Hello,

 

I currently have a Skoda Fabia so am already a Skoda fan, but am looking to purchase a Yeti in the next week. I'm gutted to be losing the Fabia, but she is at 'that age' where things are starting to fall apart (currently, the driver side window)!

 

I've been to see one today at one of those car supermarket places - the test drive was great and I couldn't find anything wrong. We are going back at the weekend to ask more questions, including cam belt and water pump changes dates - is there anything else I need to look out for?

 

The Yeti is a 2.0 TDI CR SE 5dr, 1968cc engine. 

 

Any help is appreciated :)

 

Anna

Oh I should probably add - it's a 2013 model!

Hi Anna,

 

I'm sure you'll find a lot of helpful information here on Brisky, but you might also want to consider Googling something like "Older Yetis - what to expect" 

make sure it has 2 keys as these are costly to replace. There is also a post on here regarding rust on the bottoms of the rear doors. If it has sat nav is the card present? (some dont have sd cards, depends on which radio is fitted) and is the satnav up to date.

Usual things - service history, wheels & tyres, bodywork condition (get in light and look along each side for irregularities + magnet check), interior condition - that can tell you a lot about how it's been used, and general feeling of "rightness" when driving! It's 7 years old so has been used and won't be perfect but your gut feeling is important. Will dealer offer any warranty?

Thanks for the replies! It only comes with 1 key, a complete pain, but what can you do.

 

The interior looked in good nick, but the steering wheel had signs of wear and the gear stick had a few scratchy bits. It's quite clean and they hadn't done a full valet on it (and won't, I'm not paying them £149 for a cleaner car!) 

 

No warranty other than the standard 3 months/3000 miles. 

3 minutes ago, ponygirl said:

Thanks for the replies! It only comes with 1 key, a complete pain, but what can you do.

 

 

Insist that a second key is supplied by Skoda and that the missing keys RF chip data is erased from the vehicles immobiliser, this can only be done by a VAG dealer.

 

Otherwise 2 things could happen, you lose the remaining key and then you are in for a world of trouble and expense, or you could find your new vehicle going walkies.

 

The garage will probably just pay a mobile locksmith to clone the existing key, you dont want that for security reasons.

I have a feeling they will refuse - it's in one of those big car supermarket's that hadn't even rubbed the pen off the window screen from the auction they bought it from. I'm not happy with another key being out there in the world either! 

52 minutes ago, ponygirl said:

I have a feeling they will refuse - it's in one of those big car supermarket's that hadn't even rubbed the pen off the window screen from the auction they bought it from. I'm not happy with another key being out there in the world either! 

You have to decide if it’s a deal breaker  - but as JR says if you lose the one key you are in real trouble and expense. However, they are unlikely to go to the expense of the official Skoda route so its a case of whether you think that Yeti is worth the potential problems or look for another. There are always more fish in the sea!

Its something to only mention at the last knockings when they think that they have closed the deal and you need to appear be prepared to walk away if they wont do anything.

Thanks both. The issue I have is that my Skoda currently only has 3 windows - so I am on a bit of time limit! 

Play hard ball - sales are hard to come by at the moment and Coronavirus is a sword over their heads! At least get a second key from them - check with Skoda first to find out how much they charge for a lost key, a quick call to a parts department should give you a close estimate, so you know what you are in for if they won’t move and you still want the car. Add the cost of the new key to the price for the car and see if it still feels like a good buy. if so then you know what you’re in for. I strongly recommend you get a second key anyway.

About £240 and 14 day turnaround, they have to order the key once they have verified you are the legal owner then program it to the vehicles immobiliser when they recieve it.

 

I had the cheaper option of a cloned key, cant recall what it cost, somewhere between £50 and £100, probably the latter.

 

Others will advise but I think there may be some issues with using the remote control buttons on a key and a clone, something to do with remembering settings, I'm the only driver and use the one key so it wasn't an issue.

 

I have just tried the cloned key which has not been used for 6 months, it opened the doors and started the car as normal.

Edited 7 August, 20205 yr by J.R.

Skoda key quote - £175. Got the milage/years that the cam belt should have been done, a quote from 2 garages to do it and the garage that has selling the car is going to find out when/if it was last done. Something about using leasing companies and dealers using online systems so you don't have a service book anymore? Anyway they know we want to see it. 

 

And they've fixed the broken air con (needed in this weather). What have I forgotten?! 

1 hour ago, ponygirl said:

Skoda key quote - £175. Got the milage/years that the cam belt should have been done, a quote from 2 garages to do it and the garage that has selling the car is going to find out when/if it was last done. Something about using leasing companies and dealers using online systems so you don't have a service book anymore? Anyway they know we want to see it. 

 

And they've fixed the broken air con (needed in this weather). What have I forgotten?! 

