Last week I was in Mlada Boleslav in Czech Republic to visit the museum and the factory (engine&gearbox assembly, welding, and final Fabia assembly lines) - in front of the museum was a black Yeti.

It looks like a mini Defender

I wonder how it drives

bloody silly name for a start.

its crying out for abuse by the motoring press, clarksons gonna say "its abominable" or snow joke , or "do i buy 1 , not yeti" , it better be really good.

Yeah agreed, the name is whimsical, I'd have 3 years of telling people what I drive and immediately trying to change their mis-perceptions. I've been through that once when I bought my 1st Octavia in 2001!

bloody silly name for a start.

its crying out for abuse by the motoring press, clarksons gonna say "its abominable" or snow joke , or "do i buy 1 , not yeti" , it better be really good.

lol it's funny cos its true!

The press reviews so far have been excellent so no worrys there.

But it's a Skoda, so just like every new Skoda model for the last 10 years, I suspect that articles will still make reference to "Skoda finally having the last laugh" e.t.c.

bloody silly name for a start.

its crying out for abuse by the motoring press

Sorry Pete, but I have to say I think that, from a marketing viewpoint, it's a great name, albeit 'whimsical' as Dodgy has commented.

At one point in my career I worked for Ford of Europe in Marketing Research and we had great fun (and aggro!) in doing naming research. But Yeti ticks a whole stack of boxes:

• it's a name that is used right across the Western world, so it's instantly understood and you can use it in all the major markets without translation issues (I'm sure we all remember classics like Nova, which means 'doesn't go' in Spanish etc etc)
  
• I've not done the marketing research on it (obviously), but I'd be willing to wager that the vast majority of potential buyers have a warm feeling towards the creature (if it exists) and hence to the name; you don't have to spend a fortune creating an image for the name itself
  
• it's instantly memorable - again I bet you remembered the name right from when you first read or heard that Skoda were considering it
  
• it's hugely relevant to a SUV vehicle - particularly to a 4x4, with connotations of being able to survive at climatic extremes, being surefooted (big foot?), able to climb, safe in the snow etc - yet at the same time warm and cuddly!
  

OK the likes of JC may well make some punny remarks about it, but if the product's right (and according to Auto Express it is), then overall the name will help it.

Front cover of July's 'What Car' :-

"New Skoda Yeti - Abominable ? No it's just a great family car"

Front cover of July's 'What Car' :-

"New Skoda Yeti - Abominable ? No it's just a great family car"

... and they go on inside to give Yeti their 'Star Car' spot in the new cars tested section with initial paragraph of;

The Yeti's no monster - its a friendly beast that's classy, clever, well made and well suited to the adventurous families at which its aimed. and the concluding para is;

.... - and there's one other thing you won't normally associate with Skodas. Its fun.

PS> You'd expect the likes of Clarkson to come up with the 'abominable' jokes - that's what he does for a living!

For me? as a replacement for an Octy giving me 4 wheel drive with the CR170 engine it could be great; not off-road but on greasy roundabouts What I'm really hoping for in due course is the 6-speed DSG on the CR170; even better.

.... - and there's one other thing you won't normally associate with Skodas. Its fun.

I was going to quote that, but my vRS is pretty good fun to drive, so I thought that comment was a bit unnecessary

I was going to quote that, but my vRS is pretty good fun to drive, so I thought that comment was a bit unnecessary

you and I (plus any other vRS owner) know that; but the car magazine buying public don't realise it.

Sorry Pete, but I have to say I think that, from a marketing viewpoint, it's a great name, albeit 'whimsical' as Dodgy has commented.

