Need advice on buying a Yeti

[Unsightly]

Hello All...

As the title suggests I am looking to buy a new Yeti.

I am currently looking at a 2011 103TDI 4x4.

I would really appreciate any advice on this or other versions.

Obviously I have had lots of "advice" from people who have never even driven a Skoda, especially telling me not to buy one as the parts and servicing will be astronomical, so I guess I'm also seeking reassurance from current owners that this is not the case.

Should I be wary of a certain gearbox?

How useful is the warranty from Skoda? Are there any pitfalls I need to be avoiding?

Thank you for reading!

[Rooboy]

Glad you're thinking about the Yeti. I've had my 103TDI DSG for just over 12 months now with no real dramas at all. My first service was about $400 at Richmond Skoda but you can get it done cheaper at a VW specialist. One of the biggest costs in the service is the VW spec oil. Skoda's standard 3 year warranty seems about the same as any other car company's but there have been a few discussions on this forum about the usefulness of the extended warranty.

The DSG has caused a few problems but the one that has been getting most publicity is the recalled 7spd that comes in the 77tsi. I've had no problems with mine and I'm staying hopeful that I won't :D

If you choose a Yeti I don't think you will regret it.

[Unsightly]

Thanks Rooboy, that's pretty much exactly the kind of thing I want to hear.

Do you get any delay when you're pulling away? I've heard some people use the sports mode when they really need to launch at a busy junction. Is this really necessary? I usually just wait for a bigger gap!

How is the reversing up hill (I have a steep drive), and do you do any towing with it?

The dealer assures me that as long as they are authentic Yeti parts, I can order cheaper from abroad (relatives in Europe) and fit them here without affecting the warranty.

Did you get any Roadside Assist in the first few years?

I wanted to get a lighter car to help with the heat, but apparently this shouldn't be too much of an issue because the air-con is good.

Sorry to barrage you with so many questions - I'm pretty excited but still rather nervous about going for a lesser known car in Australia.

[Lucas_R]

The 6 speed DSG used in the 103TDI and 112TSI models is far more reliable and stronger than the 7 speed unit used in the lower priced/lower powered Yeti's like the 77TSI. Avoid the models with the 7 speed DSG box - you can thank me later for that advice......ticking time bomb.

My brother works for Skoda and he quite often drives a Yeti as his drive car because they are so damn practical.

As mentioned above, the oil that you will use for each service will cost you around $80-90 for a 5L bottle if bought from Supercheap/Repco etc. You can buy your preferred (VW approved) oil from places like Supercheap/Repco etc and leave it on the passenger seat for the service, and you will save yourself some cash, as they normally charge about $30-35 per litre at the dealer.

An approved oil that is readily available and VW approved is Penrite Enviro+ 5w-30. Normally around $80 on the shelf.

Just make sure, if you are considering a diesel, that you are getting one for the right reasons. Diesels do not like stop/start traffic and short drives down the street - and you will end up with poor fuel consumption and issues with the diesel particulate filter. Diesels need longer drives where the engine is at operating temp for periods of time. If you do a high amount of km's and open road driving then the diesel is good, if not, then get a petrol engine. The 1.8L petrol engine in the 112TSI is a good little motor, so if you do lower km's or lots of short/stop-start driving, get the 112TSI. Both the 112TSI and the 103TDI are available with the better 6 speed DSG so you should be pretty safe.

Another brother just recently got rid of his 2012 Octavia 103TDI which had around 70,000km on it in the 18 months or so he had it. It was a work car. It was re-tuned for more power and he had zero mechanical sympathy for it and he had no mechanical issues in the time he had it. It ran up and down the M1/F3 freeway almost daily between Newcastle - Central Coast therefore perfect conditions for a diesel engine. Fuel consumption around 5.2L per 100km too.

[Unsightly]

It's hard to decide between the petrol or diesel.

I am thinking diesel because even though the higher costs, I thought it was a more reliable engine. I had heard of the diesel particle filter issue, but I obviously need to look into that more so thank you for that.

