While mooching in the local dealer noted a new FWD only Yeti 1.2l at £20,000 (DSG?) . Nearby was a new Octavia VRs hatch at the same price. I know what is the better value car and its not an abominable choice.

While mooching in the local dealer noted a new FWD only Yeti 1.2l at £20,000 (DSG?) . Nearby was a new Octavia VRs hatch at the same price. I know what is the better value car and its not an abominable choice.

Depends on many things,

First your eyesight!

vRS all day long!

Yeti's are selling well, so they are not discounted like the other models. So look worse value.

In our position we'd rather have the Yeti though, for specific reasons to us.

But 20K is a lot of money for a 1.2l two wheel drive car.... I'd expect a 4WD at that money.

Edited 25 August, 201114 yr by gregoir

The Yeti is clearly aimed at the retired with disposable income market, who clearly have no clue about cars, so can be ripped off wholesale, whereas the Octy is in the cut throat fleet market, where low sticker price, reliability & volume is more important.

And before all the Yeti owners on here call FOUL, just actually look at the demographic of the 'average' Yeti owner. Post 55, retired, mobility issues (and the car leased through Mobility). The same is happening with it's main rival the Freelander. OAP's are choosing these cars just on the simple fact that they are easy to get in & out of, thanks to the high ground clearance. Cars like the Furby and Octy are just too low down for those with back problems etc. Not seen a Yeti towing a caravan yet though, but see plenty of its rivals such as the Honda CRV, Freelander etc..The Caravan Club not tested the Yeti yet?

Interesting points FellyMagic and to a degree you may be right. But the design of the Yeti also makes it a good car for a young family IMO.

Our 1.2 DSG SE was only about 16.5k, which I think is very reasonable for an auto petrol family car with a good array of talents.

IMHO, a 1.2 litre unit in a car the size (and weight) of a Yeti is just asking for trouble as the miles mount up. And £16.5k for a 1.2? I'm sorry, but that gets you a common rail turbo diesel nowadays in most family cars. Prices for the Yeti are extracting the urine rather a lot for what you get, and this deliberately manufactured wait is a ploy to boost Skoda's very poor residual values.

Car sales have always been about psychology (just like all retail sales), and VAG are currently using every old trick in the book, and people are falling hook, line & sinker for it. The longer the wait, the more people will want, plus they make interest on all the deposits. Also the longer the wait, the more profit per unit sold due to the interest, and I would say the Yeti has a very high margin for VAG.

Also I have a sneaky feeling Clarkson was 'bought' by VAG to do a good review of the Yeti. He doesn't care about cars really, just about money.

I've just looked, and £16k gets you the very top line Berlingo Multispace, which has all the toys, as well as a common rail TD engine with 110bhp, or a top of the line C3 Picasso which qualifies for the first year's RFL free. I know they aren't as well made, but they do look better than the Yeti, and PSA make some of the best derv lumps in the business. Citroen dealers are also renowned for discounting metal, unlike VAG, which are becoming the Scrooge of the car world. I've even seen the latest Focus TDCi at the local dealer for stupidly low prices.

I disagree.

IMHO, a 1.2 litre unit in a car the size (and weight) of a Yeti is just asking for trouble as the miles mount up. And £16.5k for a 1.2? I'm sorry, but that gets you a common rail turbo diesel nowadays in most family cars. Prices for the Yeti are extracting the urine rather a lot for what you get, and this deliberately manufactured wait is a ploy to boost Skoda's very poor residual values.

Car sales have always been about psychology (just like all retail sales), and VAG are currently using every old trick in the book, and people are falling hook, line & sinker for it. The longer the wait, the more people will want, plus they make interest on all the deposits. Also the longer the wait, the more profit per unit sold due to the interest, and I would say the Yeti has a very high margin for VAG.

Also I have a sneaky feeling Clarkson was 'bought' by VAG to do a good review of the Yeti. He doesn't care about cars really, just about money.

I've just looked, and £16k gets you the very top line Berlingo Multispace, which has all the toys, as well as a common rail TD engine with 110bhp, or a top of the line C3 Picasso which qualifies for the first year's RFL free. I know they aren't as well made, but they do look better than the Yeti, and PSA make some of the best derv lumps in the business. Citroen dealers are also renowned for discounting metal, unlike VAG, which are becoming the Scrooge of the car world. I've even seen the latest Focus TDCi at the local dealer for stupidly low prices.

The point regarding Clarkson, I can't disprove that, well see my other post on What Car magazine (which I noticed you have posted on as well! )

I bought my Yeti way before the Top Gear review, and even if it was broadcasted before I bought the Yeti, I still wouldn't have been jumping up and down because he reviewed it. To me, Clarkson added a lot of favour to people who possibly know little about cars. I still don't see how a Yeti is better than a Range Rover on the ride quality department, having been in quite a few and family had one for 3 years. Again, I can't see how it is better than the Maybach. Although I have not been in one, I am sure the Maybach has more space in the back and more space in the luggage compartment, and you can have a 5 seats version I think, which makes it as practical as the Yeti, if not more (bigger boot for sure).

