Thwyllo

Yes you're right, always remove the battery connectors before doing anything electrical on a VW or you end up with fault codes that have to be cleared. That and their stupid error messages drive me crazy with my Passat. Most recent was during a 1600 km trip when I started getting engine management light flashing followed by an urgent message saying something like "Engine Workshop Urgent", followed by some other lights that had me thinking the engine was about to explode. The cause? Two brake light bulbs not working....

So, my brief flirtation with Skoda is over before it even began. I have to say this site has been extremely useful and has some nice people on it. I was, however, already slightly jaundiced by my previous VW Group experiences, and despite the attraction of the Yeti that I hankered after, the more I researched, the more issues I came across. Frankly this article (scroll down until you find the "Cars" heading and check the hyperlink in there as well - to a Yeti!) has been the final nail in the coffin, so I'm off to buy a Honda or Toyota I'm afraid, but good luck with your cars and a Happy New Year to all. http://Bad customer service: who are 2018's worst offenders? https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/dec/29/bad-customer-service-who-are-2018s-worst-offenders?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

They don't make em like they used to do they. If I could find a decent classic with no ECU or any of that nonsense for decent money I'd buy it. First. At I ever owned was a Bedford HA van, based on the old MkI Viva..I remember stripping and fixing a blocked carb by the roadside in Cornwall and with just a screwdriver and a pair of pliers - happy days. I remember doing the hovercraft as well...why did we let things like that die?

Don't even think that's true. Even in the absence of any offered warranty a dealer is liable for a lot of faults within six months of purchase, especially if they are likely to have been developing or present on sale.

Where is this "three month warranty on sunroof" thing coming from? Skoda's warranty terms online make no mention of any such exclusion and anyone with experience of consumer affairs knows such a ludicrous issue would never stand up in court...? Can someone show me where it is in writing from Skoda please?

Not at all, it's a bit more complicated as usual! The Yeti ticks a lot of boxes but I'm still torn. I live in SW France a few miles from the Pyrenees and while I don't do serious offroading these days, I still like to do forest tracks and moderate stuff when the mood takes me. And since I've just retired it's a choice between a decent runaround/ + older 4wd, or a newer all-rounder (4wd) and a cheap shopping trolley. We do 2-3 trips a year to the UK clocking up 3,000 miles at a time so that fuel economy is important. The Yeti ticks a lot of boxes on the "newer all-rounder" list where I've also looked at the Hyundai Tucson. Then again, the idea of an older 4wd that I don't mind messing up is more appealing and the Honda's reliability record is a major plus there. Men and cars eh? I'll probably end up with a bloody Mazda MX-5!

Useful feedback - thanks. I have to admit that Honda tops the reliability stakes - my experiences with my Passat haven't exactly enamoured me with the VW marque so maybe I'll take a look!

Passat/Nissan Terrano driver here looking to buy a small all-round 4wd keeper in spring; currently gravitating towards a late Yeti with a weather eye on the Octavia Scout.

Really useful thread...did Skoda ever sort this issue or does it affect all model years?