First off: please remember this is a 2WD vehicle!

Just approaching 1000 miles so I thought an update would be in order.

Did a bit more varied driving over the holidays including loading up with passengers and luggage and doing a 500 mile trip on major roads - as opposed to the short journeys on minor roads that I do most of the time.

So, luggage wise the three of us had a Christmas away from home with all the luggage and presents that you'd expect at this time of year and I could still see out of the back window. I folded one of the rear seats and we had some small bags in the cabin but everything else went in the boot (under the parcel shelf).

First comment on a 200 odd mile journey was that the Yeti is very civilised, I was nowhere near as tired at the end of it as I used to be for the same journey and both passengers were also happy.

The power delivery does seem to be smoothing out a little, the slight notch just below 2000 not being so pronounced (could just be that I'm used to it but I don't think so).

At legal UK major road speeds the 1.2 and 6th gear have plenty of flexibility even with a load; long hills that previously required a down shift are now not given a second thought, similar story swapping lanes on the motorway.

But - I do keep coming back to the contrast with getting going in first: there (still) isn't the get up and go from stationary (especially when loaded) that makes for easy nipping out onto major roundabouts, you do need to wait for a decent gap. It's not that it's poor here, it's just not as good as it is everywhere else.

Average mpg was just under 37, which I was actually slightly disappointed with. It's what I get day to day but I had thought a longer, faster journey would return better figures. My guess is that the more efficient speed was balanced by the additional load.

What was also noticeable (and has been noted elsewhere) is that moderating top speed did have a noticeable effect. It is very easy to find oneself the other side of the legal road limit, the engine still being very smooth and quiet and keeping to a more moderate pace did have an immediate bearing on mpg.

Something I hadn't done much of at all was town driving. When things were moving average stayed around 37 mpg, but on one particularly slow journey it dropped down to 27, I think this kind of figure has been reported by another 1.2 owner who was rather concerned - well if I were crawling around town it looks like I wouldn't be doing much better.

Also had my first experience of four adults plus a child in a child seat. We put the child seat in the middle of the back with the outer seats reclined a little to give more shoulder room. All concerned pronounced themselves comfortable and we then set off up a 16% hill which also has a hairpin bend at the steepest bit at the bottom. It's a hill I drive up and down most days on my own and what really surprised me was how little the extra load affected anything. Took it in the same gears at much the same speed and it handled itself in much the same way that it does with only me on board - I was impressed.

To this point I have been using regular unleaded and I may well give some super a go for the next tank; partly to see what effect there is on mpg but also to see if it adds just that little bit of pep I feel is missing from the get go.

Edited 7 January, 201016 yr by weaver

Still very low miles on the engine! That MPG figure will increase in time

A comprehensive report.

Weaver,

Thank you for the report. I expect my 1.2 in the next few days and i still have my doubts about the power of the engine when loaded. I wonder how it will behave in the Alps with wife and two young daughters (and 3 women's suitcases..). I had the thought to change my command for an 1.8 version but i should wait another 3 months. Simply i could not wait! So i stayed with the little one and your review gives me hope..

Edited 7 January, 201016 yr by ikons

So, luggage wise the three of us had a Christmas away from home with all the luggage and presents that you'd expect at this time of year and I could still see out of the back window. I folded one of the rear seats and we had some small bags in the cabin but everything else went in the boot (under the parcel shelf).

Hello, can you please inform me if you have Regular spare wheel in your Yeti with all luggages of yours? Because in Greece the regular spare wheel is standard and the available space doesn't like to me equal as my roomy

thanks in advanced

(apologizes for my poor English)

Makis

Yes I have a full size spare.

I generally travel with soft bags rather than suit cases and then some flat suit covers for jackets/shirts/wife's dresses etc.

For anything up to a week there is enough space (packed carefully). Longer than that and I would remove the parcel shelf and make use of the extra space - it's what I did all the time on my previous car.

Tried out the snow socks on the way home this evening.

To get to the industrial estate where I work means negotiating a pretty steep slope down and then back up again. Although it's a council estate they haven't seen fit to do anything at all to maintain access (despite taking a hefty 'maintenance' charge from all occupants).

Anyway first day when it just snowed was fine, now it's been driven on then frozen it's been getting pretty slippy and a number of vehicles really struggled to get out today.

