...well after 2 years of looking and procrastinating our beloved 2015 1.4 L&k Yeti is gone. After much searching and many test drives we have now part exchanged for a pre-registered Kia Niro. In some ways not really a patch on the Yeti, but has some usefull features and I really wanted an auto box, (and a 7 year warranty helps ease the pain of transition!).

 

Nothing I tried came close to the practicallity and "quality feel" of the Yeti which will be much missed, although concerns regarding the eventual possibility of a pan roof failure, and a few other problems that had started to become potentially costly concerns?

 

The things I prefer on the Niro are the auto box, fuel economy, (first 50 mile journey from the dealer showed 65mpg on the computer), although the 1.4 returned 44mpg (actual) over the 4+ years we had it), and adaptive cruise control, 7 year warranty, no potential pan roof problems.

 

The things in the Yeti's favour are practicality whike being relatively small, (seat removal), comfort, "quality", (feels very "soild" compared to more modern offerings), performance, loads of extras on the L&K although some not used, (auto parking....why????).

 

If they still made them, (or something very similar) it would have been a no brainer to simply get another one, (auto). I even thought about trying to get one of the last 2017 SEL Drives, but they are now 5 years old and I didn't fancy spending that sort of money on a VAG car with no real warranty.

 

I can say that to date, the Yeti has been the best car I have ever owned!!

 

...so goodbye to this forum and thanks to all for all the help over the last few years....and if you have a "good" Yeti, then I would strongly recommend keeping it as long as you can!!

 

 

Edited 8 July, 20223 yr by Stubod

Stu , in a very similar place to you. Just today the Yeti took me and my mountain bike plus gear for a day out. We have been clearing out my mother in laws house so numerous trips to the charity shops or tip. The Yeti does it all. 
so Im at 5 years AND contemplating the £500 cam chain service. I think on balance I will keep it and await developments in EV’s as the next option 

The load carrying capacity volume wise is the only thing that dissapoints me in the Yeti, although coming from Octavia Estates it never had a chance and I do realise its comparative shortness, realise and appreciate because when it is loaded it does not sink like the Octavias and is 10 times better as a towcar when massively exceeding the towing limits.

 

I do appreciate also the flexibility and ease of removal of the rear seating, I have them out permanently at present and its a lot better but still lacking in height and length compared to the Octavias and I never once had need to remove the rear seats in them.

Given that there seems to be no comparable vehicle now and peoples fondness for them its surprising they stopped production.

32 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Given that there seems to be no comparable vehicle now and peoples fondness for them its surprising they stopped production.

 

It's not really surprising J.R.  Even if sales were buoyant, corporate VAG policy would have dictated a change to the MQB platform for a vehicle in that segment.  

 

They wouldn't have continued to build Mk5 Golf (A5 - PQ35) platforms just to build a small, quirky crossover.  Greater alignment with the mothership and ever increasing component sharing is the name of the game. 

2 hours ago, Welshyetiman said:

Stu , in a very similar place to you. Just today the Yeti took me and my mountain bike plus gear for a day out. We have been clearing out my mother in laws house so numerous trips to the charity shops or tip. The Yeti does it all. 
so Im at 5 years AND contemplating the £500 cam chain service. I think on balance I will keep it and await developments in EV’s as the next option 

....I dodged the cam belt bullit as the regular Indy that I used for the annual service was very scathing about the published "too frequent" cam belt changes and his view was they were built to do around 70k miles before needing a change, so although the car was 6.5 years old it only had 30k on the clock so the belt (and water pump) has not yet been changed, (£650+ cost). If I had kept it until it's next service, (due December), I would have had it changed anyway along with the water pump which I understand are prone to leaking after a certain age....(a bit like me ).

 

As it was in the last 12 months I ended up replacing the 4 tyres, a new battery and both rear wheel sensors, so Ideally I should have sold it 12 months earlier! Initially the pan roof had a very minor leak, but that was diagnosed as the front LH side drain pipe having a kink in it so I had the pipe replaced, and at the same time they glued all 4 of the drain pipes in place to prevent them from detaching at a later date. (As a precaution I then applied clear Gorillla tape to the glass and rubber seals as I never used the sunroof anyway, but prior to doing this I did not have any leak problems so  more of a precaution really).

 

More recently (as previously reported on this forum), I had a couple of problems with the radio/satnav unit. The satnav couldn't seem to find my exact location and kept telling me I was "off road", however this seemed to have sorted itself out over the last few weeks. I then had an occasional problem when the radio kept trying to autoselect the station to the furthest left on the screen, but again very intermittent?

 

My 3 previous cars were all Octavias, and I agree with the above comment regading space...masses! I liked them all, particularly the first one which was one of the first VRS mk 1 a simply brilliant car! This was followed by a 2.0 ltr diesel, and finally a 1.4tsi petrol (125hp), which again was a cracking engine as was the 1.4 (150hp) in my recently sold Yeti.

 

..and yes I would have happily got a new one if they still made them. I noticed on Autotrader that late ones (2017) are going for silly money, not that much less than I paid for a virtually new Niro!.....and I would not want to spend that sort of money on a 5/6 year old car without a 3 year manufacturers warranty! 

 

Edited 9 July, 20223 yr by Stubod

I bought a second hand kitchen (had to remove it myself) I only took the Yeti and not the trailer to give me more bargaining power which did not work at all, I loaded everything that I could in the car & took it back to base to return with the trailer for the remaining 3 units with others stacked inside them, before doing so I went through every permutation of how they could fit in without needing the trailer, it was so so close but impossible, I could have left the rear hatch open but it was pointless as the trailer was there to be used.

