Why buy a non 4x4 Yeti ?.Having owned 3 Fabia estates along with Subaru Imprezas I can't really see the logic in spending money on a Yeti that isn't 4x4 or any of these crossover vehicles come to that. If you need 4x4 capability buy 4x4 otherwise spend your money on an Octavia or Golf or Audi 2wd etc

Why buy a non 4x4 Yeti ?.Having owned 3 Fabia estates along with Subaru Imprezas I can't really see the logic in spending money on a Yeti that isn't 4x4 or any of these crossover vehicles come to that. If you need 4x4 capability buy 4x4 otherwise spend your money on an Octavia or Golf or Audi 2wd etc

Maybe some owners like the yeti, and don't need 4x4, may need the ground clearance, you spend your money how you like

Old fart, need ease of access etc and also not many around Finistere, always generates interest, which, is good for my french!

And if you are buying a Yeti 4x4 it is because all you want or may need is 'Part Time AWD' capacity and a badge saying '4x4'.

Front wheel drive with some rear wheel assistance but mostly just Front Wheel drive.

If you need a 4x4. you will get one probably, that will not be a Yeti tho..

george

The decision to buy a Yeti can be nothing to do with the 4x4 or 2wd decision.

Our deciding factors were all about easy access (adjustable seat height and

coping with bad back) This combined with at least adequate boot space

without going up to say a CRV sized vehicle and it's attendant running costs.

Good build and reliability another factor and availability of auto petrol box.

4X4 would not be a factor for us. Make not a big issue providing the total

package ticks the right boxes.

People buy a car for different personal reason and don't all fit the obvious pattern.

Why buy a non 4x4 Yeti ?.Having owned 3 Fabia estates along with Subaru Imprezas I can't really see the logic in spending money on a Yeti that isn't 4x4 or any of these crossover vehicles come to that. If you need 4x4 capability buy 4x4 otherwise spend your money on an Octavia or Golf or Audi 2wd etc

Octavia is too big.

Golf is too expensive.

Audi is even more so.

And because it's called

Free Choice

Tend to agree with the replies to date. Actually see it as a bit of a pointless question. Pretty obvious why you might want a 2WD Yeti.

Speaking personally if I wanted or needed a 4x4 for whatever reason, I could afford to get one. Could afford a Land Rover or a Land Cruiser or just a Suzuki Jimny but it just happens that the overall dimensions, the appearance, the high seating position, the readily visible bonnet from the driving position, the fact that there's a reliable Skoda dealer locally, the NCAP safety ratings, the available colour(s), the reasonable servicing rates and reasonable purchase costs, the excellent DSG gearbox, the fact that you can (and I have) put winter tyres on it to good effect, the higher wading depth than most hatchbacks, the excellent build quality, the availability of a spare wheel, the fact that it's petrol and I do some short journeys...........all happen to appeal to me. I reckon the winter tyres will get me out of trouble as well (or almost as well) as a 4x4 Yeti without winter tyres and I don't do any offroading.

Apart from that I suppose I should have gone for the 4x4.

As it happens, when I change it I guess I might get a diesel 4x4 Elegance...but for no good reason other than upgrading for upgrading's sake, and it would serve no practical purpose whatsoever. But, as per Wakev's reply - "you spend your money how you like "

1- Ground clearance: At times I might need entering building sites for my work. Also for leisure times entering national parks and nature reserves (where allowed) on non asphalt roads, but good enough for 2x4 with higher ground clearance.

2- Interior head height: Better than a standard 5 doors hatchback or SW (most SW being longer than hatchback).

3- Form factor: Altough smaller interior than Cangoo, Berlingo / Partner,Qubo, Doblo etc. but at lower price and higher safety "euroncap" + better safety package. Also better interior trim.

4- Quoting "900000" (Johann): Pride & Joy...

A Front wheel drive/2 WD Yeti, with the correct front tyres for the job might never spin its front wheels.

If the Yeti 4x4 has the correct tyres and no wheels spin its the same as that 2WD Yeti. Just driving in 2WD.

(Only Heavier & possibly less frugal on fuel.)

Seems a simplification, but that how life is.

george

A Front wheel drive/2 WD Yeti, with the correct front tyres for the job might never spin its front wheels.

If the Yeti 4x4 has the correct tyres and no wheels spin its the same as that 2WD Yeti. Just driving in 2WD.

(Only Heavier & possibly less frugal on fuel.)

