Went to have a closer look today at the local dealers launch. They had the specification I was interested in. No test drives though as they only had one and didn't want to get it dirty, it won't even be registered for 2 weeks so can't be used. I need to find a bigger dealership maybe?

Anyway while it still remains my favourite I did pick up on a few points that left me a tad disappointed.

I have seen the Yeti described as generously equipped but by the standards of similar say Japanese vehicles I would say its nearer 'adequate'

On an SE, one below top spec. I was surprised to see the drivers seat has no lumbar support, its a £75 option, I have had a lot of cars last 15 years and not one didn't have this as standard.

The blanked off sunglasses holder looks cheap for the sake of a £1 bit of plastic.

The rear seat backrest folding mechanism is released by fairly flimsy feeling levers sort of where your elbows will be, its not going to take a child long to discover these so you will be driving along with anarchy going on in the back.

If you slide the rear seats forward to enlarge the boot you end up with a big gap to the boot cover so people can look through the side windows into your boot. Our Kia SUV has a proper roller cover for the boot with fabric covers that go the other way and hook onto the seat back no matter what position they are in, again it must cost all of a £1 to make.

The two outer rear seats slide forward effortlessly but the middle one is fixed unless you take it out altogether. A really missed opportunity as if all three slid forward together the option would be there for a truly huge square boot, could have been perfect for the sake of £5 of sliding mechanism. More penny pinching it feel like.

The 'Jumbo' centre box is hardly "Jumbo".. more like medium rabbit sized! and the nicely padded armrest was about 6 inches too low for me.. useless!!!

The radio system has advanced bluetooth hands-free functionality built in (I read the manual on it!) but you have to buy a £300 steering wheel with a couple more buttons on it to make it work.

So now for the good bits!

Still think the seat is very comfy with a great range of adjustment, especially in height, pedals felt just right too. Sound proofing I think will be great I could tell just by shutting myself in, the busy showroom was inaudible from inside.

Boot lid opens really high so in true SUV style you can get yourself sorted under some shelter.

Encouraging on image - whilst there were a few crumblies, the majority looking were considerably pre-retirement normal working people looking for a practical car with security of 4 wheel drive, lots of interest in 4 wheel drive TAKE NOTE SKODA!!! Actually I had lots of pleasant conversations with people and could of probably sold a fair few more than the dealers staff were likely too!!

Visibility is superb and proper rubbing strips along the sides, something often left out these days.

Twin exhaust pipes look fab, even with the diesel down turned ends

Great heavy duty rubber boot mat.

..and it looks absolutely gorgeous!!!. When I get a test drive its, as with any car, going to be the big deciding factor now. If it drives really well I could easily be a buyer.

Test drove the 2.0 TDI 140bhp 4x4 elegance today. It had Yeti 'footprints' all over it - slightly embarassing going through town. EVERYONE was looking. One cyclist nearly fell off his bike trying to get a better look and some D of E er's resting on the verge cheered and waved both times we went past! It also had park assist which is almost worth getting just for the scare factor of unsuspecting passengers.

Good points - the drive. Very smooth between gears. Though you can still tell it's a diesel from the outside, inside it's nice and quiet. Seats very comfy and the easily adjustable lumbar supports would be a definate add-on (I don't want leather or xenons so want an SE spec). Children didn't appear to feel too sick in the back. My husband and I took turns to sit in between our kids in the back (littlest in a highbacked child seat and eldest on a booster) and there was enough room. Park assist (I was going to get ESP so I might as well get PA 'cos then I'll have front sensors and ESP too). The driver's seat height adjustment was great and visability from the side and front good. Only had 11 miles on the clock and after going through traffic, and my husband 'testing it' on a dual carriageway, it showed 44mpg for the trip.

Bad - the middle person in the back has to have a seatbelt that pulls out from the 'ceiling' - this would not be suitable for a child as it would cut across their neck. There are plastic hooks either side of the middle seat which aren't the most comfortable thing to be leaning against in the middle. The rough fabric in the boot and back of the rear seats looked cheap and a nightmare to keep clean from mud/crumbs etc. Inside became very hot and stuffy, very quickly, with the engine off.

