Hi and Happy New Year to fellow YETI enthusiasts. I took delivery of my 170 cr tdi on 23rd December. Only driven 500 mls so far on short runs but for what they're worth here here are my first impressions:

Pro's.. comfortable driving position, good all-round visibility, controls fall easily to hand and nicely weighted, quiet ,lots of toys, promise of power once it's loosened up, economical- 42mpg so far which seems good considering tight engine and freezing weather.

Con’s bi xenon n's h'light bulb fails after few mins.running, warning light comes on(awaiting dealer attention and will wait until a recall or skoda software fix has been sorted), arm rest lid best lifted to access h'brake lever, slides like any other car on snow/ice, suspect wind noise at 70+ (only 2500 rpm) spare wheel dilemma ( got a standard compressor and tube of gunge but would prefer a proper spare if it didn’t reduce boot space ) ,snow and ice building up on rear bumper prevent rear door opening because bumper profile is angled towards car and creates muck trap ( poor design but this winter is exceptional and hopefully won’t give me grief every winter.. shame for our Scandanavian cousins however! ).

Overall I’m happy so far even though I scrapped a one owner Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport in perfect nick to fund the yeti !

The 170CR is what I intend to purchase also so I am especially interested in any comments regarding this Yeti. HID problems, ummmm. Skoda need to get to the bottom of this. Interesting comment regarding the rear bumper. I will order without spare wheel but will try to purchase an alloy similar to others and fit with full size tyre. Will try and force it into the well but may approach a fabricator or a outside rear mounting,possibly tow hitch or roof rail attached but allowing to be swung away. I will have a good think once it has been bought

I am surprised because snow on the bumper is not really a problem, just clear it with a window scraper. The bumper drains any water away from the base of the door. The rear door hinge line on the roof also needs clearing before the door opens easily. As for the sliding on ice, this is the best car I have driven for control in icey conditions, the Off Road button does give a better level of control.

Welcome 4 wheel driver to the land of the CR170s!

I found the tailgate cleared the snow off the bumper as it opened - obviously not such a clever idea if it's frozen solid, mind. I also remove the snow off the top but the tailgate design does seem to be very good for not causing water and/or snow to land in the boot when opening. The new Audi TT dumps all the water that sits under the rear spoiler straight onto the back seats apparently!

Not noticed any particlular wind noise issues above 70mph. My MPG has been about the same (42 mpg) on the Maxidot but that has been 2 or 3 mpg on the hopeful side working it out manually. I too would epxect it to get better when the weather returns to normal and I get a few more miles under its paws.

Re the Xenon problem - have you been reading the thread running on this subject - you aren't alone! Have you been starting the engine with the lights in 'auto'? I seem to have got used to the arm rest v handbrake - perhaps my arm bends wierdly!

I am surprised because snow on the bumper is not really a problem, just clear it with a window scraper. The bumper drains any water away from the base of the door. The rear door hinge line on the roof also needs clearing before the door opens easily. As for the sliding on ice, this is the best car I have driven for control in icey conditions, the Off Road button does give a better level of control.

Hi Terfyn, thanks for your reply. re the iced up rear bumper... I tried to open the boot door and although it released the electronic catch it wouldn't open or re-close. I had to resort to loads of de-icer and a scraper to clear the ice which I didn't like doing in case the de-icer bleached or reacted with the plastic or the scraper scratched a brand new bumper. Will get a closer look when weather improves to see if it's marked. Never had a 4x4 before so didn't know what to expect. A friend who has 35 yrs experience in them reckons they go better but don't stop any better if you aren't careful.

The 170CR is what I intend to purchase also so I am especially interested in any comments regarding this Yeti. HID problems, ummmm. Skoda need to get to the bottom of this. Interesting comment regarding the rear bumper. I will order without spare wheel but will try to purchase an alloy similar to others and fit with full size tyre. Will try and force it into the well but may approach a fabricator or a outside rear mounting,possibly tow hitch or roof rail attached but allowing to be swung away. I will have a good think once it has been bought

Hi Anthony, thanks for your reply. People are talking on the yeti site about the headlight prob so I will bide my time until Skoda offers a solution. Lots of options re spare wheel also on site including pics. Boot lip is quite high so skoda spare in floor brings it up to near flush which is better for loading but gives boot less depth and a step up if you take out or tilt rear seats forward. cheers.

Welcome 4 wheel driver to the land of the CR170s!

I found the tailgate cleared the snow off the bumper as it opened - obviously not such a clever idea if it's frozen solid, mind. I also remove the snow off the top but the tailgate design does seem to be very good for not causing water and/or snow to land in the boot when opening. The new Audi TT dumps all the water that sits under the rear spoiler straight onto the back seats apparently!

