Some might say it is due to the FL being a more acceptable look to most people...  I think it is more to do with the Superb being at the end of its life and therefore it's production has slowed down and in turn that production slack is taken up by the Yeti.  The Classic Yeti was never ever produced at more than around 5,500 units a month at most. That was the limit of their stupidly small factory and all they seemingly ever allocated to Yeti production. Yet looking at this:

 

http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2014/08/05/europe-june-2014-discover-the-top-340-best-selling-models/

 

The Yeti is now selling at roughly 6,200 units a month.  I have no idea if the 4,000 a month Superb sales is indeed 700 units or so down on the average sales up to date. But just look at the iX35 and Kia Sportage twins' output: over 8,000 each a month and they sell them all easily. Why on earth is Škoda limiting the Yeti production so much?! They have a great product that they can sell loads more of, yet they throttle the success by building it in a factory that's woefully too small to do so in. Madness.

Amazing what a change of headlights can do.

Amazing what a change of headlights can do.

 

Indeed.

Most people like to blend in and drive cars that look similar.

 

I put it down to the pre-FL getting such rave reviews that has attracted more and more people to the Yeti.

You still get people coming up to you and asking about it after nearly five years of production.

Amazing what a change of headlights can do.

 

Quite sad actually because changing the headlights took away the single most characterful part of the car - and now the "beige brigade" cannot get enough of them.

 

And I say this as a reluctant FL owner who went to Skoda without knowing there was a planned facelift and fully expecting to buy a characterful original (Note - I was informed before ordering that I'd be receiving the facelift version - so I did order knowingly).

I have a new FL model and I don't consider myself one of the beige brigade at all. Quite a crass generalised comment really.

I have been attracted by the Yeti since it's inception, but, no doubt like many others became "in the market" for a new car fairly recently, having bought a alternative some years ago when the Yeti was an unproven vehicle.

Not wanting to buy a used car the only Yeti is now the FL model.

I love the car. It makes me want to drive every day, and I'm having endless fun adding stuff and making it personal.

If the car was available in two styles I would have still gone for the FL model as I think it is more modern looking and still stands out from the crowd very well, but I wouldn't assume that those that liked the other version were In any way old fashioned!

If the car was available in two styles I would have still gone for the FL model as I think it is more modern looking and still stands out from the crowd very well, but I wouldn't assume that those that liked the other version were In any way old fashioned!

 

Yup the FL Yeti stands out as much as it did before. The basic upright van like proportions and detailing all still there. Hence it can only but sell better since a lot of people didn't like the fogs sadly.

The new FL I have now is fine, and looks good, but I still prefer the earlier cars front end. Seems a shame to give up agreat design just to line up with the look of the other models they sell. Whats wrong with individual design? Why do manufacturers have to have a theme to their range. With the taller front end the old design was good, but would not work on a lower car eg the fabia or superb, so we have to have a revised face that resemles what does work on those cars.

 

Some years ago we were in the market for a new Fabia for the wife, to replace her X reg Fabia saloon. We might have gone for the facelift 1.2, but it was, and is so ugly with the straight roof line. Ended up buying a 3yr old 1.9 turbo diesel estate for slightly less money in  the old style. But 6 years on no regrets loads more space and a super engine. Much faster than my Yeti!!

I like the original, but how many people realised I wonder when they purchased their cars that the headlight and foglight/DRL were an integrated unit? Stone damage to one light meaning replacement of both headlight and foglight. Also the design of the headlight with halogens (and even brighter bulbs) was not that great either. So from a performance angle the face lift set up with halogens seems a better solution. Still will not be rushing to change my car just yet.

Why on earth is Škoda limiting the Yeti production so much?! They have a great product that they can sell loads more of, yet they throttle the success by building it in a factory that's woefully too small to do so in. Madness.

 

It's bizarre - the long waiting lists don't, I think, do Skoda any favours. Have a look at the Octavia forum to see how many people wanted a new VRS but ended up in a C-Class or 3-series because it was the same money and available in a quarter of the time...

It's bizarre - the long waiting lists don't, I think, do Skoda any favours. Have a look at the Octavia forum to see how many people wanted a new VRS but ended up in a C-Class or 3-series because it was the same money and available in a quarter of the time...

 

That is exactly my point. They have factories that are too small, produce limited amounts of what is popular products and as a result have huge waiting lists. YET for something like a vRS Octy or Octy Scout they want the same money (over £30,000 easily!) as for a decent BMW, Audi or Merc?! Eh!? Shooting themselves in the foot here that's for sure. More and more people are realising they can have a very decent German premium car for the same money and in less time, than waiting for Škoda to build one, maybe, possibly, 6 months away. Madness.

