repairs but considering the cost of depreciation in keep trading in for new a lot of spares can be bought; we love our Yeti. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Our Yeti SE L 2.0L is booked in at a local main Skoda dealership for cambelt/water pump/service/MOT with collection and return in July all costing £826; the cambelt/water pump costing £600; we're happy with this. For the extra money it's not worth the risk in not replacing the water pump; better to replace it the same time as the belt for peace of mind. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, We seldom watch normal TV spending time watching interesting stuff on YouTube; it costs about £12 per month for YouTube Premium to get rid of the adverts and it's money well spent. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, My friend Gary recently sent me the following interesting link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq_aENVPgks What a wonderful advert; I often see adverts that leave me completely puzzled as to what they are about but this Skoda advert is different so I thought it worth passing on for those who haven't seen it. I've seen Skoda adverts that would put me off Skoda buying; this one though is clever. Doe's anyone actually buy a car having seen a car advert; my wife and I never have. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Our Yeti needed a new battery a couple of months ago during extra bad weather; it's possible just charging it up would have seen winter out and another years use from it but we didn't bother just having it replaced at a cost of £286 it being a special battery due to the stop/start function. The battery and a set of cross climate tyres are the only expenses and the original tyres were still excellent so were sold on. Well said Robjon; yes indeed an whole lot of spares can be bought for the amounts you quote and I fully agree. It's not only down to money though is it with us Yeti owners; we love our Yeti's and I'm sure many Yeti owners like my wife and I can easily afford to buy a new car but there's no competition to the Yeti and with increasing electronics on every new car not everyone needs them we certainly don't. Having the stop/start alone pushes up a battery replacement cost; my first car an Hillman Minx convertible cost an whole £5 and I used to buy 3.8S Jags etc. for around £35. an MGYB saloon cost £16 taxed & tested; going back even further I responded to an advert for a child/adult sidecar at £2.50 and when I arrived a big single cylinder Matchless was still attached to it included in the price; a Norton ES2 at a fiver; obviously money was worth a great deal more during those long ago days but who would have ever thought a car battery would cost £286? In say ten years an electric car will possibly be scrapped due to needing a new battery; no thanks we're not adopting this one at all. For the cost of trading in our Yeti against a new car we could buy a second Yeti if we had the space? Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Thanks everyone for all your interesting replies. I have a couple of concerns in keeping our Yeti; how long before the electronics start to go wrong and given it's now value if it should ever be involved in a shunt activating the airbags; will it end up being scrapped because many excellent cars have ended up scrapped due to the cost of airbag replacement? In the meantime we'll enjoy our wonderful Yeti as long as we can. Yetis have great street presence; returning home from the supermarkets this morning I couldn't help but notice that our neighbours waved as we passed each other but their BMW;s; Merc's etc. all looked much the same and by the time I recognized them they were gone. There used to be many Skoda Roomsters but these have mostly disappeared now I only see the odd one? Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, My wife and I bought our Yeti SE L 2.0L diesel 2WD in black back in July 2016. Having bought 14 brand new cars since 1990 this Yeti is by far the best car we've ever had and joy to own; the only thing I dislike about it is the stop/start function which I switch off every time I start the engine. Usually we keep a car until the first MOT is needed but we love this Yeti so much it's a keeper unless it starts to cost a lot in repairs. It's always main dealer serviced by DM Keith's in Wakefield and I look after it so it's still like new with less than 26,000 on its clock I've received an email from DMK saying the cambelt is due for replacing. The next service and MOT are due in July so I've booked it in for July for cambelt; water pump; service and MOT all to be done together saving hassle and DMK are collecting and returning it all for a total of £826. Depreciation reduces year on year and it has GAP insurance cover value £14,000 until July next year. What a shame Skoda dropped the Yeti from production; we'd