Not noticed any particlular wind noise issues above 70mph. My MPG has been about the same (42 mpg) on the Maxidot but that has been 2 or 3 mpg on the hopeful side working it out manually. I too would epxect it to get better when the weather returns to normal and I get a few more miles under its paws.

Re the Xenon problem - have you been reading the thread running on this subject - you aren't alone! Have you been starting the engine with the lights in 'auto'? I seem to have got used to the arm rest v handbrake - perhaps my arm bends wierdly!

Hi, new to this game so pleased to find out its called a 'thread' running on the xenons. I have been reading it and picked up on the issue re not switching lights on till the engine is running. will try different ideas and wait for what i think is an inevitable re-call from Skoda. to be honest i think the 170 elegance has too many toys which will cause trouble sooner or later. been driving for 47 yrs and managed without steering h lights so far. just my look if they fail pointing to one side. i would have been happy with the se spec but couldn't resist the extra 30 bhp over the 140 and the 180 petrol uses more juice and costs more for rfl (tax disc )

I am surprised because snow on the bumper is not really a problem, just clear it with a window scraper. The bumper drains any water away from the base of the door. The rear door hinge line on the roof also needs clearing before the door opens easily. As for the sliding on ice, this is the best car I have driven for control in icey conditions, the Off Road button does give a better level of control.

I totaly agree with you Terfyn

Well as I am sure the SMOC are aware I gave up with the 17" alloys as they offered too little traction in this weather compared to the 16" wheels I had on my previous two VAG Haldex 4x4 cars.

Had little bother with the boot other than the top crunching against the sheet of snow and ice on the roof. Had more bother with snow and ice build up at the base of the windscreen and up the edges of the A pillar; knocked my wipers out so they now hit the A pillar at the end of the sweep. Another dealer job :S

Hi, new to this game so pleased to find out its called a 'thread' running on the xenons. I have been reading it and picked up on the issue re not switching lights on till the engine is running. will try different ideas and wait for what i think is an inevitable re-call from Skoda. to be honest i think the 170 elegance has too many toys which will cause trouble sooner or later. been driving for 47 yrs and managed without steering h lights so far. just my look if they fail pointing to one side. i would have been happy with the se spec but couldn't resist the extra 30 bhp over the 140 and the 180 petrol uses more juice and costs more for rfl (tax disc )

I know what you mean about the electrickery - it's great whilst it all works. If the worse that happens is the one eyed headlight thing, I'll be very pleased - and surprised. I just have a natural distrust of electrics. The cornering lights etc all work very well, not something I would perhaps have spec'd as an option but they were 'free' with the engine and I'm glad now that I've got them.

I know what you mean about the electrickery - it's great whilst it all works. If the worse that happens is the one eyed headlight thing, I'll be very pleased - and surprised. I just have a natural distrust of electrics. The cornering lights etc all work very well, not something I would perhaps have spec'd as an option but they were 'free' with the engine and I'm glad now that I've got them.

I feel the same about electrics ! have had about 6 replies to my initial msg but none of them show up on the site that tells you how many people have read it or replied. Any suggestions why they are not showing? which buttons should I press ? thanks in anticipation.

I feel the same about electrics ! have had about 6 replies to my initial msg but none of them show up on the site that tells you how many people have read it or replied. Any suggestions why they are not showing? which buttons should I press ? thanks in anticipation.

Have you 'refreshed' the Yeti forum title page? That said, I have never sussed out how it works re the 'viewed' total. And another thing, it used to say who is 'on line' at the bottom of the page, now it's started saying who is on which page but not the Yeti Forum. It's an electric conspiracy.... :S

Edited 10 January, 201016 yr by aerofurb

I feel the same about electrics ! have had about 6 replies to my initial msg but none of them show up on the site that tells you how many people have read it or replied. Any suggestions why they are not showing? which buttons should I press ? thanks in anticipation.

Hi your post now shows 93 views so did you figure this one out? I've got replies but not the number of views on a post I started today also

The forum may not be set up to update counters/stats instantly - some do so every hour to save on server resources.

Hi your post now shows 93 views so did you figure this one out? I've got replies but not the number of views on a post I started today also

thanks for your reply

The forum may not be set up to update counters/stats instantly - some do so every hour to save on server resources.

never thought of that .

