This may seem previous as I won't get my hands on my own generation 1 Yeti for a few months yet, but what practical improvements might there be next time round? I know that on another thread people have talked about intelligent control systems that keep you in lane, stop you going into the back of other cars and so on, but my feeling is that we're probably approaching the sensible limit of electronic toys, both from the point of view of cost/reliability/drain on battery etc. and of leaving sufficient control in the hands and minds of drivers to keep them alert at the wheel.

My take is slightly different. I can think of four useful, practical changes I would like to see on any future updating of the Yeti range;

1) the option NOT to have roof rails. I never use them, I suspect many others don't either; they do not always enhance the appearance of the car; and they must worsen (if only minimally) fuel consumption.

2) fitting a 'shark fin' type radio aerial to avoid any issues with low garage/car park roofs (and to improve aesthetics again).

3) a split tailgate, so that (again, in restricted spaces) just the rear glass window could be opened to access the boot.

4) a remote boot release.

Any advance on simple, practical improvements?

Edited 17 September, 201015 yr by hmibennett

I would agree with each of the first suggestions, all very sound.

I think Bluetooth should be standard on all cars now. Most people have a mobile phone nowadays and having this as standard stops the temptation of people who can't be bothered to get a device fitted or pay the ridiculous extra costs that car mfr demand.

I would like another 12v socket at the back of the centre arm rest so that passengers in the back can use it. Having one in the boot is of no practical use to me although it may be to some people.

A sliding seat coming out of the boot. This allows you to sit on it to take off your muddy boots before getting into the car. I am sure I have seen these on posher 4 x 4's. This would be an extra, not a standard fitting but I would pay for it.

Option for darker tinted windows in the rear and back. I have the tinted ones now but I would prefer a darker version.

I don't think mine are as sound as hmibennett's but that is partly as the Yeti is styled so well in the first place

The 12V socket in the boot is handy for electric cooler boxes, and for running inflators etc if you're camping, so I'd keep that :-)

The dash could benefit from a couple of small fixes though - get rid of the top small storage box in the centre, and replace it with a flat, smooth area for fixing suction-cup mounts for sat-navs. Fixing a suction-cup mount to the windscreen puts the satnav too far away from me for comfort.

Also, the passenger side of the dash could benefit from a flat "shelf" design on the top, although I don't know if that would make building in a passenger airbag more problematic.

Parking Heater!

Can get on other markets, but not here. Not even on an Audi according to the salesman there. Posh make my foot.

Parking Heater!

Can get on other markets, but not here. Not even on an Audi according to the salesman there. Posh make my foot.

I've thought of another one for my original list - the ability to lock the passenger side glove box with the ignition key.

I like the suggestion of a slide-out seat from the boot: we do a lot of walking and I won't want to be soiling my nice Gobi interior when trying to get muddy boots on or off!

Andrew your point 2 is not needed. The Yeti comes even today with two aerials - one in the rear window and the one on top. I suspect the top one is just for "fashion" or to get the last 2% on a 98% good reception with the rear window one only. So you really just want a delete option for the bee-sting aerial!

My additional wanted options would be:

1. a few 12v sockets INSIDE the storage area on top of the dash so that sat nav wires do not need to snake over the whole dashboard to the windscreen.
2. a USB socket inside the arm rest to power an MP3 player that is connected to the 3,5mm audio jack (if you don't have MDI).
3. a middle rear seat that can slide like the outter seats.
4. a front passenger seat that can be fully wound back and/or folder forward to make a long loading area from the boot to the dash.
5. seperately opening glass to the tailgate - I don't want a Range Rover style split tailgate as they make it impossible to stretch to the furtherst reaches of the boot if part of the hatch folds down.
6. a Saab style night switch to switch all the internal lights on the dash off and only keep the speedometer on.
7. adaptive cruise control.
8. the choice between 16" and 17" wheels on top spec cars.
9. true tyre pressure monitoring that gives you the actual pressure of each wheel.
10. the choice between a bicycle style space saver spare and a 16" full size sparewheel - so you can decide how big a compromise you want in your boot size.
11. switchable stop/start technology to lower the CO2 rating.
12. LED rear lights.
13. LED DRL lights at the front mounted in the lower bumper and thus making the round ones at the top pure foglights only.