I drive 30kms to work on the freeway, and am likely to do lots of 10 minute trips and long-haul trips for camping.

[BJ75]

FWIW I'm not 100% into the whole "Diesel isn't good for stop-start motoring". Sure, the fuel consumption isn't as good - but that's no different to any petrol really. And the strains and stresses of stop-start motoring are the same on most cars surely?

I've only got anecdotal evidence, but my ex-gf used to have a Holden Gemini diesel back in the 90's. Drove it as a delivery car for Domino's Pizza, and drove 5 min to TAFE & back each day. Never once got driven over an hour, and it regularly got 700kms to a 45L tank, once a year service ($100), and did about 600,000km (of which she did about 50K in 4yrs). Uncle's 2000-ish diesel Peugeot: similar story - never on long drives, lots of city driving, better-than-petrol economy and no other issues. My 2012 Yeti 103TDI: 20min to work and back most days in Melbourne peak hour. Then 5min to shops and back most nights (because we're unorganised and can't get weekly shopping happening). On weekends I'll take it anywhere from 15min to 1hr away for a bike ride (mostly the 15min option), plus at least two 5 - 10min trips to cafes in my area. About 3 times a year it'll head 3hrs to Buller, maybe once a year to Canberra, and a few 2 - 3hr trips to Forrest/Apollo Bay. But 95% short city drives. I know of 4 other folk with VAG diesels (2 x skodas, VW and an Audi) who all do less driving than me, and all have zero probs.

My DPF thingy comes on at completely random times, but I notice it most when it stays on after one of the aforementioned 5min drives. I hear it running from inside the house for about 3 - 5min. Plus it stinks a bit. Haven't had the DPF light come on once so far telling me to go drive fast & long.

Took it for it's first service after 12 months & 15K to Volkstech (apparently ex VW folk) and it cost about $230. Apparently completely normal running so far. My mileage has been getting better over the 18 months I've owned it. I'm getting about 720km from 50L doing the driving described earlier. Plus I fang it now and then .... especially up hills which it just eats up. It rarely sees offroad, but the one time I did so along a pretty gnarly 4WD track near Daylesford it handled better than my Outback. I plan on doing some more when life is less hectic.

The 6sp DSG does have a little lag, but it's my first ever auto gearbox, so I've nothing to compare it to. It bothers me zilch, and I regularly floor it to squeeze into gaps that make occupants get nervous. I've used sports mode twice, maybe thrice. Ever. I haven't changed gears manually once.

So yeah ... maybe old diesels (other than 80's Geminis) needed long drives? Dunno. I figure Europe is flooded with city-driving diesels and they seem to do fine. Or maybe they all live far from work?

Overall - it's a freakin awesome car. I haven't been this satisfied with a car ever.

[Lucas_R]

^ modern diesels are very different to anything like an old Gemini or early 2000's Pug. Diesels since about mid 2000's are far more sophisticated and technologically advanced.....high pressure injection, turbo's, DPF's, advanced ECU's etc etc.

[Boon]

Have had our 103TDI since July and loving it! Great overall package for the money.

[Blue103TDIDSG]

As the name suggests, we have the 103 TDI with the DSG gearbox 4x4 and it is now just 12 months old
It replaced a 1994 Landcruiser Turbo Diesel and I have no regrets - really apples compared to oranges
Had no issues at all with the Landcruiser but the Yeti is the best car I have had.
As part of the "deal" we got aftermarket leather seats and it has a Zenec SatNav - long story on another thread

Very comfortable and quiet - no issues being a diesel
We live south of Brisbane on the coast so all our running is 15-20 minutes minimum.
The DPF regen cycle has only ever come on once very early in the piece - it has done about 6500kms in the 12 months.
With the way that the stealer's service dept setup the Sat/Nav I wouldn't let them check the oil, let alone change it !!
So, servicing now due, I have been quoted by a VAG specialist to come to my home and do the first service for $235
That is the way I will go

