I am on holiday right now on the Isle of Mull (plenty of Yetis seen). Absolutely impressed with the car re general driving - motorway to Loch Lomond, single track road ability - especially the 170's superb brakes for very abrupt stopping when required for an unexpected passing place visit etc etc. a wonderful all round car.

However today I was disappointed. First let me say the incident may be due to my entire lack of any off road experience - but it was only the 2nd time I have ever needed the 4wd facilities in the two years of driving the car and on both occasions I was disappointed.

I was entering the rough car park for the Ulva ferry ( one or two of you may know tis place). It has a very steep, shaley, rutted potholed entrance drive and not a good advert for otherwise good facilities. I looked at it thinking I would never take a standard 2 wheel drive car up there as there was danger of grounding and slipping over the very rough steep loose potholed shale surface. I did note however that about 50% of the cars parked were standard 2wd saloons and wondered how they had coped. I started driving up the slope very confident and thankful for the car I was in but very soon came to a halt with one wheel slipping (don't know which one) and making no forward progress. I had to abandon the attempt and reverse back. It was if the haldex had not brought any of the none slipping wheels into play. More worryingly there was a strong smell of burning clutch and I was not touching the clutch pedal at all during the brief attempt. I then looked more closely at the entrance and chose a route more carefully as I would have done if I was in a 2wd vehicle and got up with zero slippage.

In my ignorance and admitted inexperience I had thought better of the haldex system. My previous disappointment was the cars inability to start up a slope with about 3 inches of snow covering (and snow tyres). The same thing happened but no clutch smell then. I feel that if I purchase another Yeti then for me a 2wd might be a better value option ??

I would suggest there is something wrong with your Yeti, I have had mine in all kinds of situations where I would not take a two wheel drive car and it has performed faultlessly, even going over to Ben Laws from Glen Lyon in the snow. We have been up muddy tracks and even backed up a steep hill in a quarry on the Elan valley meet on three wheels.

Take your Yeti back to the dealer for a check over.

Or it could be operator error.

On a steep hill it needs sufficient grip to pull it's mass.

If you had a couple of wheels (probably opposite ones) positioned in holes etc... There would be little grip and possibly not enough to pull the car's mass.

It's a good advert for choosing the correct route, whatever all singing/dancing 4x4 system you have.

Remember, the Yeti does not have suspension travel like a Land Rover, so get on lumps and bumps and it will struggle going uphill.

By all means, get it checked.

But unless you got out and watched you don't what how many wheels were powered and what it was doing.

So did the EDL / whatever the electronic diff "lock" is called now, fail? I wonder how an owner or even an average Skoda garage can test that at the wheels?

I suspect BossFox has hit the nail on the head. His presumed description fits the actual scene accurately. I think it got stuck in large holes while negotiating the steep hill. and with little grip to pull it out. Choosing the route there was zero slippage and perhaps that was due to haldex working. I think if I had chosen that route on a 2wd there may have been some slippage. Operator error sounds fine to me !!

I've parked my Yeti in the same car park last year without any problem getting in there. But you do have to be careful picking the right line up there.

I found the Yeti to be about perfect on Mull. Not too big for the majority of the roads over there, great at soaking up the numerous potholes, good on the juice which is handy considering the price of it on the island and with its big windows and raised driving position, perfect for spotting wildlife from.

Unlike the Fabia I had before, I can pretty much pull off the road anywhere in the Yeti and not be concerned about damaging the car, should an otter or eagle appear close by unexpectedly. Can't wait to get back up there later this year...

The smell of burning clutch may have come from the brakes :think:

In my case, the cause could have been closer to home!

... I can pretty much pull off the road anywhere in the Yeti and not be concerned about damaging the car, should an otter or eagle appear close by unexpectedly....

I really don't think that otters would attack a yeti. Not sure about an eagle though.

I've parked my Yeti in the same car park last year without any problem getting in there. But you do have to be careful picking the right line up there.

I found the Yeti to be about perfect on Mull. Not too big for the majority of the roads over there, great at soaking up the numerous potholes, good on the juice which is handy considering the price of it on the island and with its big windows and raised driving position, perfect for spotting wildlife from.

Unlike the Fabia I had before, I can pretty much pull off the road anywhere in the Yeti and not be concerned about damaging the car, should an otter or eagle appear close by unexpectedly. Can't wait to get back up there later this year...

The whole of the above nicely sums up the situation - the car park and Mull as a whole - wonderful place - been coming here for the last 32 years !!

The whole of the above nicely sums up the situation - the car park and Mull as a whole - wonderful place - been coming here for the last 32 years !!

So in 32 years you still haven't got the right line into the car park - so you blame the car, tut!tut!

So in 32 years you still haven't got the right line into the car park - so you blame the car, tut!tut!

Nope - I blame me. However it is the first time in 32 years I have used that car park and unless they improve the access, probably the last !!

True - I normally try to park along the side of the road down, as you can get a great view from the car from there, should it be a smidge breezy whilst waiting for a boat.