However, I think the Yeti proves to be a viable option for an early 20s guy like me who would have otherwise follow the Golf/Focus route and don't want a Suzuki. (Actually much cheaper than a Golf, as I took the advantage of the trade in offer they had back in 2010)

PS. I think I have gone insane, but apart from the Stratos-esque windows (BTW also feature in the old Yaris lol), I think the back had a similar silohette as the Delta Integrale (narrow top, wide bottom), may be I need glasses!)

Edited 25 August, 201114 yr by My_Yeti

All I can say is you chose the wrong car mate. 2wd, 1.2? Resale value roughly 20-30% less. When it comes to part ex time, don't expect a lot, as dealers will struggle to shift it on. Cars like the Yeti MUST have a diesel under the bonnet, and 4x4 to be saleable on the used market. Used petrols are becoming very slow sellers, especially in the Yeti class, as more & more people want better mpg & cheaper road tax. My current steed will be the last petrol I own. The mpg just isn't good enough anymore, with the current price of fuel.

What mpg is it managing by the way? And be honest

All I can say is you chose the wrong car mate. 2wd, 1.2? Resale value roughly 20-30% less. When it comes to part ex time, don't expect a lot, as dealers will struggle to shift it on. Cars like the Yeti MUST have a diesel under the bonnet, and 4x4 to be saleable on the used market. Used petrols are becoming very slow sellers, especially in the Yeti class, as more & more people want better mpg & cheaper road tax. My current steed will be the last petrol I own. The mpg just isn't good enough anymore, with the current price of fuel.

What mpg is it managing by the way? And be honest

Like you, I was sceptical about the 1.2 TSI, having previously owned a 4.5 and 2.8 Merc and a 2.6 Audi. In fact the smallest engine I have before I bought the Yeti was a 1.8 (MGB and Mondeo).

The MPG figures are on my signatures, and they are real figures in real situations. I am actually very please with those figures. Whilst I agree with you that, at this very moment, people are keen to buy a diesel with soaring fuel cost etc, but with diesel likely to have DPF and DMF problems, it would not suit everyone (definitely wouldn't suit me at all).

Obviously within VAG they are fitting small petrols to their cars (1.2 A3, 1.4 Tiguan, 1.4 Superb etc), this trend is likely to continue, Merc fitted (or still fitting) 1.6 turbos in the current C-Class and the C250 petrol is a 2.0 turbo. BMW is doing the same. When people learn in the near future that engine size doesn't mean a lot, they would be less sceptical about small engines. The turbo does make a different and I actually though 125 hp pushing 1350 kg around isn't too excessive, its no sportscar, but its no worse than a Mondeo 2.0.

All I can say is you chose the wrong car mate. 2wd, 1.2? Resale value roughly 20-30% less. When it comes to part ex time, don't expect a lot, as dealers will struggle to shift it on. Cars like the Yeti MUST have a diesel under the bonnet, and 4x4 to be saleable on the used market. Used petrols are becoming very slow sellers, especially in the Yeti class, as more & more people want better mpg & cheaper road tax. My current steed will be the last petrol I own. The mpg just isn't good enough anymore, with the current price of fuel.

What mpg is it managing by the way? And be honest

Our mpg from new is just over 40mpg, although it's only got 4000 miles on it, so will improve as an average figure. Worked out in real terms on fuelly.

You clearly have a downer on the Yeti, it doesn't need 4x4 and diesel. If it was a bigger SUV I'd agree. One post you say it's for semi retired types, the next that 2wd is the wrong car to buy ???

So all the pensioners want 4x4... hmmm.

The 1.2 petrol is 4000 (ish) cheaper than the 4x4 diesel so who cares if it's 20% lower in resale value ... it was over 20% cheaper to buy!

The 1.2 is a great little engine, far better in the Yeti than I was expecting. But it's never easy to get that across to those with a blinkered view or who like to dislike it.

Surely apart from a high driving position the octy is a better family car compared to a 2wd yeti.

The octys boot is cavernous in comparison. And for a lot less money a CR vRS will easily average 55mpg.

---

I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.944852,-0.440759

iPhone using Tapatalk

The yeti is a 1.2TSI isn't it? Not just a 1.2 NA

Matt

Surely apart from a high driving position the octy is a better family car compared to a 2wd yeti.

The octys boot is cavernous in comparison. And for a lot less money a CR vRS will easily average 55mpg.

---

I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.944852,-0.440759

iPhone using Tapatalk

Horses for courses I guess. I had a Yeti for a day while my Octavia was being worked on. 1.4 TSi IIRC and while it didn't set the world on fire it was adequate. Fuel economy I won't comment on as it had 250 miles on the clock. Now if I had to put my money where my mouth is I'd have an Octavia over one BUT the Yet was a good car, no denying that. Not everyone wants a hatch that blends in to the background, some people like the quirky styling, some people like the raised driving position, some people live in remote areas with rubbish roads so want a bit of ground clearance but don't need the 4wd. The list is endless.

