From our most recent trip to France - there 3+ weeks, so a reasonable sample period, I guess - it was interesting to note that while there seems to be an increasing number of Octavias (many, but not all, as taxis) and - interestingly - a real surge in the number of Roomsters, I still saw very few Yetis (three in all) but - strangely - discovered that Fabias are equally rare. Why should that be, I wonder?

Well the Fabia is a weird looking device - way too narrow and too tall. So perhaps the French people's sense of style precludes them from buying it? But then you say they are buying Roomsters........... I say nothing.

As to the Yeti: they also have the Dacia Duster there of which you might have seen a zillion or so I bet? I think the basic-ness of the Duster viz a viz their old Berlingos appeals more than the Audi-esque (I can't fix this back at the farm) technology of the Yeti?

All tongue in cheek comments by the way!

Well the Fabia is a weird looking device - way too narrow and too tall. So perhaps the French people's sense of style precludes them from buying it? But then you say they are buying Roomsters........... I say nothing.

As to the Yeti: they also have the Dacia Duster there of which you might have seen a zillion or so I bet? I think the basic-ness of the Duster viz a viz their old Berlingos appeals more than the Audi-esque (I can't fix this back at the farm) technology of the Yeti?

All tongue in cheek comments by the way!

Yes, loads of Dusters and also increasing numbers of Freelanders.

We live in France and we have a fabia and a yeti

The Yeti is quite expensive, (maybe because of the £/Euro exchange rate as all cars in France now tend to be compared with the UK), but you can get a factory order new one in less than 3 months and there are always quite a few coming through into the Dealers showrooms - I got a new one in two weeks - the spec that I wanted - discounts are 12% up to 15% without much effort

There are quite a few Fabias on the road - the new and the old models - again buy a new one and discounts are available

I think that the "highest spec" Duster is about 10,000 cheaper than the best spec Yeti

All that I have spoken to who have a Duster like them - more have the cheapest basic models and if you chose the "wrong" colour they look terrible - IMHO they look OK in Dark Blue or Black - we may think about one when we change our 8 year old Fabia

You are lucky to get a discount off a new Duster

Edited 28 October, 201114 yr by BillN_33

All that I have spoken to who have a Duster like them - more have the cheapest basic models and if you chose the "wrong" colour they look terrible - IMHO they look OK in Dark Blue or Black - we may think about one when we change our 8 year old Fabia

The reason for this is that for some inexplicable reason Renault don't make the B and C pillars black on the Duster! Thus on lighter colours these pillars just jar.

vs.

And the above then vs a light coloured one with black B and C pillars:

Looks much better (to my eyes).

The French are very good at the small car, Clio, C3, 207 which is why the Fabia may not be common place. I suspect that it a tough sector to crack in France, a bit like trying to sell an executive car in Germany that is not German. I think someone previously mentioned as well that the Skoda network is not great in France.

the duster is available in a very attractive metallic brown too,

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=dacia+duster+brown&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=661&tbm=isch&tbnid=F7_OyqhvKn5aZM:&imgrefurl=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/carreviews/7979829/Dacia-Duster-review.html&docid=U5-NgDZ_3AA1YM&imgurl=http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01707/Dacia-Duster_1707883c.jpg&w=460&h=287&ei=bGGsTs--A9GVswbarMjUDw&zoom=1

i think yeti would suit this darker shade too

Edited 29 October, 201114 yr by john96

Skoda are stating to become popular here in France, particularly the Superb. The Yeti is still very rare, and when you do see one its usually foreign registered. The Octavia is massively sought after on the French second-hand market....but you don’t see many new ones ??. We were told if we put our Octavia on the 'le bon coin' (the French version of ebay), it would sell within days.

The Yeti is an unknown quantity in France due to its lack of exposure in French car magazines. For example, my French father in law is always reading car magazines and yet he had never heard of, or seen a Yeti until we showed him ours. When he drove it he was amazed at its quality and drive...'you won't get this fun and quality in a French car' He is now going to get one !!. Furthermore, when I'm out and about, people are constantly looking around the car, asking me questions, can I see inside...They all love its shape, design, colour etc. But they never know who makes it.