This thread has nothing really to do with Santa nor an Express but hopefully my ramblings will become clear in due course! What I should've really started with (which is what I believe they do at AA meetings) is say, "I'm Sandy Rogers, and I'm an alcoholic a Yeti owner"

Yesterday, 23rd Dec at 10:00am, for me (as some of you avid 'Yeti Forum' readers will know) started off with a trip on the La'al Ratty, This the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway - a narrow gauge railway which involves an 11km trip either up or down the Eskdale valley in Cumbria. This was a return journey on the Steam train, 'River Irt,' to accompany my (only just two) Grandson along with several other doting members of family, to visit Santa Claus. It was an excellent morning that over-shadowed the next event of the day - another train journey, but not to see Santa Claus, it was a journey to Carlisle to pick up the new car.

We inforned the Dealership that we would get into the Station at 2:57pm and would make our way to the Showroom in due course. We're used to being on the 'hills' most weekends so our intention was to walk - locals will know it's a tidy walk from the Station and so the Dealership insisted that they send a car to pick us up to which we agreed.

We got into the Dealership at about 3:15pm and there it sat outside the Dealership with the Winter tyres and wheels already fitted. As you will no doubt appreciate it was now dark, we left at about 4:00pm and when we got back it was about 7:00pm (SWMBO said we had to do some food shopping!) it was put straight in the garage. I have yet to see it in day light as this morning I had to drive SWMBO (in her car) to our daughters' for their Xmas journey to Manchester to visit relatives for the day and I am left home alone typing this post!

I wasn't as excited as I should've or could've been (even SWMBO asked me what was up) and I think that was down to the wait of 8 months - the arrival was almost an anti-climax. It's the first new car we've ever bought where I know absolutely all its foibles, pros and cons before I got into it - I blame the Forum for that

First impressions:

1. It is a 110 and I thought it was going to be slow - a 170 must go like the proverbial off a shovel

2. I've read threads about the Bi-Xenon headlight spread pattern and I am pleased to report I have no qualms with them

3. Heated seat option was a major plus as far as SWMBO was concerned - will make a huge difference when we come off the 'hills' cold and achey! They don;t just heat your 'sit upon; but your back as well - unlike the top of the range Citroen I just got rid of.

4. Thought they didn't add the 'hill hold' option but I think there is a knack to it which I will no doubt find in the hand book when I get it out of the car. :think:

5. Need to experiment with cruise control to see if it is just cruise control or whether it has a speed limiter

6. Smooth and solid ride - but I'd expect nothing less with a new car

7. Found out what the low fuel alarm sounds like and what a pretty colour the warning is

8. Absolutely love the dancing light display on start up at night

9. Haven't quite got the hang of shutting the boot propery yet but I recalled a thread where I think Johann showed the 'boot open' display so I knew why the courtesy lights were still on.

10. Could've done with electric folding mirrors but it's not the end of the world - would be really handy for garage parking and SMBO (I hope she doesn't get sight of this post :no:

11. The black steel rims don't suit a White Yeti but something I can sort out with a rim respray before next Winter

12. Read the thread about Speedo 50mph & 70mph not obvious but again as with the Bi-Xenons spread pattern that wasn't a concern as I thought might've been

13. Bit more road noise than I expected for a new car but maybe because I was listening for it and maybe the Winter tyres may have contibuted.

All in all pleased with what I've got - it's not massive, but we wanted to downsize and we have recently purchased a trailer for our longer trips in the hills.

We got a whole heap of options on Yeit but I have yet to check underneath for the Rough Road Package which will come in handy as on quite a few occasions we definitely do go way, way off road!

Looking to fit LED DRLs, Towbar (detachable), yellow fogs, woud like LED number plate and interior lights (must find thread!), dog guard + lipped rubber bootm mat and some VDCS tweak.

Now down to the part that really pains me - for months I promised myself I would not post a thread all about the arrival, so why have I? I don't know - it's gotta to be down to the flipping Forum Members who have been really helpful indirectly and directly throughout my membership thus far.

I also couldn't understand why someone would refer to a car by a nick name (c'mon, who on earth does that!?), again, very sad, even if SWMBO does refer to her car as Odie becuase it has ODY as part of its registration. Well I am not pleased to announce that I have joined the bunch that I made fun of, not only do we have number plates that have both our full initials and year of birth (our ages a're seperated by about 6 weeks) but as of the return journey from the Dealership yesterday, and because the car model is SE, we've already started referring to it as the 'Santa Express!'

