yeti hunter

My wife drives a Sportage which we own so CO2 not an issue. Its a surprisingly good car, not as good as a Yeti on road by a fair way, but would thrash it off-road - Chunky tyres, higher ground clearance and approach angles same as a Freelander I, best of all, unlike many, it has a button to lock it into 50/50 4-wheel drive upto 25mph. Hasn't got the street cred though!

If you really need a Freelander II they need not cost more, there is a new special edition on sale the Aspen LE list price for 2.2 diesel manual is £19400 but I would expect to be able to get at least £2000+ off in discount. £17K - basic but has the essentials and all the offroad aids.

Look on the bright side, you should expect a free wash and vacuum every time it goes in for a recall....I once had a new Volvo estate delivered, it passed factory checks, it passed pre-delivery inspection... so how come I was the first to notice it had 3 fabric... and one leather door trim ??? I cheekily tried asking for the other 3 to be replaced with leather ones but alas it was the leather one that was in error.

Heading off in the Accord today I was reminded what a gem the icdti engine still is for refinement. Hardly a peep out of it at any revs, can sit at the red line and you don't even notice. Also I noticed an oddity about the Yeti steering, anyone know is it electrically assisted? my Honda is hydraulic. They have cleverly added quite a bit of artificial weight to the Yeti's steering which adds to the feeling of driving something strong and chunky. The odd thing is it doesn't lighten naturally with speed like normal steering and seemed to stay fairly constant. I noticed it after a 300 mile round trip that my wrists felt tired. Not that you need too much steering feedback, if you got the Yeti to let go your in deep dooda!

I wouldn't worry, its likely to be a very minor freshen up and as the N-Tec is loaded to its teeth I doubt if you will be missing out on any extra kit.Its not out until the summer so I doubt if the price drop on yours is to do with clearance. More likely its a reaction to a few things, a lot of Qashqai go into the company car market but as mentioned its hindered by its CO2 levels. What with the Yeti doing well, a revised CR-V launching, the Toyota RAV4 has just been tweaked below 160g/km, then there is the new Peugeot 3008 crossover in direct competition - thing are hotting up in the sector so Nissan are just putting up a price fight!

can't blame you. Nissan are very aggressive on spec. and pricing, they have to be with most their models over 160g/km CO2 some companies won't even allow them on their lists now. My company gives a big financial incentive to choose a car under.Despite high discounts, the trust in Japanese reliability (even when made in Sunderland!) is attractive to the used market and has helped keep residual values respectable, also helping keep leases down.Its number 3 on my 'possible' list.

That sort of data is usually in the owners manual so Autocar perhaps just get it from that on the test cars. Sadly I just gave my demo back but anyone who owns a Yeti might look for you?

sorry about the layout... for some reason forum won't let me put linebreaks or even spaces in!

Well the demo car went back this morning.Its obviously been busy as its got 5K miles on it already and I put on a few hundred. If anyone is offered a White ex-demo Elegance, I have tested it thoroughly for you, including wading a 30 foot long flood down a lane last night (was like joining the Checkoslovakian Navy!)......................Lasting impressions? the physics defying handling, such as the poor Mini Cooper driver starting to drift on the damp slip road as a big White, HID's blazing Skoda 'van' kept bearing down on him. Very amusing. The comfortable ride and certainly getting a lot of quizzical looks. The engine was very punchy up to mid speed but runs out of puff a bit at high speed, needs the CR170 or a remap 140 to make full use of the handling.I have to concede... in real life the boot isn't too bad really (without the spare anyway) its never going to be luxurious but it IS quite livable........................... Downsides? It was a bit thirsty, mistook the fuel gauge for a stopwatch! averaged about 41mpg according to the computer but I am sure reality was a fair bit worse. Engine a bit noisy but at least it wasn't a bad noise, quite a sporty growl often.Interior needs a rethink, couldn't ever get really comfortable with my body shape, short arms long legs, to reach the steering wheel I had to have the seat closer than I wanted. If I lowered the steering it blocked the dials. The speedo really is dangerous. In a town zone with a lot of 30 speed cameras it takes far to much time to focus on what your doing, it just needs a simple thicker line on the main increments!!!!I think thats what let it down for me overall, the little details here and there that let down a really good drive, not to mention the ever present rattles and creaks. .............................. Would I buy one? well maybe, due to its sub 160 CO2 its very cheap for me to lease but I would say its currently 2nd on my list. I enjoyed my test drive in a Honda CRV a bit more overall and the revised one in January is supposed to sort some of its well known issues, so we will see. The Honda may be too expensive so I may yet become a member of the esteemed Yeti Club.Cheers for now.

As is customary to express it... + + + + Only 2 more sleeps until I get my Yeti - 140 Elegance 4x4 + + + + Only catch is I have to give it back after half a dozen more sleeps! Looking forward to it as the price just went down on our lease provider, even better value. Let the trials begin!