At one point in my career I worked for Ford of Europe in Marketing Research and we had great fun (and aggro!) in doing naming research. But Yeti ticks a whole stack of boxes:

• it's a name that is used right across the Western world, so it's instantly understood and you can use it in all the major markets without translation issues (I'm sure we all remember classics like Nova, which means 'doesn't go' in Spanish etc etc)
  
• I've not done the marketing research on it (obviously), but I'd be willing to wager that the vast majority of potential buyers have a warm feeling towards the creature (if it exists) and hence to the name; you don't have to spend a fortune creating an image for the name itself
  
• it's instantly memorable - again I bet you remembered the name right from when you first read or heard that Skoda were considering it
  
• it's hugely relevant to a SUV vehicle - particularly to a 4x4, with connotations of being able to survive at climatic extremes, being surefooted (big foot?), able to climb, safe in the snow etc - yet at the same time warm and cuddly!
  

OK the likes of JC may well make some punny remarks about it, but if the product's right (and according to Auto Express it is), then overall the name will help it.

Couldn't agree more.

Definitely memorable - streets ahead of loads of other car names. I think Skoda have also pulled a good one with the use of the 'South Park' cartoon style characters on some of their marketing.

Of course, for the ultimate chick-puller, when are they going to bring out a roadster?

This model would of course be named the 'Miplace'.

"Hi handsome, what you drivin'?"

"Skoda Miplace honey!"

bloody silly name for a start.

its crying out for abuse by the motoring press, clarksons gonna say "its abominable" or snow joke , or "do i buy 1 , not yeti" , it better be really good.

As others have said, I actually think it's a very good name.

I'm not quite sold on the looks of the frontend yet, but in every other way I think I'm going to want one of these

It can't be any good cos it's a 4X4 and they have loads af technology that makes them worse than a proper car on the road. They are only worth having if you genuinely need to go cross country or on the farm etc. In which case you buy a Land Rover.

I had hoped Skoda would resist the temptation of following the herd and producing an SUV (Stupid Unsuitable Vehicle?)

It can't be any good cos it's a 4X4 and they have loads af technology that makes them worse than a proper car on the road. They are only worth having if you genuinely need to go cross country or on the farm etc. In which case you buy a Land Rover.

I had hoped Skoda would resist the temptation of following the herd and producing an SUV (Stupid Unsuitable Vehicle?)

I take it you're not too keen then ?

It can't be any good cos it's a 4X4 and they have loads af technology that makes them worse than a proper car on the road. They are only worth having if you genuinely need to go cross country or on the farm etc. In which case you buy a Land Rover.

I had hoped Skoda would resist the temptation of following the herd and producing an SUV (Stupid Unsuitable Vehicle?)

By all accounts the Yeti handles as well or better than most 'normal' cars and rides extremely well. Don't forget that the Haldex system which Skoda use is not engaged all the time, and if you don't want 4x4 then they do 2wd versions too

..... In which case you buy a Land Rover....

...If you want overpriced old tech that largely isn't reliable I would love to buy british built but a Defender starts at £19k (For a spartan 90) and an Freelander 2 starts at over £21K!!!! That would be hard to suck up stuck on the side of the M25 waiting for the AA

I think you may have missed the point of the vehicle. It covers many bases and like all cars that do this they won't be exceptional at any one thing.

This one however most things very well and if you look at some of the tech in it it's all tried and tested complete with the fact that in it's class it's going to be one of the best for emissions and economy. I hate SUV's with a passion because I just don't see the point for most people who are just spending more money than they need to. When you can get an SUV that gives similar emmissions and economy to a similar size car which this won't be far off, then it makes much more sense.

Now on my second car with the haldex drive train, my first being an Octi 4x4 hatch (wish I not let it go). I traded this in for a 2wd Octi 2 TDI but missed the excellent Haldex 4wd system, hence the current Golf.

This holds the road far better than the standard model particularly the rural stuff in my area. Further the road tax is no different and I am only a couple of mpg down on the fuel economy of the previous Octi TDI.

Having done some light off road in the Octi 4x4, I think the more advanced Yeti should easily hold its own both on and off road if not leave other manufactures in the weeds (excuse the pun).

I have to say Im really impressed by the vehicle overall - it seems to tick a lot of boxes for me as the family vehicle.

