If he's driving a UK spec 1.2  it does not come in 4 wheel drive (don't know if 4x4 is available outside the UK), but I stand by my comments that the actual assessment of the car was IMO quite fair and accurate.

 

I think that's a reasonable stance - certainly more reasonable than the comment on the article page itself where someone trots out the tired old logical fallacy that getting the 4x4 thing wrong "must" mean that everything else is wrong.

 

I love my Yeti, and I loved my first Yeti, but the cost has gone up and up and the car hasn't kept pace with the asking price, let alone with the competition. The Yeti 2 will have to be quite special (as was the Yeti when it first came out) to convince me to buy a 3rd, especially if it costs what I expect it will.

Funny world, isn't it?

 

Mine is now 4 years old and I am getting around to considering it's replacement. I've looked at the "competition" but they are all either too big, too coupe like in the back or don't have the towing capacity. The nearest that fits my requirements is still the Freelander, but it is still too big and thirsty.

 

Yes, the facelift doesn't have the of the bug-eye, but having now seen several I do actually quite like it. It still provides all that I need and gives the versatility and practicality that many of the others don't.

 

And I don't suffer from brand snobbery!

Llanigraham very good points and I totally agree. Especially your comment regarding the newer cars all having very swept backs, coupe style, which really limits rear headroom and visibility. My biggest criticism of the Yeti since it came out, even though I bought a new one last October, is the very poor level of standard equipment for the price paid especially as this is not reflected across the Skoda range. Why so stingy with the Yeti?

Llanigraham very good points and I totally agree. Especially your comment regarding the newer cars all having very swept backs, coupe style, which really limits rear headroom and visibility. My biggest criticism of the Yeti since it came out, even though I bought a new one last October, is the very poor level of standard equipment for the price paid especially as this is not reflected across the Skoda range. Why so stingy with the Yeti?

Probably because the Yeti has a loyal following and sells reasonably well, Skoda feel there is no need to offer anything new in standard equipment and they can leave it off even if the car is now poor value for money. It becomes extremely expensive if you put on extras that are now standard on many cars. I agree the QQ does not have the wonderful visibility of the Yeti, but it does have six cameras that give front, side, rear and all round 360 views as well, and you can reverse without looking over your shoulder. It was the ride that finally put me off the Yeti, too choppy and twitching over the slightest bump. The QQ on 19 inch wheels rides perfectly, it must, as my wife has commented about the ride quality and she normally never comments about anything on cars. I've noticed the negative reviews on ride quality continue into the new model, perhaps its the short wheelbase that causes it. 

In the last 5 years I have lost as many friends, the youngest 55 the oldest 60....I am 61 and might not see tomorrow or the new Yeti on order.

 

There's more to life than arguing about what's bad and whats is good.

 

Buy what you want when you want and for as much as you want....you can't take it with you.

But that's life. Discussion. Agreement. Disagreement. Arguing. What you're advocating is nobody talking to each other unless it's in total agreement. Or even worse not talking at all. We'd have nothing to do in the pub on a Sunday afternoon if we didn't have some excellent debates/arguments. It's great.

But that's life. Discussion. Agreement. Disagreement. Arguing. What you're advocating is nobody talking to each other unless it's in total agreement. Or even worse not talking at all. We'd have nothing to do in the pub on a Sunday afternoon if we didn't have some excellent debates/arguments. It's great.

It may well be but the Forum title is Skoda Yeti Owners. What I (we) see is non Skoda owners or those that have not personally liked them for some reason or other trying to convince current owners that what they have purchased, are purchasing or about to purchase is of less quality than this that or another. Why keep hammering away about wheel size, hard suspension, my radios got this, my radios got that, yours don't do this, mine does that etc etc. If that's pub talk then you are welcome to it.

 

Anyway I am looking forward to ours cos its got bluetooth.....I think.

It may well be but the Forum title is Skoda Yeti Owners. 

 

I'm sure it's not meant to be interpreted that narrowly. It's surely a forum for anyone with an interest (or even opinion) on the Yeti. Why exclude former or prospective or even 'just thinking about it' Yetiists?

 

It's the diversity of opinion here that makes this one of the best car forums on the web and long may it continue IMHO.

Llanigraham very good points and I totally agree. Especially your comment regarding the newer cars all having very swept backs, coupe style, which really limits rear headroom and visibility. My biggest criticism of the Yeti since it came out, even though I bought a new one last October, is the very poor level of standard equipment for the price paid especially as this is not reflected across the Skoda range. Why so stingy with the Yeti?

 

Does it have a poor level of equipment? To me it doesn't, but then perhaps I don't want everything.

All I want is:

comfortable seats

reasonable boot

good towing capacity

good fuel consumption

decent audio

good dealer network reasonably close

good roadholding

good safety standards

reasonable off-road ability

 

and above all the ability to make me smile when I drive it!

