Fluffy destroyer of worlds

Full road test of the new Sportage in todays Autocar. Gets 3.5 stars generally favourable, but what is quite plain is that it handles just like you would expect an SUV to handle - i.e not that good, a bit woolly. Gets none of the plaudits the SM seems to get. Oh and the small matter of an average fuel consumption of 34.9mpg with only 39.2 on the touring route - and this from the 135bhp Diesel. Can't see many on here being very impressed with that.

Whilst I did seriously consider an iIX35 (one poke around in a showroom soon put me off) the Kuga never even made it on to the radar. Autocar/CAR/Top Gear etc keep telling me they make great cars but all Fords remind me of is blokes called 'Darren', white socks and Essex. Kind of put me off. I couldn't bring myself to look at a BMW X1 at all. It's so ugly it should have a curfew. Still, beauty is in the eye of the Beerholder as they say.

:DIt was the 3rd July, obviously haven't ordered a sunroof or anything tricky just a Candy white 140 Elegance with Annapurna alloys, underbody protection and the mud-flap/rubber mat option pack (which I didn't know existed). It's going to be a long distance workhorse, my wife does ultramarathons - Europe wide and I Pike fish and have a boat - will need to get a tow bar I suppose but can't run to that yet. It certainly will be going 'off road' though not in extremis. To say I am looking forward to its arrival is a gross understatement, coping with the Fuhrers smartcar at the moment but a long distance cruiser it most certainly is not. Motorway trips are akin to attempting re-entry in a space shuttle with a few tiles missing

Well I was chatting to the very helpful Gary at Hobins yesterday and not only got a build week for my SM (39) which should make it Mid Octoberish delivery, but also blagged a go in the DSG TD140 they have in the showroom. It will be registered as a demo in September. The only Yeti I have driven so far is a 1.2 - which I was mighty impressed with after an initial dose of scepticism as to how such a small motor could cope. However, I soon made a case for 4WD and diesel power so it will be interesting to see what the 140 and it's DSG box is like. Gary also mentioned that a lot of his build dates have subsequently been brought forward. Signs of improvement at the factory

The EVO report on the unforseen capabilities of the 1.8 TSi Yeti was a major contributing factor to me ordering one. Of all the mags EVO is the one I respect most. I wouldn't even keep 'What Car' in the bathroom for emergencies.

We are talking about a skoda Yeti, but nowhere did I compare it to a Type R, I was stating the reasons behind my like of flappy paddles seeming as you asked. I have no real intention of heel and toeing my Yeti - for a start it's an oiler so flywheel probably won't permit. I do very much intend to have fun driving it though because the Skoda engineers have done such a great job on the chassis settings.

Not even remotely surprised. I was blown away by my test drive, practicality, quality, quirky good looks and enjoyable to drive - a real have your cake and eat it car. Roll on October!

This is true, mostly refers to those DSG's with gearbox mounted ECU's rather than 'accessable' remote ones. Toyota have publicly stated that by 2012 they will be switching to twin clutch or equivalent for 'Green' reasons. for the majority of their cars. It's a little strange that some DSG fitments result in in a faster more economical car and others (Yeti 1.2 DSG) do not. Presume there is a good techy reason. I think Yeti owners are fortunate, with the possible exception of the twin clutch boxes used by BMW/Ferrari (they are the same) and the PDK in a Porsche you have a state of the art relatively economical way of changing gear automatically with a damned fine manual overide. Try speccing that on a Freelander or an IX35/Sportage etc.

Unless your Ayrton Senna the correct place for your paws is on the wheel at ten to two, it stands to reason that at higher speeds control is better maintained during gearchanges if you can do so without moving your hands off the wheel. Ideally you also need high geared steering. my GTA certainly had that - I could go from lock to lock without crossing arms. Of course you could just leave it in auto but at least you can still change gear when you want to with a mere finger flick should you want to. I have had 38 cars in my lifetime and only two (a 1750 Alfa Spider and a Honda Civic Type R) had gearchanges of sufficient tactile quality that I would prefer over a flappy paddle, the rest gave no involvement or feel whatsoever and even if they did had pedals poorly placed to facilitate heel and toe gearchanges - something a good DSG box will do brilliantly. We all best get used to it, DSG and the hordes that are following will replace manuals entirely in the not to distant future as in Auto mode the ECU can change gear far 'Greener' than a mere mortal - though amusingly not in the DSG Yeti's case. Some may prefer to hit the 'substitute' gearstick back and forth to change manually on a twin clutch I prefer the paddles at the end of the day it's what suits you.