Well you kept quiet about the broken A/C! What was wrong and how did they fix it? Anything else broken?

Cam belt water pump change is every 5 years, so should have been changed in 2018. Get proof otherwise you are on borrowed time and if it breaks the car is a right off. How many miles has this Yeti done?

I forgot about the A/C! Not sure what they have done, it did the noises and air it just wasn't cold (re-gassed then I guess, but I shall ask more today). Car has done 69,something thousand miles. 

 

I'm willing to walk away if it's had no cambelt change, as then what else hasn't it had done? 

20 hours ago, ponygirl said:

 

 

And they've fixed the broken air con (needed in this weather). What have I forgotten?! 

You’ve forgot to walk away, the amount of things stacking up against this being a decent buy are mounting up, walk away, there’s plenty of decent Yetis around.

13 minutes ago, Kenny R said:

You’ve forgot to walk away, the amount of things stacking up against this being a decent buy are mounting up, walk away, there’s plenty of decent Yetis around.

 

My thoughts too, Ken.

 

@ponygirl What annual mileage will you do?  If less than 12,000 - or if your pattern of use does not include a weekly run of around 20 miles at operating temperature, then you may encounter problems with the diesel emissions system.

45 minutes ago, Robjon said:

 

My thoughts too, Ken.

 

@ponygirl What annual mileage will you do?  If less than 12,000 - or if your pattern of use does not include a weekly run of around 20 miles at operating temperature, then you may encounter problems with the diesel emissions system.

Got to agree with Ken & Robjon. Also Robjon raises a very good point, how many miles will you do a year? If few then maybe a petrol 1.2 would be preferable. On the other hand, however, the CR 2013 diesel is free of much of the emission gubbins and doesn't have a DPF filter so is much less troublesome and more reliable than modern day diesels. Essentially Ponygirl has seen and driven the car, we haven't, so if she likes the Yeti and the dealer answers her questions satisfactorily then she shouldn't get too hooked up on maybe's.

Hello all, thanks for replying. I found a different Yeti last night (same spec, 1 year older, 5000 more miles but full service history/cam belt done/2nd key!). I went back to see the original this morning, OH had a drive, really liked it. The cambelt hadn't been done (I asked, and they said that would be done before I picked it up) and the service book had another reg number scribbled out on it - you know when it just doesn't feel right? 

 

We saw the second one this afternoon, and it was in such better condition - service book stamped every year, the car has really been looked after, couldn't find fault and a bit cheaper. Felt excellent to drive, and the air con worked! So Betty the Yeti will be coming home next week. 

 

Thanks all for your input

9 hours ago, Expatman said:

 On the other hand, however, the CR 2013 diesel is free of much of the emission gubbins and doesn't have a DPF filter so is much less troublesome and more reliable than modern day diesels.

 

Interesting.

 

I might in the future sell my Yeti which was only bought as a project and buy one more fitting to my needs, I am hooked on the model but would prefer a higher spec and dont mind having an earlier pre F/L one, mine is blue and really shows the dirt compared to the silver Octavias I have had before, they are parked together and the difference is remakable.

 

To find one with EU4 emissions would be the icing on the cake, I like the 2.0 CR compared to the PD engine.

 

At what time was the changeover and on what engine codes please?

Also agree with giving the first one a miss, the more I read, the more it sounds like the servicing was neglected a bit. 

 

The other reg no may have been nothing, it may have been on a personal plate which the previous owner took with them.  I don't care about such things, but some do.  I bought my Yeti secondhand with a 2009 private plate on it, confuses people no end as it isn't even close to my initials.

If the first one didn't "feel quite right"it probably wasn't the one for you. First sign of trouble you'd have been second guessing yourself. Good decision to walk away and find another. Enjoy your new four wheeled friend! 

14 hours ago, ponygirl said:

Hello all, thanks for replying. I found a different Yeti last night (same spec, 1 year older, 5000 more miles but full service history/cam belt done/2nd key!). I went back to see the original this morning, OH had a drive, really liked it. The cambelt hadn't been done (I asked, and they said that would be done before I picked it up) and the service book had another reg number scribbled out on it - you know when it just doesn't feel right? 

 

We saw the second one this afternoon, and it was in such better condition - service book stamped every year, the car has really been looked after, couldn't find fault and a bit cheaper. Felt excellent to drive, and the air con worked! So Betty the Yeti will be coming home next week. 

 

Thanks all for your input

Very pleased for you. The original Yeti was clearly not right and you would have been forever questioning your decision if you'd bought it.

You say you have saved some money so if you can afford it I suggest you plan for a full service including a brake fluid change and Aircon service. Then you'll know everything is in good condition and ready for happy motoring. 

Incidentally what spec model is it?