boemher

I had a loan of a 1.0 tsi Octavia for 8 days while worl was getting done on our Yeti. It was brand new with under 900 miles on it. My heart sank when I saw the 1.0 litre on the paper work. My other car is a 1.8 tsi Octavia 2 with 160 PS so I had a good comparison point for the 1.0 Octavia 3. My Octavia is a LK vs the 1.0 SE but the sound proofing and most of the interior felt much nicer ik the Octavia SE. The 1.0 runs silent. I was driving at 40 mph in 2nd gear thinking I was in 4th I just couldn't hear it at all under normal acceleration. It's performance although lesser than my 1.8 TSI, which is on paper around 8 seconds to 60 so similar to the Tdi vrs mentioned earlier in this thread, was really satisfactory. It pulled well in low gears, could be put in 5th gear at 40 and accelerate with no struggle, it cruised silently at 80 mph in 6th. I was really impressed. I would consider it having previously not even considered test driving the older 1.2 Tsi. It felt much lighter and nimble than either my a octavia or the yeti and it's brakes were excellent. Biggest gripe was hand brake being situated far left of the centre console between the seats like it's a Euro part they can't bother changing for the UK market. Overall I thought it was a great engine. I never tested the car fully laden with family and a full boot, it may struggle compared to larger displacement engines in those circumstances but with just me in it it was good fun. Fuel economy was 45mpg ish mixed rush hour driving. Not that great but comfortably in the middle between the Octavia and yeti 2.0 tdi we own. Give it a test drive.

That's got to be recent sales figures though with the advent of new Superb and the aging Yeti.

Saying all this I quite like the new Tiguain and Ateca, they are both handsome if generic, trying to imagine what the new Yeti will.look like squeezed in between the two. The Ateca looks to have brought to market several of Skodas new design cues already and without the wierd double decker grille thing the Kodiaq has going on. Are Skodas still proved below Seat ? A year old Seat is probably worth less than an equivalent Skoda.

It's all relative, Skoda is growing it's sales but only recently broke the 1 million global sales in a single year figure. The UK market fluctuates with the Czech Republic as it's 4 and 5th most important market behind Germany and China. So it's still a significant market for Skoda. Do Skoda UK do a good job ? I'd say no. It limits our options and configurations massively compared to the similar in importance Czech market. In the UK market the Octavia and Yeti account for highest £££ of sales even if the Fabia sells more units than the Yeti. So my point is still validish why fix it if it isn't broken ? I read that Skoda are trying to position themselves as a Value Luxury brand. At what stage does luxury trump value in the average buyers minds ? Do you buy a luxury car for value ?

Yeah thats my take on it too. What is VW's usp? Safe,solid,conservative quality. Why are Skoda trying to be exact clones but with a £2000 saving model for model differing depreciation can wipe out the initial saving of buying the Skoda over VW. Realistically apart from the currwnt Yeti vs old Tiguain the onky skoda id choose over its VW contemporary is the Octavia vs Golf. The reason I'd choose the Octavia is that it's the same segment but totally different car, practical and spacious over golf's perceived quality. If the Octavia was closer to the rapid I'd pick the golf. So if the Octavia can create it's own space in the market in Skodas plans why can't the yeti emulate it ? Successful but different to main segment competitors. Don't get me wrong I have 2 Skodas and like their products but I don't agree with what seems to be their their future strategy. I don't see the segment they see. I don't see people buying more of their cars with less to differentiate them between their competitors because then the badge becomes increasingly important. I quite like the 3008 that for suggesting that it wasn't even on my radar. It's very good value nearly new.

I agree that the duster isn't in the same class of build quality as the yeti but it has some of the utilitarian feel that the yeti has. It is probably good enough given its underpinnings dash and switch gear ect are all renault. I think that the Jeep Renegade is also a viable option because it's capable offroad, its ok to drive( having test driven one) and its used values aren't too high so you can grab a bargain. I'd really like a Wrangler limited but apparently they are worse than a Defender to drive. I disagree about the new Yeti and Skoda having to move on with the times. The brand can aspire to move onwards and upwards, like it has been doing for the past 20 years but it can also maintain brand identity on key models that differentiate it from other brands. I also wonder where do Skoda want to end up? Can they move any further up the VW food chain without treading on VWs toes? It seems like a strange plan given that they share tech but generally get to use slightly less advanced technology in the current arrangement they share.The Kodiaq looks like a large suv that offers nothing over any class rival other than some extra boot space vs some and saving some £££ over same rival, a smaller warranty vs Korean rivals and no clas heritage. The unveiling showed them obsessing about the design language of the crystal like headlights. Hmm. The silhouette could do with some serious thought or indeed the grille. Look at how Nissan have moved their Quashqai design language up to the X Trail. Removing a utilitarian looking vehicle in favour of a generic SUV. If the Yeti is successful in the same market place why can't it do the same and occupy the formers slot ? Not all Nissans share the quashqais design language. So why do Skoda worry so about their brand generic appearance when other car companies allow brands within company brands. Interestingly Dacia are also releasing a 'super' Duster which will be in the same class as the kodiaq and be even cheaper than any large SUV Skoda can hope to offer, it will help Dacia to move in to Skodas existing market share as Skoda tries to move up and out.

