Charlieian

Another vote for the Vreds. Used them last winter on OE alloys - tend to swap beginning of Nov end March. Nice and stable very slight slowing in turn in grip in all conditions remarkable. Not used Nokians so can't comment

Thanks for all the comments regarding the post - yes I think I will change the location for servicing from the SE to the NE in future, as MSB in Darlo has been recommended! As promised now the 'issues' have now been resolved dealer was (tadah!) Motorline in Dartford. Yesterday they picked the car up from me (no courtesy car) and repaired the scratches to the rear o/s wing and bumper, additionally repairing a parking dent to n/s front doo, then returned car. All the repairs were conducted to a high standard and are completely invisible from all angles. I had to contribute half amount to dent repair to door, whilst not deep, it was a double crease (why do people show such disregard for someone else's property - makes me seethe!). The dealer has additionally offered me a free wash in a couple of weeks when paint has hardened. So to summarise: paid top rate for the service, they damaged the car, but have now repaired all damage with some inconvenience to me, which they tried to mitigate by picking car up and dropping it back repaired. Positives: they readily admitted to causing damage and conducted repairs to a very high standard. Negatives: service was expensive and damage indicates lack of care (or does **** happen?), repair was cancelled once (reasonable explanation provided) and rearranged and I don't think the dealer went the extra mile to prevent my inconvenience. Total compensation was half contribution to passenger door dent - £30 + a free wash promise (don't think I will be taking it up though!). Have to say the dent to the door (done by one of these 'dent' fairies with paintless repair) was to a very high standard - amazing. I also didn't think they would be able remove the scratches to the plastic (textured) bumper - but they did. Regards Ian

Thanks for the replies the cost of the service is kind of what I expected: New, very flash show room within close proximity of London. I think these 'type' of large dealers tend to deal with a lot of lease and company customers and consequently ramp up their prices. I've also got a Fabia and use a small specialist independent (Whitehills in Meopham) for that, they are a lot cheaper and the service is top rate. Just wanted to make sure there were no warranty issues by taking it back to the supplying dealer. So I knew what I was getting into with the price, but what's shocked me is the quality of service - I agree with others that have posted - it's when something goes wrong this is tested! I think I will wait till after repair Thurs before naming dealer that way can honestly report the dealers performance - although those close to me ( N Kent) may have worked it out!

Is the car brand new or just new to you? Either way I would consider rejecting the car as not fit for purpose! A failed big end bearing appears to be a very serious fault and usually causes serious bottom end damage, often needing a new engine! I'm really sorry for you - surely the dealer should have picked this up on the PDI? Good luck keep us updated.

Booked my 1.8TSI 4x4 SE+ for it's first service last week - £218 for an oil change! Never mind needed doing and at the sort of price you may well have the reassurance of quality service - wrong! Whilst in their care they damaged the car (reversed into something) causing scrapes to rear o/s wing and bumper. Whilst they seemed to take pride in 'at least we've been honest', they offered no compensation other than repair. I had to push to get a parking dent repaired (some careless moron with their car door), even then only offered half (which amounts to £30). Then to compound it: repair was arranged for yesterday, which they cancelled local traffic (A2) problems; apparently paint man couldn't get to dealer in time! So now have to rearrange for next week with all the inconvenience that entails - arrgh! Thanks for listening to rant - have I been unlucky or is this common place? Dealer identity deliberately left out at his stage - I'm going to give them a chance - am I too kind? Ian

Just been out to the car to check the operation (I have an SE+ with the Amundsen +). Forget the blah about the SD card the nav data is stored internally on the Amundsen +, but other than that the posts are correct, you will have to mute the other source, just to hear the nav. The volume of the instructions can varied through the settings menu and over speaks the media function, so works quite well. The nav instructions are also repeated on the dashboard info thingy (sorry!), which to be honest clarifies the information to a more simple: take the next left/right turn and even provides a diagram of approaching r'abouts. Never used a Columbus, so can't give a direct comparison, but can't see there will be that much between them: screen size mainly. Amundsen+ does the full post code search etc, but despite what the instruction book tells you there's no DAB! (unless you have the Urban). SE+ also comes with a 6 CD changer, what with being able to connect my iPhone via blue tooth giving me access to all my iTunes, the choice usually comes to much for me so I resort good old, soothing radio 4!

Some really good observations above, but I can give you some reassurance on your decision making (of course we both could be wrong!). I too do around 8000-9000 miles and want a vehicle that will be fun as well as practical for the family. I currently drive a TDI octavia, so am open minded in the diesel/petrol argument. The car I have chosen? Tada: a 1.8TSI 4x4 Yeti in the SE+ trim! The SE+ trim represents really good value. The main draw back seems to be strong reactions to the Crystal fabric trim, I really don't have a strong opinion on it to be honest! There is a significant price difference between the SE+ and the Elegance, the main gains being leather, Xeon's and off road button, by the way ESP is standard with all 4x4 Yeti's no matter what the trim level! The main lose between SE+ and Elegance is the loss of Sat Nav (although it's the less specified Admundsen, opposed to the £1200 option Columbus - so no great sweat there!), a 6CD auto changer if you are specifying the Columbus and a set of fabic car mats (ok not a big loss - but might take the pressure of the Crystal!). If I did 10-12k+ a year it would've been the 170 Diesel, but under 10k with a 'fun' specification it had to be the 1.8TSI! This was the car driven by Top Gear and Honest John and they both loved it - described as a 'hot hatch' type experience! Word of warning: it is often reported that the petrols come through quicked than the Diesels, but I have been waiting 5 months so far! Last update from dealer (yesterday) was week 12, although not confirmed. If it is delivered then it will have been 7 months!