I like the original, but how many people realised I wonder when they purchased their cars that the headlight and foglight/DRL were an integrated unit?

Ha yes, I only realised it was a single unit when I was looking at a parts catalogue !

Ha yes, I only realised it was a single unit when I was looking at a parts catalogue !

 

Easy enough to find pictures of it on eBay:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-N-S-F-Halogen-Headlight-fits-Skoda-Yeti-5L2-941-017-/221508838857

 

 

 

The pre FL current Mercedes E-class's two headlights (on each side) are also just one unit behind. Not exactly rocket science to have worked this one out.

 

 

I would not have purchased the pre FL model. Did not like the frog eye look.

I too preferred the frog-eyes, but my order got changed to the FL. However a few months on and it's not really a major issue as the rest of the car (it's upright boxy shape and therefore better flexibility than those other 'coupe' SUV's) is so good.

That is exactly my point. They have factories that are too small, produce limited amounts of what is popular products and as a result have huge waiting lists. YET for something like a vRS Octy or Octy Scout they want the same money (over £30,000 easily!) as for a decent BMW, Audi or Merc?! Eh!? Shooting themselves in the foot here that's for sure. More and more people are realising they can have a very decent German premium car for the same money and in less time, than waiting for Škoda to build one, maybe, possibly, 6 months away. Madness.

 

Thing is, I'd almost rather have the Skoda. The local dealers are pretty decent and I'm not sure a "premium" brand would suit me (much as I loved the Jaguar and Porsche I test drove).

 

But when it's so little extra for a "premium" alternative that has more kit and more go... and I can have it in 10 weeks or less!

 

But when it's so little extra for a "premium" alternative that has more kit and more go... and I can have it in 10 weeks or less!

 

And if Škoda doesn't wake up and smell the roses pretty soon, their tiny factories will be just about sufficient in size to supply the minimal demand they will have left, since all of us will be driving an ubiquitous German everyone-has-one premium car. So maybe there's madness in their reasoning anyway? Make their stuff so expensive with such long waiting lists that they kill their own brand and in so doing (hopefully) make Audi some more money. Genius. NOT.

Must confess would not have bought a pre FL Yeti. 

 

Everyone to their own, but  have never really liked "big" lights on the front of a car.

I would not have purchased the pre FL model. Did not like the frog eye look.

 

I do like the F/L look. That's why mine is on order for the end of September delivery

I've owned old & new Like them both but the new Bi-xenon lights have a much better spread of light than my old ones.

I rather like the new one. I wasn't impressed at all when it came out, but it's rather grown on me now

 

Quite sad actually because changing the headlights took away the single most characterful part of the car - and now the "beige brigade" cannot get enough of them.

 

And I say this as a reluctant FL owner who went to Skoda without knowing there was a planned facelift and fully expecting to buy a characterful original (Note - I was informed before ordering that I'd be receiving the facelift version - so I did order knowingly).

 

Well, my pre-FL Yeti 170 now has 9K miles on it. Care to swap?

I've owned old & new Like them both but the new Bi-xenon lights have a much better spread of light than my old ones.

Totally agree

Agreed the lights on the FL are awesome in terms of how they light up the road. I have no doubts the FL has a few notable improvements over the classic and given the option I chose the FL purely on the basis of resale value in 3 years time when we come to move it on.

 

But I do wish they'd not messed with the face - I loved the original so much - it was what drew us to the Yeti in the first place.

I to prefer the look of the old car. I'm sure the new model has many incremental technical improvements, but I fear it has also lost a lot of its joy de vie. 

One thing is for sure, my FL model is attracting attention where ever I go at the moment in France. I have been here over three weeks on different campsites, and had many views from French, Dutch and English. This is what normally happens with my eriba caravan, not the car.

 

Colin

We bought the FL even though SWMBO likes the charachter of the pre FL, which was not the eurobox, company uniform that all the manufacturers are doing like they did back in the 80's now. 

The pre FL is seriously 'marmite' just like the puke, & the ford Sierra was when introduced.

I  think that the limited numbers of the Yeti is deliberate, to create a market, ok some people will go elsewhere but the numbers of impatient people is obviously not enough for Skoda to say , we can use spare capacity at other factories to make up the numbers to flood the market with them. So they can ask the price they want for the model & as seen on here, once someone owns a Yeti there is a reluctance to part with it unless it causes you problems.

 

Yesterday i dropped my Son off at the railway station in his 1.0 120bhp Ford Focus ( petrol) , & picked him up in the evening in our Yeti. Whilst the Ford engine is a cracker for the combination of torque & power.  I know which i prefer.