Prezafab

That's what I would have thought. The Yeti has more character in looks and feel, but the Kafka is more refined? We've never had a Karoq, but have had several Yetis and a couple of newer Tiguans. My thinking was that the Karoq would have had a lot of the rougher edges smoothed off - just like Tiguan mk1 vs Tiguan mk2. (Ps still a Yeti fan!)

What don't you like about the Karoq 1.5? On paper it should drive better than the Yeti ? Its never appealed to me because it looked a bit bland compared with the Yeti, but I assumed it was at least good to drive (more comfortable, more refined, more economical etc?)

... we had darker tint added to the rear side doors and had a mid tint added to the tailgate. No complaints from our big dog, and left front doors alo ne, so mot always fine.

Have you thought about having the rear and side windows 'sunset glass' tinted or does your car already have them?

Is it an Indian Yeti - a popular market.

With 175k on it ? Now. Cost ? Depends on your country.

No it was back in range, but we had new shocks, springs, top mount bearings and drop links replaced at the same time. It needed new shocks, so it made sense for me to do everything all at once as it's lasted 98,000m on them, and I doubt we'll have it until 196,000m. You never know, though !

Just had our alignment done after new front shocks and a year of banging and crashing over 'off-road' new housing estate roads. I knew the Yeti was robust, but it was only a bit out of tolerances, like above.

Timing chain rattle = replacement.

This won't help but I know the noise - it's a squeaky, tinkly, springy kind of noise... We had it on a 1.2 Tsi DSG at normally lower speeds on a gentle throttle as if something was opening up or expanding. Did also have it on a TDi Yeti about 10 years ago, but neither caused any problems.

.. In York

Only one experience last year. Got a quote for Haldex service, DSG service and an intermediate service. I asked in advance if I could bring it in first thing and wait for 3 hours. Took them 5 and when I went to pay the bill they had only done 2 out of 3 tasks...

I think more and more Yeti owners are going to keep their cars in fine fettle. There is a late model one advertised on a well known car website today for £21299. I asked my other half to guess the price (she loves her older Yeti in a similar spec) and she said £15k...

Good work. I said that Skoda health check form should be renamed a BGF (Business generation form). If you had had them replaced at Skoda and insisted on the return of the old bits, you would have had a case with them.

The Bilstein shocks and springs are very good. We have some truly terrible main country roads around us and while it's not transformed, it's less crashy now and rounds off the worst of things. They 'feel' the same as the original ones (from memory, but we've had a few Yetis). One difference is that the cornering in tighter turns is definitely sharper, with less roll as the weight transfers. I guess that's a combination of all the bits we've had fitted after nearly 100,000 miles.

TPS sell for the Volkswagen Group (VWG), on an agency basis, so if they will sell to you, you can compare the genuine parts with others they supply. Remember that VWG also have an 'economy' range which are genuine parts...

Colin, Trade Parts Specialists in Huddersfield supply genuine parts, but you probably need a trade account these days rather than just a "taxi" to get them to supply. You could always turn up with a list of the genuine Skoda parts you want and see if they hold the door open for you on the way out, or not?

I shouldn't worry Colin. Those dealer health check sheets are mostly about business generation. I took our Yeti in for a haldex, and dsg oil change to our Yorkshire Skoda dealer 2 years ago because we had just moved and I didn't know how good the local garage was at the time. The technician came out and explained that a pair of bushes would need doing soon on the front because they were 'peeling out'. It's just been through its second MOT since then and neither MOT has mentioned as an advisory. I also had some new shock absorbers last week (at the local garage) and asked them to replace any other bits while it was in pieces. No extra bushes required ! The car has done 97,000m now.

Is there a leak that hasn't been spotted by the garage that did the re-gas?

Bien sur

Disagree. It's not all down to the driver. Decent quality OEM parts last as well - I fit Pagid brakes, and have just put on Bilstein shocks, but show me a pattern exhaust which lasts longer than genuine. Likewise I bought some aftermarket brake discs and pads on a previous car which were just not up to the job after you had worn away the top 20% of material.

Update from me:- Fitted Bilstein shocks & springs plus Febi Bilstein top mounts & drop links, Sachs bump stop kit. Parts were £298 - I wanted as good as I could get, not the cheapest. Plus 3 hours labour. All good so far - the compliance has returned over sharp ridges, which it was crashing into before. Seems back to how it used to be after 97,000 miles, which is what I wanted. Compliant, settled. Take care when ordering the shocks - Bilstein and others list two types depending on the chassis code (as mentioned above, 50 or 55mm circumference).

You pays your money and takes your choice. I will say though that genuine does tend to last. Be it Audi/Seat/VW/Skoda or Volvo or Subaru. There are parts I would still buy genuine, but brake parts are fine OEM aftermarket.

That doesn't sound too horrific for genuine Skoda parts fitted and warranted by Skoda. Can't see it being less than £300 from a good independent for true OEM parts? Labour isn't cheap these days. Or go independent but replace 1 disk and 1 pad set if you are saying Skoda will only sell (and fit) you a pair...?

Was the grille expensive?