have definitely bought another when ours neared 3 years old. Funds aren't a problem but browsing the web looking at new modern cars my eyes glaze over and I become bored. Most modern cars are just clones of each other; full electric or hybrid hold no appeal at all. Ideally we'd like a new Yeti without lots of electronics; we never use the Infotainment but we can dream on. Normally we travel a maximum 7,000 miles each year but because of Covid lockdown it will be considerably lower over the last year. Into lockdown last year we take this very seriously; the exhaust icon lit up on the dash meaning a decent run was needed our Yeti being the Adblue model; I must be the only one on the planet to have opened a police chatline requesting permission to take the Yeti on a decent run which was granted as long I was alone and didn't meet anyone; I took images of the icon lit and the mileage before departing then another image showing the icon out and the new mileage. Over the top maybe but I was covered in case I was pulled over. Following a tip I bought the following to try; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/POORBOYS-BLACK-HOLE-SHOW-GLAZE-473ML-HIDE-SWIRLS-AND-IMPERFECTIONS-DETAILING/302087989807?epid=1230988384&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4655d8ea2f:g:EwcAAOSwip5cSDrn&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkpFtSR0CGv%2Bh98r8Yb9quS4O8hjFcKmTKABV6%2F9dLqHhynqpAhVM0YqL%2BCDi7qVfjUzhZorjhsqhfF1LHk6O0vDUtN984PiAh%2Br0F7i5eX7toFgxyrZPtHq1hTNBAmkGgZxR6JOAVv%2F7KPlB7VjEA8aCQ0KvBTGYzY%2F6E9arAO9LfdXo4Eu5L3Oev7ZdRuvkX56u0OZE%2BtCOhaWgK0kJFpOy%2BlOiy5tkGoyHt9Cw8xud%2BPRtfLBxDPF37%2BqRsh%2BQdKGDZLW%2FDjUZ%2FDQ9eye8FYZ02%2F49ws8Jk82VKGAbIVADbXt6FzfxT3WyboK6OV7%2BjyZ3WJjarwrG%2FFgSa33VWWuNc6qmjzmA793KB%2BI0Q48uHJN5OctON1LnCypjj3XmpRmTNrE%2FYoXKfrxkR60T5rGkUQwlGQLtnHFHmby93SS0yPuJfd1JvNB0tOi%2BMFqGJMkp2n9vSARHinWVHSTkIeAejQgitqx774DtO9u2vFyjEIY0TFJYG04CAj%2FhOefI1O4w6c7ZVwQrBuetWi65iW3E27ZPvSxSm4U%2F3sLqGthd7W6iGbBPT3oJF8crun8eUExGZSq0L8c7rlgz5YvEOdCQHZsYYSVHjIyTcNtHH%2FWH9NpUnoqXsRzBmr3%2FEOpfacW4B5AVKsXslXgizFwQZclGbtuLZhMHV%2Fttn6gJmxQhVILcXqFAR2Lb%2BlYH9kPPl4LwwaKC93vQyBjL4msRL2hiFtzgd3UTVTfAy9U4wt0WOBFXbBzB1qSWxcwAzDVsuGbLiJ9ywl%2F82V5RS5M%2F86N3a%2B0rG%2Fj2%2BthK%2F71DREBM%3D|cksum%3A3020879898077dc6ebe63a6844a2ab0ea1c169891ae8|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524 I used it for the first time this week and I'm impressed; normally if the Yeti is dirty I use bucket/sponge/leather but if not too dirty Williams waterless wash wax; the bodywork upholstery were treated from new so the Yeti is still gleaming. Two years ago we treated it to a set of Michelin Cross Climate tyres fitted on our driveway by "Tyres on the drive" costing £600; we've had little snow since. I'm just rambling on after a week of hard grafting in the garden; it's raining at the moment and a black hole so I don't feel like doing much. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, The first car I ever really saw as a child was an E93A van; I must have been about 6 years old and in 1953 only one neighbour could afford this even then it was an old banger with its bonnet more open than closed. I was 5 years old when my parents had electricity installed; we relied a lot on gas and coal fires in those days. Yes 6V electrics in the cars in those days. It must have taken a brave person to drive one of these at 40 mph. Thanks Austin 7. I mentioned adblue needs draining and refilling at 4 years old because it surprised me to read it in the Yeti manual this morning. I buy the big containers of adblue from our local BP station; I think they are about 10L and not expensive. Yes it's a palaver topping up but I resort to using a plastic jug and funnel to prevent spillage; I also use an LED small torch to peer into the tank opening to judge level. Once it's been topped up then switch on the ignition but not the engine for half a minute this resets everything. The following is what can happen with correct car maintenance; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHOk87QWmmk Our Yeti now just on 25,000 miles and me at 73 years old it might see me out; my wife and I have no intention of parting with it any time soon. The Volvo in the video is pre electronic and isn't fitted with every modern must have convenience. Kind regards, Colin