When I ordered my Yeti in last month I had a good poke around the DSG 140 in Hobin's showroom. Currently pootling around in the wife's smart car and that's the second one we have had with flappy paddles. The gearchange is shall we say an aquired taste but I hasten to add it's nothing like a DSG. My late lamented steed was a Selespeed equipped Alfa 156 GTA, a gearbox totally unrelated to the 4 cylinder reliability nightmare fitted to non 6 cylinder versions. It was utterly fabulous. Unfortunately I can see no point in having DSG without paddles so the option did not interest me. if Skoda had offered paddles as an option and provided they moved with the steering wheel or were so big that they could be operated while turning the wheel it would have been a no brainer for me. I think after 4 years of cars with paddles I will be stalling quite a bit at first when my SM finally arrives! :S

Lee, were those pics taken on the Woodhead pass (or just off the spur road to glossop)? Drive that road every other Thursday night. Looking forward to testing my Yeti on it when it arrives

:)That looks very suave. Colour really suits it. Very interesting about the exhaust change makes you wonder what else they have been up to.

Only just started my wait and getting impatient already :S I loved the 1.2 I drove - though I have now plumped for a 140 TDi. as you are vaguely in my neck of the woods I might even see you. so far I have seen precisely 3 SMs since April and 2 of those were in Coniston on the same day. Where are all the Manchester Yetis?

Sounds a similar situ to me. Really looking forward to a go in the diesel, I know I would have been happy in the 1.2 as Lee has chosen but decided I could really make a good case for 4wd. The wait is going to drag that's for sure, still Hobins said it would be October at the latest. We shall see.

Well on Saturday I finally ordered my very own snow monster. Hopefully come October it should be on my drive…..then again! I have had two blissful (and amazingly reliable) years with a very special Alfa 156 GTA Selespeed I had imported from Malaysia, my 14th Alfa (I am a sucker for punishment) but I had to grudgingly admit that self and wife’s lifestyle, Pike fisherman and Ultramarathon runner respectively was not a happy match with the GTAs capabilities. Throw into the equation 24mpg on a good day, £435 a year tax and hefty insurance and it became plain that our next car needed to be something rather different. I was so reluctant to go down the Crossover/SUV route after years of GTi this and Type R that, however, being towed out of a field 3 times whilst camping in the Isle of Man prior to my wife running the mountain marathon finally decided it. iX35/New Sportage/Mini Countryman/ASX were all briefly and I have to say half heartedly considered. I have always had a soft spot for Skodas and nearly bought a Fabia VRs before opting for a Colt CZT about 4 years ago. The Colt was a disaster, utterly reliable and utterly dull. The Fuhrer refused to name it (she names all our cars – usually!) as it was so bland. Anyway that soft spot was very intrigued indeed by the Yeti, it ticked all my boxes and I (and the Fuhrer) thought the styling was spot on. I was very curious about the 1.2 TSi and after a disastrous and very unpleasant visit to a Skoda dealership near my workplace I paid a visit to Hobins in Manchester. Gary the salesman was a revelation in what is obviously a very friendly well run dealership. A go in a 1.2 Yeti was duly blagged and I was astonished indeed dumbfounded by both the engine and the Yeti. Excellent refinement, crisp steering, excellent ride and most important of all it was fun! Skoda chassis engineers don’t seem to appreciate that crossovers should be vague handling wallowy creations with all the get up and go of a slug with a sore foot. Brilliant. All this happened in early April and the decision was made to sell my beloved GTA and order a Yeti asap. Well last week the GTA went to its new home darn Sarf and the 1.2 Elegance Amazon Green SM was kicked into touch for a Candy white 4wd TDi 140 Elegance. I was always a little dubious of “diseasils†but a long weekend in the lakes driving a Passat changed my mind, and that was an old PD motor. I have left the roof rails black reasoning that it will contrast well with the Candy white paint, jury is out on that but I can live with it. Gone for the underbody protection, Annarpurna alloys and new rubber mat/mud flap pack – labelled as an ‘ADV’ pack on the invoice for some reason. Will probably get the internal bike rack too, great idea. Gary has promised to ring me every Monday giving me a build/delivery update which is nice and has also promised a go in a 140 diesel. Interestingly the GTA boys on the AlfaOwner forum were most appreciative. One of the 147 GTA owners even let slip that he to was considering a Yeti because they were so damned good to drive. I now have to survive ?? number of weeks scuttling around in the Fuhrers smart car, which by the way is called Gordon because it’s Brown (and fiscally prudent – though you could argue the point on that one!). Early indications are that the SM will be called Snowy though of course I have no say in such matters. Apologies for the long post rather excited and this forum has been a mine of very useful information, many thanks to all who contribute.