Seems a simplification, but that how life is.

george

Yeah but - No but.....If I can play Devils Advocate (I think that's the expression I want)....

"A Front wheel drive/2 WD Yeti, with the correct front tyres for the job might never spin its front wheels."..........

For the purposes of the act we'll assume I have the correct tyres for the job. To be honest, injudicious use of the right foot on even the very slightly loosest of surfaces with the DSG box can induce a spin - and occasionally does. I was on a wet loosely surfaced lane recently and had to pull over in to a driveway to get out of the way of a lorry and it happened that the driveway had a bit of a raised ramp (like a mini sleeping policeman) and I did actually have to back up a bit and have a bit of a run at it due to a lack of adhesion. I would imagine that 4X4 would have kicked in if I'd had it. However this is rare and certainly doesn't justify swapping to a 4x4. But I just throw this in by way of a mild and conciliatory gesture toward the point the OP makes.

Edited 6 January, 201313 yr by oldstan

I drive a Jimny daily all year around and its ' 2 wd Rear Wheel drive as it drives',

i do not think it has 'needed' to be put in AWD for 2 years,

yet it has been off road and on snow and ice.

(good that the option is there if i chose to go 4x4, rather than the car making the decision IMO)

You just buy and use what you want or need and sometimes you find you need something else or what you bought was unnecessary for your uses.

Only time and changing situations or conditons can tell.

Police forces and ambulance Services were happily buying Soft Roaders untill they were getting stuck and then 'Hire' vehicles were in shortage.

Scotland has now bought in proper 4x4's and so far they are mostly not needed yet have cost more and are going to cost more as time rolls on.

I do not have a 'People Carrier',

but if needs be, i can hire one for £40 a day.

Saves owning for years a People Carrier i would only need a few days each year.

george

I have 4x4 and prefer how it drives over the 2wd equivalent. I like the added traction, additional weight holding down the rear and potential additional safety having all 4 wheels driven brings.

Currently on my fourth Haldex equipped motor as the main family car and if I could get a smaller 4x4 Skoda as a second car I'd have one.

TP

I am with TP, until you have driven the 4x4 version you will not understand the levels of grip are incredible.

I went for the 4x4 version as I tow a rally car and use the Yeti sometimes as the shot gun vehicle in case the EVO needs rescuing. I also have an interest in photography and where the Yeti can go is much further than where my Audi or BMW used to get to.

Traction is also very good if you are knocking on a bit or being a bit exuberant with the accelerator from traffic lights etc.

Traction is good right enough,

It is only 4 wheel traction or which ever wheels have traction after traction has been lost at tyres,

or its front wheels driving only untill loss of traction.

george

Traction is good right enough,

It is only 4 wheel traction or which ever wheels have traction after traction has been lost at tyres,

or its front wheels driving only untill loss of traction.

george

I Know

Traction is good right enough,

It is only 4 wheel traction or which ever wheels have traction after traction has been lost at tyres,

or its front wheels driving only untill loss of traction.

george

??

Sorry George, but I can't work that one out.

As for the original question, I bought the 4x4 version because I wanted to, and it has nothing to do with the badge on the tailgate!

I don't want to drive a land rover, ranger over, land cruiser or anything of that ilk because I don't need a car that large or expensive and they don't suit my needs.

I have better things to spend money on.

IMO the yeti, whether 2wd or 4wd, is the best value in terms of the overall cost of purchase, running costs, reliability and after sales support.

It is a great all round family car, which is what I need

As for swapping manually between 2wd and 4wd, I would rather the car sorts that out when it is needed so I can concentrate fully on the complexities of driving.

It's been a while since I've read so much utter crap on a thread like this.

Why buy a non 4x4 Yeti ?.Having owned 3 Fabia estates along with Subaru Imprezas I can't really see the logic in spending money on a Yeti that isn't 4x4 or any of these crossover vehicles come to that. If you need 4x4 capability buy 4x4 otherwise spend your money on an Octavia or Golf or Audi 2wd etc

Not everyone needs 4x4, but they do like the look of the Yeti, the practical body, the higher driving position and a bit of extra ground clearance.

I'd have thought it was quite easy to understand.

And if you are buying a Yeti 4x4 it is because all you want or may need is 'Part Time AWD' capacity and a badge saying '4x4'.

Front wheel drive with some rear wheel assistance but mostly just Front Wheel drive.

If you need a 4x4. you will get one probably, that will not be a Yeti tho..

george

Do you understand how Haldex 4 works George?

