Had a road test in a Yeti 140 manual yesterday. Also tested a Qashqai 1.5 diesel and a Ford C-max diesel. I felt that the gear change on the Yeti was somewhat imprecise (very imprecise compared to the C-Max). I mostly got the gear I expected but I was not very confident. Does anyone else find the gearchange a little rubbery?

Overall I think the Yeti was the most sophisticated though I thought thought the Ford would have been as good had the seats not been uncomfortable. The Nissan has a 'tappety' noise when accellerated but was quiet at constant speeds but I thought the Nissan had too much self-centering on the steering. I'd say that the Yeti and the C-Max had a similar steering feel which was entirely acceptable.

I'd choose the yeti of the three but would have to sacrifice the carrying of golf clubs as the boot is too narrow to get them in. Has anyone compared a Mitsubishi ASX to the Yeti as I though that might be worth a try.

TIA

I'd have the Yeti every time out of those. The gearchange isn't the best but that's VAG and you soon get used to it. If you found it very bad an liked the Yeti, perhaps drive another one and see if it was just that particular car.

Golf clubs go in fine, just fold one backrest down (simple flip of a lever) and slide them in lengthways.

I wouldn't touch a Mitsu with a long pole, I find their quality and interiors to be very substandard.

Edited 26 February, 201214 yr by carnivorous

Find the gearbox in my current 2011 MY11 TDI 110 4x4 better than the one I had in the previous 2009 MY10 TDI 140 4x4, therefore it might be worth trying another as suggested above.

Oh you don't say the age of the Yeti you drove :wonder:

A current 140 has a number of changes to the original 140 that appeared in Sept 09; major changes include both engine and gearbox which have been replaced with updated versions.

TP

Don't have much to help regarding the Gearbox, as I have a 1.2, but I find the gear change to be the same as a Gold Mk6, and better than Fabia/Roomster (which is more springy).

WRT Golf Clubs, depending what bags you use, mine slides into the recess at the opening end of the boot.

Thanks My_yeti Carnivor and Plumber. I think that you answered the question that I forgot to ask to which the answer seems to be that one does get used to it. As you may have guessed I have not owned a VAG car in living memory - my last one was a VW Derby back in 1978!

The car I tried was a nearly new TDI 140 4WD demonstrator at the local dealer so I assumed that if the gearchange were not typical they would not have been using it.

As I'll probably go for a low milage used car I'd be intereested to know the date that the updated cars were introduced so I'll browse the forum for some info.

I sometimes leave the golf clubs in the car for several days and where I live would not want to have them partly on view so I'd have to change the habit of a lifetime! The Qashqai and the C-Max both looked as though the clubs would fit diagonally in the boot as they do in my Beemer 320D. Not a show stopper though. I'll be making the decision before the end of March.

thanks again.

Edited 26 February, 201214 yr by warley

Current CFH second generation TDI CR engines (110 and 140) introduced on vehicles built from November 2009, second generation TDI 170 started to be fitted from June 2010.

Gearboxes for all TDI bar 2wd were updated from start of MY12 production in June 2011.

Front suspension improvements were introduced with a new design of front assembly carrier (originally aluminium now steel) and wishbones from August 2010 production.

Elegance wing mirrors were changed from dimming to folding again from start of MY12 production in June 2011.

Just some of the changes of the top of my head and I hope of help,

TP

No concerns about the manual gearbox on my Yeti. If the driver is hamfisted it might be problematic, but provided you focus on the job in hand you can snick neatly into place every time.

No concerns about the manual gearbox on my Yeti. If the driver is hamfisted it might be problematic, but provided you focus on the job in hand you can snick neatly into place every time.

+1 to that.

We also test drove a mitsubishi and it bore no comparison to the Yeti,with the possible exception of better fuel economy.

No concerns about the manual gearbox on my Yeti. If the driver is hamfisted it might be problematic, but provided you focus on the job in hand you can snick neatly into place every time.

+2

My very early Yeti has a lovely gearchange. At least the equal of the various new and old Fords, Vauxhalls and other VAGs that I get the opportunity to drive.