Hi, I'm happy; happy with our Yeti and happy now I can relax for another five years regarding the battery; At almost £300 for a new battery and if it expires after five years then £60 per year just for the battery; modern cars are expensive and becoming worse year on year with all the modern electronics and technology. Excellent at DMK Wakefield this morning; appointment at 9:30 and estimated job done time 11:00; yes fully sorted at 11:00 and with a free courtesy car wash also I requested the emissions to be checked due to the warning light showing the little engine on the dash last Friday which cleared on its own. Everything is fine though and if the warning appears again it's possibly just a relay fault; checked free of charge. I took along a bottle of drinking water and my ipod also because of this battery problem I took along the Yeti owners manual; who knows the adblue fluid needs replacing every four years? My eyes started to glaze because I couldn't make sense of all the infotainment information; I never use the infotainment and don't even use a mobile phone unless I absolutely have to; I've only just sussed out how to send and receive text messages on my wife's new mobile phone; my wife has the phone for emergencies and still doesn't understand how to use it. We don't wander around with a mobile phone welded to our ear and we have zero interest in all the latest expensive must have gadgets; I recently bought the ipod but only so that I could load it with favourite 60,s MP3 songs and hook it up to the mini hi-fi system in the workshop. Our dream car would be a diesel Yeti stripped of all its electronics apart from essentials but I can dream on. I'm 73 and want to do something useful not spending my days pressing buttons; I press enough buttons here on my keyboard which is more than enough for me; OK I'm a dinosaur and happy being one. Well done DMK Wakefield. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, I'm pleased you liked the battery video J.R. I started my working life at the age of 15 down a deep coal mine as an apprentice mechanical engineer. Even before starting the job I was subjected to a medical then lots of safety training by The National Coal Board. I never ever felt unsafe at any time; highly skilled engineers always watching over me and roughing me up if I did anything wrong; being really cheeky I used to get dunked head first into the 45 gallon water butt at the side of the forge; to this day all the safety training has thus far paid off. Here in the UK kids can't play conkers at school without wearing a full suit of armour. When we buy a power tool the tool is usually covered with safety labels which I'm sure most don't read. What's happened to common sense? I've just done the supermarket shopping so now I'm free to pop over to DMK's in Wakefield for my 9:30 battery appointment. I wonder what the true cost of the stop/start system really is and how long it takes to recoup the cost of the special battery over a standard battery; what problems are ahead for those who like and use the stop/start system on a daily basis. No gain without pain? Every time I drive our Yeti I think what a wonderful car it is. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Replying to the posts regarding old cars and in particular the Ford 100E and 105E. Both cars were rubbish but at least better than public transport. I think the firing order on the 100E was 1243? The vacuum wipers were indeed dire as was the 3 speed box. In those days cars generally had positive earth which I believe was a great aid to rusting. The 105E now an OHV was a bit more powerful with a 4 speed box but what a rust bucket; the "A" frame used to rust so much the wide heavy door would sag; I've already mention the cart springs through the boot floor; in fairness though the Ford's weren't alone in their habit of rusting; in later years the rust trophy must have gone to the Alfa Sud. Remember the electric petrol pumps on the morris minor's? If these didn't tick then lift the bonnet and tap the pump with a spanner; distributor caps were also another weak point getting damp. on the Mini the distributor was in the firing line for adverse weather. Boy this takes me back; my first car was an Hillman Minx convertible bought for £5; having pushed it home and parked it the boys in blue descended; the result push it back because of to insurance; road tax or MOT. What fun. In 1970 I bought a scrap BSA 650cc S10 Golden Flash for £6 from a local rag and bone man; I fully restored it adding 10.5/1 pistons and hot cam; the result was I couldn't then kick it off; I wasn't heavy enough so had to run it off; I got £150 allowed on it against a one year old BMW 750cc R75/5 I was king of the road on my beemers in those days. Two of the best cars we ever owned were a pair of Citroen 2CV's; the body on these can be taken apart by just sliding the doors and boot lid off. A mention was made of the Triumph Herald; actually not a bad car and when the rear end was jacked up the bottom of the tyres looked like they were going to kiss. Back to the plot though I've rambled on enough; here's how to get your battery restored; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l665eovBlEk Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, I forgot to mention our Yeti battery charged OK with only a very basic charger; I let the charger run until to read fully charged but once again I stress I connected the charger negative to the chassis earthing point located very near the battery and NOT to the battery negative post. https://www.screwfix.com/p/ring-rcb104-4a-car-battery-charger-12v/37258 This is the charger I used but I bought ours whilst at Rufforth Auto Jumble years ago; it was boxed and brand new only costing a fiver; its the first time the charger has been out of the box but I was glad to have it. Just the shopping first thing tomorrow morning then a trip over to DMK in Wakefield; I'll be glad when the new battery is installed. By having our Yeti main dealer serviced we know it's being looked after; we've already had the brake fluid changed and possibly the timing belt will soon need replacing. