I've been posting quite a few different bits & bobs up about our Yeti and thought it would be good to put together into a "project journal".

 

I have titled this as "marmite" as I know some of the changes I have made have really divided opinion & stirred up emotion.

 

Anyway, back in November we ordered the Yeti, and as of 1st March collected our brand spanking shiny new "14" reg car from Winchester Motor Company with the following specs...

 

Yeti Outdoors Elegance (Facelift)

2.0 TDI CR170 DSG 4x4

Candy White

 

Options:

- Black roof

- Panoramic Sunroof

- Heated Windscreen

- Heated Washer nozzles

- Matterhorn Alloys

- LED Rear Lights

- Rear Mud flaps

- Spare Wheel

- Folding Picnic Tables

- Stainless Steel Pedal set

- Double-sided boot net

- Partition Net Screen

- Textile Floor Mats

- Alcantara upholstery & door bin

- Amundsen+ Sat Nav

- GSM II Bluetooth

- 12 Speaker sound upgrade

- MDI interace

 

Here's a couple of photos of the car as it was just a couple of days before we collected it:

 

 

And here's a couple of photos (taken more recently) of the Load Partition Net (which apparently is quite a rare option)

 

 

We were very pleased with the Yeti on collection - 100% accurate order and it exceeded our expectations in most areas.

 

However there was one particular issue which needed to be addressed pronto - the floodwater brown (officially called "Champagne") dashboard trims....

 

 

The silver versions were duly ordered and we expected to get them within a day or two (turned out not to be the case)....

 

 

I also had also really wanted a "Yeti vRS" - a model that doesn't exist.

I had spec'd the car as close as possible to a vRS-alike - by going for the most powerful engine with DSG, and choosing a black roof & black alloys.

 

Before taking delivery of the car I had already been on Superskoda & Skodadop and drawn up a shopping list of what I was going to put on the car - not only to add to the vRS theme, but also to make it more practical.

 

This is where it gets a bit divisive... but I'm please with how things have gone thus far - and at least it stirs up opinion!

 

 

 

First mods.... a delivery from Superskoda arrived the day we got the car home - and these went straight on...

 

I added the black door pillar covers

 

And vRS badges to both grill & tailgate.

 

A bumper protector was added to protect the FL's white paintwork from the doggy claws of our mutt...

 

 

I wanted to give the interior a bit of a lift, so the delivery from Skodadop a few days later gave me some more things to add...

 

Door sill protectors & Seat height adjuster vRS badges

 

A bit of bling for the cupholders & a storage tray retained from our Ford S-max...

 

A bit of bling for the climatronic unit was also added.

 

These made a small improvement to the interior - not quite so dark & lifeless now, but still not quite as interesting a place to be - especially with the champagne trims still in place and no news on the replacement silver versions which were proving quite difficult to obtain...

 

A pair of front mudflaps also arrived and were surprisingly easy to fit. 

 

 

Finally the silver trims to replace those god-awful brown monstrosities arrived (they'd been on back-order with Skoda - apparently since the "champagne" was made standard fit on the FL model, there has been unprecedented demand for the silver ones - funny that....). This really helped lift the interior. And despite them being plastic the "brushed alu" effect works really rather well in the flesh & looks the part.

 

 

 

I was finding the MDI such a fantastic bit of kit, but having my iPhone in the cubby at the bottom of the centre console wasn't working for me - so I bought a Brodit mount and added a universal phone mount to it.

 

At the same time I picked up a set of rubber mats from the local dealer - perfect fit and would protect the interior from our upcoming family holiday to the Scottish Highlands.

 

 

 

Another order sent to Skodadop - this time for a paddleshift wheel (after reading of it being possible to retro-fit) and a couple of more practical features - the parcel shelf holder (fits around the parcel shelf and has a zip compartment & a netting area) and this rather handy net which goes onto the side of the centre console - just a shame it turned out to be lighter in the flesh than it looked in the website photo...

 

 

 

 

After a bit of too-ing & fro-ing with the excellent assisance of SJB Autotech Skoda / VAG specialist in Basingstoke (due to their having been a CANBUS update on the FL Yeti and the switches on the wheel bought from Skodadop not being compatible) I finally got the Octavia vRS paddleshift wheel fitted & coded to the car. And a rather fantastic bit of kit it is - absolutely transforms the driving experience and really does make the car feel like a bona-fide vRS on the twisty roads now...

 

 

 

 

10 days in the Scottish highlands added a lot of miles and I really have started to bond with the car and am really impressed with the handling & acceleration - it's ability to overtake is truly astounding.

 

6000 miles has already been covered in barely 7 weeks - but despite my efforts to lift the interior with the silver trims & bling items I was still feeling like it needed something else... It occurred to me that the steering wheel & Amundsen have piano black elements to them - and so I bought a 2nd centre console fascia - and sent it off to AquaGraphix for it to be refinished in the same... I am truly impressed with the results....

 

 

 

And that's pretty-much the story to date....

