Expatman

Yes, use maps or waze - both more reliable than inbuilt satnav. I have inbuilt satnav but rarely use it because I find it somewhat idiosyncratic compared with waze or maps.

In this dark and cold weather when most of us are doing only short journeys stop/start works less frequently. The most effective solution is to occasionally hook a battery charger/conditioner up and leave it for a few hours to make sure battery is fully charged. Since doing that the stop/start works more frequently but is sensitive to battery load and cold weather and not working in anything but ideal conditions. Guess it is to safeguard battery condition.

I've had Yeti's with and without heated windscreen and no difference with chips. Living in North Yorkshire I appreciate the heated windscreen even though I'm retired, quick defrost and also quickly gets rid of condensation from warm passengers on a cold evening.

I don't have a problem with condensation, my problem is opening frozen shut doors after a night of damp hard frosts. Doors frozen solid even though I've used Gummipleg on seals. Real pain on these cold nights.

CETV autos - not sure what that is? The drive system in the Crosstar is basically by electric motor which is powered from a generator charged by the engine. Only at higher speeds or when max power is required is the engine actually “connected” to the wheels directly through a clutch system. There are a couple of good explanations on YouTube of how the system works, it certainly provides impressive economy.

As an outside choice have a look at the reviews for the 2020 Honda Crosstar. All hybrid drive with Honda reliability and excellent internal space with 60+ MPG. and loads of goodies included. Only real downside is the tyre size is only available from a few suppliers.

Empty house nearby had rat nest in garden, shot 9 at the bottom of our garden in 2 days. Professional ratman got the rest with traps and poison. Good target practice as I only shoot if I can get a head shot so quick kill, a lot quicker and more humane than poison I suspect.

It's a rat! Kill it any day of the year and rejoice. They are vermin, spread disease and damage property and people.

Thanks, as long as it's easy to get in/out then worth our finding a Honda dealer to try. My wife's problem makes a higher seat so much easier to get in/out. It's the big drop into the seat which is the problem. On the other hand too high a seat is equally difficult for her! The Crosstar being Niro height makes me more hopeful.

How was the seat height compared with Yeti for ease of entry and exit? Older bones and wife's bad back makes getting into most low hatchbacks more difficult, and climbing up out even more so. Welcome your thoughts.

We all wish Skoda had updated the Yeti, something like the T-Cross but with Kamiq interior and options! Have you looked at the Honda Crosstar, a tad smaller than Yeti but includes all the options? I am hoping someone has tried one because I can't find one to look at with current restrictions and I would value other Yeti owners views.

Thanks - it’s always good to get the opinion of someone who has personal experience of the cars and the make. Luckily I am not in a hurry to change my Yeti as it’s just coming up to 4 years old and I generally keep vehicles for between 5 and 6 years. Just looking around to see what there is out there and, frankly, while there are many small SUV/Crossovers now none of them really appeal to me. Skoda Kamiq has too low a driving position, VW T-Cross and T-Roc are too basic inside with few options available. Audi - just NO. Anyway I will wait and see what 2021 brings!

Thanks - but you seem to be at odds of with every review I've watched or read! Jazz has always been CVT transmission but reviews generally agree it has been much refined in the new version, particularly using the 2 electric motors. Haven't seen the inside 'in the flesh' but that's always a matter of personal opinion. I agree it seems expensive but if you spec up any small crossover to the Crosstar standard spec then you are looking at £25k plus and often over £27k. Try speccing a Kamiq and you'll see what I mean.

Use Chrome browser and the incognito tab, that deletes cookies when you close the browser so you are not in anyone's form. Also if you use YouTube you don't have to fill in any forms. Like you I get really annoyed by the way some websites want your details when all you're doing is browsing. Don't they realise this really p****** people off?

A bit left field but a friend has just got a Honda Jazz Crosstar, the Crosstar seems to come with all the extras included, I haven’t seen it yet but it has a raised driving height (not sure what 'raised' means in this case) and is a hybrid offering up to 60 MPG. Road Tests are encouraging and reliability of the Jazz has been excellent, it also has the very flexible rear seat system - anyone else seen/looked at one? New on road so not many around as far as I can tell.

A bit left field but a friend has just got a Honda Jazz Crosstar, the Crossbar seems to come with all the extras included, I haven’t seen it yet but it has a raised driving height (haven’t checked what 'raised' means in this case) and is a hybrid offering up to 60 MPG. Road Tests are encouraging - anyone else seen/looked at one? New on road so not many around as far as I can tell.

Just get rid of the Yeti with the sunroof! Fabia is nice but not in same league as Yeti - but if she wants one then you're not going to argue are you?! Really depends on whether you prefer the high riding Yeti or low level Fabia.

If you don't want a lifetime of pain then your idea of a trade is sensible. Trade it for a Yeti without a sunroof and your wife is still gets the pleasure of driving a Yeti but will do so with dry feet!

Good luck with that! 🤔

I agree, bite the bullet and buy the genuine Skoda wheel trims - more expensive but well worth it for appearance, strength and quality.

This obsession with appealing to the young buyer of everything from BBC to National Trust, to M&S to car manufacturers is beyond me. Basically young people don’t have the disposable income of many older folk - and boy do they enjoy telling us that we stole their future - many older people now have the money to buy better things so why aren’t we offered them? T-Cross etc sized cars are ideal for us but we want the luxuries not the basics.

I can see that but for the life of me I can’t understand why the T-Cross is not offered with a better quality interior and the options to upgrade to the same level as the Kamiq. The upgrades could all be up cost options so VW would make money out of it. Modern production lines have no problems incorporating variants so it must be a a business decision - beats me though!!!

You are absolutely right, VAG have down marketed both the T Cross and T Roc. Skoda have chosen too low a seating position (for me) so next car unlikely to be a VAG vehicle. Have time before next purchase so hoping to find something suitable from a different maker. I have had VAG vehicles for 30+ years but I guess they don't need my business now I'm in my 70's.

I have found some info, the seat height (seat edge to ground) of the Arona is 612-666mm, the T-Cross 635-678, T-Roc 648-691, Kamiq 589-639. While the Yeti is 646-699mm. So the Kamiq clearly has the lowest seating position of all the VAG smaller crossovers. The T-Roc is closest to the Yeti, followed by the T-Cross, Arona and then the Kamiq. The Kamiq seat is lower by 16mm at its highest elevation compared to the Yeti seat at its lowest setting and 60mm at its highest setting. The Kamiq is 160mm lower overall than the Yeti so the door aperture is that much lower and therefore entering and exiting is more restricted. Basically the Kamiq is a high riding hatchback.

I agree the Kamiq is just the car for you. Our problem is that my wife has a bad back which is exacerbated by cars she has to stoop down to get into or climb up to get out. The seat height of the Yeti is just right because she can just 'slide' onto the seats - no stooping or climbing! Actually the T Cross is fine for seat height, it's just such a drop in facilities and cabin quality to the Yeti that it's like going back ten years - no heated windscreen, no power memory seats, no soft touch dashboard, no leather interior etc. Fortunately my Yeti is less than 4 years old so I can keep for a few years yet, but the choice now is poor.