900000 - 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 are all crackers

1, 3 & 6 in particular are ones I like. I drove the Yeti in the dark for the first time last week and I think the number of lights in the cockpit is quite distracting. I was hoping that Maxidot would offer a switch off non essential lights option but it is not there.

I did not want to get rid of the boot 12v socket as I understand why people use them. I just need more in better positions in the cabin.

Great thread!

A sliding seat coming out of the boot. This allows you to sit on it to take off your muddy boots before getting into the car.

EdmundBlackadder look at my old thread on this here. So you might already HAVE such a seat, we just need to see if works. It won't slide of course but it could do this very job.

I think Bluetooth should be standard on all cars now. Most people have a mobile phone nowadays and having this as standard stops the temptation of people who can't be bothered to get a device fitted or pay the ridiculous extra costs that car mfr demand.

potentially expensive, and not required for a large number of people.

If I'm driving, my phone is ignored.

in fact, I'd go the opposite way and have manufacturers add mobile signal jammers to all cars, thereby removing the temptation anyone has to make any sort of call/text whilst driving, so they can concentrate on what they're doing :p

potentially expensive, and not required for a large number of people.

If I'm driving, my phone is ignored.

in fact, I'd go the opposite way and have manufacturers add mobile signal jammers to all cars, thereby removing the temptation anyone has to make any sort of call/text whilst driving, so they can concentrate on what they're doing :p

Not real in the modern world I'm afraid. I have a Parrot unit fitted in my car as I need it for work. Every company car driver needs one plus how many people do you see driving every day with a phone to their ear. See it as a safety device.

EdmundBlackadder look at my old thread on this here. So you might already HAVE such a seat, we just need to see if works. It won't slide of course but it could do this very job.

The Joyster picture is a much flasher version of what I want but it does show how it can be done. A plain old slide out device would do me, although a padded sofa is a nice touch.

I could take out the seats as per the top pics but I would then be putting them down onto the muddy grass, car park etc that I was trying to avoid. Nearly but not quite.

The Joyster picture is a much flasher version of what I want but it does show how it can be done. A plain old slide out device would do me, although a padded sofa is a nice touch.

I could take out the seats as per the top pics but I would then be putting them down onto the muddy grass, car park etc that I was trying to avoid. Nearly but not quite.

No that is not what I was suggesting! I was suggesting putting the outter seats INSIDE the boot facing backwards! On top of the spare wheel floor. Not in the mud! hehehe

Agree with another 12v socket in the rear.

Some nice LED running lights where the front decorative chrome inserts are fitted.

Ambient lighting in the rear as well.

Would like the double sun blinds to be standard as well so you can have them in place on both sides at once.

Better co-ordinated interior colour co-ordination between the seat colours and the bodywork.

Body coloured roof aerials

:yes:

No that is not what I was suggesting! I was suggesting putting the outter seats INSIDE the boot facing backwards! On top of the spare wheel floor. Not in the mud! hehehe

Now I get you. I may try that as my son gets out of his rugby boots on Sunday.

redandwhitepauly - nervous about the weekend after Wednesday night? Big weekend for me, an Everton fan living in Newcastle. Anyway, we don't want to sidetrack this thread. My wife used to have a Fiat 500 that had the colour co-ordinated interior with the outside colours. It looked great and the Yeti is a car it would definitely work with. It would look awful in a sensible car, eg a Superb or Octavia, but a Yeti would be ideal for this. Another good suggestion.

redandwhitepauly - nervous about the weekend after Wednesday night? Big weekend for me, an Everton fan living in Newcastle. Anyway, we don't want to sidetrack this thread. My wife used to have a Fiat 500 that had the colour co-ordinated interior with the outside colours. It looked great and the Yeti is a car it would definitely work with. It would look awful in a sensible car, eg a Superb or Octavia, but a Yeti would be ideal for this. Another good suggestion.

Nervous no, we beat them last year and we can beat anyone at home, but yes they are a great team and should win but it doesn't go that way sometimes. Everton fan living up there eh ? Actually most Newcastle fans are OK so expect you get a bit of light hearted ribbin but expect they OK with you. Expect you to beat them at home but dont think they are as bad as some pundits are saying they are !

There have been some good sugestions about updated Yeti, customer service should be watching lol

:yes:

Option for darker tinted windows in the rear and back. I have the tinted ones now but I would prefer a darker version.