I'm fuming at the moment; just had an update from my dealer (motorline in Dartford)ordered my car in Sept given a provisional date of 21st January. Till the middle of December it was shown as week 50 then moved to week 1. Today I was told week 17! If this is true that will be a May delivery, 8 months for a petrol (1.8TSI 4X4 SE+)! order is not that complicated: steel grey paint, spitzberg alloys, heated screen, off-road button and spare wheel. I've put a flea in the ear of the dealer and said not acceptable etc, just awaiting an update by the end of the week. I may well cancel the order if they can't do any better than week 17 - time will tell! Charlieian

Many thanks for that, I was concerned that although we (the dealer and I) are in a contract, so price has been agreed, there may be a 'get out'; especially as nowa-days it always seems to be: f*** you pay more!. To be honest if the wait lasts much longer, I may consider changing the order for a Octy VRS. Although not an estate this time, as the kids are older, I don't need that level of space anymore: style over practicality! Regards Charlieian

Hi All I will ask a question I suspect I know the answer to! I have a 1.8TSI Yeti on order (been waiting since Sept, which isn't unusual!) ,when it eventually arrives (hopefully later this month - Jan; but I'm not holding my breath!) will I have to pay the new price, ie after the price rise or the price at the time of deposit in Sept? I ordered the YETI to replace my 53 plate Octy TDI estate, which has been a great car. I really struggled getting any type of a deal out of the dealers: no 0% VAT or 0% APR on the Yeti!! My own fault for going for such a popular model - hope I don't live to regret it; the Yeti will have a lot to live up to after 8 years and 90k of trouble free motoring from the Octy! Regards Charlieian

Now whilst I don't profess to be an expert, could I point something out that generally happens in most motor plants: before installation the engine is bench tested at maximum revs for an extended period (sometimes 24 hrs!). If the engine performs as according to the set parameters it's good to go, if not,it's either repaired and re-tested or junked. So although it pays to be careful and never let a new engine labour (although you obviously shouldn't do that to any engine!); the factory will have tested the reliability of your new engine in a rather brutal fashion, before they even installed it in your car! Having said that, will I treat my new car (when I eventually get it!) with kid gloves for the first couple of thousand, yeah, probably will! Regards Charlieian

Apologies for messing up the post - user error! Meant to say many thanks to Lee at Preston motors, nice to have some inside knowledge, rather than well intentioned guess work! Regards Charlieian

Yep, although I'm impatiently awaiting delivery on my Yeti - fingers crossed January! I have Octavia same thing left and right 'click'; centre 'heat' select is floppy and vague - works well though! Regards Charlieian Awaiting 1.8 TSI SE+ metallic Grey, Spitzbergs, heated screen, off road button, silver rails and spare wheel.

I'm a curious about reports of immediate delivery on 1.8 TSI's. I'm waiting delivery of a 1.8TSI SE+ - I ordered on 21.09.2011 and was given a provisional delivery date of 21.01.2012, 4 months. Latest update from the dealers is build week 1, having moved from build week 50 (apparently the factory is closed week 51-52 for christmas). When I ordered there were no new Yeti's of any specification for immediate delivery. There were a few used 'nearly new' available available through the network. It appears that petrols come through a little quicker than diesels, but even if mine is delivered as per estimation (which is not certain!)it will still be 4 months. It seems a lot of people are now being given week 1 build dates, I believe this may be the factory saying not this year, we will re-estimate in the new year, but time will tell! I ordered via Motorline in Dartford and specified options of Steel gray paint, Spitzberg alloys, heated screen, silver rails and a spare wheel, so nothing too complicated! Didn't consider the 1.4 as I wanted 4x4 and generally drive less than 9000 miles a year,so didn't want additional complications of DPF and DMF with the diesel. If I was doing more than 10-12k a year would've gone for the 170 diesel. Regards Charlieian

A very fair point; it is reassuring, but I'm still impatient! Compared to some of the waits, based on what the dealer has told me, I should consider myself lucky - 'though time will tell! No wonder it was such hard work getting a deal, it appears Skoda can sell all they can make! Charlieian

Hi All I've ordered a 1.8TSI 4x4 in the SE+ trim from Motorline in Dartford on 21st Sept. Dealer's gave me an indication of 3 - 4 months, with 21st January shown on the invoice. Does this seem about right - anyone got experience or any more detailed knowledge? It seems so unfair to spend so a large amount of cash and wait for so long!! Charlieian