Hi,

Just writing up my first year experience with the Yeti.

I took delivery from a dealer near Bristol in the end of April 2010. Dealer was very friendly and very helpful, no problems with registration and all was completed within a week. It was actually a rather interesting story, I was in the market for a new car since my Audi was getting quite old and very thirsty being a 2.6. I was specifically interested in the manufacturer scrappage schemes and the only manufacturers doing that was Nissan and Skoda.

Originally, it was going to be the Micra N-Tec or the Skoda Fabia, however after one evening spent in front of the TV and saw the Yeti commerical, I though I really like that car, it is quirky and bizarre. Back then, I wasn't aware of its practicality or the engine that was on offer, so off I went to the local London dealer to see if they have a Yeti in store. Nothing was there, everything in the showroom had been reserved and there are no Yetis anywhere in near me for viewing. This was way way before I hear about James @ Allam. The Fabia estate fits the bill well, but I found it a little too small and I am not entirely sure about the look. Went to see the Nissan Micra, not keen on the dealer at all, for some strange reason the price he quoted was 500 pounds more than the advertised price. He then proceed to show me the 3 door version which I was interested in, it was too cramp and despite being only 2 years old and 30000 miles, the interior looked really worn and the roof lining was really flimsy, making me think it was a car made cheaply. Eventhough the N-Tec would have all the kit (Sat Nav etc) and would be the last British build Micra, I was no longer interested. I didn't even look at the Qashqai as I am really not keen on the looks and the por level of equipment at the bottom of the range.

Back then, the only other competitor was the Kia Sportage, but it was the old version and again I am not keen on the looks. Of course the Countryman and the ASX are yet to appear on the market. So, keen to see the Yeti, I went to a different dealer closer in Bath. The local dealer again informed me that the waiting list would be 3 months and I considered that way too long. Anyway, they had one for show and I went to look at it. First feel was that the doors was really heavy and that gave me a reassurance of quality and the shut was brilliant and felt very well built. The model they were showing was the Elegance and it was out of my price range. Desperate to see the S in the flesh, I rung around, until I found the dealer near Bristol which has one as their show room car.

Went to see that and he let me test drive the 170 TDI Elegance which was really a fantastic car, but it was completely out of my price range, and my annual milaege and usgae does not justify going for a diesel. Anyway, did a deal there and then with the Aqua Blue Yeti with Silver Roof Rails they have on the show room and 7 days later it was mine!

Up till then I hadn't visited Briskoda and have only read all the positive press coverage about it. I was originally keen on getting a Red Yeti, however due to there being only one on offer near me, I didn't make a fuss and went with the Aqua Blue. I have to say the colour grew on me, its kind of like Baby Blue which is one of the colours I always wanted, the other being Orange (later one that).

The first drive on the 1.2 TSI was quite surprising. The clutch was light and I stalled quite a few times not being used to the characteristic of the engine. It drove well, not as much go as the 170 TDI but nippier for some reason. Enjoying my new pride and joy, I drove back home and was very keen on how quiet the drive is.

In the month to come, I drove it around Bath and to London every now and then. I cope well on the M4 and the engine is keen to go. Originally I was expecting higher mpg, but I knew the engine was tight and the the 43 mpg on 70 mph was a vast improvement over the Audi's 25 mpg!

Over the next couple of months, the car was rarely used and by the time it was 4 months old, it only clocked around 2000 miles. The miles started to rack up when I had to travel from London to Durham, presently at 9800 miles.

I would be lying if I said I had no problem with the car from new. All are very small problems though and nothing mechanically related.

1) The A-Pillar squeaks and this was fixed promptly as it was a known problem

2) The rear headrest was loose, again fixed quickly and easily

3) Tracking was off from new and this was sorted

4) Centre console squeaks - this was sorted numerous times, but keeps coming back when the weather is cold. It was actually sorted again when it went in for the service.

5) The common rear wheel arch chip - stone chips are too small to be photographed but will inspect again.

Otherwise the car has been absolutely perfect. For a journey averaging 58 mph (basically everything from town driving, hills, A roads, B roads, London traffic and Motoway), I could achieve around 40 mpg, which I am happy enough about.

The only thing that I was kind of annoyed about was when they brought out the Tangerine Metallic, I was so keen on the colour that I actually wanted to change my Aqua Blue S with a Tangerine SE, but after all I reassessed my finance and it might just be too high a reach, oh well.

Anyway there were a few things I was quite keen on the SE, chief amongst which was the Bolero stereo. I sometimes drive long distances and the Bolero was a fantastic upgrade, allowing me to choose music from my SD card, AUX (retro fit) and 6 CDs. The most impressive of all has to be the station list which updates when I drive, so I can always choose a local station. The Swing needs to be updated using the Station Find button which temporarily lose all sound from the radio.

Another accessory I got the dealer to fit was the wheel arches, since 90000 posted the pictures from Paris Motor Show? I wanted them, and got them fitted in January 2011 and I think they look brilliant.

One of the non-factory fitted option was the mesh I did for the front grill after discovering stone chips in the heater matrix, I thought I would give it some protection.

