I have to admit this is partly my fault as I’m not the usual shopper. I’m a bit fanatical about my vehicles. I have read the Yeti user manual front to back and I haven’t ordered one yet.

First I had trouble getting straight answers from the sales people about what’s standard and what’s not here in Australia.

I did a lot of research about what I wanted and what I thought was available in Australia.

As much as a couple of sales guys tried to tell me that “Off Road Tech” only adds hill decent. I knew it changed ABS, EDS and ASR programs. I’m not thinking about using the Yeti as a Landcruiser but I as my friends live out of town on farms, I want to take the Yeti up the paddock sometime. At the moment everything is unloaded from my WRX and loaded in to their vehicles.

I have read it several times that the standard halogen lights aren’t the best and driving on country roads in Australia at night, it is inevitable that you’ll come across wildlife. So I have opted for the Bi-Xenon Lights.

The next 2 options were not absolutely necessary but I thought they would be nice.

I have driven over 100,000km per year for my job and think I can park reasonably well but I like park sensors on cars these days. I initially just wanted rear sensors but it’s not much more for front as well then it’s only a small step to get Park Assist. So that option went down as well.

The least necessary option was the “Sound System Upgrade” which as far as I can tell has the same stereo but more speakers.

In Australia we have to take what’s in stock here in Australia or order and wait 5 months.

I was told that there was no stock of any Yeti with “Off Road Tech” in Australia but I’d seen so many with the button. I ended up finding out it was standard on all 2011 models ordered for Australia and there are plenty of 2011 models still in stock in Australia. The only problem was that there are not many left with Bi-Xenon head lights and those that have the Bi-Xenon lights have other options like leather and sun roofs which jack the price up considerably.

So I had made the decision that I wouldn’t be happy with a vehicle with just Bi-Xenon lights or just “Off Road Tech” so I had decided to order my vehicle and wait.

Today my finance was approved and I contacted the dealer advising him I’ll be dropping in on 14 September to pay a deposit and order a vehicle. I asked at the time that since the “Annapurna Wheels” were the same size, just a style difference, were they a no cost option. He got back to me and said as my vehicle will be a 2013 compliance he is unsure of the pricing and options. Looks like I’ll be going through all this again with sales guys not really being able to tell me what I’m getting.

I like the current stereo on the 2011,2012. My luck it will change for the 2013.

Sounds like a right old pain! This is when you realise the Nissan way of NO OPTIONS on the Cashcow (Dualis in OZ) is actually a far better way to keep the customer happy. Unless of course (like you and I) we like our own individual options! Good luck.

Hi Joel, the audio upgrade includes additional speakers as well as a digital amp under the passenger seat. The head unit (at least here) is a seperate upgrade.

Hi Joel, the audio upgrade includes additional speakers as well as a digital amp under the passenger seat. The head unit (at least here) is a seperate upgrade.

Thanks for the reply mate. The "Sound System Upgrade" is listed in the options but all the sale guys here can tell me is it has 12 speakers. It's possible that Skoda Australia has never ordered one with the option and the great majority of people just choose a vehicle for the Australian stock.Happy Days.

If you like your music then Id say go for it, It definetly provides superior sound (seperation and bass capability mainly) compared to standard. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply mate. The "Sound System Upgrade" is listed in the options but all the sale guys here can tell me is it has 12 speakers. It's possible that Skoda Australia has never ordered one with the option and the great majority of people just choose a vehicle for the Australian stock.Happy Days.

As FocusZetec says, the sound upgrade adds 4 mid range speakers (total 12) and a separate amp to drive it under the passenger seat (in the UK). We also have the choice of the standard Bolero, or the expensive optional Columbus (with sat nav) head units. I have both as does FocusZetec and the sound is much better than standard.

Edited 4 September, 201213 yr by rockhopper

You would have thought, seeing as Skoda are trying to break into the Australian and New Zealand markets, that they would make an effort to get delivery times as low as possible.

Having spent a couple of months in WA, I reckon the Yeti is an ideal vehicle.

On the black stuff most of the time and the odd foray onto the red dirt.

Come on Skoda Oz, the next time I'm down there I want to hire one to get around in.