 

The Yeti does all that in spades FOR ME. I couldn't care less about some of the things that some people take for the most important things. So when I compare it to other vehicles the Yeti is still winning by a good furlong.

I don't want my headstone to say....RIP, He never saw his Yeti

I find it amusing that this whole debate has been triggered by a "road Test"  by someone who doesn't know what the vehicle they are supposedly testing is and bases one of the "conclusions" of the "test" on a complete misapprehension.Blaming the 4x4 it didn't have for his perceived lack of performance/economy.Then it is open season for those whose idea of fun it is to knock the yeti.

Two lessons: 1. the express publishes unprofessional material and 2. as with many forums for some the opportunity to denigrate the subject vehicle is irresistible.

I find it amusing that this whole debate has been triggered by a "road Test"  by someone who doesn't know what the vehicle they are supposedly testing is and bases one of the "conclusions" of the "test" on a complete misapprehension.Blaming the 4x4 it didn't have for his perceived lack of performance/economy.Then it is open season for those whose idea of fun it is to knock the yeti.

Two lessons: 1. the express publishes unprofessional material and 2. as with many forums for some the opportunity to denigrate the subject vehicle is irresistible.

Hey, I like your afartar

Then it is open season for those whose idea of fun it is to knock the yeti.

 

I think that's very dismissive of peoples' genuine concerns and issues with the Yeti. As I said, I love my Yeti (as I did the first one) but the price keeps rising and the competition keeps improving - the facelift didn't bring any significant improvements so the Yeti isn't as far ahead of the pack as it once was.

 

I also think it's important to remember that human beings are complex things, and that we can have many varied reasons for reaching what might look like similar conclusions. To dismiss all such reasons and conclusions in such a glib manner does no-one any favours.

As a second yeti owner I am aware that a facelift has not led to a root and branch re-development of the Yeti. It is therefore inevitable that newer cars will benefit from more current technology. I didn't come to Skoda in search of cheapness and am content with the value I have received-my judgement, if I didn't think my second Yeti was good value I would have bought something else. The Yeti still has a combination of features which are not available elsewhere-primarily it's wieldiness a blend of lively handling and compact exterior with real off road/towing ability. 

Some people prefer softer and more gadget laden machinery with no significant 4X4 and that is fine by me and good for them. A 6 camera system is impressive but not attractive for me. Perhaps i should spend more time on Quashcai forums seeking to preach my Yeti preference?

I don't see the need for hyperbole here - I didn't mention a "root and branch redevelopment". It's a face lift. But it's true that Skoda did not take the opportunity to make any significant updates, and it's not uncommon for a face lift to be more than a couple of bumpers. An opportunity for a mild update to the technology was missed.

As a second yeti owner I am aware that a facelift has not led to a root and branch re-development of the Yeti.

 

Have to say that's the understatement of the year. It's less that there hasn't been a major redesign (we know it's just a facelift and Yeti II will be here in 2016 or whenever) but that there have been scarcely any significant changes from the basic 2009 spec, other than a potentially unnecessary reworking of the front-end.

 

It really wouldn't have taken much to improve refinement a bit for instance with some better attention to bulkhead (or more general) soundproofing or acoustic windscreen glass, for instance. And the slow old CPU and old-tech touchscreen in the satnav are really showing their age now and surely couldn't have been too tricky to update. I know there's a potential problem with engine supply within the VW group, but is the 177 diesel really that much different to the CR170. Just a minor difference I know, but it would just make a new buyer feel that they were getting a car that was at least slightly enhanced compared to the previous model.

 

I really don't think that you can categorise this sort of critical remark as denigrating for the sake of it. It's an expression of real frustration among at least some like-minded people. I'm going through this myself at the moment. I'm ready to buy a new drive and would seriously like to consider another Yeti - there's still a lot about it I like. But the FL needed just to provide some extra justification over and above the 2009 spec for doing so - it had the opportunity, but hasn't done so. As spottydog correctly says, it is starting to fall behind significantly in some areas.

 

None of this means that I might not end up buying another at least as a stopgap measure  (especially if  we're ultimately allowed an alternative to brown seats in the L&K) - Yeti still fits the bill in several ways. But just wish that I felt more enthusiastic about doing so rather than it being the best of a suboptimal bunch.

 

(For the record, I wouldn't go down the QQ route myself - no powerful engines and no DSG are showstoppers. Q3 is the main alternative under consideration for me, but dumpy styling, poorer use of internal space vs Yeti and cost are working against it.)

especially if  we're ultimately allowed an alternative to brown seats in the L&K

This is why we went Elegance with all the bells and whistles, almost L&K but with a 1.2 petrol, to end up with Black leather.

 

Otherwise we look forward to our new Yeti.

None of this means that I might not end up buying another at least as a stopgap measure  (especially if  we're ultimately allowed an alternative to brown seats in the L&K) - Yeti still fits the bill in several ways. But just wish that I felt more enthusiastic about doing so rather than it being the best of a suboptimal bunch.