So, on with the snow socks (ordered after a recommendation here), took no more than 5 minutes in all - then off we go and just drive straight out, no hint of slipping; left the traction control on and even that didn't see fit to make a nuisance of itself. Stop at the top and take them off again as the roads are clear from there on.

For such a short section I spent longer getting the socks on and off than I did moving, but then I'd already seen others spend far longer trying (unsuccessfully) to do the same thing.

For a 2WD vehicle on standard tyres they seem the perfect thing to keep in the boot.

Hi weaver,

thanks for two very interesting reports; review & snowsocks.

Also noticed a change in gear shifting requirements as the miles are beginning to build; can now change up sooner than was possible in the first 1500 miles or so.

Regards,

TP

Thanks for the 1000 mile review. All being well I will order my 1.2 TSI on Saturday. Slightly disappointing fuel economy there but it is early days yet. I have always managed to return within 10% of the combined figure on previous cars and so would hope for about 40 mpg on the 1.2. I don't have any kids or luggage to carry around and the land is fairly flat around here so that should help. I would anticipate an increase when the weather warms up a bit too.

How are you finding the handling on the Yeti? I have not enjoyed some 4x4s in the past because the top heavy feel can dent the old confidence for attacking the bends. From what I have read the Yeti handles pretty well and so I am not anticipating this being an issue. How does it cope with crosswinds?

Glad that you are enjoying your car

Thanks for the snow socks update - mine are on order (well, Auto Socks but no doubt they're all the same thing).

With regard to the handling, there hasn't been anything much in the way of crosswinds since I took charge of my Yeti but throwing it around some roundabouts on the A43 last week (in the dry) showed just how stable the thing is. I still reckon it leans less than my Fabia vRS and it dfeinitely grips better.

Tried out the snow socks on the way home this evening.

For a 2WD vehicle on standard tyres they seem the perfect thing to keep in the boot.

Thanks Weaver. Did you fit the socks just to the front wheels, or have you got four of them?

tom

Thanks for the snow socks update - mine are on order (well, Auto Socks but no doubt they're all the same thing).

With regard to the handling, there hasn't been anything much in the way of crosswinds since I took charge of my Yeti but throwing it around some roundabouts on the A43 last week (in the dry) showed just how stable the thing is. I still reckon it leans less than my Fabia vRS and it dfeinitely grips better.

Thanks for that. I will be having a test drive on Saturday when I go to see James at Allams. Will know for sure whether I am making the right decision then......My biggest issue is choosing a colour and, yes, your candy white Yeti is beautiful!

Thanks for that. I will be having a test drive on Saturday when I go to see James at Allams. Will know for sure whether I am making the right decision then......My biggest issue is choosing a colour and, yes, your candy white Yeti is beautiful!

James makes good but very expensive cups of free coffee. Still I'm very pleased with the result....!

Thanks for that. I will be having a test drive on Saturday when I go to see James at Allams. Will know for sure whether I am making the right decision then......My biggest issue is choosing a colour and, yes, your candy white Yeti is beautiful!

Oh I think from other posts on the forum James is a bit of a Pacific Blue fan; might solve your colour problem

Thanks for the snow socks update - mine are on order (well, Auto Socks but no doubt they're all the same thing).

With regard to the handling, there hasn't been anything much in the way of crosswinds since I took charge of my Yeti but throwing it around some roundabouts on the A43 last week (in the dry) showed just how stable the thing is. I still reckon it leans less than my Fabia vRS and it dfeinitely grips better.

You have reminded me on scunjee asked the crosswind question some time back; I left a little feed back on my TDI 4x4.

Obviously the question may be posed at the lighter 1.2TSI but I hope useful. My link

You have reminded me on scunjee asked the crosswind question some time back; I left a little feed back on my TDI 4x4.

Obviously the question may be posed at the lighter 1.2TSI but I hope useful. My link

We have a pretty good "standard" test for crosswinds; Ther suspension bridge across the Great Belt usually has some crosswinds and you pass between the pylons at an elevation of about 65 m above the sea. On my two crossings in the Yeti, the wind was at about a 45° angle around 15 knots. The Yeti passed with flying colours. You can clearly feel a little body sway, but it tracked true with no more drama than my Octy Combi. Speed around 120 km/hr.

Something I hadn't done much of at all was town driving. When things were moving average stayed around 37 mpg, but on one particularly slow journey it dropped down to 27, I think this kind of figure has been reported by another 1.2 owner who was rather concerned - well if I were crawling around town it looks like I wouldn't be doing much better.