Spare parts - I can't comment as I haven't and hope not to have to get any. Our other car is a Fiat 500 and all the servicing materials I will be getting from the UK as they are even more extortionist here in Oz. Example, I got the salesman (before we bought the car) to check the cost of a set of front disc pads - $300 close enough - believe it or else !! A set of good brand disc pads from the UK is £35 + freight and rotors plus the disc pads is only £70 + freight. So my guess is that Skoda parts would be similar. Obviously it takes about a week or so to get here

The car itself - "magic" is the only word to describe it. It's great to drive and the DSG box is always in the correct gear. I have never used it manual nor have I used the sports mode - never had the need. I drive conservatively, so don't floor it to get into a traffic slot. But having said that if you give it a bootfull it goes like a scalded cat !! There is no discernible lag - none. Press the loud pedal and it GOES. The Landcruiser DID have turbo lag - plant your foot, count to 3, slowly, and then the power would hit you - not so with the Yeti - for me, you just drive it like a petrol engined car.

I have had company cars and they were conventional autos. This is the first auto we have bought and have no regrets. In "normal" driving the changes are lightning fast and smooth as. The only way you know it is changing gears is the change in engine note and the tacho bobbing up and down, rather down and up.

And don't forget that it is a 4x4 - the Haldex clutch system is very clever - suggest you Google it and read up on it

I haven't towed with it yet but have ordered a towbar from UK as I don't like the Oz one as you can't refit the removable cutout in the rear bumper - there is another thread on this too

The rear seats haven't been mentioned but they are fantastic - on 2 occasions I have carried large boxes and it only takes about 5 minutes to completely remove all of them, slightly longer to put them back - very clever indeed. The shopping hooks in the back work well and the storage bins beside the spare stop stuff sliding all over the place

I guess to summarise,
I can't believe that there aren't lots more on the road,
But I put that down to the stupidity of rejecting something because it is different -
lack of decent advertising probably doesn't help either - how long since you saw an add for Skoda on TV ?

Friends say "You bought a WHAT !!" -
You get used to it and just walk away thinking "Idiot"
But in the end it is they who are missing out by not even looking at such a great car

Ours came with the extended 5 year warranty and it has roadside assist at least for the first 3 years -
I'm guessing that should also be extended to 5 years too - will have to check the paperwork

Anyway, my advice is "go for it"
You won't regret it

[Copperhead]

We've had our Yeti for 6 months, couldn't be happier with it. Blue103TDIDSG's post above pretty much covers my thoughts. We were weighing up petrol vs diesel, and although very close to pulling the trigger on the petrol, made a late change to the diesel, and glad we did.
A couple of questions you asked were also concerns of mine after reading about potential DSG issues. I have never noticed any lag when pulling away, and we have a long steep driveway we have to reverse out of, and there's never been any problem at all.
Great car.

[joel0407]

I think the Yeti is the best car I have ever owned and I have owned over 36 cars.

I was considering the Tiguan against the Yeti when I bought it but the Yeti is just a better designed car. We have 2 kids (2 and 7), we leave the rear centre seat out and the 2 side seats that they use move in 1/4 so they have more room. So much stuff just gets put between the seats in the centre. Swimming bags, Groceries, whatever. It's just a perfect spot to chuck stuff. The boot has all these hooks and holes to put things as well.

There is one thing I don't like about the Yeti is there is a lot of wasted space in the boot. The wheel well is huge but it's filled with foam. Once the spare wheel is out there is a whole other layer bellow. If I get a chance, I'll take some photos.

Part are ridiculously cheaper in the UK. I have a dealer that has been great. The only down side is I have to call them in the middle of the night. My advantage is I am a shift worker so I am often up then any way. I also have a UK supplied tow bar and the wiring kit to match. I cant remember exactly now. You can search my threads as I posted how I got it and how I fitted if you like but it was something like over $700 from a dealer here and only $250 shipped from the UK. That was just the wiring kit and the tow bar was much the same.