I'd certainly be going for a 4wd model as (already mentioned above) the haldex system in my mind is superb. I miss the traction my last Octavia (Mk1 4x4 Turbo) used to give me. Whether it was rain or shine it would grip and never loose traction and it didnt bring with it the emissions and mpg costs that a full time 4wd system gives you.

As for the name - brilliant also imo - the kids would instantly take to it simply for the name. Its not aimed at the serious offroad enthusiast or even the WAG brigade :rotz: its aimed as a practical, modern mode of transport for carrying the family safely around (imo)

Lee

bloody silly name for a start.

its crying out for abuse by the motoring press, clarksons gonna say "its abominable" or snow joke , or "do i buy 1 , not yeti" , it better be really good.

The pun in The Sun today is "Best Skoda Yeti"

Another good review too

I'd certainly be going for a 4wd model as (already mentioned above) the haldex system in my mind is superb. I miss the traction my last Octavia (Mk1 4x4 Turbo) used to give me. Whether it was rain or shine it would grip and never loose traction and it didn't bring with it the emissions and mpg costs that a full time 4wd system gives you.

So can we all play at being Rally drivers?

...it didnt bring with it the emissions and mpg costs that a full time 4wd system gives you.

IMO, the better emissions/mpg is more to do with the size/weight of the vehicle and the efficiency of the TDi engines, rather than the fact the 4WD system is "part time" *.

The (vast?) majority of the extra fuel burnt on 4WD vehicles is hauling the extra metal (driveshaft, Haldex clutch, rear differential) about, rather than frictional losses in the system. So the fact that it's not "full time" * means little really in terms of emissions/mpg.

* Even though magazine reviews etc often bang on about Haldex being "part time", it's probably not really true at all in practise.

Haldex engages to some degree whenever there is slip detected between the front and rear driveshafts. The proportion of torque transfer depends on the proportion of slip.

But THERE IS ALWAYS SLIP. Even the toe-in of the front wheels provides slip, because the front wheels are turning at a slightly different speed to the rear wheels. Then factor in imperfections in the road surface etc etc...

It could be that upto a certain amount of slip (i.e. Haldex oil pressure) there is no clutch plate contact, but I don't recall reading anything that makes me think that is the case, and the bit about something as minor as toe-in causing slip came straight from a Haldex engineer I was questioning about this very topic!

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Edited 19 June, 200917 yr by Calomax
Trying to get a quote and paragraphs But they didn't work so I deleted the whole post.

"if you don't want 4x4 then they do 2wd versions too" But it wtill looks like a 4X4 and other people would still think I was driving one. I'd be happy with a 4 wheel drive car that didn't look like one like an audi quatro or Subaru, but even the Fiat Panda has raised suspension and ugly bits on it.I just hate the whole image of the urban 4X4 and their drivers.

My car is 4WD but doesn't look it, apart from a small "4x4" badge on the back and slightly raised suspension (nobody would notice this if they didn't know what they were looking for).

In fact, I remember it being described in one review as a "stealth SUV"

This was one reason why I prefered it to the Scout actually, although this was quite a personal thing, I still like the Scout.

While my need for 4WD is admittedly tenuous, I do have more justification than most 4x4s on the road these days, I certainly didn't buy it for image! Great as Skoda Octavias are, you don't buy them to show off

As some of you may know, I had the dubious pleasure oF a courtesy car whilst my 2wd Octavia was in for repairs after someone bumped it in a car park. Their insurer provided a Freelander 2 TD4 as they'd run out of Passats.

After a week, I really couldn't see why so many, non-horsebox / boat towers bother to buy one.

Even driving pretty steadily I couldn't eek more than 33mpg out of it.

It had more headroom than my Octy, (which frankly I didn't need as no-one has ever said my Octy is cramped), but it had a smaller boot, in fact surprisingly small.

I have a set of steel wheels with proper winter tyres for my Octy which have served me well, down to -23c and up to 1000m up some German hills. The Freelander was interesting for a week but not for any longer.

If I'd thought about it I could have called around the local dealer (I'm in Germany this week) to see if they've got a Yeti in. As it looks like a decent compromise.