 

It is a big trailer, and takes sheets of plasterboard etc laid flat, I was shocked to find that the 3 units pretty much filled it lengthwise, I kept looking at it and then the empty Yeti and it just didn't seem possible, an Octavia Estate it isn't but the space with the seats out is deceptive.

 

Mind you in an Octavia I would have got the lot in in one go and not needed a return trip trailer or otherwise.

 

Schtum, yes i was thinking that it would have been the only vehicle remaining on an obselete platform, mine is so similar in many ways to my previous Octavia 2, not surprising considering they are the same platform and share virtually everything, what is surprising is that to drive it feels completely different, a completely different car, I expected it to feel like an Octavia but more upright, it doesn't and actually feels far more nimble and sporty, the 4x4 probably explains a lot of that and the CR engine is a jewel compared to the PD engine.

 

I wont get rid of mine even though being back doing major renovation works for the next few years an Octavia or Superb would be much more sensible, my pals are hectoring me to get a van but the truth is the Yeti feels like a keeper and anything else would lack its je ne sais quoi, and thats not a pun, I really cannot tell you what it is that has gripped me.

 

The lack of space will be its saviour, I have to use one of the trailers now for any serious load so it wont get beat up like the Octavias did.

Hi,

 

Our Yeti is now 6 years old; last year it had the cambelt & water pump replaced together with service and MOT costing over £800. Last week it had a major service & MOT costing £432; with 30K on the clock it sailed through the MOT and no issues were found; DMK at Wakefield always look after it and it's never missed a beat whilst being a joy to own and drive; my wife and I love it; no chance of trading it for a car which these days looks like every other new car. Skoda made a huge mistake in dropping  yeti production; we'd be now collecting our third Yeti and absolutely no way do we want a battery car. The government wanted owners in diesel cars a few years ago so we're in a diesel car and will stick with it; who wants to own a car that when the battery needs replacing it will be cheaper to scrap the car; this is progress?

 

The only real expenditure other than servicing was to fit Michelin Cross Climate tyres because of our steep valley location; the tyres cost £600 a few years ago and were fitted by "Tyresonthedrive". DMK Wakefield always do a good job and our Yeti will never be taken to a back street garage to save a few quid; I was told if we did trade in our Yeti wouldn't touch the ground it would sell so quickly; it's in excellent condition and I'd like to have it fully rustproofed which I need to look into rather than bother trying to do it myself; it's the best car we've ever had the pleasure to own and it's a keeper.

 

Kind regards, Colin.

...as compenstion the Niro is an auto, currently giving 70+mpg with a 7 year warranty and adaptice cruise control which is great!....and it's actually quite a nice car!...definately the right choice (for me) as a Yeti replacement...

On 19/07/2022 at 08:04, Stubod said:

...as compenstion the Niro is an auto, currently giving 70+mpg with a 7 year warranty and adaptice cruise control which is great!....and it's actually quite a nice car!...definately the right choice (for me) as a Yeti replacement...

I've got the same problem as you - I have a 2017 Yeti SEL Drive 1.2 DSG with all the bells and whistles bought to replace a 2012 Yeti. Great car but will be 6 years old next year so reluctantly will be time for a change in 2023 before anything happens to spoil my memories of a faultless car!

I also looked at the Niro but it was bit too big for what we need so then looked at the Kia Soul - has a hint of the look of the Yeti to it and would be my first EV so attracted to the longish 280 mile range. However, Kia have paused manufacture of the Soul though Kia tells me it will be reintroduced “soon”. I am guessing they are concentrating on the new Niro and when the Soul is reintroduced it will have a few Niro style enhancements - and an increased price no doubt.

Finding a replacement for the Yeti is impossible so I thought I would make the break into EV’s.

Can anyone that has parted with their Yeti recently maybe say where it is now for sale if it was a good one? 

..mine has just appeared at a Skoda garage in Mansfield priced at only £250 less than I paid for it 4.5 yers ago.....crazy prices!! Not sure who would want to pay £17k for a 7.5 year old car??

 

..generally a nice car, 30k miles with new tyres and battery but probably needs a new cam belt by now...

Edited 29 July, 20223 yr by Stubod

Maybe there will be a sort of "crash" when the chip shortages settle down, and these garages are left with some cars becoming unsold.  Not likely to happen soon given the current wait time for cars.

There will always be a limited amount of the last 2 years of Yeti registered in the UK as they were not sold in great numbers no matter how Skoda UK tried to spin things.

They are a car still in demand and if the prices drop then good.  Well for buyers, not sellers. 

Got rid of my 2.0 l&k deiselgate 4years ago (4 years from new)for a soul Gdi,a far better car imo ,comparable size and shape/ driving height ,which was a major factor with no transmission,diff filter ,sunroof leaks or dpf issues to worry about,much better tech and comparable fuel consumption ,have never missed the yeti or the known issues,onward and upward as they say and the the added bonus of VWG deiselgate COMPO😀😀😀£££.

https://www.mccarthycars.co.uk/vehicle-details/used-skoda-yeti-tsi-se-l-for-sale-72-74-mitcham-road-u24958/

 

I've put a deposit on this Yeti to replace my 2007 Roomster - do you have any views if it's a good deal please?