 

I agree entirely with this - when I got my first Yeti I was really, really happy that I'd found a car that fitted what I wanted so well. The second one was - perhaps inevitably - less exciting; it still did exactly what I needed, but I had to buy an electric seat to get the dimming side mirror that was standard on the first. I was spending more than £2,000 more to get the same thing (work requires me to have a car no more than 3 years old).

 

I'm a bit under 2 years from having to change again, and the Yeti still seems a better fit than anything else I can think of, but the difference is that last time I just got another Yeti. This time, if the Yeti 2 isn't out, I'll be looking around a lot more before choosing.

 

There are plenty of things in the VAG range that, added to the Yeti, would put it far up the list. The ventilated and more supportive seats from the Superb, for instance. The CR185 from the Leon, or, better, the Golf R / S3 engine and drivetrain. The much larger range of paint options available on the Yeti in Europe. More wheel choices. The 1.4TSI with cylinder deactivation. The LED headlights now on the S3 and the Leon. An option for a full-size spare. A middle rear seat that can actually be folded up. A flat boot floor (mine, with the spare, has a funny ridge/flap in it). These and more could surely have been made available at the facelift?

 

It's nice that the reversing camera is now an option (but why not standard, given the rise in price?), as is the Amundsen and KESSY - but it just feels like a missed opportunity, and I don't think that dismissing these criticisms does anyone any favours.

It would be nice it the trim levels dropped down a trim grade. ie S = SE, SE = Elegance, Elegance = L&K, L&K has every option.

 

That would be nice.

 

I looked at a Mokka before the Yeti and it does come with more goodies but the dashboard is a switch fest of switches. Reart visibility Terrible.

 

After I ordered the Yeti I had to take my existing Note Teckna (which as lots of goodies) for it's 3 year MOT last month and whilst at the Nissan garage I took a Quashai out for a test drive. Terrible (This is my own opinion) as I found it very difficult to get in and out, seating positon to low,rear visability terrible (definalty need rear parking sensors). Anyway it was only a test drive and shocked at the price when I asked for 4WD.

 

Yeah for the Yeti

Some people think I am knocking the Yeti which I certainly am not, just saying after a perfect 15 months of ownership, I wanted a new car so looked around. The facelift Yeti was in my opinion too similar to what I had, I was fed up of my wife complaining about the ride, so I viewed a range of similar vehicles. After seeing the QQ had been 2014 What Car "car of the Year" I took a test drive, we both agreed it was a better car to drive and suited our needs.

 

No one seems to like the minor criticism of the facelift Yeti by the Daily Express, but remember it is a single persons opinion, not everyone's, perhaps it should be just accepted, and before everyone continues to knock the QQ, perhaps a trip to the newsagents to buy this months What Car should be made.

 

Some people think I am knocking the Yeti which I certainly am not, just saying after a perfect 15 months of ownership, I wanted a new car so looked around. The facelift Yeti was in my opinion too similar to what I had, I was fed up of my wife complaining about the ride, so I viewed a range of similar vehicles. After seeing the QQ had been 2014 What Car "car of the Year" I took a test drive, we both agreed it was a better car to drive and suited our needs.

 

No one seems to like the minor criticism of the facelift Yeti by the Daily Express, but remember it is a single persons opinion, not everyone's, perhaps it should be just accepted, and before everyone continues to knock the QQ, perhaps a trip to the newsagents to buy this months What Car should be made.

 

where you will find a single persons opinion

The opinion of a person who has had the benefit of driving all the competition on a regular basis.......and not swayed by the £xx,000 he's just shelled out.

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

where you will find a single persons opinion

 

The point is that it's a second independent opinion. In general, the motoring press seem to be lukewarm on the Yeti, by which I mean mildly pro, but it rarely tops any comparative tests these days. But I'm honestly not sure what that means - the models chosen for these tests often don't seem to be well-matched and criticisms are often leveled at the specific model chosen with no mention that a different trim level or engine might alter the picture completely.

 

What Car in particular has always been bipolar about the Yeti - some reviews praise it, others criticise, sometimes and bizarrely quoting the same strong/weak point, eg is it spoiled by wind noise or has it got good refinement? I guess the reviews are written by two different individuals or cliques within the magazine. I was reading this latest WC review the other day and one of the things that caught my eye was that it had been marked down for a poor safety score, but in reality this was some minor issue like the pedestrian NCAP score wasn't quite as high as it could have been (or maybe the side airbag wasn't standard or some such); it may be a tiny if valid detail but it's scarcely going to sway me one way or the other in a buying decision. In my book, just another example of H&S being given undue priority - they're important but not so important as to take precedence over everything else.

 

By all means read all the reviews you can. You will find some common themes in them and they're the points to take note of. But adequate test drives are vital and then form your own opinion.

Edited 8 May, 201412 yr by prodata

Daily Express = toilet paper of the lowest form.

Daily Express = toilet paper of the lowest form.

 

What about the Mail?