Problem: Unlike you Yeti Hunter, I don't want a diesel or a 4x4. We're going to have to wait for November for the dealer to get the first 1.2 TSI in to see if it has enough power. Mr Skoda, if you're reading, I want the Octavia's 1.8TSI engine is this, with 2WD please.

Glad to here you have given the Snow-monster a test. As with all cars there's pro's and con's, it's down to what suits your needs at the end of the day.

As I have previously mentioned I think the 1.2TSI should prove very capable and would be on the list if I was not after 4x4, will certainly be giving one a test drive when the opportunity arises.

Regard the boot material no different than my previous Golf; so I used a boot liner. If your not intending specifying a spare wheel there's an excellent plastic boot dish (see accessories) which is ideal for throwing things into the boot come rain wind or shine.

Thanks Plumber -

Interesting to hear about the material in the golf. I've seen the boot dish and that will definately be another add-on if we get a Yeti in November. Most serious competition seems the Peugeot 3008 at the moment (like the sound of it's 1.6 BMW petrol engine) and we're going to have to wait to test drive that too...

One cyclist nearly fell off his bike trying to get a better look

Off topic, but according to proposed new legislation YOU would be held responsible :eek:

Cycling plan to blame drivers for all crashes - Times Online

The lunatics really are in charge of the asylum.

Just got back from my second dealer event and at least they had an SE in Muscovado to look at as well as the obligatory Elegance in Aqua.

Still not had chance of a test drive but as they say patience is a virtue.

Very impressed with the SE, found the seats very comfortable despite the lack of lumber adjustment, personally preferred them to the full leather. The material felt of good quality and hard wearing better than my previous Golf V.

The dash décor strip was not quite up-to the standard of the brushed aluminium effect fitted to the elegance spec, other then that the cabin was first rate, again superior to the Golf. Liked the leather effect padded arm rests on the doors better than fabric.

I noticed that both cars lacked a parking sensor deactivation switch which I thought was standard; might only come with front & rear and or park assist (both only had rear sensors).

Tested the seating position out in the elegance, set the front drivers seat up for me (6ft 1") then tried out the seat behind. with the rear seat fully back my shins were just touching the drivers seat but not uncomfortably so and with the high seating position I felt quite relaxed much better than being squashed in a standard hatch.

In the brochure the headlights are described as DE module (E-SE), I am no expert and I am sure someone on here can enlighten me (excuse the pun) but to me the lights looked like standard halogens (see attached photo).

Regard colour had thought the cappucino would look good from photos, however having seen a Fabia in this colour parked next to the Snow-monster I am less sure.

The Muscovado would be my first choice having seen it, however thinking negatively here, it's just inviting some yob to have a go at it as it's such a distinctive colour.

So next step a drive.

P.S. took some other photos but for what ever reason the system not letting me load more than 3.:(

Glad your liking it. There is an excellent set of photo galleries on this website..

Skoda Yeti (2010) with pictures and wallpapers

Another post about car seats on here made me consider how I use my car and I never need three seats in the back, as the middle one on the Yeti is very limited anyway I have warmed to the idea of just leaving it out! you can move the outer proper seats inwards so they have tons of space. Also if you need the boot suddenly bigger you can just slide the two rear seats forward and get an nice big square space with no obstacles. The attached picture shows how it looks.

Could be the 'get out of jail' card for my needs.

PS I have no problems with picking a colour, has to be Silver. Doesn't show dirt or scratches so much, complements the 'off-road' trim and makes the car look more substantial.

Chatham Skoda Edinburgh are allowing test drives in their 1 showroom/demo model! They just reverse it out of the showroom.

It's very nice to drive, is the 140PS diesel Elegance.

I have to say I really like the muscavado, never thought I'd like a brown car!

