After 3 Yeti's (and around 130k miles driven) I no longer own a Yeti!

 

Being brought up around the motor trade I've owned >100 cars and have consistently rated the Yeti as one of the very best cars I ever owned, the most recent 4x4 Stage 1 mapped TDi being the undoubted star of the bunch.

 

Anyway time has moved on and none of the current VAG options seemed a good fit, so I've had a total change in direction and gone Japanese.

 

I have a few bits and bobs left over (genuine roof-bars, sunglasses holder, internal bike carrier and TdF  bike wheel  & seat covers), which I plan to list in the for sale section shortly.

 

I plan a longer write-up regarding my thoughts and experiences owning 3 very different Yeti's, but in the meantime it's bye for now and best wishes and thanks to all for the hints, tips and advice over the years.

 

 

Ah the end of an era! I'll check what you're selling though. 

But what Japanese car have you chosen?.

2 hours ago, Ryeman said:

But what Japanese car have you chosen?.

Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 - more here: Car magazine

I won’t consider any Japanese car as result of Ghosn’s treatment -

https://nyti.ms/2No4q28?smid=nytcore-ios-share

9 hours ago, pinkpanther said:

Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 - more here: Car magazine

 

That is so fugly!
Hope it all works out for you after the Yeti

2 hours ago, Llanigraham said:

 

That is so fugly!
Hope it all works out for you after the Yeti

I certainly didn't buy the Suzuki for its looks, but fortunately it drives very well.

 

I had considered a Vitara, but these are mechanically very similar and have a great turbo petrol engine.

 

Still acclimatising to the Suzuki experience and will always miss my Yeti.

I massively regret the EA189 update I foolishly allowed to be installed. This lead to me remapping my last Yeti, which transformed it, but came with additional costs (chiefly increased insurance premiums) and a loss of any  possibility of goodwill from VAG. The whole issue left a bad taste and was more than likely a major consideration in me looking to other manufacturers.

 

On the plus side I never saw the DPF light (amber or red) in around 120k miles of Yeti TDi ownership, but the prospect maintaing an ageing TDi, along with a projected fall in annual mileage, lead to me searching for a similarly equipped small petrol (with AWD).

 

I tried loads of options (Tuscon, Qashqai, Karoq, Kodiak, 3008, Ateca, Kia Sportage, Honda HRV/CRV etc etc) but all were either too costly (as a petrol AWD), or were 2WD only (3008). Despite being a long-time driver of VAG cars the Ateca / Karoq seemed too costly and the reported problems with the 1.5 TSi put me off (couldn't contemplate another VAG ECU update saga!!).

 

I then happened upon Suzuki, whilst purchasing a SEAT Mii, and decided to test drive an S-Cross. This was comfortably less than £20k and despite initial concerns over the styling, won me over on the test-drive. It is the top spec and I understand Suzuki have a decent reputation for reliability and longevity

 

It's got a tough act to follow though.......

Edited 22 February, 20197 yr by pinkpanther

The trouble with Japanese cars is I still remember 2 year old Datsuns with their front wings rusted through and being scrapped after first mot? I am sure they are 1000% better now but memory lingers.

 

I also think they are designed for the Japanese who tend to be quite petit, so I do not fit in most of their offerings comfortably

I have also left the club after nearly 5 years of happy ownership. The Yeti is probably the best car I have owned for a couple, only bettered by my VW Touran and nearly ten years of ownership as the ideal growing family car. 

It's successor in the Karoq did not float my boat so I thought about Japanese, was told no to a diesel and looked at the VAG 1.5 petrol in various guises. I eventually decided on an Audi A3 after finding no adverse reports on this engine when in the Audi. I collect the car on March 1st and look forward to how it will perform.

 

Colin

10 hours ago, pinkpanther said:

I certainly didn't buy the Suzuki for its looks, but fortunately it drives very well.

 

I had considered a Vitara, but these are mechanically very similar and have a great turbo petrol engine.

 

Still acclimatising to the Suzuki experience and will always miss my Yeti.

 

Well I for one am pleased for you ... I wish you well with the new beast. I shall be looking closely at the revised 2019 Vitara with the 1.4 engine after they've been out a while.

 

(Do tell me why the S Cross found more favour over the Vitara though ... I'm genuinely interested ... it looks as thought the S Cross is fractionally bigger and a bit cheaper and mechanically very similar- in fact you might ask yourself why they continue to make them both side by side?)

1 hour ago, oldstan said:

 

Well I for one am pleased for you ... I wish you well with the new beast. I shall be looking closely at the revised 2019 Vitara with the 1.4 engine after they've been out a while.

 

(Do tell me why the S Cross found more favour over the Vitara though ... I'm genuinely interested ... it looks as thought the S Cross is fractionally bigger and a bit cheaper and mechanically very similar- in fact you might ask yourself why they continue to make them both side by side?)

I opted for the S-Cross, rather than a Vitara, as the boot is larger, it had a higher spec and, perhaps more importantly,was £3k cheaper!!

11 hours ago, kenfowler3966 said:

The trouble with Japanese cars is I still remember 2 year old Datsuns with their front wings rusted through and being scrapped after first mot? I am sure they are 1000% better now but memory lingers.

 

I also think they are designed for the Japanese who tend to be quite petit, so I do not fit in most of their offerings comfortably

Don't think rust is still an issue for Japanese cars.