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Thanks everyone for your assorted and interesting replies; I only added this thread as I had a bit of spare time but I'm glad now that I did. I can understand anyone short of funds wanting to shop around and save money but it's so easy to cause real damage these days to a modern car without even realizing it until it's too late. I rate things like batteries and tyres as consumables and always change like for like unless I can upgrade as I did in fitting the Michelin Cross Climate tyres. I've seen heavy duty batteries on eBay but won't be tempted to take a gamble on something I know little about. It's interesting that replies range from those who fit the battery at home and those who let a specialist fit the battery. We live on a very exposed valley side subjected to extremes of weather; the Yeti sleeps out and pre Covid we always did at least one round trip per week of 50 miles or so; this kept the exhaust clear and also ensured the battery received a good charge; other shorter journeys were to the supermarkets and garden centre's. It's possibly our Yeti battery isn't at the end of its life and a regular charging would see it last for quite a while but winter is upon us again and here we tend to have 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad weather each year (Yorkshire). We'll pay the main dealer price for the new battery and have them correctly install it with good grace; anyone deciding to self fit the new battery might end up with a problem miles from home in a blizzard; saving a bit of money in such a situation would I believe be false economy. Everyone pays the money and take their choice; I do exactly the same when buying tools and materials; I buy the best and once I've stopped crying having parted with the money I won't be buying the same tool or materials for the same job again. Many thanks Kenny for posting the YouTube link; I've just viewed the video and am pleased our battery is being fitted correctly allowing us to forget it for about 5 years. Up to 1990 I did all the work on our cars but from then on we always bought new cars and traded in at or before three years; our Yeti is such a brilliant car we plan to keep it; it's always main dealer serviced and looked after we've even got gap insurance on it until it's six years old then I think gap insurance won't be worth having. We can afford a brand new car but can't find a suitable replacement for our Yeti and each time I browse the web my eyes glaze over through boredom. It's just a battery we're buying so not a big deal but it could be a big deal if I attempted to save money fitting a battery myself and something went wrong. Thanks again guys I appreciate you taking time to reply. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Many thanks e-Roottoot for adding the interesting videos; the EV batteries last a lot longer than I expected. I'm definitely not up to speed regarding electric vehicles but it's a personal thing with me regarding anything fitted with a battery; from my cycling days I've never liked batteries; usually flat when I need them; I have mellowed a bit over recent years and have a Makita cordless drill/driver and also Makita hedge trimmer both accepting the single 4ah battery; I'm actually impressed by how much work the battery does before it needs recharging; having said this it's highly unlikely I'll dash out to buy an electric car. Has anyone information as to what one of the batteries cost for an EV in general terms and once the battery does finally wear out will a replacement still be available because the bit I know would suggest each car manufacturer has their own battery spec and connectors? I do like electric motors though having worked at Brook Motors here in Huddersfield for 24 years before retiring. Sorry I worried you Brian (Brijo); our Yeti did die but it's having an heart transplant next Monday morning and will be welcomed back with open arms. Yes I always switch the stop/start off I can't stand it; I want control of the car not a few electronics taking over every time I stop. Your 100E van will be worth more now than when it was new; I used to pull these 100E engines