In earlier literature a Brunello Rosso? metallic was specified

Anyone know if this has been deleted as it is not in latest brochure.

Looking at the new brochure it seems as if all the seat coverings are black except Elegance Gobi Sand leather. Have I missed something?

Is it a plot to sell more sunroofs to lighten interiors

A very impressive car. Would suit us perfectly.

Rosso Brunello definitely exists as the left hand drive car I saw at my local dealer earlier in the year was in this colour. Looks like Skoda UK aren't doing it though. Shame, it was nice.

Went to have a closer look today at the local dealers launch. They had the specification I was interested in. No test drives though as they only had one and didn't want to get it dirty, it won't even be registered for 2 weeks so can't be used. I need to find a bigger dealership maybe?

Anyway while it still remains my favourite I did pick up on a few points that left me a tad disappointed.

I have seen the Yeti described as generously equipped but by the standards of similar say Japanese vehicles I would say its nearer 'adequate'

On an SE, one below top spec. I was surprised to see the drivers seat has no lumbar support, its a £75 option, I have had a lot of cars last 15 years and not one didn't have this as standard.

The blanked off sunglasses holder looks cheap for the sake of a £1 bit of plastic.

The rear seat backrest folding mechanism is released by fairly flimsy feeling levers sort of where your elbows will be, its not going to take a child long to discover these so you will be driving along with anarchy going on in the back.

If you slide the rear seats forward to enlarge the boot you end up with a big gap to the boot cover so people can look through the side windows into your boot. Our Kia SUV has a proper roller cover for the boot with fabric covers that go the other way and hook onto the seat back no matter what position they are in, again it must cost all of a £1 to make.

The two outer rear seats slide forward effortlessly but the middle one is fixed unless you take it out altogether. A really missed opportunity as if all three slid forward together the option would be there for a truly huge square boot, could have been perfect for the sake of £5 of sliding mechanism. More penny pinching it feel like.

The 'Jumbo' centre box is hardly "Jumbo".. more like medium rabbit sized! and the nicely padded armrest was about 6 inches too low for me.. useless!!!

The radio system has advanced bluetooth hands-free functionality built in (I read the manual on it!) but you have to buy a £300 steering wheel with a couple more buttons on it to make it work.

So now for the good bits!

Still think the seat is very comfy with a great range of adjustment, especially in height, pedals felt just right too. Sound proofing I think will be great I could tell just by shutting myself in, the busy showroom was inaudible from inside.

Boot lid opens really high so in true SUV style you can get yourself sorted under some shelter.

Encouraging on image - whilst there were a few crumblies, the majority looking were considerably pre-retirement normal working people looking for a practical car with security of 4 wheel drive, lots of interest in 4 wheel drive TAKE NOTE SKODA!!! Actually I had lots of pleasant conversations with people and could of probably sold a fair few more than the dealers staff were likely too!!

Visibility is superb and proper rubbing strips along the sides, something often left out these days.

Twin exhaust pipes look fab, even with the diesel down turned ends

Great heavy duty rubber boot mat.

..and it looks absolutely gorgeous!!!. When I get a test drive its, as with any car, going to be the big deciding factor now. If it drives really well I could easily be a buyer.

The armrest has significant adjustment for both height (ratchet like seat height) and fore/aft sliding. I found the Yeti armrest height when fully raised, absolutely fine. Octys Superbs and Yetis all have similar arrangement. Amazing as a colleague has had his octy for a year and never realised he could adjust the height!

As for all other options, unfortunately design/development/tooling and production costs make up significant costs which I guaranteee will be more than the odd £1 or £5.

Sliding centre seat. Why? It is narrow and most likely will be an occasional seat. It is a nuisance that it doesn't roll fully upright as it fouls the front centre console but take off the head rest as this makes a small improvement.

If anything in the boot is at risk of being on display I cover up with a blanket. I rather like the solid luggage cover to my Octy II estate's roller as I can take it off and slide it behind the back seats if I need the height, i.e. easier to tuck out of the way.

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!