Weaver, i need clarification: is the fuel consumption presented in british (imperial) galons (cca 4,5 l) or american galons (cca 3,7 l)?

Yes British gallons.

Yes autosocks is what they are actually called, from roofbox. And yes, just on the fronts.

Also got one of their windscreen covers - just a sheet of silver poly with suckers at either end - for 2 quid it has saved me scraping the windscreen in the morning and it works well, though it is only just big enough for the Yeti screen.

Edited 8 January, 201016 yr by weaver

Thanks for the 1000 mile review. All being well I will order my 1.2 TSI on Saturday. Slightly disappointing fuel economy there but it is early days yet. I have always managed to return within 10% of the combined figure on previous cars and so would hope for about 40 mpg on the 1.2. I don't have any kids or luggage to carry around and the land is fairly flat around here so that should help. I would anticipate an increase when the weather warms up a bit too.

How are you finding the handling on the Yeti? I have not enjoyed some 4x4s in the past because the top heavy feel can dent the old confidence for attacking the bends. From what I have read the Yeti handles pretty well and so I am not anticipating this being an issue. How does it cope with crosswinds?

Glad that you are enjoying your car

I come to the Yeti from 12 years in a AWD super mini; it wasn't quick but it was light and chuckable - it also made no secret to those inside of what was going on outside.

The Yeti is bigger, heavier and wears wider rubber. It is far more civilised to drive and objectively, it's much faster - but it insulates you from the speed and remains very composed at all times. As such, I haven't yet explored what it's actually capable of doing. It suggests that it will do whatever you ask - I just haven't asked yet and the recent weather hasn't encouraged me to!

It doesn't feel top heavy and it actually rolls far less than my previous (much shorter) car, but it does feel bigger and heavier - which of course it is.

Cross winds are heard rather than felt, I've yet to notice any issue and that includes a daily 3 mile stretch along a coast road where what looks like rain is actually spray (when there is a N.Easterly has there has been recently).

Edited 8 January, 201016 yr by weaver

Glad to hear my recommendation of the autosocks is working out.

Still haven't had word of any commission from The RoofBox Company tho!!!!!!!

Note

You put autosocks on the driving and steering wheels, so for FWD you only need one pair; for RWD and 4x4 you need two pairs

Edited 8 January, 201016 yr by GentleGiant

Thanks for all of the replies to my questions Yeti people. I feel reassured about the crosswinds and handling from what people are saying. At present I am driving a smart car which is thrown around in the wind like a leaf in Autumn. I will also be having a Yeti drive in the morning and so I will soon know whether I am doing the right thing.

As for Pacific Blue, I was tempted for a while because I generally like blue cars, however, Pacific is a little to close to dark 'doom' blue so unloved by the motor trade when it comes to part exchange again. I want to order tomorrow and I'm still not 100% sure which colour to go for. Odds on favourite is Corrida Red at the moment although I do like Candy White. The two blue metallics both look great to me although I am already going to blow the budget and order an 'S' spec car with options instead of an 'E' model and so extra cost paint may be a step to far......

I will report back with the result of my visit to Allams tomorrow evening. Looking forward to the decent coffee!

Enjoy!

Thanks for all of the replies to my questions Yeti people. I feel reassured about the crosswinds and handling from what people are saying. At present I am driving a smart car which is thrown around in the wind like a leaf in Autumn. I will also be having a Yeti drive in the morning and so I will soon know whether I am doing the right thing.

As for Pacific Blue, I was tempted for a while because I generally like blue cars, however, Pacific is a little to close to dark 'doom' blue so unloved by the motor trade when it comes to part exchange again. I want to order tomorrow and I'm still not 100% sure which colour to go for. Odds on favourite is Corrida Red at the moment although I do like Candy White. The two blue metallics both look great to me although I am already going to blow the budget and order an 'S' spec car with options instead of an 'E' model and so extra cost paint may be a step to far......

I will report back with the result of my visit to Allams tomorrow evening. Looking forward to the decent coffee!

Hi shrub,

just to echo aero, enjoy your drive and hope the weather is not to inclement for you.

Pleased to hear you've opted for the 'S' think that's the better option than the E. Obviously I am in favour of the Corrida; think it really suits the Monster and would go well with the Spectrum alloys but that's my opinion.

Anyway I hope you find the Yeti to your liking and that you can persuade James to not only provide a good cup of coffee but a a good deal on a Monster too.

Regards,

TP