Hello

My first post, please go easy on me :-)

I'm hopefully going to look at a second hand 10 Plate Yeti SE, and was wondering about what things to look out for?

I've done a bit of searching on here and have come across the stone chipping, apart from that, the odd niggle here and there...

The mileage is relatively low so will give the tyres, brakes etc the once over.

Thanks in advance!

Is it a private seller, 'car dealer' or franchise dealer?

 

The main one would be service history, ideally invoices but if the stamps are in the book you can still always give the servicing centre a call to double check (if not been done by the supplying garage obviously).

 

Stone chips and the odd light scratch will happen on any car, severity is the key to this though.

 

Have a sniff for signs of stale smoke or wet dog, they're smells that can be masked but will always linger.

 

Remember if it's a franchise dealer you will get a 12 month warranty for added peace of mind.

 

Ensure the car doesn't pull either way, although it is hard to find a dead flat road, well round here it is.

 

Odd tyres.

 

Nothing else that I can think of, but everyone is different so the list above will probably grow and you will have to spend 2 days looking over the car to tick every box 

Hello Muffty!  Welcome to the community.

 

As owner of a 10-plate S+ myself, bought second hand earlier this year, the first thing I'd say is - GOOD CHOICE!

 

Second is to second (! deliberate pun?) everything Lee said above. Right list in the right order.

 

Next thing I'd add to Lee's list is the usual stuff with any pre-owned car, about taking a careful look, in a good light, preferably not artificial light, along the length of each side, from a position about 3 feet back from each corner. Looking for any small ill-fitment issues, or ripples along the panels, panels that don't quite line up perfectly, etc. that might indicate crash damage repairs. Good quality repairs should of course be virtually undetectable, and on cars this age bodge jobs are unlikely, but worth a check all the same. (plus it gives the vendor the impression you're a discerning buyer :-)   Same applies to checking the paint colour on every panel matches up evenly. Again good, natural light is a big help for this, but not that plentiful at this time of year. There have been some cases reported in Auto Express recently of showroom new cars (NOT Skodas I hasten to add) having poor match between plastic panels such as bumpers and nearby metal panels.  (But from the nature of your question I guess you may know all that and its just Yeti specific info you're after?)

 

Particular exterior things to watch for on the Yeti:

A few stone chips towards the lower rear portion of the rear doors is normal, particularly for a car that's not fitted with front mud flaps. Clear plastic protection "foils" are fitted in this area to some cars, reaching over half way to the top of the arches. The one you are looking at may have them already?  Mine didn't, but as it was fairly clean in that area I've fitted them since. Not expensive and retro fitting is covered in an excellent guide in here, somewhere.

 

"White worm" in the front and rear green Skoda logo badges seems to be an issue reported quite often in here, But seems to apply only to some ages of car. Caused by corrosion between the alloy back plate and paint/lacquer parts of the badge, rather like you can get on some poorer quality alloy wheels.  I've seen it on other cars, but not on my Yeti. Reports I've seen in here suggest it may only be an issue on younger cars, still under warranty?  Perhaps?

 

Engine and mechanicals:

Mine is 110 CR TDi. Had 78k on the clock when I got it in May.  Now just over 90k.  Not missed a single beat in between and only thing I've done to it apart from putting in fuel (and a couple of "add-ons" like the door foils and sill tread plates) is change the oil & filter at 87k. (I'm a bit sceptical of "extended service intervals" on any turbo diesel, viewing them as a route to long term expense, even using the absolute top specification oils, so like to keep oil changes to 9k or under on all my cars). Unlike some VAG diesels, it "uses" very little oil, the dipstick being still over half way between Max and Min when I changed the oil.  Even more reason to emphasise Lee's first priority though - service history means everything on modern diesels especially.

 

If you're going for a diesel, I'd try to find if possible, what kind of usage pattern its been subjected to, i.e. lots of urban or lots of motorway?  My own stance is to be wary of the low mileage car more than high mileage. Lots of miles in a relatively young car suggests plenty of those have been "easy miles" at full temperature on motorways.

 

While low miles could mean either not used very often (be wary of stuck brake pads, uneven disk wear, etc. although both easily fixed), which would be relatively fine. Or, lots of short urban journeys with seldom any chance to get up to full working temp or the DPF to regenerate properly, which is hell for the clutch, box, turbo bearings, oil ways, DPF, etc., etc. Problems that are magnified by longer oil change intervals as the oil seldom gets chance to "clean" itself by evaporating contaminants during prolonged full temp running. Bit like the DPF itself getting clogged in the same scenario.  

 

With DPF removal ceasing being an option for the MOT from 2014, I'd be quizzing the owner (if a private sale) about how often the re-generate light has been seen, and checking carefully that and all the other warning lights are clear (themselves a potential MOT fail these days).  Ideally looking for "never had any DPF issues as the journey lengths the car does means the DPF gets to regenerate naturally all the time".  Assuming the vendor is honest of course!