What I like about the Yeti:

1) Versitility

i) it is very nippy and I love driving it on B-road, the steering is well weighted and the turbo makes it feels a lot faster

ii) not a massive boot but the seats could easily move forward and backward to create more space and it folds flat to turn into a van - brilliant

2) Marmite Car

i) I hate marmite, but I like the "love it or hate it" stylong of the Yeti

ii) Yeti owners are friendly and obviously Briskoda is brill

3) Surprise economy

i) For a larg-ish car like the Yeti, it was cheap to service, cheap to run and cheap to buy - what else do you want?

ii) Relatively good fuel economy for a tall car

4) Quality

i) When I was 12, I joked about Skodas, however when I was 18, the Octavia L&K 1.8 T was actually the car I wanted most. So 6 years had done a lot to my spongy mind! Well obviously it's not until now that I can actually experience the Skoda quality and very please with it!

ii) The engine is really smooth and quiet, if I don't watch the tachometer, I would never know when to change!

What I hate (yes, hate is a strong word, I know!) about the Yeti:

1) Awful grip in the snow!! This is kind of a compensation for the nippiness I guess, the 1.2 TSI is very light and my Yeti struggled to go through even the shallowest of slopes. Obviously the way forward is to fit snow tires, but space is tight, so it was virtually impossible to keep 1 spare set of allows. Top of my wish list is actually some 4 season tires, again Briskoda members had been brilliant in reporting quality of different brands.

Whilst we are here, my tires are 5mm at the front and 7mm at the back.

So overall, very pleased with the car despite some small niggles. Pulman who serviced the car was very well priced, did a good jobs, offered the complete package. Although they did forget to rotate the tyres! Will ring them tomorrow to have that sorted, shouldn't be more than 15 minutes!

Edited 27 April, 201115 yr by My_Yeti

1) Awful grip in the snow!! This is kind of a compensation for the nippiness I guess, the 1.2 TSI is very light and my Yeti struggled to go through even the shallowest of slopes. Obviously the way forward is to fit snow tires, but space is tight, so it was virtually impossible to keep 1 spare set of allows. Top of my wish list is actually some 4 season tires, again Briskoda members had been brilliant in reporting quality of different brands.

Surprised you found the Yeti poor in the snow? I took out a 2WD 1.2 S Yeti last year in the bad snow, garages were not allowing cars out on test drives it was so bad, I managed to persuade my salesman to let me take it out for a test. I went up snowy/Icy single track roads, with quite an incline on the standard tyres, passed numerous cars stranded at the side. Being side roads they had not had a visit from the plough, or been gritted. I was so impressed with its handling in these poor conditions (my Fabia couldnt get 50mtrs up the same road!) that I decided that I wouldnt need 4x4 in or around Aberdeen and have opted for extra grip in the winter on my Yeti by fitting snow tyres.

1) Awful grip in the snow!! This is kind of a compensation for the nippiness I guess, the 1.2 TSI is very light and my Yeti struggled to go through even the shallowest of slopes. Obviously the way forward is to fit snow tires, but space is tight, so it was virtually impossible to keep 1 spare set of allows. Top of my wish list is actually some 4 season tires, again Briskoda members had been brilliant in reporting quality of different brands.

Would certainly agree with you regarding the 1.2 TSi Yeti and snow! This was the main reason we traded ours for a 4x4 Octavia.

Would certainly agree with you regarding the 1.2 TSi Yeti and snow! This was the main reason we traded ours for a 4x4 Octavia.

That's why we fitted £450 of Goodyear 4Season tyres. No problems then.

Cheaper than changing the car too for a 4x4 deisel as it costs £4k more in the Yeti.

(and yes, the replacement would have had to be a yeti)

Without wishing to reopen an old thread, or to cast aspersions on anyone's skills, these replies show what has been said before: success in icy/snowy conditions depends at least as much on driver skills (and approach in specific conditions) as on the car/tyres.

we live in a remote part of hilly yorkshire...so bad snow for weeks at a time, i had no problems with my 1.2 and snow on oe goodyear tyres, infact mine was the only vehicle to get off and back on our street!!!..maybe its your driving style that needs looking at :wonder:

I found my 2wd diesel ok on fresh snow, but hopeless once it had been treated in any way, or compacted to ice by vehicles?. Perhaps the gritted snow just clogged the treads?

Oh, I might just add, that its actually more ice than snow, it's fine when its not compacted as Kenfowler3966 says, but it is hopeless in icy-snow.

As I said, I am keen to get some 4 season tires, and the light engine does not help. I do enjoy the nippiness for the other 11 months though.

we live in a remote part of hilly yorkshire...so bad snow for weeks at a time, i had no problems with my 1.2 and snow on oe goodyear tyres, infact mine was the only vehicle to get off and back on our street!!!..maybe its your driving style that needs looking at :wonder:

Lots of people are receiving their monsters on Dunlops......maybe not so good in the ice/compacted snow....

Lots of people are receiving their monsters on Dunlops......maybe not so good in the ice/compacted snow....

Mine are on goodyears and they seem to be very good in dry, but not good in snow or ice.

Noticed all current factory fit tyres for 17" wheels appear to be the Dunlop Sport 01, whereas the 16" (not GreenLine II) can be either Continental PremiumContact 2 or Goodyear Excellence.

My old Yeti the one that did 180 going down hill was running on Goodyear Excellence 225/50 17R 94W at the time. That's what got me into being a winter tyre convert The new Monster from my experience with the last one, has been specially built on 16" alloys in place of the standard 17" thanks to the very kind people at Skoda Auto a.s.

Regards,

TP