:rofl::rofl: just like my kids.

A bit worrying you have to carry a bottle of oil in the boot, not using that much is it?

That would make the sheep in the back sick.... (see the don't buy a tractor thread)

Good stuff but that bloke is HUGE! standing next to the Yeti he makes it look like a kiddy car. Looks like he could pull the trailer by himself!

...and typical of a Fiat its over a repair pit. (did that come free with the car?)

Of course you are welcome to your opinion... but I can't get to grips with the suggestion of a Tiguan being pretty! In my eyes its appallingly bland and quite hard to distinguish from the rear from Grannies favourite - the Golf Plus.

At least this is one 'problem' thats easy to fix. If I choose to get a Yeti I have factored in getting a Bluefin or ST3 remapping device (about £400) Although the Yeti isn't listed yet the Mk6 Golf 2.0 CR tdi is and I am sure this is the same engine so no doubt it will be available. Takes it to 171bhp 378nm on your drive in a few minutes. Of course if Skoda used their heads and made a 170bhp SE I wouldn't have to. Ridiculous you have to buy a shed load of toys you don't want to get a peppy engine.

Cool. I spend most my days parked in some undersized car park somewhere or other and as you say the length is going to make slotting in that last space (noone else was brave enough to go for) a breeze. My Honda Accord sometimes feels longer than the QE II even though relatively compact for its class. Another reason for wanting a high clearance 4x4 is sometimes I have to make do with a bit of grass/mud or footpath. The front spoiler under the Honda hates this!

Look, I wasn't looking for an argument or a p~ssing contest about who can pack a boot! You made the unfounded accusation that I was jumping on some critical bandwagon which was simply not true. I think the point is for this type of vehicle its tighter than most would expect, it has to be - with decent rear legroom but an overall length of 4.2 metres, when virtually every other SUV is 4.4+

Not jumping on any band wagon! I have actually been to a dealers with a load of cases that I have fitted in many cars over the years (with supposedly similar size boots) and the Yeti was a challenge, not impossible very tight. The X1 has run flat tyres so doesn't need a spare. The Yeti with a spare is considerably smaller in the boot, I would estimate about 380 litres. Ironically its probably the cost of the runflats and the expected driving style the BMW will encourage that is pushing its lease cost off the scale! I am getting a loan Yeti later in the month, perhaps I will fill it with 1 litre balloons and take some pictures! I find the defensiveness about the Yeti on here very endearing, really, but calm down, its just a car!

I think I would have an X1 in the blink of an eye over a Yeti (X1 has a better boot for a start!) but the motor industry seems worried about its residual value and/or running costs. I know this because on our company leasing site whilst the cars purchase price is similar to a BMW 320D SE its lease cost is coming out nearly DOUBLE. Its a very large company so their experts know what they are doing - and are factoring in a lot of extra costs with the X1. Infact its wildly too expensive for me to run on my mileage whilst the Yeti is not. The big thing for me is the Yeti's 157 CO2. I get a 15-20% eco incentive discount off my lease cost for below 160 and still get to have 4 wheel drive and not just 2 wheel like Kuga, Tiguan, Volvo etc. Also improved 2010 Honda CR-V with a cleaner diesel engine should be announced any time now and if as expected they can get it below 160 too (currently 173) then it will be the only other (affordable!) 4 wheel drive below 160 so will be more competitive against Yeti again - for some peoples requirements at least.

Or they are just exaggerating! No review to date has got a Yeti to go as quick as the Skoda claimed speeds. This is unusual, Autoexpress beat the manufacturers time comfortably for my car. But I would be delighted to see otherwise.

I have just had a 3 day test with a Honda CR-V and I have 3 day test with a Yeti next month. I have to say the CR-V is quite a bit longer than the Yeti and the boot is totally brilliant. No lip, massive and the rear seats slide forward even more than the Yeti making the boot amazing. even has a full spare wheel and a lot of storage space underneath the floor. In fact I wouldn't bother looking any further if it wasn't for the firm ride, the Honda handles brilliantly but on bad roads jars a bit and picks up a lot of road noise. In about 4 weeks when I get the Yeti if its got the ride and refinement some say it has and can match the Honda's pace and handling - it may well go some way to make up for the smaller boot and be well and truly back in the game! Skoda are really missing a trick compared to the Yeti's main opponent the Qashqai, at least that comes as a +2 with a much bigger boot if thats what you need, for a modest increase in rear overhang. Fancy a Yeti Plus anyone?

I don't think any of these treatments are worth more than a tenth the cost. If there was anything in it the manufacturers would be using it as a selling point - in the scale they do things the cost on the car would be tiny to them, or at least put it on the factory options. Its just a means for the dealers to try and add a bit of margin onto the sale as its 90% pure profit and keeps the cleaning lad busy for a couple of hours. Go mad in Halfords with £50 and you will get something as good.

I think your right... from the yeti user manual.