Hi all. A quick intro from a newbie Skoda owner just purchasing a F/L Yeti 2.0 CR 140 4x4 DSG (Black Edition).

 

I recently decided to replace my ageing towcar/offroad workhorse Suzuki GV and my normal use Honda Jazz Hybrid with a single multi-purpose vehicle. My previous 4x4 vehicles, Landrover (FL2), Subaru (L10, Forester and Impreza) and the Suzuki have all been competent at off-road and towing tasks and I needed to retain the towing capability and reasonable off-road performance in this replacement. The Jazz has been a great allrounder, economic, reliable and a versatile load carrier. In combining the two my other considerations were: vehicle reliability/durability; "compact" size; costs; user experience (driving/image); local dependable dealership; auto transmission; as new as possible.

 

I am not a fan of the  current "squashed" SUV style (understatement) on the basis of image and visibility out. Excess size and costs excluded most "serious" 4x4 options while the light weight 4x4 choices mostly lack decent towing and off-road ability. I knew Skoda offered 4x4 options in their range although I was not familiar with the choices, fortunately I have a local Skoda dealership so dropped in to check them out. I came away with a probable deal against a one year old very low mileage F/L Yeti 2.0 CR 140 4x4 DSG, complete with towbar. I felt the asking price for the car was high as despite being virtually unused it was close to new price but already 1 year down on warranty and trade-in value. A check with other dealers turned up a new Black Edition on promotion for not a lot more in terms of cost to change and deal done!

 

My concerns?

Black Edition image - am I too old to carry it off :>)

Towing a boat trailer up a wet slipway with DSG and no low ratio (should be fine)?

Yeti reliability and durability? I read all about it here!

Will the dealership/Skoda experience be as good as the Honda and Landrover ones?

 

I will report back, but just keen to get going with the Yeti for now.

 

.........................

My concerns?

Black Edition image - am I too old to carry it off :>)

Towing a boat trailer up a wet slipway with DSG and no low ratio (should be fine)?

Yeti reliability and durability? I read all about it here!

Will the dealership/Skoda experience be as good as the Honda and Landrover ones?...................

 

 First of all: congratulations for good choice

 

then:

BE? none is too old!

Towing purposes? I just stopped many times in a chilly road 35 degrees of inclination for loading some materials in the back of mine, then released the brake and gently moving upwards without any problems or difficulties; tested it many times in early morning and with different conditions of misty/chilly/light wet surface. Never lost wheels grip and never stucked in such uncomfortable position, trust haldex works very well! Better with the 'off road' selected (do you have? yesss, I hope)

Durability? 135000 kilometres without worries and brake pads probably changed in the next 2 years for the first time, 200000 Km approx! Is this enough?

Skoda dealers? never touched mine! Find a good mechanic and trust him, better her!

As the other dealer with the new Black Edition on promotion for a price on the towbar and electrics. Be careful with your wording and request and consider if you need the full 13 pin electrics, or can cope without battery charging/fridge capability as you are towing a boat. The cost could be a lot higher than you expect and make the first car seem more reasonably priced.

Also doe the pre-owened vehicle have a spare wheel or any other extras as these soon add up.

 

Colin

As the other dealer with the new Black Edition on promotion for a price on the towbar and electrics. Be careful with your wording and request and consider if you need the full 13 pin electrics, or can cope without battery charging/fridge capability as you are towing a boat. The cost could be a lot higher than you expect and make the first car seem more reasonably priced.

Also doe the pre-owened vehicle have a spare wheel or any other extras as these soon add up.

 

Colin

 

Correction.

The standard for ALL new towing electrics now is to use the 13 pin plug and socket. 

The wiring for the fridge and battery charging are just that 2 extra pins are connected via an additional loom

Correction.

The standard for ALL new towing electrics now is to use the 13 pin plug and socket. 

The wiring for the fridge and battery charging are just that 2 extra pins are connected via an additional loom

 

Correct, but you can request 7 pin on an after market fit., and it is unknown from the original posting if the towbar is Skoda or not.

Does the genuine Skoda 13 pin socket actually have the extra 2 pins in it ready for connecting to an additional loom. I thought not.

 

Colin

Correct, but you can request 7 pin on an after market fit., and it is unknown from the original posting if the towbar is Skoda or not.

Does the genuine Skoda 13 pin socket actually have the extra 2 pins in it ready for connecting to an additional loom. I thought not.

 

Colin

 

They seem to now.