It doesn't wait until the front wheels spin before sending drive backwards.

It's far more advanced, giving greater traction on and off road with around 5% sent backwards even in ideal front wheel drive conditions, thereby saving fuel.

For example, if you swerve, it sends more drive to the rear to immediately to give far better balanced handling and better control.

No wheel slip, no skid. Just 4x4.

Yes, I wanted a proper 4x4 after having Land Rovers and Range Rovers for 10 years. So I bought one, a Yeti.

I no longer needed a towing capacity over 2 tonnes.

Full time 4x4 50:50 split is not needed on a vehicle that is designed for primarily road use.

Which, surprise-surprise, is what most 4x4s are actually used for.

Edit:

No, just saw this. You obviously don't understand how the Yeti system works. But still felt free to post criticising it.

If the Yeti 4x4 has the correct tyres and no wheels spin its the same as that 2WD Yeti. Just driving in 2WD.

(Only Heavier & possibly less frugal on fuel.)

Seems a simplification, but that how life is.

george

??

Sorry George, but I can't work that one out.

I'm glad you've said that...I thought it was just me being a bit dim - especially after James I said he agreed.

Why buy a non 4x4 Yeti ?.Having owned 3 Fabia estates along with Subaru Imprezas I can't really see the logic in spending money on a Yeti that isn't 4x4 or any of these crossover vehicles come to that. If you need 4x4 capability buy 4x4 otherwise spend your money on an Octavia or Golf or Audi 2wd etc

I too looked at your question then looked to the left of the pane of my screen and see you own yourself a 4x4 version.....

Br

JeZ

Edited 6 January, 201313 yr by jezzep

CBF, what i was saying was an answer to James 1,

If we want to drive away spirited and many of us do,

we can have loss of traction and having AWD can make up for that.

Reason for a 4x4 if you want, (or maybe just to take it easier away at the lights)

not a reason that all should have it (4x4) or want it tho.

Traction at pace is good, and good if the car sorts it out for you, (untill it doesnt)

not a safety measure when all traction is lost at all tyres tho.

*Not preaching because i do not do as i say,

best just driving safely to the conditions when on the road can be a good thing,

its liife not a computer game.*

Bossfox

yes i understand the Yeti Haldex system, driven with it,

and had a S3 untill a month or so ago,

george

Bossfox

yes i understand the Yeti Haldex system, driven with it,

and had a S3 untill a month or so ago,

george

So why are you quoting how it works wrongly?

Was it an old S3 with a previous less effective generation of Haldex?

This is just wrong, wrong, wrong.

So you appear to be critisicing the 4x4 versions of the Yeti without seeming to know how the system really does work.

A Front wheel drive/2 WD Yeti, with the correct front tyres for the job might never spin its front wheels.

If the Yeti 4x4 has the correct tyres and no wheels spin its the same as that 2WD Yeti. Just driving in 2WD.

(Only Heavier & possibly less frugal on fuel.)

Seems a simplification, but that how life is.

george

My "I Know" was posted on my behalf by my son, he has now been chastised and banned from my laptop.

Sorry for the misleading comment!

I do know it is very clever even on the slippiest surfaces with standard tyres!

Traction at pace is good, and good if the car sorts it out for you, (untill it doesnt)

not a safety measure when all traction is lost at all tyres tho.

george

And the same is true with two wheel drive.

The whole point is that with 4wheel drive and the haldex system, the limit takes more to reach and, for your average driver, the car is more forgiving of driver error, thus making it safer.

The Thread Title is, 'What is the point'.

My point was that,

A Yeti 4x4 being driven like a Divvy might be no more safe or capable than a 2WD Yeti being driven sensibly or safely.

A Yeti 4x4 on the wrong tyres for the Cold weather might be no better than a lesser Yeti driving 2 Wheels on tyres giving good traction.

Cars just being used as designed and as required.

More than that it was a dig at the OP and at Yeti 4x4 owners that think non 4x4 Yeti's are a lesser beast.

I Failed obviously.

Another simplification over Four Wheel drive systems.

When you hit Black Ice, it hardly matters if you have the most advanced Traction System going,

Tyres have loss of traction and there is no Action in your control untill traction is regained.

All the electronics or hydraulics count for nothing until the tyres adhere again.

So studs or hope for it to all come under control before the vehicle leaves the road.

Often the heavier ones do that the soonest.

george