 

Interior wise, I'd say the Yeti's glove box cover seems particularly susceptible to scratching from shoes or bag buckles, etc. as passengers get in and out.  But that's a cosmetic nicety, rather than a problem as such. 

 

Otherwise - nowt to worry about!

 

That's my two 'pennorth.  Others may choose to have other views, but I've been happy with applying that logic to my last four diesel cars and its worked for me.  

Odd tyres.

Why? What does it suggest?

I looked at a very nice Yeti the other day that had a pair on the left side and two random ones on the right!

What would that suggest?

Apart from punctures?

Someone who doesn't give a damn?  Perhaps?

Could do with a bit more info on exact model.

Petrol or diesel?

Engine size?

Two or four wheel drive?

I don't think you'll have any problems with any model though

I've got a diesel yeti se four wheel drive , 1 year old that I could sell if I get the right offer? Pm if interested

I think FlintstoneR1 hit the nail on the head, plus some cheap tyres (don't know about on the Yetis but definitely on the Octavia vRS) can send through extra road noise etc. Not too long ago we had an RS come in, took it for a spin and the droning was unbearable, sounded like the wheel bearings had given up the ghost, turned out that the cr4p tyres fitted to it were the cause - as said though, I don't know if this is the case for the Yeti due to larger sidewalls etc.

 

Odd tyres, and have a look for excessive* kerbing as well - couple those 2 together and the previous owner may not have loved their car THAT much. Just my 2p though.

 

*Again, the odd scuff on an alloy would be OK, it's just when the whole rim is mullered (please note, mullered is not a technical term  ) that you'd start to think a bit more about any possible damage steering wise.

^ We talking about that ace german forward of the '66 w c i thought he was a reasonably 'clean' player - doh my age shows again!

thanks guys, very comprehensive, especially Mr Flintstone :-)

Its a Petrol 1.2 SE, I am guessing all 1.2  are 2WD? I only do about 6-8k miles a year so I don't think Diesel will be good for me?

I've not heard a bad thing about a Yeti, yet (no pun intended) haven't driven one. I was a grateful passenger once in the snow earlier on this year though :-)

I also believe that all 4 corners should have good quality rubber so will keep an eye out for that definitely.

The only thing I can see front the pics is the back bumper looks a bit scratched, maybe from a dog getting in and out...

Thanks again, will hopefully report back soon!

 

Its a Petrol 1.2 SE, I am guessing all 1.2  are 2WD? I only do about 6-8k miles a year so I don't think Diesel will be good for me?

 

 

Hi

The early 1.2 Yetis had a few problems with the plug leads melting later ones came with  protective sleeves fitted this seemed to cure the problem, but worth checking sleeves are present.

Also some early models came with no protective foil around back wheel arch again worth checking.

thanks guys, very comprehensive, especially Mr Flintstone :-)

Its a Petrol 1.2 SE, I am guessing all 1.2  are 2WD? I only do about 6-8k miles a year so I don't think Diesel will be good for me?

You're welcome.  I thought after posting my essay was perhaps a bit OTT? But if you found it OK, then that's fine.

 

Re: petrol for annual mileage of 6-8k - Agreed!  You've got it sussed!

I would check for paint bubbling below the door trims both front and rear. Mine has been re-sprayed under warranty and if re-occurs would probably stop me from buying another one. Also have a good sniff inside with doors closed and engine running for signs of exhaust fumes entering the cabin. Had this on mine and again fixed under warranty. I'm still not convinced it's been sorted though despite it being checked at the last service and being told all well, ( that said it was reported at this service that there were no issues/advisories only for car to fail on it's MOT approx 4 weeks later due to badly corroded rear disks causing brakes to bind - but that's another story).

I'm not looking at this car, but found it on auto trader, do I smell a rat - too good to be true etc?

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312140535169/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/radius/1500/model/yeti/make/skoda/

 

--edit - ignore me, looks like this seller is a scam, prices are too good to be true...

Edited 15 December, 201312 yr by muffty

so I'm back from viewing said car.

Was in OK condition (few scrapes, nothing a good detail couldn't sort out), had 3 dunlops and 1 nexan tyre   some nice features like the hidden tow bar, usual SE toys.

After all that, it turns out the car is a cat D.   back to the drawing board?

Hey muffty we are going to be selling a 61 plate 110 4x4 in moscovado . It has had more t.l.c than my wife as im partial to a spot of detailing. P.m me if you are interested.hope to try and upload some pics if I can!

i'm not sure my budget will stretch to a 61 plate but please feel free to PM me :D

Ditto me please.

Thank you.

Pm sent kbm photo. Tried to pm you muffty but no joy ? Says you cnt recieve pm

probably because i am a newbie :(