Been a long day so I have only scanned through these posts so apologies for any incorrect understandings I might have........................... anyway have the rough road pack on my Snow-monster, it appears to consist of a metal engine under tray (although it does not quite cover the rear most part), thicker grade plastic floor pan covers either side of the central tunnel and similar plastic covers on the rear suspension beams........................... I was also under the impression from the Haldex site that the Freelander is also a Haldex drive system, although I don't think it states if that's both 1 & 2.

The descriptions of the Freelander 4WD on both the Landrover and Haldex sites seem to indicate a Haldex coupling and Haldex limited slip rear differential, just like the Yeti. The Freelander has more choices of electronic control of the two than the Yeti and of course steeper approach angle and more clearance than the Yeti.All OK if you need SERIOUS off road performance, but not so good on the road.

The LR FL I used as stated above a viscous coupling but I have not found out by what manufacturer. It could have been an early Haldex but I am not sure. The early ones, the Ist generation were not very sophisticated, having purely a hydraulic clutch pack with no sensory adjustment, it was quite slow to react. So the early Freelanders did not have a very sophisticated drive mechanism. These would allow some undesirable slippage to occur and were also very slow to react to differences between front and rear axles, basically just down to hysteresis of the oil clutch interface with no electronic modification.. Their is no inter axle limited slip in the Freelander I unlike the Yeti. the only advantage that he Freelander I has over the Yeti is the longer stroke suspension particularly at the rear. I would expect a Yeti on slippery field with similar tyres to outperform the Freelander I. The underbelly clearances are very similar.

The Landrover Freelander II uses a 3rd generation Haldex LSC Limited Slip Coupling with electronic control. It operates far quicker than a 1st or 2nd generation adapting to front - rear axle speed differences within 15 degrease of wheel slip as opposed to 50 deg of the 2 generation.

The Yeti, I understand uses a 4th generation Haldex system with PTO (Power Take Off) Haldex clutch LSC, Haldex inside the rear differential eLSD giving additional control over the rear differential in that it is a Limited Slip Diff with electronic control. This system is very sophisticated and operates very quickly allowing torque split not only front to back but also across the car.

I do not think that the Freelander II has this across axle eLSD as it was not developed when the FL II was brought out if it has any LSD is will be purely mechanico?Hydraulic if at all I am happy to be educated in this.

This sophisticated Haldex 4 used in the Yeti is one of the reasons why it handles so well on the road it will allow rapid direction changes like some sports cars and allows for a superior traction ability off the road. I believe that it is a far better system than is even in the Freelander II. The FL II does have far better clearances' approach/departure and ramp over angles and longer stroke suspension. FL II is a much bigger car with a larger boot it is also far more expensive but as long as the off road ahead does not become to severe with ramps or ditches too big for the Yeti then I believe that the Yeti would do very well indeed, possibly better in this respect than a FL II. I have not tried a YETI my self off road or a FL II but I have over 25 years of driving off road vehicles behind me on difficult terrain so I would be surprised if I was too far out in my gestimates, having driven the Yeti on road at a very fast pace on difficult minor roads and knowing the details of the relative transmission systems.

A better more comprehensive description of Haldex systems can be found at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haldex_Traction

All the FL1's used a viscous coupling, manufacturer unknown. Sorry Anthony, but there was only ever one version of it. There was a difference in the final drive ratio in the Intermediate Reduction Drive (type of transfer box), in that it was increased slightly just before the BMW engined model came out (1999ish) and this improved the "life expectancy" of the VCU, by reducing the inbuilt slippage.

The VCU works by sets of vanes in a silicone fluid, that normally allow a little drive to be transferred through, but when it senses that the drive at one end is faster than the other, typically when the front wheel spin, then the fluid solidifies and passes all the drive to the other axle. The time taken can be measured in parts of a second, but seen from outside you still see one axle spinning.

It goes against the old way of teaching 4x4 driving where you were trained to take your foot off the accelerator when you sensed wheel spin, to actually keeping your foot down, and allowing some "slippage" before the other axle comes into play.

The Haldex system works in a very similar way, but the connection between the 2 parts is mechanical not fluid. I have driven the FL2 at Eastnor and will agree it is quicker acting that an FL1, so expect the Yeti to be even better. The FL2 does not have a "cross axle" LSD, but uses the Anti Lock Braking system to stop wheel spin in that situation, as does the FL1. I know that works as I have purposely "cross axled" the FL to try it out. I got the impression from all the Yeti bumph that it did the same thing in the same way.

I am going to see whether I can persuade Skoda to let me have a Yeti for a longer period, so that I can test it more fully, but it is still an option that I haven't dismissed.

Edited 2 December, 200916 yr by Llanigraham

The Yeti does have a Haldex limited slip clutch on the rear Axle. I do not know what it does in front, but presumably uses the ESP on the spinning wheel.