Once upon time (hope you are sitting comfortably) in order to get the rear wheel arch protector film factory fitted, the Rough Road Package had to be ordered. Now this is fitted as standard to all new cars (hopefully) and the R.R.P. has been downgraded (apparently), is it a viable factory fit add on for 2wd Monsters which will probably never ever venture off road --- nice to have or a waste of money?

I'd not go for it on a 2WD. Not needed with what we use the car for.

But only because all new ones have the protective film now.

I still need to get this fitted to ours.

I would still opt for it as a matter of course, never know what you might find left on the road that could damage an unprotected sump (possibly wrecking the engine) and I've known deep standing water to pull the fairly flimsy noise insulation panels of the underside of diesel engine bays and there not cheap to replace.

Regards,

TP

Mine should have the film if reports are accurate, but if it doesn't I'm definitely going to get some. Not sure I'd opt for the whole rough road package myself as I haven't needed it on other cars, but I take the point on the sump guarding. Debris on motorways does concern me, I have to say.

It appears that many tarmac only users have opted for the RRP just in order to get the wheel arch films. Since this is now supplied standard, the £185 for the RRP seems a bit of an overkill for 2wd owners sticking to the black stuff. Nice to have as a belt & braces job but not really essential.

In some ways it's like buying the power memory seats for a one driver car just in order to get the power fold mirrors. These should be on the options list regardless of manual or power seats being specified.

If a non Yeti owning Skoda driver might comment.

I see no conflict whatsover in specifying the RRP package on a FWD/2WD as a rough track or dry(ish) field that is perfectably trafficable for FWD/2WD could otherwise cause damage that would be prevented by the RRP. I.e most probably useful to country dwellers.

Simples

PS

I have taken various FWD cars through some moderatly unlikely looking places, & never needed pulled out either, but have the dents to prove it

Cheers

M

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by dieseldogg

Hi

I ordered the RRP (even though its unlikely our 1.2 2WD Yeti will go off-road in the sense most 4X4 people mean) because it has to negotiate our crumbling "council maintained" rear access lane and broken speed cushions, bits of which tip up and hit the underside of the car when you go over them. Its true the Yeti has more ground clearance but the state of the minor roads is unlikely to improve over the next few years.

If I had known what changes would occur a month or so later I would not have paid £185 for a plastic sump guard. The rear door foils being free now, and the rest of the protection in large part deleted it would seem. Do I think I have been had? Definitely.

Am I a "Happy Driver" not over this issue.

Would I like a refund? YES

Which is a long way round of saying the RRP is not viable if the underbody protection is no longer there. The sump guard on its own is not worth £185.00.

Fred

Oops! Apparently the underbody protection has not been deleted, the only changes are the sump guard material changed to plastic and the foils are now fitted "free" as standard.

Now, can I translate that into a free set of mudflaps?

I will be interested to see the reply to my letter from Skoda UK (if I get one).

Fred

Edited 10 November, 201015 yr by Fred_Bristol

Just because the sump guard now appears to be plastic does not automatically mean it is any less strong. Do we know EXACTLY what it is made off? Some modern plastics are incredibly strong and resiliant. There will be cars competing this week on the WRGB with plastic guards. If it is strong enough for them it should be strong enough for most Yeti drivers.

Imagine this scenario you are driving down the narrow country lane and meet a car coming the other way and being the courteous Yeti driver that you are you pull over onto the grass verge to make way for the lesser mortal and bang you didn' see the rock from the dry stone wall which was hidden in the grass.

As the other driver passes by with a polite wave you wonder to yourself, should I have paid that little bit extra for the rough road package and peace of mind?

Hi

I ordered the RRP (even though its unlikely our 1.2 2WD Yeti will go off-road in the sense most 4X4 people mean) because it has to negotiate our crumbling "council maintained" rear access lane and broken speed cushions, bits of which tip up and hit the underside of the car when you go over them. Its true the Yeti has more ground clearance but the state of the minor roads is unlikely to improve over the next few years.

If I had known what changes would occur a month or so later I would not have paid £185 for a plastic sump guard. The rear door foils being free now, and the rest of the protection in large part deleted it would seem. Do I think I have been had? Definitely.

Am I a "Happy Driver" not over this issue.

Would I like a refund? YES

Which is a long way round of saying the RRP is not viable if the underbody protection is no longer there. The sump guard on its own is not worth £185.00.

Fred

Perhaps we will have to kid ourselves that with the RRP, we'll be getting 'extra tough' wheel arch film if only to soften the blow (no pun intended)

I would still opt for it as a matter of course, never know what you might find left on the road that could damage an unprotected sump (possibly wrecking the engine) and I've known deep standing water to pull the fairly flimsy noise insulation panels of the underside of diesel engine bays and there not cheap to replace.

Regards,

TP

In 48 years of driving, I have had only one sump fail and that was due to corrosion from cow P**!! All sumps undersealed now.

In 48 years of driving, I have had only one sump fail and that was due to corrosion from cow P**!! All sumps undersealed now.

Hi Terfyn,

based my thoughts on a number of motoring articles, posts within Briskoda and observations on the road over the years. Lucky enough not to have had a problem with the sump myself, although going round a blind bend on a country lane, I did hit/run over some branches that had come off a tree which I had to clear from the rear suspension and prop shaft on my previous Golf 4motion.

Regards,

TP

Further little update to the RRP guide My link

TP

Further little update to the RRP guide My link

TP

Hi TP - not sure what is meant by the last picture - where you say the side panels are not fitted. Are we not looking here at the rear of the side panels, where they flare noticeably downwards? Forgive me if I am being thick - it's a great guide.

Hi TP - not sure what is meant by the last picture - where you say the side panels are not fitted. Are we not looking here at the rear of the side panels, where they flare noticeably downwards? Forgive me if I am being thick - it's a great guide.

Hi,

yes the triangular projection at the rear of the floor panels. The standard material is quite thin so being projected downward it becomes more exposed to wear from stone impact, which would be exacerbated on a gravel road for example.

I also understand the downward projection is there to protect the brake and fuel lines were they turn 90 degrees to run up to the boot floor lever from the cabin floor level, from impact with the ground. So again by removing the additional layer of protective & strengthened Martial on a rough road pack, make little sense to me other than cost cutting.

Regards,

TP

Edited 11 November, 201015 yr by The Plumber

Hi,

yes the triangular projection at the rear of the floor panels. The standard material is quite thin so being projected downward it becomes more exposed to wear from stone impact, which would be exacerbated on a gravel road for example.

I also understand the downward projection is there to protect the brake and fuel lines were they turn 90 degrees to run up to the boot floor lever from the cabin floor level, from impact with the ground. So again by removing the additional layer of protective & strengthened Martial on a rough road pack, make little sense to me other than cost cutting.

Regards,

TP

Oh - so what we are saying is that the ones shown in the pic are no longer fitted?

EDIT -ah I see now - the projection is there anyway, and the guard no longer covers it! i was being thick!!

Edited 11 November, 201015 yr by roguebrit

In 48 years of driving, I have had only one sump fail and that was due to corrosion from cow P**!! All sumps undersealed now.

I've just been investigating an accident where the insured drove over a pedestrian refuge and ripped the sump off their car. The damage caused the car to be written off.

OK it was unusual circumstances.

Mike

Edited 12 November, 201015 yr by rockhopper