The SCR version will kill it when the world standard come in next year I suspect.

Thanks all - this is really helpful pondering material.  Yes, I have to say, embarrassingly, that engine emissions aren't my main concern regarding the purchase, but reliability and practicality are top of the list.  While petrol would be my preference (as we've had major headaches regarding the diesel issues of our current other car, Fabia 1.6 tdi) I'm leaning towards the 170 engine, if i stick with Skoda, in the absence/rarity of any currently available used 1.4 tsi 4x4s, and as I won't be going for a SCR, - although I appreciate how others value its benefits.  I do wonder about the 170s re-sale value 4 or 5 years time though, but hey-ho...

So back to the OP question.

We own the CR170 (in a Yeti) and the 150 (in the Superb, with Adblue/SCR).

If I had to choose, I'd go for the 170.

It's quicker, more proven, comes with larger brakes than the rest of the Yeti range, and - in our case at least - is more fuel efficient.

And if you *really* want to enjoy those B roads....remap!

EDIT: Bit slow in posting this reply

Edited 25 October, 20169 yr by muddyboots

... in the absence/rarity of any currently available used 1.4 tsi 4x4s...

There's another one on Autotrader today at Westgate Skoda.  2,500 miles and main dealer pricing, I'm afraid: £21,990. A bit over the top, since another main dealer quoted me less than that for a factory order (14.3% discount off list price).

 

So I think if you are willing to travel, you might not have to wait too long. And when a 4x4 petrol does come up, there is no rush of buyers, since both 4x4 and petrol turn off a large number of people.  Scope for negotiation.

Edited 25 October, 20169 yr by mumpsim

There's another one on Autotrader today at Westgate Skoda.  2,500 miles and main dealer pricing, I'm afraid: £21,990. A bit over the top, since another main dealer quoted me less than that for a factory order (14.3% discount off list price).

 

So I think if you are willing to travel, you might not have to wait too long. And when a 4x4 petrol does come up, there is no rush of buyers, since both 4x4 and petrol turn off a large number of people.  Scope for negotiation.

Many thanks again for the heads-up on that car.   I've also taken your earlier advice and have now set an alert on Autotrader too.

I do wonder about the 170s re-sale value 4 or 5 years time though, but hey-ho...

 

You can take advantage of that lower resale *now* by negotiating hard on a current 170 ("because it's got the dodgy software").  10% off its larger current value is a much greater figure than 10% off its value in 4-5 years' time.

As an aside over 10 yrs ago I had a Mk 2 Berlingo with a 2litre lump, it worked well in icy/snowy stuff, never got stuck, changed it for a mk 3(?) with a  1.6 lump giving the same power output and a reduction in weight over the front driven wheels, it was never as good as the original in ice and snow, less traction weight I always suspected, I sold it on after 18months and got my first yeti, a vastly different beast, and a 2wd, never a problem with it!, I think there is a moral there somewhere  --  the 150 is/will be 2 or 4wd?

As an aside over 10 yrs ago I had a Mk 2 Berlingo with a 2litre lump, it worked well in icy/snowy stuff, never got stuck, changed it for a mk 3(?) with a  1.6 lump giving the same power output and a reduction in weight over the front driven wheels, it was never as good as the original in ice and snow, less traction weight I always suspected, I sold it on after 18months and got my first yeti, a vastly different beast, and a 2wd, never a problem with it!, I think there is a moral there somewhere  --  the 150 is/will be 2 or 4wd?

Has to be a 4x4 for me, due to where I live (north Pennines) and the nature of my work/commute. 

James Herriot would concur I suspect

James Herriot would concur I suspect

 

Funny you should say that , this is where I work > http://www.worldofjamesherriot.com/ . 

Yes, the L&K, bought while holding my nose a bit at the colour scheme, but that's the only way, as you know, to get a petrol 4x4. It was £18,250 and I too got offered (after negotiation) £8,000 for my old petrol 1.8TSI, so cash to change was £10,000.   Put a search alert on Autotrader if you haven't done so.

 

Subaru, eh. I was looking hard at a new Forester before settling for the L&K. It's a lot of car for £25,000, more robust and capable than the Yeti, as I know having driven one round South Africa.  More reliable, too.  On the other hand, it's old-fashioned in various ways, quite expensive to run, not cheap to fix if it does go wrong, and the current Forester is a good deal bulkier than the Yeti.  A perfect car for South Africa, but not so well suited to the UK unless you are deeply rural and drive on (probably own) a lot of unsurfaced roads.

 Just wondering, as I guess you've done the research, whether the 1.4 tsi engine has fixed the alleged problems with the 1.8 tsi re timing chain tensor issues?  I bought an extended warranty at the close of the standard warranty on the basis of these rumours and this paid dividends when I had to have the turbo replaced just a couple of weeks before the end of the extended warranty (nothing to do with the tensor though).  So currently, warranty-less, I'm also keen to find an alternative to the present yeti!