Why? To bring this rambling post full circle and to a close - I neglected to mention the name of the La'al Ratty Christmas Event at the start of the post! The name is well known in these parts, they advertise it as the 'Santa Express!' Sad or what?

Finally, the Dealership gave us a complimentary toy Yeti car - sadly it is blue. I would love to give my Grandson a white one - if you know where I can get one or want to swap for a blue one please let me know. I will eventually post pictures of the car - it looks no different than any other Candy White Yeti other than the black steelies and winter tyres so I will wait until I use it in anger in the 'hills' for more interesting locational (if there's such a word) pictures (river crossing, uphill mud climbs etc) - now bring on the flipping snow!!!!!

So it looks like mine but probably cleaner then. :lol: Glad to hear you have now collected Santa :lol: Elsie is definitely quieter than my old 2006 Octavia, which I was pleased about. Hill hold is easy. When in gear slightly release brake pedal and press again. Works well. Forward or reverse. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pleased you finally got it - sounds good - keep us posted!

Seasons Greetings!

Great, enjoy your SM.

Happy Christmas Sandy, we're ALL on Santa watch in case he needs 'pulling out of a snow drift'

Congratulations. Can't beat a new car.

Sent from my MZ601 using Tapatalk

Congrats and welcome to the forum. The Yeti is truly an excellent car. I've just been working down in London for a week and then had a few days out in France, and when I was reunited with my SM at dead of night on Thursday in Northallerton station car park, it was such a pleasure to see its neat lines again after all the overblown Chelsea tractors I'd been seeing everywhere for the previous ten days.

Mine is a 170, and it does indeed go like the clappers! I too would have liked folding mirrors, but can live without them and without the 30/50/70 speedo markings. Road noise is something I've noticed on the manufacturer-supplied tyres, but is very variable depending on road surfaces (most around here are appalling). On immaculate French motorways (my SM has been to Provence and back twice in its short life so far!), there is next to no noise at all.

Enjoy - and happy Christmas/New Year!

Well done, Sandy, and glad you are pleased with it.

Brilliant post, Sandy - exactly what, in my opinion, is the strength of this Yeti part of Briskoda. It is extraordinary how this car seems to satisfy so many and so comprehensively.

Mine is full of amplifiers, guitars, speakers, mixers, and prezzies for the soon-to-be grandson, and is groaning on the rear axle - and yet still goes like dung off a shovel. The flexibility is a real bonus.

Sandy - enjoy your acquisition.

Congratulations on the arrival.

It got there in the end, and just in time for Christmas too!

congratulations Sandy Santa has come early for you, now enjoy it after your long wait,

(sent from my laptop using the keyboard my phone is old )

We stayed in Ambleside once on a little family holiday- we also went on the Ravenglass railway- I was only young but still remember it and also the long drive up the awful road to get there! Was a lovely day out.

Pleased the wait is finally over and you've got the car now Enjoy

Congratulations Sandy. I'm now really sorry I could not have been part of your delivery occasion. Unfortunately getting my elderly (94) Father in Law here had to take priority otherwise I would have loved to have seen you at the dealers. Indeed had I known you were coming by train it would have been great to have delivered you to the dealers in a Yeti. And yes a 170 does go like the proverbial off a shovel but though nice to know it is there - rarely needed (for me anyway).

I love your name for the car - so appropriate in the circumstances and I am probably one of the few here who know all about the La'al Ratty. Sadly our car has ended up with the name "Yeti" which is not too original in the circumstances.

Would be nice to meet up sometime. I think you were wise to get the car today rather that wait till January - you will never forget what a great "Christmas present" it was whereas if you waited you would surely remember your Christmas twiddling your thumbs in anguish.

Enjoy Santa Express - and your Christmas festivities ect.

What a perfect date to have picked a new car up!!! Great first review of "SE"!

As to the noise: winter tyres for sure. You'll be amazed at how quiet your car will be come spring and summer tyres.

Enjoy the beastie!

Chuffed to bits for you Sandy after following the saga over the months!

All you need is some snow.

Cheers :beer:

Peter

Philip Eden was on the radio late the other night talking about the weather and he said we have never had three consecutive bad winters since records began... :sun:

Philip Eden was on the radio late the other night talking about the weather and he said we have never had three consecutive bad winters since records began... :sun:

Yeah, not quite what I wanted to hear

Perfect!

New yeti 2 days before Xmas. What could be better?

I'm glad it has finally arrived.

Do you reckon we could all do a rain dance? If it's cold enough we might end up with snow instead.

If it doesn't work you'll just have to go and get it very muddy instead.

Either way enjoy it.