My 140 Elegance is currently at sea- but those nice folk at MSB Skoda have lent me a 110TDI pending arrival. After 45k miles in Tiguan the smaller external size is immediately apparent and as my VW was a Sport with no discernible suspension the ride in the Yeti is delightful- more roll but that lovely loping absorbent feel which reminds me of when Peugeots were good cars (306 and before). Better gearchange(but no 6th ), quite lively and exceptionally quiet.And sooo tiny on outside and big inside. Am very taken and am looking forward to the Amazonian Green job's arrival even more now. Just hope stereo is better in Elegance as this one's sounds like a 60s transistor... Not sure what model I have actually- says TDI and it has cruise and climate but I think 2wd ?

edited to add that Thank God it doesnt have that IDIOTIC electronic Tiguan handbrake which forbids you from moving an inch without belting up. Mind you the Yeti won't start unless I declutch (which I do nearly all the time anyway.) And that it seems to have some reversing camera thingie- must read handbook....

Edited 15 April, 201115 yr by grayson

Hi,

by the sounds of it your loan Monster is a 2wd 'S' with 16" wheels and Swing radio with 4 speakers. Ride is known to be reasonably compliant with the 16" rims and 215/60 tyres.

Hope you get your hands on your SM soon and by the sounds of it you know were he/she is. Think currently mines got lost; well at least I'm not exactly sure were she is at this moment in time :wonder:

Regards,

TP

My 140 Elegance is currently at sea- but those nice folk at MSB Skoda have lent me a 110TDI pending arrival. After 45k miles in Tiguan the smaller external size is immediately apparent and as my VW was a Sport with no discernible suspension the ride in the Yeti is delightful- more roll but that lovely loping absorbent feel which reminds me of when Peugeots were good cars (306 and before). Better gearchange(but no 6th ), quite lively and exceptionally quiet.And sooo tiny on outside and big inside. Am very taken and am looking forward to the Amazonian Green job's arrival even more now. Just hope stereo is better in Elegance as this one's sounds like a 60s transistor... Not sure what model I have actually- says TDI and it has cruise and climate but I think 2wd ?

Having now bought two cars from them, I have found that MSB try hard - especially Malcolm Black himself - even if some of the other staff aren't always up to scratch re the important small details of excellent customer service.

No sign of my car but after 400 miles in loan Yeti I am very impressed- quiet, terrific ride/handling - bizarrely it reminds me of my beloved Alfasuds from the early 80s. Never thought I'd say that about a soft roader.Feels massively lighter and wieldier than the Tiguan and economy is excellent- 48-55 mpg. Biggest irritant? The same as most VAG engines - going down hill on light throttle the ECU seems to think 'cripes we are accelerating much harder than we ought on this throttle opening- better stop that right away' so engine goes flat as a fart until hill bottoms out.Infuriating ! Reversing radar fun - do I get that on Elegance ?

No sign of my car but after 400 miles in loan Yeti I am very impressed- quiet, terrific ride/handling - bizarrely it reminds me of my beloved Alfasuds from the early 80s. Never thought I'd say that about a soft roader.Feels massively lighter and wieldier than the Tiguan and economy is excellent- 48-55 mpg. Biggest irritant? The same as most VAG engines - going down hill on light throttle the ECU seems to think 'cripes we are accelerating much harder than we ought on this throttle opening- better stop that right away' so engine goes flat as a fart until hill bottoms out.Infuriating ! Reversing radar fun - do I get that on Elegance ?

Intrigued which model Yeti you've got on loan :wonder: earlier description made me think it was an 'S' now with reverse park sensors and your edited inclusion of cruise I think its an 'SE' In which case the radio system is the same.

SE

S

Oh yes park sensors standard on SE ans Elegance at the rear.

TP

No sign of my car but after 400 miles in loan Yeti I am very impressed- quiet, terrific ride/handling - bizarrely it reminds me of my beloved Alfasuds from the early 80s. Never thought I'd say that about a soft roader.Feels massively lighter and wieldier than the Tiguan and economy is excellent- 48-55 mpg. Biggest irritant? The same as most VAG engines - going down hill on light throttle the ECU seems to think 'cripes we are accelerating much harder than we ought on this throttle opening- better stop that right away' so engine goes flat as a fart until hill bottoms out.Infuriating ! Reversing radar fun - do I get that on Elegance ?

Yes, you get the reversing radar on Elegance - and all sorts of other exciting animations if you have front sensors and/or park assist as well.

Yes, you get the reversing radar on Elegance - and all sorts of other exciting animations if you have front sensors and/or park assist as well.