I am finding the TDI is fantastic out of town. We recently drove from Darwin to Bathurst and back. We ended up doing 10,200km in 14 days. We left Darwin at 3:00pm on Friday and arrived in Bathurst by 4:00am Monday morning. The best I saw on the Maxidot was 5.4L/100km for a whole tank but I know the Maxidot is out by 0.3. A trip over the Blue Mountains from Bathurst saw 4.8L/100km but most of the speed limits are 60, 70 and 80km/h. Around town I am a bit of a lead foot. I did step out of a WRX before the Yeti so it's to be expected. I get around 8.5 - 9.0 were my wife gets 7.5 - 8.0L/100km. I use Fuelly.com for my fuel usage so my results are pretty exact. I don't drive for economy but I like details. I towed a box trailer from Canberra to Darwin on the previous trip up and mostly saw about 7.8L/100km.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2013/10/174724png-2.jpg (http://www.fuelly.com/driver/joel0407/yeti)

I have never had a problem with the DSG. One thing I dont like though is how long the sports mode hangs onto gears. I like how sports mode changes down quicker under brakes into a corner but then I bump it up to normal drive on the way out. The thing with the diesel is the torque is high down low and then drops of up high, pretty much opposite to a petrol. I like to ride the low down torque when accelerating. One of the hard things to get used to coming from the WRX is where the power (torque) is. In the WRX if you where hooking along, you'd be higher in the revs and everything was pretty busy, you knew you where going. The Yeti on the other hand the Diesel can be at 2000rpm and the torque will be really pushing out of a corner. I find it a little hard to get used to, it's not very loud, the motor is not screaming but you are hooking in all the same.

I have no rear muffler and it made no noticeable difference at all removing it. I wanted some nice polished stainless tips so it didn't cost much more for 2 mandrel bends and flange at the same time. I sort of knew it wouldn't make any difference to the sound but damn the muffler was a heavy piece of kit. I'm glade it's out. All the engine sound is cut from the turbo and the diesel particle filter. It does however stop that sound of air rushing though a small hole sound. Anyone who has heard one accelerate hard while standing on the kerb watching will know the sound I'm talking about.

Any more questions. Just ask here or Briskoda Forum.

I have never heard of anyone being disappointed with a Yeti of any model.

Happy Days.

[seaninbrisbane]

I've had my 112TSI Yet for around a month now, so I thought I'd give some impressions.

Before buying it I had a look at several similar SUVs: Tiguan - too expensive for 4WD auto version, interior wasn't as nice, didn't have flexible seating. Kia Sportage: loved the looks, but engine and handling weren't as refined (felt a bit truck-like), although very good salesman and warranty. Mazda CX-5: didn't test-drive (couldn't find one in budget), but apparently very good. Mitsubishi Outlander: didn't test-drive, was a bit dated and too expensive for the auto 4WD.

The Yeti's engine is absolutely fantastic, feels quite sporty and good 0-100. Suspension is a bit firmer than I was expecting, but I prefer this as it corners exceptionally well for an SUV. No problems with the gearbox - don't understand why it has a rep for being hesitant at low speeds. The boot isn't huge, but the flexible seating solves this for me - I rarely need to remove or put the seats down. Lots of clever features, such as a rear seatbelt retainer for when seats are removed/lowered, lights that stay on to guide you home, auto wipers/lights, self-dimming rear view mirror, dual climate control - all in all it feels very well put together (no squeaks at all). Fuel consumption is also very good for a 4WD SUV (unless you drive it like a sports car then it gets thirsty)!

I had a bad experience buying my first Skoda from Bryan Byrt, Mount Gravatt - so I used James Frizells on the Gold Coast this time who were much, much better. Only thing was, when I picked up my car on a Saturday afternoon, there were two couples trying to get information on a car, but who left because there was nobody around! One chap just ate his Subway sandwich and said someone would be with them shortly (not his department)!

All in all, I am overwhelmingly pleased with this car - it ticks all the boxes. I don't think I'll be changing it for some time.

[bluey]

FWIW I'm not 100% into the whole "Diesel isn't good for stop-start motoring".