 

I have waiting at home, a set of silver side mouldings (skirts) waiting for me to get time - hopefully at the weekend.

I'm still mulling with the possibility of getting the ECU mapped - but having spent 10 days overtaking everything in sight in the Highlands I'm not totally convinced I need any more power.

 

I may add a performance air filter & see if that satisfies me for now.

 

I'm also toying with the idea of adding a subtle roof spoiler - superskoda have some rather nice looking ones but I cannot make my mind up if they look a bit too tacky or not...

 

The dealer number plate holders have been binned in favour of some nice matte silver ones, and the car is in desperate need of a good clean inside & out.

 

I'm not one for leaving things be, so I'm sure I'll be back to update this thread regularly as things change!

Edited 27 January, 201511 yr by ColinD

I like everything you have done except for adding the vRS badges.  I am never a fan of cars badged as something they are not.

 

The chrome trim around the central console cup holders recess is something I have considered for my Octavia (real) vRS.  Having seen your photo I think I will purchase those. 

Here's a photo of the dash in all it's glory from the driver's side - the piano black fascia really does look like it was meant to be there all along!

 

 

As stated earlier, some interesting tweaks, but a few cosmetic alterations do not turn it into a vRS, a model which doesn't even exist

The vRS badges are, to be ruthless, a bit embarrassing :(

Have a look at BossFox's thread for something approaching Yeti vRS status

Thanks so much for all your effort in making this project.

 

Honestly it looks fantastic! I actually don't mind the vRS badges as it's totally unique. Who cares if the model doesn't actually exist - it's not like you've added them to your 1.2 gutless tsi! I think it adds to the Yetis' flare. 

 

Loving the blacked out wing pillars - really goes. 

 

Paddle shifters on a Yeti, that's different, too much effort for me though. 

 

Like the small details, chrome rings around the cup-holders are a great idea and look good. 

I'm not going into the badging debate again. As it said - marmite.

I am not embarrassed by them in the slightest. If there was actually a vRS yeti and I had tried to pretend my car was better spec than it is then yes I would be embarrassed. Like if if bought an SE and badged it as an L&K. But badging it as a model that doesn't exist? I personally don't see the issue.

I am very aware of what BossFox has done and have the upmost respect for what his car is all about.

As I said above - my changes divide opinion. I'm is the black door pillar covers are equally divisive but I like the and that's all that matters.

Like what you've done. If you remap it you will definitely get the yeti vrs you're after

Today's little mod... changed the basic black buttons for these nicer ones with the little silver edging:

 

 

I also gave it a good clean inside... realised I'd not photo'd the picnic tables - hadn't noticed they actually have a little hook underneath them!

 

 

Sadly the weather was not good enough for me to get around to fit the side mouldings today.....

Got the side mouldings added today... didn't get chance to clean the car though....

 

Have seen these advertised on Superskoda, both OME and a cheaper version, how difficult are they to fix? Are they self-tappers and adhesive?

Tony

I bought the cheaper version. They are a perfect fit though come with no instructions or any clue as to which way round they fit. But the cost saving over the genuine ones was too much to ignore and they certainly look like original equipment once fitted.

If you look under the sill you will see a row of about 9 torx screws. The skirt comes with 7 pre drilled holes for these screws. You remove the middle 7, offer up the side skirt and screw them back in place. Then you have a choice of how you stick the upper lip to the sill. I used trim tape though if you prefer you could use a mastick such as silkoflex.

Seems a very good & secure fit - just make sure the arrow on the skirt goes to the rear of the car - it is to signify the rear jacking point.

I do like your steering wheel. I quite fancy one of those. I'm also grateful that my car came with the aluminum trim.

 

On the other issue, if I were you, I'd get the car remapped.

TBH still resisting the temptation to get it remapped. I have not found the performance wanting as yet.

And then there is the thorny issue of invalidating warranty if I do map it.

Brimma, is that the wife hugging the Yeti in your Avatar.

Brimma, is that the wife hugging the Yeti in your Avatar.

Thanks for that useful post that's so relevant to this journal.

Could you not have contacted the other member via PM?

Brimma, is that the wife hugging the Yeti in your Avatar.

No, it's a vRS Roomster

Not the wife either actually, now I come to think of it

[so yesterday another batch of parts arrived - including this:

 

 

I have offered it up to the car and it looks to be a good fit. The question is... leave as silver - which matches the rear diffuser & sill protection mouldings, or paint black - to match the roof & the window pillars...

 

 

Comments & thoughts welcomed & encouraged!

Not for me.

Given the choice of silver or black, I'd go for black to match the roof/roof rails/window pillars.

Black to match the roof. Then lower and map

Black to match the roof.

Do let us know if it stops or reduces the spray on the rear window.

Very nice, You've obviously spent a lot of time money & effort on your new Yeti. I like the black top with a white body & all the other personal touches you've done. The only no no for me would be the Vrs badges, but each to their own on that one. Love all the photos.

So the decision for the spoiler was black - I think it was a good one...