frglee

This is a quote from a post I made in the Yeti forum after buying a demonstrator Yeti SE Greenline from Sinclair's: "Yes, Sinclairs were very good. I didn't want treating like I was a necessary burden but then again, I didn't want treating like I was buying the most expensive car in the world. And I wasn't. The Yeti was waiting on the forecourt when we arrived and after introducing himself to my Wife and myself, Mr Thomas gave me the keys and left us to have a good nosey round. The formalities were completed in about half an hour over a cup of coffee ( most of that time was spent persuading the bank that I really did want to spend that amount of money! ) So, all in all I was very pleased. Regards, Lee."

Thank You All for your welcome! Give that man a coconut! Yes, Sinclairs were very good. I didn't want treating like I was a necessary burden but then again, I didn't want treating like I was buying the most expensive car in the world. And I wasn't. The Yeti was waiting on the forecourt when we arrived and after introducing himself to my Wife and myself, Mr Thomas gave me the keys and left us to have a good nosey round. The formalities were completed in about half an hour over a cup of coffee ( most of that time was spent persuading the bank that I really did want to spend that amount of money! ) So, all in all I was very pleased. Regards, Lee.

This is a big thank you to all of you who have given me help and advice over the past year or so. You might like to read a post I've made in the "Introduce Yourself" forum for some exciting news - welll!, exciting for me anyway http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/240629-now-im-in-with-the-in-crowd/ Regards, Lee.

This is a quote from the first post I made on this forum just over a year ago: "Try not to be too impatient, my Yeti's 58 weeks away yet; I can't afford one until June 2012" Well, it *is* June 2012 and at last there is a shiny, silver Yeti SE Greenline sitting on the drive and a white, fluffy Yeti sitting on the back seat ! So now I feel I can become a *real* member of the forum! The original plan was to buy new but as the end of May approached the thought of having to wait perhaps another six months was too much to bear so I started looking around at used models. I came across a three month old Skoda Approved demonstrator model with just over a thousand miles on the clock which fitted the bill. It has silver roof rails which I wouldn't have gone for but look the part and Bluetooth which I definitely wouldn't have gone for but is good fun! and could prove to be useful. Thank You to everyone who put my mind at ease about buying a demonstrator car. It did turn out to be still looking like the day it was delivered to the dealer. The only drawback was that I didn't just nip round the corner to collect it. Collection entailed a 480 mile round trip to Swansea but it sure was worth it. After my 12 year old Vauxhall Astra the Yeti is a revelation! - to be fair to the Astra though it did get there and back without any complaint. So, Hello and Best Wishes to everyone. Lee.

This one is also 3 months old but with 1200 miles on the clock so I should be a very happy, HAPPY bunny

Well, a deposit has been paid and Skoda's complimentary seven day insurance cover has been arranged. Now I just have to wait ever so patiently for the next two weeks! I hope Sinclair Skoda appreciate the help they've been given by the members of this forum in securing the sale! I keep saying it but I'll say it again! Thank You very much for your speedy and very useful comments Best Wishes, Lee.

Thank you again! That is a very good point. Graham: I joined you in the Mad House thirteen months ago :p Regards, Lee.

It looks like it's a done deal then! even my Wife approves in her shrug-of-the shoulders way! Thank You All for your reassuring replies. Bearing in mind it's going to cost several thousand pounds more than we paid for our house - quite a few years ago admittedly - and I haven't spent so much in one go before or since, I did go into a panicky "what if..." mode So for now... watch this space! Best Wishes, Lee.

Thank You, that is what I was hoping to hear The fact is, it's now a year since I first had a close look at the Yeti and decided it was the car for me and the thought of having to wait perhaps another six months, well....... Regards, Lee.

Which should, in this case, be two years and three months. I wasn't too sure on Skoda's comments about the Used Warranty: "Warranties will either be the remainder of Manufacturer's warranty, a ŠKODA Approved warranty or a combination of the two." Regarding my comments about how demonstrators are treated; I suppose the same concerns apply to any used car. Regards, Lee.

Thank You for your extremely quick reply! I must say the thought of "immediate delivery" is what started me looking at used models. Being the second keeper isn't too much of an issue. Whatever we go for will be with us for a very long time by which time it probably won't matter much. I'm just a bit concerned about how demonstrators are treated by test drivers and possibly salesmen using them as general runabouts? though, of course. there will be at least a twelve months warranty supplied. Best Wishes, Lee.

Well, in seven days time I'll finally be in a position to buy a Yeti! The original intention was to buy new but I've seen a Skoda Approved Yeti SE Greenline main dealer demonstrator with "about 1800 miles on the clock" - the salesman's words on the 'phone - which seems to fit the bill and "ticks all the boxes" as far as specification goes - it certainly looks good in the photographs. I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on buying a demonstrator - pros and cons etc. Regards, Lee.

I can see the logic in a split charging system if a touring caravan is used as a touring caravan moving to a different site every day or every couple of days, possibly sites that don't have electric hook up. The leisure battery would get some charge from the car's alternator between sites but I suspect you would have to do a fair number of miles to fully charge a leisure battery via the split charging system. Regards, Lee.

Probably because it's a system that has evolved over time. In the beginning there was the 7 pin socket to supply power to the road lights and gas to provide lighting in a caravan; then along came fridges, reversing lights and leisure batteries requiring a second 12S socket and ( in the UK ) split charging. In the meantime the Europeans sneaked in with their 13 pin socket. There are many, many caravans and trailers, some old but still very much serviceable, that are wired for single electrics or twin electrics or 13 pin electrics....... But yes, I agree "one size fits all" would be much easier! Regards, Lee.

If I can be excused for going off topic - again! If the intention is to have fitted a detachable towbar with 7 or 13 pin electrics then the cutout and removable panel are ideal especially if you don't want to advertise the fact that a towbar is fitted when not towing. However, it's less than ideal where a fixed flange or even a fixed swan neck tow ball is fitted for the reasons I mention above. My 15 year old caravan has a BPW chassis, not Alko with it's built-in tow hitch stabiliser. Therefore, I have to use a fixed flange tow ball and a stabiliser bar which fits into a bracket clamped behind the tow ball. It's not always possible to use a stabiliser bar with a swan neck, Bulldog do make a bracket that clamps onto the "shank" of a swan neck but the shank has to be parallel not tapered as most are. My ideal situation would be: factory fitted larger cooling fan, additional wiring loom ( which should save the towbar fitter from having to remove interior panelling resulting in a quicker fitting time? ) but NOT the bumper cut-out and panel though I suppose it all comes as a package. Of course, I could always buy a brand new caravan to go with my brand new Yeti! - "Yes alright dear, now take your hands from around my throat!"