apart with a handful of spanners; have them rebored with new pistons & rings; convert the conrods to shell bearings with a crank grind and a full decoke and valve grind; oil change at every lamp post; times have moved on. I recently decoked three petrol mowers just to keep my hand in. Looking at Ford 105E Anglia rear cart springs inside the boot was common. I was seated when I was told how much the new battery would cost Bexhillian and I didn't need oxygen because anything to do with modern cars tends to be expensive; I wasn't too rattled though because for the money I'll have peace of mind for a few years and with winter upon us the battery couldn't be replaced at a better time; we had a frost a few days ago and the engine struggled to turn over so I knew what to expect. For over four years ownership our Yeti has only cost a set of tyres at £600 fitted on our driveway at no inconvenience and now the battery so no way can I complain; the Yeti is well worth it; what I do complain about is Skoda's decision to discontinue making the Yeti and I know I'm not on my own. Thanks for your good wishes. Thanks for the link Rustynuts, I looked on eBay at battery prices and a good quality heavy duty battery with a five year warranty can be bought for around £90 but anyone taking a gamble and fitting such a battery themselves could well end up causing a lot of damage; I don't understand what's involved but I do know not to mess around with electronics; I spent ten years restoring vintage valve radios and a blue flash with a big bang under a bonnet won't be good news to anyone. All I've done is wash & polish; check the washer bottle; tyre pressures and Adblue; I've not had dirty hands with a car since 1990; I even stopped checking engine oil level; at only 7,000 miles per year maximum the oil level never changes. Just one fault from new on our Yeti and it still remains; a faulty fuel gauge that occasionally reads a full tank but accepts £25 of diesel. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, We bought our Yeti in July 2016 and it's been absolutely wonderful; the only expense being to add four new Michelin Cross Climate tyres. Yesterday morning first thing I was about to head to the supermarkets but for the first time it refused to start; just a flat battery so no big deal and not helped by Covid with only short journeys. We normally trade in at three years or less so having the Yeti die was new to us but rather than be tormented by the battery and not wishing to even attempt to replace it myself a phone call to DMK in Wakefield will solve the problem next Monday morning; our Yeti is the diesel 2.0L SE L model with automatic stop/start so the battery needs to suit this. Fully fitted whilst I wait it's going to cost us £286 which is pricey for a battery but considering how much we love our Yeti and intending to keep it we won't be crying. Many years ago I used to own my own garage business where changing a battery was a few minutes job on cars like the Ford 100E sidevalve unlike now when mission control is involved with all the electronics; I checked the owner's manual to find I couldn't even connect the battery charger negative directly to the negative post on the battery; it's got to be connected nearby to the actual earthing point. Our Yeti is always main dealer maintained by DMK Wakefield for peace of mind; trying to save a bit of money usually ends up paying a lot more long term. As I say we intend to keep our Yeti because to us there isn't a replacement we fancy; all the modern cars are clones of each other with just a makers badge being different. Having to replace the battery at four and a half years old has really brought it home to us regarding buying an all electric or hybrid car; when the battery dies on one of these will it be cheaper to scrap the car than replace the battery; these cars are still pretty new but in say eight years time who would want to buy a battery powered car? I doubt the cost of a new battery is mentioned in the glossy brochures? Since 1990 we've had over a dozen brand new cars but the Yeti is a keeper unless it starts to cost a fortune in repairs. With every passing year cars are becoming more and more complicated; our Yeti has lots of electronic kit installed that we never use like the Infotainment; I've no interest in it at all and the automatic stop/start is turned off for every journey. We'd like Skoda to bring out a new Yeti but basic similar to the Duster then perhaps we'd trade in. I'm just passing a bit of time on adding a few thoughts. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, My wife and I bought a new Fabia Monte Carlo in 2014 and thought it was a wonderful car it certainly was pretty in black over red. Before buying the Fabia we sat in a new Yeti in the showroom but we thought it would be expensive to run and maintain just for the two of us. In 2016 we were invited to a Skoda VIP event. I took along CarWow printouts of the best two deals which were far better then the Skoda special deal; this saved no end of time as I handed over the details. There was a Black Yeti in the corner of the showroom it being a pre-reg with a huge discount of £3,500; customers were climbing in and out of it as the salesman did the usual thing disappearing into the office leaving us looking at the stunning Yeti. When he returned he said he could beat the CarWow figure by a big margin and said the pre reg Yeti would also come with the paint/upholstery treatment thrown in; we were amazed wondering why this superb Yeti hadn't been snapped up; of course it was ours; we got a fair trade in for our beloved Monte and we paid the balance in cash. Riding in the Monte was like riding a skateboard; we felt every ripple in the road due to the sports suspension and rubber band low profile tyres; this Yeti though is a revelation; we step into it not down into it; it's got a lot of room and is just so comfortable; no more teeth rattling either over potholes. It's the Adblue model Yeti SE L 2.0L diesel. We're amazed that insurance is cheaper for the Yeti than the Fabia and with road tax at only £30 per year coupled with diesel economy we both have huge smiles on our faces. We have it fully serviced every year by DMK Wakefield; it's had all the necessary work done on it like brake fluid change and filters etc; servicing costs don't bankrupt us. We also have gap insurance on it taking it to six years old. We usually trade in at three years old but no way are we parting with our wonderful Yeti which is simply brilliant for a modern clone of every other car now made; the Yeti has street cred really standing out but it's also a good all round performer; the only thing I've ever disliked about our Yeti is the automatic stop/start so for every journey however short I switch it off. Since 1990 this Yeti at four years old is the longest we've ever kept a car and we've no intention of parting with it unless it starts to cost a lot in repairs. So in answer to your question buying any car second hand is always a gamble but if you're unsure do the RAC still do used vehicle checks? A nice Yeti will have you smiling every time you drive it. Good luck. I washed the Yeti this morning and have polished it this afternoon; it scrubs up well and still looks like new with only 24,500 miles on it. It's a keeper. Kind regards, Colin.

HI, I have a Garmin Nuvi sat nav with free lifetime updates I think allowed four times per year; I also have a dash cam it being a Transcend Drive Pro 100; both are run from a 12V splitter plugged into the 12V socket on the gear tunnel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG21Qjfm9EU Here's the Yeti and dash cam in action almost four years ago on the long steep climb up to Holme Moss; not the easiest of roads in the dark where a sneeze could end up in leaving the narrow road to career a long way to the valley bottom. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, I'm old fashioned; a dinosaur even and I don't want a mission control to drive around in; lots of electronics that I'll never use; the infotainment on my Yeti isn't used nor do I use a mobile phone and I don't need lots of sockets for must have electronic kit; I just need a reliable basic car. I fancied the Yeti because it has lots of things I do like. It's easy to knock a Duster but I followed one on Friday and it looked a decent motor for the price; it definitely had some street presence unlike many modern cars; I've not even looked at buying a Duster or seen one close up but Duster's are breeding locally and why would a Duster be car of the year 2020 if it's as bad as its made out to be? https://www.dacia.co.uk/vehicles/duster.html?&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk-d-t-def-newcar-duster-exact-01-2018-ao-im-go-duster_dacia_brand_exact&utm_term=dacia+duster&ORIGIN=CPC&CAMPAIGN=google_uk-d-t-def-newcar-duster-exact-01-2018-ao-im-go-duster_dacia_brand_exact&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjer4BRCZARIsABK4QeW2rwHNN2LEMktwT8h9LvPWBhhdDyoDf3MnLRTuZv0gKk2x5AFGBeIaAnaSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds I hope the information given is correct about longevity of electronics and if this is proved correct then we'll be keeping our Yeti for some time. I have a high distrust of electrical items especially those with circuit boards; fine whilst working but expensive when they fail; a few years ago a friend had her car fail the MOT because of some electronic fault on an airbag; it cost her £700 just to get this fault repaired. We can kick these ideas around forever but we all pay our money and take our choice; I simply do not trust electric cars but then I don't smoke; touch alcohol or do drugs either and I can't stand sport. My former workshop seen below. Kind regards, Colin.