I think the Yeti has a far better gear change than the Scirocco 2009MY and hugely better that the Qashqai 2007MY both of which I owned and drover for about 2 years.

You do realise that the Yeti's outer rear seats can slide forward by about 140mm and the backrest has different angles too? Sliding one forward (and/or putting it in its most upright position) will enable the golf clubs to fit diagonally very easily I'd say! The windows at the back are also pretty heavily tinted so no-one would see the clubs. If you throw a black fleece over them they certainly won't be noticed.

As to the gearchange: have you driven a DSG yet?! I'm on my first automatic car with this Yeti and believe me, I will never go back to a manual after this. Go and try one if you did not like the manual gearchange.

My May 2011 SE 2WD yeti has a wonderful gearbox I can even change gear with two fingers with my arm on the armrest.

Fred

You do realise that the Yeti's outer rear seats can slide forward by about 140mm and the backrest has different angles too?.............As to the gearchange have you driven a DSG yet?! I'm on my first automatic car with this Yeti and believe me, I will never go back to a manual after this.

No, had not twigged to the sliding seats though the dealers did not mention them either when I bought up the golf clubs! I won't let the gof clubs issue rule out the Yeti anyway. With regard to the gearbox, I'd be worried about the cost of repairing a DSG were it to go wrong. I did have an auto BMW once but subsequently went back to a manual. Do people now regard the DSG as 'stable' technology - to me it still seems a bit 'new-fangled'!

However there was an interesting piece in Autocar last week saying that double clutch 'automatics' will replace manual boxes in the next few years so maybe I won't have a choice for much longer.

Thanks again for the advice everyone.

Edited 27 February, 201214 yr by warley

With regard to the gearbox, I'd be worried about the cost of repairing a DSG were it to go wrong. I did have an auto BMW once but subsequently went back to a manual. Do people now regard the DSG as 'stable' technology - to me it still seems a bit 'new-fangled'!

The VAG one has been out since the first Audi TT, It is tried and tested, and the latest version, 6spd which I have is very good. How long are you going to keep the car? where do you drive it? town or country? do you need to drive an auto for medical reasons?

I drive mine around London, but my previous Octavia DSG was fine when I sold it with 100,000 miles on the clock. I suffer sciatica if I drive a manual for long around London, and even on country roads. So the DSG is a no brainer for me. I have has just under 60,000 miles trouble free with DSG boxes. There was a gremlin in the box early in Elsie's life when she would have a false neutral when I was playing with the flappy paddles I have fitted, but it last happened about 12,000 miles ago, with no problems since.

Would I buy another? Yes. I will never buy a manual again......

I like the DSG boxes but tbh don't mind the manual for my driving. I do lots of motorways so on the diesel it's sixth gear and chill...

Manual was cheaper so I went for it and am happy with it, but I would consider an auto again if the price is right.

It is tried and tested, and the latest version, 6spd which I have is very good. How long are you going to keep the car? where do you drive it? town or country? do you need to drive an auto for medical reasons?

Not sure how long I'd keep a Yeti. Would not particularly wish to own one out of warranty but if one does end up owning a car that gets a reputation for unreliability then it is a liablity when the time to sell it comes. As for usage, towns in the week, country at the weekends. Prefer manuals - perhaps I'm just a traditionalist! I've had the BMW that I have just sold for 6 years having bought it at 3 years old. Kept it 6 years to get some value out of it after a 4,000 repair bill and no warranty (long story, painful) so I'm a little paranoind about the perils of complex car technology. Many years ago I stripped a mini gearbox and fitted a new second gear. These days I doubt if even main dealers are capable of fixing a broken gearbox and it would cost a fortune if they did. I suppose I think that manual boxes are an idea that is not broke and does not need fixing but the legislators want to force us to use even more complex and expensive tech to get minor gains in efficiency. The modern diesel engine is an engineering miracle but the cost of fixing one can be huge. Diesels used to be simple sludge gulpers but they've gone all nouvelle cuisine. Maybe DSG boxes too - a gearbox that needs electronics! Sorry, had a bad day and I'm rambling!