 Just wondering, as I guess you've done the research, whether the 1.4 tsi engine has fixed the alleged problems with the 1.8 tsi re timing chain tensor issues?  I bought an extended warranty at the close of the standard warranty on the basis of these rumours and this paid dividends when I had to have the turbo replaced just a couple of weeks before the end of the extended warranty (nothing to do with the tensor though).  So currently, warranty-less, I'm also keen to find an alternative to the present yeti!

 

Since around 2013 the EA211 engine has had a belt, not a chain, so that particular issue will not arise. In other ways too it is a very different engine from the old EA888 1.8 TSi.  As a manifold-in-head design it is a lot more modern and efficient. HonestJohn called its ability to pull smoothly from low revs 'astonishingly good' and he is no fan of VAG engines.  

 

According to this page http://blog.caranddriver.com/we-sample-the-ea211-volkswagen%E2%80%99s-next-global-four-cylinder-engine-series/ VAG said when they launched it on the US market that the belt is good for the life of the engine. That's probably a claim to treat sceptically, but the belt should at least be trouble-free for a long time.

 

That's not to say the EA211 engine may not have other problems in due course. HJ's site is perhaps the best source of real-world reliability information based on a lot of data. That has led him to be fiercely critical of VAG engineering and reliability -- nothing to do with the emissions scandal -- and in particular he comments on the 'very high number of faults and problems' recorded for the Yeti.  Some other surveys, of course, have reached a better view about Yeti reliability. (I refrain from quoting my own experience, as anecdotes from one individual are mere noise compared to the systematic recording of reliability data from large numbers of people).  

 

One nasty trick of VAG's is to fill engines with fully synthetic oil on the production line.  It is so slippery that the piston rings never bed in unless one adopts the kind of running-in style used for hand-built racing engines (drive at least 20 miles till the oil is properly hot, then hammer it). This failure to bed in leads to high oil consumption in due course, and even many instances of broken oil scraper rings.

 

It seems you still have your 1.8. If so, I hope the turbo oil feed and return pipes were replaced when the turbo itself was replaced. If not, it's quite likely to blow again. Fingers crossed.

 

Despite my considerable scepticism about VAG engineering I do not regret buying the 1.4.  One just needs to keep a careful eye on the potential problems. Your extended warranty was a good idea.

Like mine, the latest 'special' cam belts now run in a shallow bath of oil

 

Since around 2013 the EA211 engine has had a belt, not a chain, so that particular issue will not arise. In other ways too it is a very different engine from the old EA888 1.8 TSi.  As a manifold-in-head design it is a lot more modern and efficient. HonestJohn called its ability to pull smoothly from low revs 'astonishingly good' and he is no fan of VAG engines.  

 

According to this page http://blog.caranddriver.com/we-sample-the-ea211-volkswagen%E2%80%99s-next-global-four-cylinder-engine-series/ VAG said when they launched it on the US market that the belt is good for the life of the engine. That's probably a claim to treat sceptically, but the belt should at least be trouble-free for a long time.

 

That's not to say the EA211 engine may not have other problems in due course. HJ's site is perhaps the best source of real-world reliability information based on a lot of data. That has led him to be fiercely critical of VAG engineering and reliability -- nothing to do with the emissions scandal -- and in particular he comments on the 'very high number of faults and problems' recorded for the Yeti.  Some other surveys, of course, have reached a better view about Yeti reliability. (I refrain from quoting my own experience, as anecdotes from one individual are mere noise compared to the systematic recording of reliability data from large numbers of people).  

 

One nasty trick of VAG's is to fill engines with fully synthetic oil on the production line.  It is so slippery that the piston rings never bed in unless one adopts the kind of running-in style used for hand-built racing engines (drive at least 20 miles till the oil is properly hot, then hammer it). This failure to bed in leads to high oil consumption in due course, and even many instances of broken oil scraper rings.

 

It seems you still have your 1.8. If so, I hope the turbo oil feed and return pipes were replaced when the turbo itself was replaced. If not, it's quite likely to blow again. Fingers crossed.

 

Despite my considerable scepticism about VAG engineering I do not regret buying the 1.4.  One just needs to keep a careful eye on the potential problems. Your extended warranty was a good idea.

 

Thank you again Mumpsin for that extremely helpful, informative and well measured reply.  As you've gathered, I'm still pondering my options and recently test drove a Subaru XV (petrol 2.0L).  My initial impression was that it was not as spritely as the petrol Yeti and a rather firm ride, although it did appear reassuringly 'solid' and the higher ground clearance could be a plus too.  Kit levels are however less generous when compared to a similarly priced used Yeti, but the 5 year warranty might go somewhat to counterbalance the generally lacklustre motor-press reviews (perhaps!). Choices! Choices! Aaarrgh...