Intrigued again, my new Monster has front sensors (not park assist) sounds interesting :wonder:

Thanks,

TP

Intrigued again, my new Monster has front sensors (not park assist) sounds interesting :wonder:

Thanks,

TP

It does sound interesting when you reverse backwards and forwards - different sounds for front than back and the picture of a Yeti on screen

But, the fronts don't go off in normal driving so it easy to hit something with the front end of the car. You need to push the button on the dash to activate them. Swmbo drove Elsie the Helipad last night for the first time in months and missed a parked car by about 5mm I ended up parking Elsie. If we had turned on the senors she would have realised how close she was! Of course the graphic comes on automatically when you select reverse.

Mike

The proper car has now arrived- 140 Elegance.Exemplary customer care from MSB Skoda in Darlington and car faultless. But intriguingly different from the 110 2WD car I had- if I didn't need 4WD the 2WD is a much sweeter handling car. It's obviously the weight difference(and possibly its distribution too) but the 110 was a joy to punt quickly down a winding A road- bit of roll but sharp steering and lovely throttle adjustability (ie lift off and tuck in like 205s used to). 4wd a bit staider and doesn't feel up for such japes, ride also not quite as good. But I'm nitpicking- it's comfy, brisk, beautifully equipped and built and those XEnons with cornering function are bloody amazing ! Looks stunning in Amazonian Green and the Gobi leather too.

The proper car has now arrived- 140 Elegance.Exemplary customer care from MSB Skoda in Darlington and car faultless. But intriguingly different from the 110 2WD car I had- if I didn't need 4WD the 2WD is a much sweeter handling car. It's obviously the weight difference(and possibly its distribution too) but the 110 was a joy to punt quickly down a winding A road- bit of roll but sharp steering and lovely throttle adjustability (ie lift off and tuck in like 205s used to). 4wd a bit staider and doesn't feel up for such japes, ride also not quite as good. But I'm nitpicking- it's comfy, brisk, beautifully equipped and built and those XEnons with cornering function are bloody amazing ! Looks stunning in Amazonian Green and the Gobi leather too.

Glad you like it and that there's another SM about in N Yorks - still as rare as hens' teeth!

Good luck with the new car - sounds like a rare spec (external/interior colour combination).

Interesting what you say about the way the different Yeti's feel on the road. Ive recently started assuming that SKoda have changed something fairly substantial on the latest cars as the last (11 plate) 4x4 I drove did feel more unwieldy than mine and Im convinced that the latest 2wd Yeti didnt feel as nicely controlled, suspension wise, at the rear as the first one I ever drove! :no: I know TP mentioned something about changes upfront to suspension but I swear its the rear that doesnt feel as 'planted' on the later 2wd's :wonder:

The proper car has now arrived- 140 Elegance.Exemplary customer care from MSB Skoda in Darlington and car faultless. But intriguingly different from the 110 2WD car I had- if I didn't need 4WD the 2WD is a much sweeter handling car. It's obviously the weight difference(and possibly its distribution too) but the 110 was a joy to punt quickly down a winding A road- bit of roll but sharp steering and lovely throttle adjustability (ie lift off and tuck in like 205s used to). 4wd a bit staider and doesn't feel up for such japes, ride also not quite as good. But I'm nitpicking- it's comfy, brisk, beautifully equipped and built and those XEnons with cornering function are bloody amazing ! Looks stunning in Amazonian Green and the Gobi leather too.

Interestingly I've just switched from an early production TDI 140 Yeti to an 11 plate TDI 110 4x4; daft as it sounds I prefer the 110 although personally I prefer driving Haldex equipped cars more than there 2wd counterparts.

Good luck with the new car - sounds like a rare spec (external/interior colour combination).

Interesting what you say about the way the different Yeti's feel on the road. Ive recently started assuming that SKoda have changed something fairly substantial on the latest cars as the last (11 plate) 4x4 I drove did feel more unwieldy than mine and Im convinced that the latest 2wd Yeti didnt feel as nicely controlled, suspension wise, at the rear as the first one I ever drove! :no: I know TP mentioned something about changes upfront to suspension but I swear its the rear that doesnt feel as 'planted' on the later 2wd's :wonder:

Yes been changes both front and back (2wd). all Yeti's have a new steel assembly carrier (subframe) instead of cast aluminium at the front, plus new wishbones and bushes. This came into effect from August last year.

The 2wd versions up to late May 2010 had the same Tiguan derived rear subframe as the 4x4 but from then on it was replaced by the less complex (and cheaper) subframe used on the 2wd Golf.

Again personally prefer the feel and handling of the new Yeti over the old but this might just be the more compliant 215/60 R16 tyres. I've noticed though you can get more of a tenancy towards understeer on fast tight bends with the 16" wheels than the 17".

Regards,

TP

Thats quite a change! Hadnt realised that economy measure had been taken! :wonder:

Thanks, as always, for the informative post TP.