Hi, Thanks Roottoot. I don't know the exact years but I do know when we were driving our petrol car diesel was cheaper and the government wanted to get drivers into diesel cars. I just guessed at 8 years but time flies whilst I'm having fun so it could have been considerably longer? 😄 I wonder what will happen to modern day electric cars in say ten years time when technology moves on; will new batteries still be available and at how much; will it be cheaper then to scrap the car than pay for a new battery? If there is so much spare electricity available then why are we paying so much for our household electricity? I remember having power cuts because the supply was over stretched; I forget the year/s but I do remember being without power sitting with candles for lighting. I can even go back to when I was a kid our cottage not having electricity until I was about five years old; we had gas and water laid on and coal fire. Which is cheaper to produce; petrol or diesel? We've run our Yeti on BP Ultimate Diesel since we bought it. One thing we have noticed is that it used to be easy to obtain 60/62mpg on our Meadowhall shopping trip but we then installed the new Michelin All Climate Tyres and at roughly the same time had the Yeti serviced; now it struggles to read 52 mpg on the same journey? would this be the tyres or the VAG emissions scandal; I know the programming was updated at the service? https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home/products-and-services/bp-ultimate-fuels/bp-ultimate-diesel-with-active-technology.html What mileage has your Yeti covered Highlander 19; is it in good condition and did you buy it new? Just being nosy wondering how much it would cost you financially to swap to petrol after all your diesel Yeti is 2016 and you could only trade up one year to a 17 Yeti this being the newest Yeti available; didn't Skoda drop the Yeti in 2017? Out of interest we used to own a Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo bought new in 2014; it looked fabulous in black over red and we liked it; it was petrol and we ran it for two years until we were tempted by the trade in deal against the Yeti. Riding in the Fabia was like riding on a skateboard it having very low profile tyres where we felt every ripple in the road. The Yet was a huge transformation and we would never go back to a saloon car. Our Yeti has just been serviced and MOT'd at four years old without the slightest problem. However I used a loan car to return home in; this loan car was a 69 plate Fabia; the first thing I did was to bump my head on the door frame; at the first traffic lights I stopped and the low fuel warning appeared; at the next lights the service warning appeared; it had about 4,600 miles on the clock and as I pulled up the handbrake lever I was surprised by how far the lever came up and the brake still worked. On acceleration I found the exhaust note to be tiresome. When I climbed out I was only just above ground level; Somehow this Fabia didn't seem a patch on our 2014 Fabia and I was glad to collect the Yeti. The Yeti is just so good and easy to get into and out of. We're all different so it really comes down to making the choice and sticking with it. Thanks Expatman. Yes our old cars used to be really dire; I used to repair Ford 105E Anglias where the cart springs used to pop through the boot floor and the A frames let the doors drop; our UK cars though at the time were often better than foreign cars. owners of Alfa Suds used to stand and watch them turn to rust. Not just Ford but the cars you mention BMC group too bodywork used to fall off at least our modern cars are as you rightly say a great deal more reliable; no decokes either every 3,000 miles? Kind regards, Colin.