 

Come to think of it 2 of the 3 Yeti's I owned went rusty (Zinc inclusions) within 2 years of manufacture

I suspect that there are more than a few Yeti owners waiting to see what the soon to be released small Skoda SUV (Kamiq?) is like before deciding on a replacement.

13 hours ago, eribaMotters said:

I have also left the club after nearly 5 years of happy ownership. The Yeti is probably the best car I have owned for a couple, only bettered by my VW Touran and nearly ten years of ownership as the ideal growing family car. 

It's successor in the Karoq did not float my boat so I thought about Japanese, was told no to a diesel and looked at the VAG 1.5 petrol in various guises. I eventually decided on an Audi A3 after finding no adverse reports on this engine when in the Audi. I collect the car on March 1st and look forward to how it will perform.

 

Colin

 

.....see post below...(don't know how that happened??)

Edited 23 February, 20197 yr by Stubod

ref quote above....

 

I also considered an A3 as a replacement, but from what I have read on the Audi forums they are also experiences the same problems with the 1.5 engine, and some people who have been unable to get any support from VW have managed to get the their cars "rejected" and get their money back....!!...so thats put the kibosh on getting a 1.5 for me. 

Edited 23 February, 20197 yr by Stubod

@kenfowler3966

The thing with Japanese cars like Suzuki or South Korean cars like Hyundai / Kia they have been building some models in Central Europe for decades now.

In the likes of Hungary, Czech republic, Slovakia etc, and using designers that worked for Central European Manufacturers that build cars anyplace around the globe.

Quality Control can be the important thing and there is a Manufacturer in the Czech Republic that could learn from the Far Eastern Manufacturers.

 

 

I did test drive a 1.5 TSi equipped car (Karoq) and decided I didn't want to wait for VAG to potentially fix it, at some unspecified point in the future - one ECU update debacle is enough for me!!!

 

I decided this car would be something that had been on the market for a few years and was 'tried and tested'. I was tempted with a 1.4 TSi 4x4 Yeti, but chose not to risk the pan roof (and couldn't live with interior colour).

 

It is testament to the integrity of the original Yeti design that, in my opinion, it still stands comparison with most modern small SUV's, specifically in terms of driving dynamics, interior space, flexibility and off/on road ability (when equipped with 4x4). I drove loads of alternates and always got back in the Yeti and thought 'this is better!'

 

I'd definitely have another Yeti, assuming I could avoid Ad-Blue, the pan roof and the chocolate (L&K) leather 

 

I might look for a cheap 170 and have it mapped - would be a very satisfying runaround.

 

In terms of residual value - I paid £19k for the 140 TdF 4x4 Yeti and after 82k miles (and 4.5 years) got £7k for it (37% retained value / 15p/mile depreciation / £2667/year).

 

WBAC offered £5k, but given previous experience this would more than likely mean I actually received £4500 - £4750.

Just now, pinkpanther said:

In terms of residual value - I paid £19k for the 140 TdF 4x4 Yeti and after 82k miles (and 4.5 years) got £7k for it (37% retained value / 15p/mile depreciation / £2667/year).

 

WBAC offered £5k, but given previous experience this would more than likely mean I actually received £4500 - £4750.

Looking back my first Yeti 2009 1.2 TSi cost £15k and I got virtually all of it back in part exchange. There was a considerable waiting list back then.

2 hours ago, Expatman said:

I suspect that there are more than a few Yeti owners waiting to see what the soon to be released small Skoda SUV (Kamiq?) is like before deciding on a replacement.

 

I've extended my Yeti PCH for 12 months and will be interested to see the Kamiq.

I also like the look of the VW T-Cross and may investigate that further, although I have plenty of time now to decide.

I have three years' warranty remaining on mine, so plenty of time to go.  I'm hoping that by when the time comes to replace my Yeti, the SUV bubble will have burst, there will be renewed interest in MPVs, and Skoda will have introduced an updated version of the Roomster.

 

I'm not holding my breath...

 

Enjoy your Suzuki, PP.

6 hours ago, Robjon said:

I have three years' warranty remaining on mine, so plenty of time to go.  I'm hoping that by when the time comes to replace my Yeti, the SUV bubble will have burst, there will be renewed interest in MPVs, and Skoda will have introduced an updated version of the Roomster.

 

I'm not holding my breath...

 

Enjoy your Suzuki, PP

I loved my 1.9 TDi Roomster - great car, which I rather foolishly traded in for a 1.6 CR variant.

On 22/02/2019 at 08:37, Llanigraham said:

 

That is so fugly!
Hope it all works out for you after the Yeti

 

Nope - just ugly! Reminds me of some of the worst excesses of the American Auto Industry.

 

However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and you can't see THAT front end whilst you're driving. I had considered the original S-Cross before we went Yeti (might still have had it had we done so).

 

 And I bet it drives well. Enjoy your new steed PP.

 

Bill 

Edited 23 February, 20197 yr by lawnmowerman

On 23/02/2019 at 11:13, pinkpanther said:

In terms of residual value - I paid £19k for the 140 TdF 4x4 Yeti and after 82k miles (and 4.5 years) got £7k for it (37% retained value / 15p/mile depreciation / £2667/year).

 

WBAC offered £5k, but given previous experience this would more than likely mean I actually received £4500 - £4750.

My old car is now looking presentable and is back up for sale at £9495.

 

Wonder if it's had a cambelt and waterpump change?