Certainly the DPF issue is probably the major one. But even that is probably minimisable by using a cetane improving additive (have been using Morey's Diesel Smoke Killer).

Apart from DPF issue, I think the "diesels are no good for short distances" is complete nonsense. At idle the 103TDI reports using 0.6-0.7L/hr. Polo TDI reports 0.8L/hr. Various rented Audi petrol engines 1.8-2L size report about 1.2-1.3L/hr IIRC, maybe more. So based on idle consumption, a diesel will use a whole lot less fuel in stop start traffic. Being able to take off from standing with gentle clutch and zero accelerator also uses less fuel than a petrol engine which won't go anywhere without revs.

Have to agree with BJ75 "I haven't been this satisfied with a car ever."

Given the current runout prices with new Yeti on the way, they are a bargain too.

[NotYet]

I've had the 103TDI since Nov 2011 and have done 45,000km, mostly country driving. My experience is similar to the others above: overall an excellent car.

Specifics:
- Fuel consumption about 6.8L/100km.
- Engine is responsive, with peak torque from 1750rpm. Overtaking is a breeze. Should tow well too - surprising the unbraked limit is only 650kg.
- DSG is great. Can be a little hesitant when cold, but I don't find that an issue. It's a smart transmission: eg will hold D4 or D5 going downhill. Manual mode is excellent, esp for windy roads.
- For country driving on hilly-windy roads with broken or rough surfaces it is fabulous.
- 4WD mode is very handy on slippery surfaces such as forest roads (I save the serious 4WD tracks for the Prado - Yeti lacks clearance and is not really built for it.)
- The optional Xenon headlights are great - they even bend around corners. Lighting is as good as the driving lights on my Prado.
- Interior is practical and easy to live with. Indicator stalk on the left, but that is like all Euro cars. I really like the SD card slot in the Bolero.
- I have a gripe about the tilt of the headrests, which push my head forward - but that is true of most new cars. Unlike some cars (eg Passat), the head restraint is not horizontally adjustable. Solution is either tilt seat back by more than 10-15 degrees, or (as I did) get a seat insert.
- Visibility is very good, but these days a reversing camera should be standard. Unfortunately it was not an option, but I got an aftermarket one installed for about $450.
- Spare tyre is temporary use (speed limited to 80km/h) - not ideal for the country. It would have been better if the boot had been designed to take a full size wheel/tyre standing up - all the depth in the well would then have been usable. But this is a losing battle as fewer cars come with full size spares (many now have no spare).
- Low profile tyres with 17 inch wheels give a firm ride, although ameliorated by good suspension. The upside is sharp handling.
- The supplied Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres are very grippy on bitumen, although not long-lasting.
- Brakes are outstanding.
- No niggles at all so far. (Skodas are very reliable: eg Yeti recently topped the reliability results for the rigorous German registration authority.)

As others have said, I am surprised there haven't been more sold in Oz.

[Boon]

Has anyone tuned their 103tdi to 125kw? Have to say it's good to drive as is but wondering about the extra fun and diesel savings

[brad]

At idle the 103TDI reports using 0.6-0.7L/min. Polo TDI reports 0.8L/min. Various rented Audi petrol engines 1.8-2L size report about 1.2-1.3L/min IIRC, maybe more. So based on idle consumption, a diesel will use a whole lot less fuel in stop start traffic. Being able to take off from standing with gentle clutch and zero accelerator also uses less fuel than a petrol engine which won't go anywhere without revs.

My 1.8tsi M6 uses 0.7L/hr (surely it isn't per minute!!) at idle with AC off. 0.9L with AC on. It pulls away from a standing start with no accelerator needed. I often change up at 1500rpm but normally wind it right out to 1800rpm before change up:P. I figure if I can't go fast then I may as well try for maximum economy (and live up to my award from Shell for "Australias most economical driver").

I wouldn't have an issue with using a diesel stop/start. Where I do wonder is all these suburban housewives who's hubby buys them a diesel for the 3km drive to the school / shops / hairdresser etc. Diesels need to be at NOT to be efficient & that takes about 10km at 20c ambient.