Just remember if you stop on the slipway there is no torque converter just clutch slip.

With a torque converter you can 'balance and creep' but in the DSG it's all about the degree of clutch slip.

You're right, there is nothing that has all the attributes of the Yeti.

...A check with other dealers turned up a new Black Edition on promotion for not a lot more in terms of cost to change and deal done!

 

My concerns?

Black Edition image - am I too old to carry it off :>)

...

 

I will report back, but just keen to get going with the Yeti for now.

 

I wonder if the Black Edition is the pre-2016-engine-change special edition (really an SE Plus). Doesn't look like you can custom-order any options like the tow hitch (or rear airbags)...

Thanks all for the responses.

 

Collected my new Yeti this afternoon and had it earning its keep already. Having now done considerably more distance over a varied cross-country route compared to my  test drive I am more than satisfied with my choice. Driving enjoyment and load capacity verified! Dealership also scoring well so far. 46mpg indicated so far including two runs laden via via Shaftesbury and Zigzag Hill (for those that know the area) but going easy on the power obviously.

 

To answer some of the queries, this Black Edition is an EU5 engined SE with goodies (a stock run out I presume). I have had the OE towbar and electrics fitted by the dealer (a bit painfull on the wallet) but warranted in terms of system intregration as well as the hardware bits. Yet to put the trailer connection to the test but the standard fit is a 13 pin connector with supplied 7 pin adaptor. I am told that the split charge/fridge connections are included but some uncertainty as to whether trailer electrics have been integrated with the alarm. Slipway/towing evaluation will have to wait on some more running-in but gearing and auto-clutch action felt ok on the 1st gear uphill hairpins.

Enjoying my new image and grin factor.

 

Edit: no off-road switch on the Black Edition btw.

 

Alan.

Edited 14 April, 201511 yr by AHoy

Ahoy, I'm not sure if anyone has actually wished you a warm welcome to the forum, so consider it done!

I as well as others will be pleased to read your full report on towing in the near future, especially when compared with other vehicles you have used.

Until then, I wish you many miles of happy motoring.

Congrats on the new motor! Any pics?

Thanks for the welcome Banjobach.

Dinski, no pics yet, no changes from the marketing images though.

 

Some feedback on the towbar electrics installation. I connected my trailer lighting board via the included 13-to-7-pin adaptor and can confirm that the vehicle alarm is triggered when the trailer cable is disconnected (in the parked up/alarmed mode). The light monitor also checks the trailer lights, in my case correctly informing me that the LH trailer light was not working. In addition, when engaging reverse, the Yeti main display provides a graphic of a connected trailer with a symbol showing reversing sensor disabled and a to-the-point message to check behind.  I assume all this is common to Yetis but not clear from what I read. Didn't have the connector pin-out details to check the fridge and split charge feeds, something for later.

 

Only negative so far, no USB connector for the media.

Edited 15 April, 201511 yr by AHoy

From that description all the towing electrics are correctly coded.

Hi everyone,

 

I am   newbie (recently bought new Skoda  model  YETI 1.6 TDI Active DSG) , with  the  problem of  error  reporting  license plate bulb burnout. I have bought rear view camera and replaced   light bulb for    license plate light,  with camera and LED bulb instead. I am now having error indicating that the     license plate   lamp has been  burned out.  

I have heard that one  can replace second  incandescent bulb for     license plate    with LED one as well ,  and recode it  in diagnostic system replacing incandescent lamp  type with LED ones. Is it true and how it can be done? If not  what is alternative?

Thanks in advance for anyone help!

Regards

Put a resistor in parallel with the LED.

AHoy... Regarding your dealer experiences I'll give you my own experience of Landrover, Honda and Skoda dealerships, having had all three!

My Honda Dealership used to be privately owned and have to say they were excellent. Since then they have been taken over and have no knowledge of the new owners.

My Landrover dealership was dire... We had two 110s and whenever we had a problem on one they fixed it. When we took the other in for the same fault some time later they always said thy had never heard of the problem before!

My Skoda Dealership, I believe privately owned, if absolutely amazing... Nothing is any bother..... I think it's even superior to Honda.... The workshop looks so clean it looks like an operating theatre.

So if your dealer is as good as mine, which I'm sure it will be, don't worry.

Congratulations on your choice of car. I hope you are enjoying the combination of the 140 engine with the wonders of the DSG box.

 

I may be changing mine soon, but I may go with the 170 and DSG which will really fly!