Unfortunately, both during the Octavia purchase negeotations, and indeed during the search that culminated in purchasing the Yaris (and I had set out with the intention of buying a 1.6 diesel Fabia)

Various salesmen waffled, misinformed and downright agressively lied about ESP being fitted to certain trim levels of various cars.

Including one twerp who tried to convince me that traction control was ESP/was the same as ESP.

Even the 60 plus year old, with lifetime of Skoda sales behind him, did NOT know his product, which since we bought the Octavia II in 2010, was not then, by any means, a newly introduced model.

SCHEESH!

Skoda UK define the specs of the models for sale in the UK.

They didn't make it standard across the whole range.

Daft.

For example, buy an SE and you have to tick this box.

ESC Inc. ABS, EBD, EBC, ASR, EDL, HBA, DSR, ESBS (standard on 4x4, DSG and GreenLine II) £420.

 

Please note that if you're considering buying a Yeti (certainly UK spec.), ESC (Inc. ABS+EBD+EBC+ASR+EDL+HBA+DSR+ESBS) now comes as standard on ALL models, even the base E spec 2wd. This is stated in the June 2013 brochure and a starred bit of speil by way of explanation states "Standard on 1.2 TSI 105 PS, 1.4 TSI 122PS and 2.0 TDI CR 110PS from week 22 production. All other models had ESC as standard prior to this. For further details please consult your retailer." Judging from what some people have experienced with regards to dealers' lack of understanding of ESC, you should take the latter recommendation with a pinch of salt!

EDIT-Having looked at the bumf I picked up about the special edition Yeti Adventure (can you tell I've ordered a new car recently!), it doesn't mention ESC, so as these "extra value" editions can be a way of manufacturers' offloading old stock vehicles, it may not have ESC. Btw, the A4 leaflet is Edition:UK 06/13 and it lists various bits of standard equipment (over the SE) which I won't go into but it doesn't mention ESC. Maybe Skoda UK could comment if you're hovering, wondering whether to get this or a standard model? It would be a decider for me, although I didn't know about this issue before I ordered my SE Plus (money, including the 0% interest deal, which the Adventure isn't available with being the deciding factor for me).

Btw, as the subject of ESC is so important, shouldn't the issue of its inclusion as standard be highlighted as a sticky somewhere? (moderators please comment).

Edited 11 August, 201312 yr by fastestlouigie8

AS far as I aware, ESP or its equivalent is now mandatory on all new cars from Nov 2011

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motoring/esp-mandatory-2011

Ummm here is a newbie question (that might have been already answered so apologies in advance if it has and havent found it on my search)

I was thinking 205/55 R17 tyre size. What positive or negative effects if any, this size would have in terms of fuel economy, road noise, comfort over road anomalies and overall behavior of the car be it a 4x4 or 4x2 compared to 225/50 R17?

Ummm here is a newbie question (that might have been already answered so apologies in advance if it has and havent found it on my search)

I was thinking 205/55 R17 tyre size. What positive or negative effects if any, this size would have in terms of fuel economy, road noise, comfort over road anomalies and overall behavior of the car be it a 4x4 or 4x2 compared to 225/50 R17? Or it just won't fit?

AS far as I aware, ESP or its equivalent is now mandatory on all new cars from Nov 2011

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motoring/esp-mandatory-2011

 

 

Please note that if you're considering buying a Yeti (certainly UK spec.), ESC (Inc. ABS+EBD+EBC+ASR+EDL+HBA+DSR+ESBS) now comes as standard on ALL models, even the base E spec 2wd. This is stated in the June 2013 brochure and a starred bit of speil by way of explanation states "Standard on 1.2 TSI 105 PS, 1.4 TSI 122PS and 2.0 TDI CR 110PS from week 22 production. All other models had ESC as standard prior to this. For further details please consult your retailer." Judging from what some people have experienced with regards to dealers' lack of understanding of ESC, you should take the latter recommendation with a pinch of salt!

EDIT-Having looked at the bumf I picked up about the special edition Yeti Adventure (can you tell I've ordered a new car recently!), it doesn't mention ESC, so as these "extra value" editions can be a way of manufacturers' offloading old stock vehicles, it may not have ESC. Btw, the A4 leaflet is Edition:UK 06/13 and it lists various bits of standard equipment (over the SE) which I won't go into but it doesn't mention ESC. Maybe Skoda UK could comment if you're hovering, wondering whether to get this or a standard model? It would be a decider for me, although I didn't know about this issue before I ordered my SE Plus (money, including the 0% interest deal, which the Adventure isn't available with being the deciding factor for me).

Btw, as the subject of ESC is so important, shouldn't the issue of its inclusion as standard be highlighted as a sticky somewhere? (moderators please comment).

 

From week 22 ESP has been fitted as standard to all new Skodas produced.

Bit of a minefield for second had buyers around this date to know what has it and what doesn't.

AS far as I aware, ESP or its equivalent is now mandatory on all new cars from Nov 2011

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motoring/esp-mandatory-2011

 

Nope.  ESC is mandatory in the EU on all new models from 2012 (I guess they slipped a year) and on all new cars (ie individual vehicles) from 2014.  The Yeti was introduced before 2012 so it doesn't have to have it until next year.  I don't know whether the FL counts as a new model, but it sounds like they've pre-empted the deadline anyway (apart from the Adventure, apparently).

Edited 12 August, 201312 yr by ejstubbs

Nope.  ESC is mandatory in the EU on all new models from 2012 (I guess they slipped a year) and on all new cars (ie individual vehicles) from 2014.  The Yeti was introduced before 2012 so it doesn't have to have it until next year.  I don't know whether the FL counts as a new model, but it sounds like they've pre-empted the deadline anyway (apart from the Adventure, apparently).

I bow to your superior knowledge..

The Adventure, like the Urban is a special addition that looks great, but is missing this important part of safety equipment.

Poor show Skoda, again.

With the size and height of the Yeti it should have always had ESP/ESC as standard equipment.

This last weekend I met up with my brother in law for a run out and the 16 inch wheel question arose again. We tried out both his Greenline MY2011 model and my Elegance MY2013 model and we both agreed if anything my Elegance on 17" wheels actually felt more sure footed and actually smoother on the road than the 16" Greenline. I know there have been changes to the rear suspension on the latest models do you think this has finally put to rest the wheel size issues. My car in running on Dunlop SP tyres his is on newly replaced Michelin low rolling resistance tyres or is it the tyres that make the difference?

Low rolling resistance tyres have much stiffer sidewalls than normal tyres in order to reduce rolling resistance and increase MPG. Basically the extra stiff sidewalls distort less than "normal" tyres so save the energy lost in the continual rotational distortion. That is why low rolling resistance tyres are fitted to eco variants and is why you felt the ride was harder then expected. Incidentally eco tyres are generally narrower than normal tyres to save energy - smaller contact area to squish onto the road with each rotation. It does make you wonder whether low rolling resistance tyres have less grip and longer stopping distances than "normal" tyres?

It does make you wonder whether low rolling resistance tyres have less grip and longer stopping distances than "normal" tyres?

Of course they do! By as much as 20%. This is well documented if you start looking. I will NEVER fit them to a car of mine.