You can put tinting films on top of the Sunset windows. In Finland the fitting including the films cost ~200-300 Eur, and even the dealer provided the service.

Now I get you. I may try that as my son gets out of his rugby boots on Sunday.

Well if you do please take some pics!

Here is a few things I think the new Yeti will/might need - not necessarily my own wish list.

Torque vectoring four wheel drive

Full internet access and Apps facility (interests me not at all but will be essential in the future)

Google maps driven SatNav (a la Audi A8)

Ability to choose tyres (BMW now allow you to spec 4 season tyres or Winter)

Heated rear seats (if the Sportage has it...)

Integrated rear view camera (see above)

Flappy Paddles for DSG (This IS my own wish, hate push pull semi autos)

Stop/Start

Valvetronic or MultiAir type valve management - might avoid DPF issues

LED lights all round not just DRLs

Split rear hatch (we have a fortwo, the dropdown is designed to be sat on - its invaluable)

DAB radio/Hard drive for music (no interest to me but unforgiveable on the Yeti - SD card not good enough)

A full length sunroof that doesn't take an age to arrive and with LCD shutter blind built in.

Solar roof panels to charge ancillaries (as per Audi)

4 way topview cam as used by Nissan in its infiniti FX range - utterly brilliant gadget

Head Up Display option for Elegance (combine it with the Saab style blackout option - great idea)

Radar cruise control/collision avoidance

Pre fill brakes (per Alfa Giulietta)

Hydrophobic glass windscreen (can but dream)

Ability to spec your own choice of colour (Seat have just introduced this for £499)

Twin 30mm Oerlikon canon for Nissan Micra driver removal (ok, only joking)

Integrated rear view camera (see above)

Flappy Paddles for DSG (This IS my own wish, hate push pull semi autos)

DAB radio/Hard drive for music (no interest to me but unforgiveable on the Yeti - SD card not good enough)

4 way topview cam as used by Nissan in its infiniti FX range - utterly brilliant gadget

Head Up Display option for Elegance (combine it with the Saab style blackout option - great idea)

Nice ones. I like the ones above. The Golf VI already has the rear view camera and is displays on a VW equivalent Bolero... So we only need to add that camera and tell the CANBUS its there and voila. Job done. (And modify the Skoda badge to work like that first image of course!)

Edited 17 September, 201015 yr by 900000

And this tells you how to install the rear view camera on a Golf V. So maybe we might get it to work on a Yeti? A 510 VW radio = Bolero.

http://www.my-gti.com/1423/installing-a-golf-mark-vi-rear-view-camera-rvc-into-a-golf-mark-v

This thread is taking on the "my daddy can beat your daddy" syndrome.

What I would really like fixed is the light ion the boot. It is just about useless.

That's true but new owners are being conditioned to expect more and more 'gadgets'. I looked on the new Audi A8 with an Apps facility with some horror. Cars are going to have to drive themselves more and more if the 'drivers' are going to be fiddling with Ar$sebook and Tw@tter updating.

Re the boot light, what about one of those accessory torches that fit in the 12v socket?

Edited 17 September, 201015 yr by Fluffy destroyer of worlds

Re the boot light, what about one of those accessory torches that fit in the 12v socket?

I bought a motion sensing LED light from ASDA the other day for £4. It has double sided tape on the back and you can stick as many of these in the boot as you like! Just don't do it if you regularly transport a dog as it will have a disco back there with all the lights coming on all the time!

seperately opening glass to the tailgate - I don't want a Range Rover style split tailgate as they make it impossible to stretch to the furtherst reaches of the boot if part of the hatch folds down

If you are a bit short you are supposed to open the glass, reach in and bring the load forward, (the boot is not that deep though, hardly more than a Yeti) then drop the tailgate and lift it out without having to bend over.

I have to say that I noticed the difference eating lunch out of the back of the Yeti at the Essex show. I wouldn't complain about a seat or drop down tailgate.

I've also got an Eberspacer man coming to look at the Yeti with regard to fitting a parking heater that warms engine and car interior. He is not sure if there is space to fit one.

I know other markets have one, but other things are changed for it to fit.

I'll keep you posted on the parking heater. Don't think it'll be cheap if it does fit though...