For viewing the latest sometimes I can just return and it refreshes automatically other times I press Yeti at the bottom of the page but the most reliable way to be certain all the latest posts are shown is to refresh once returning to Yeti. It is just the same when reading # View New Content pressing it does not always grantee seeing all the latest new one has to occasional refresh to make sure. I hope that makes sense :no:

Hi Terfyn, thanks for your reply. A friend who has 35 yrs experience in them reckons they go better but don't stop any better if you aren't careful.

This is so true BUT I have found that, provided the speed is within sensible limits, keeping the car in drive and not using the brakes will negotiate any corner or hill safely and without drama. Once the downhill mode is engaged ("Off Road" ON and a tap on the brakes) it will hold on an snowy downhill and handle the slope OK.

This is so true BUT I have found that, provided the speed is within sensible limits, keeping the car in drive and not using the brakes will negotiate any corner or hill safely and without drama. Once the downhill mode is engaged ("Off Road" ON and a tap on the brakes) it will hold on an snowy downhill and handle the slope OK.

Hi Terfyn, that's what I was doing when I did the 180; in hill decent Yeti doing it's own thing but once those summer tyres hit something they couldn't hold onto (I suspect ice under the snow) that was it back end overtook the front, engine cut out (in 1st gear) and we became a toboggan :S

Thankfully we wedged in the grass verge a few yards further down just missing a tree or the long drop through yet more trees into the valley on the other side

So far with the winters if I have started to slide a bit they pretty quickly find some grip and were back on track so to speak.

TP

Hi Terfyn, that's what I was doing when I did the 180; in hill decent Yeti doing it's own thing but once those summer tyres hit something they couldn't hold onto (I suspect ice under the snow) that was it back end overtook the front, engine cut out (in 1st gear) and we became a toboggan :S

Thankfully we wedged in the grass verge a few yards further down just missing a tree or the long drop through yet more trees into the valley on the other side

So far with the winters if I have started to slide a bit they pretty quickly find some grip and were back on track so to speak.

TP

And I was only going 10 mph. Honest!! LOL You might have claimed the first bent Monster!

But the experts tell me that snow and ice will be but faint memories by next year. In 2008 they said that 2009 would be the last year we would see snow on Snowdon. I think I will talk to my Dealer about a set of wheels for winter tyres.

But this cold snap - it won't last - will it??

And I was only going 10 mph. Honest!! LOL You might have claimed the first bent Monster!

But the experts tell me that snow and ice will be but faint memories by next year. In 2008 they said that 2009 would be the last year we would see snow on Snowdon. I think I will talk to my Dealer about a set of wheels for winter tyres.

But this cold snap - it won't last - will it??

Well if you go on planetary history are we not due an Ice Age :S

To be honest though the climate is changing but I don't necessarily subscribe to the 'Global Warming' thing. Yes we humans have caused and will continue to cause a lot of damage to this wonderful planet of ours but remember the climate has undergone extreme swings throughout time.

I think we will just have to except that possibly in our remaining lifetime at least we have to be ready for the unexpected, like the last two days here the initial forecast was more snow, what we actually got was a decent temp rise and a fair bit of rain.

Up to now I have always 'managed' with summer tyres and not given winters a second thought but that incident was enough to say time for a change. Difficult to say for sure but I wonder if the outcome would have been different if the SE had the 16" 215/60/16 H wheels as with most European countries. I am inclined to think maybe as this is my first real winter experience i.e. snow on 225 W rated tyres.

My two previous 4x4 ran on 205/55/R16 which by coincidence is one the most common winter tyre sizes and that recommended for many VAG cars hence my choice but SUK had no advice to offer other than try Kwik-fit :S :S It would appear from my research that the Yeti needs a minimum 94 load index which some manufactures like Verdastien do not supply.

I know people say all season tyres are a jack of all trades and a master of none but I think something like the Goodyear 4 Season M+S should be at least an alternative to the usual factory fit sports tyres on vehicles like the Yeti.

Regards,

TP

Well if you go on planetary history are we not due an Ice Age :S

Up to now I have always 'managed' with summer tyres and not given winters a second thought but that incident was enough to say time for a change. Difficult to say for sure but I wonder if the outcome would have been different if the SE had the 16" 215/60/16 H wheels as with most European countries. I am inclined to think maybe as this is my first real winter experience i.e. snow on 225 W rated tyres.

Regards,

TP

TP

Sorry I must have missed it but what was "that incident" you refer to. EDIT: Found it!!

Must admit I would prefer 16" wheels.

tom

Edited 11 January, 201016 yr by Sanqhar

TP

Sorry I must have missed it but what was "that incident" you refer to.

Must admit I would prefer 16" wheels.

tom

Hi Tom,

sorry yes referring to post 19 this topic or look up 180° in a Yeti.

Regards,

TP