The latest pictures of the new Kodiaq leave me totally uninspired. I would much prefer a Santa Fe or the new CRV to be launched next year over the new large Skoda. So I hold little hope for the Yetis successor to look any different from it or maintain any of its genes. I fear that boat has sailed. It seems fashionable for people here who love the Yetis appearance to dislike the generic SUV look of most of its class competitors. Skoda has now fully jumped on the bandwagon to broaden it's market appeal, but I wonder if it will lose many existing customers in doing so? It seems a little odd for Skoda to try to disinherit it's existing customer base who favour practicality and value over aesthetics to instead to appeal to owners of other brands who presumably are either out to buy a prettier car ( in which case skoda are screwed because they don't make pretty cars ) or appeal to more brand orientated buyers ( in which case skoda are screwed because they are entering a new class where customers associate skoda with taxis or superminis ). What other SUVs have you been considering when the time comes to replace your Skoda ? I've got an Octavia to replace soonish too and was toying with a new Octavia but that too is bland beyond description. I might wait for the facelift or jump ship to another brand. For the yetis future replacement I will probably save for a Discovery Sport or do the opposite of splurge and go for a Duster which has inherited some of the yetis appeal.

I tested all the combinations last night on a quiet country lane. It's the first time Ive ever turned them on at night, they kick out a lot of light. For some reason I thought that fog lights were always front and rear hence cancelling the side lights. I noticed they are selectable front only in the Yeti, so indeed without side lights on id have no lights on at the rear. I read somewhere on brisk skoda that the headlights cancelled the fog lights because when on they were more effective - maybe it does on some models and not the yeti. OK so here is the next question can I keep day light running lights on with other light combinations ? The yeti looks better with both light units on.

Must have been. Seems odd that the fog lights wouldnt cancel the side lights out? don't head lights cancel fog lights out.

I replaced the Pirelli's with 4 Nokian Weatherproof's for £357.00 from Tyreleader. Impressions so far are good, road noise seems the same as with original Pirelli's and I haven't lost traction yet. Driving with a bit more confidence now through the torrential rain we have been getting for the last month and a half.

Two days ago I saw a white 2012 2wd Yeti (think it was SE) that had is side lights and daylight running lights on. It looked good as far as I can see on mine my daylight running lights turn off when I switch my side or head lights on? Is there a way to configure this I looked through the maxi dot and could only find and option to turn them off ? Or was I mistaking his dlr lights for his fog lights and side lights ?

I've done some more research, it seems that no current diesel engined VW group vehicle puts more than 250 NM through that 5 speed box in a tranverse mount. This info is just from forum and brochure reading so it's not exhaustive. It makes me wonder whether the old 1.9 tdi PD units with the 5 speed box shared similar ratings and components. The Fabia MK1 VRS put 310 NM through its transmission. The 6 speed gewrbox seems to have a 350 NM limit for VW applications. Most remaps and tuning boxes claim 350 NM for the 2.0 tdi 110ps as their upgraded figure. I think, as a doom monger, this is probably too much for the 5speed transmission, for prolonged usage and most likely would create a lot more wear and strain. I think if you had the 110ps with the 6speed in the 4x4 you would be safe with a stage 1 remap.

I'm 33 but it's been bought as my wifes car who is 29 so that brings the age coefficient down a bit.

I've read that too, in the same way a 1.8 tsi can be provide better returns than a 1.6 fsi if you try to drive the lower powered car as if it were the more powerful one But the 2wd diesels are more economical as the manufacturers figures sughest if you drive them for economy. Im seeing over 50mpg true so far , all 400 miles we have done in it, and that's not babying it.

You mean an extended warranty after recall works been done ?