The Octavia is good, but if we want a car (not SUV) with raised ride height, funky styling that looks different and that actually fits in our garage (Octavia is 5cm too long) the Yeti is the perfect choice.

Is the Octavia better value for money? Yes.

But that is not how many people choose a car. They have a list of requirements and buy something they like that ticks the right boxes.

As said, horses for courses.

I've just looked, and £16k gets you the very top line Berlingo Multispace, which has all the toys, as well as a common rail TD engine with 110bhp, or a top of the line C3 Picasso which qualifies for the first year's RFL free. I know they aren't as well made, but they do look better than the Yeti,

I'd rather spend £16k on a Yeti than have that choice. One's a van and the C3 is no comparison to anything put out by VAG. Ok, well, perhaps a Lupo and that's probably better built.

I'd rather spend £16k on a Yeti than have that choice. One's a van and the C3 is no comparison to anything put out by VAG. Ok, well, perhaps a Lupo and that's probably better built.

I have had 5 Octavias since 1998. I jsut got bored of driving the same car time after time. I no longer do much more than 7000 miles a year so one of the new diesel engines would land me up with DPF issues. So I tested the 1.2 tsi Yeti and the decision was made. The only thing I'm worried about is after driving diesel Octavias for the last 13 years I am going to have to be really careful when filling up to make sure I pick the green pump!

As for Skoda ripping off pensioners, have a look at the Tiguan prices as compared with the Yeti, now that is ripping people off.

:wonder:

I'd rather spend £16k on a Yeti than have that choice. One's a van and the C3 is no comparison to anything put out by VAG. Ok, well, perhaps a Lupo and that's probably better built.

+1

Having actually driven a berlingo, I can't possibly see how you can suggest it as a viable alternative. It is truly awful.

Lupo is a great car, perhaps you're getting confused with the fox? Almost as bad as the berlingo!

Octavia has a bigger boot than a Yeti hasn't it?

People who think the 1.2TSI is a bad engine has never driven one or sat in one. as the refinement is very good and miles better then diesel, also the power delivery is excellant and only wanabe racers would need more power in the real world, he is getting 40mpg when you take into account petrol is 3-6p cheaper a gallon, and if he does mostly short journey a diesel will not be much better in mpg

Horses for courses is the best way to look at this. Car companies think people looking at an Astra will also automatically look at a Golf. But in fact it is money that does the talking and then why should you stick to the Golf class? For your £20,000 you can do as you please these days, from a high spec Nissan Puke or supermini, a mid-range Cashcow, a small cabriolet to a softroader like the Yeti and then the boring choices like an Octavia or Golf, not to mention second hand cars and thus even more genres. Every car purchase has rational reasons behind it. My last car was an Audi A2. I could have bought a top of the range Alfa 147 or a 170hp Golf V5 for the same money in those days. I didn't. I bought a weird, tiny, aluminium car with 75 horses from its three cylinders. I loved it. It was scarce and put a smile on my face every single time I used it.

This time again I bought something scarce and what could be seen as leftfield. A Yeti. I could have bought plenty of other things like a very new but second hand Audi A5 or Porsche Boxster, not to mention new metal like a Golf GTI or indeed an Octavia vRS or Scout. Instead I spent my £27,000 on a Yeti. Horses for courses. People can argue until they are blue in the face about how certain things just don't make any sense between any two things they care to mention. Just remember we are thankfully all unique and different. If we had not been we'd all still be (happilly) driving black Ford Model Ts!

This time again I bought something scarce and what could be seen as leftfield. A Yeti. I could have bought plenty of other things like a very new but second hand Audi A5 or Porsche Boxster, not to mention new metal like a Golf GTI or indeed an Octavia vRS or Scout. Instead I spent my £27,000 on a Yeti. Horses for courses. People can argue until they are blue in the face about how certain things just don't make any sense between any two things they care to mention. Just remember we are thankfully all unique and different. If we had not been we'd all still be (happilly) driving black Ford Model Ts!

Johann, you just summed up my thinking perfectly. I have had 5 Octavias, a Felicia, 2 Favorits and an Estelle. It was just time for something different. I fitted winter tyres to the Octavia and they were excellent but there were two occasions where the Octavia bottomed out on the sno wand I got stuck - once when retrieving my elderly parents from their snowbound street. So I am hoping the higher ground clearance will avoid a repeat performance this winter.

We should be happy we have a choice. When I bought my first car you had a choice of three kinds of Estelle, 105, 120 or a 136 rapid. That was about as good as it got back in the late 80s :-) Great cars in the snow though

And before all the Yeti owners on here call FOUL, just actually look at the demographic of the 'average' Yeti owner. Post 55, retired, mobility issues (and the car leased through Mobility).

I find that very hard to believe - where's your hard evidence to support that claim?

I find that very hard to believe - where's your hard evidence to support that claim?

It's OK, he's a known anti-Yetist.