Skoda Yeti

[AnD3rew]

Had a diesel Skoda Yeti as a loaner when SWMBO's Peugeot was in having a service the other day.

Not good looking but what a great little car to drive. Bucket loads of go and handles beautifully.

Hate the Peugeot, I'm tempted to get a Yeti to replace it.

[discovery39]

I reckon Skoda are one of the few remaining car co's who have the head screwed onto the body. Sure we (the Aussies) ain't heard of them for a while, but they have been around for yonks. I think the Yeti is not a bad vehicle. The rest of their range seems OK too. Compared to most, they seem to be quite structurely sound too.

[joel0407]

Not good looking.

????????

Go easy. You'll offend him.

Mine has almost 30,000km in 16 months.

Happy Days

[redrovertdi]

I reckon Skoda are one of the few remaining car co's who have the head screwed onto the body. Sure we (the Aussies) ain't heard of them for a while, but they have been around for yonks. I think the Yeti is not a bad vehicle. The rest of their range seems OK too. Compared to most, they seem to be quite structurely sound too.


You do know that skoda is part of volkswagon...

[joel0407]

You do know that skoda is part of volkswagon...

And the Yeti is just an improved Tiguan. I drove both but the Yeti is lighter, faster and handles better. And then there is all the good ideas the Yeti has that the Tiguan doesn't like the flex rear seats.

Happy Days

[nat_89]

I reckon the yeti is a cool looking little car kind of discovery style you either love it or hate it's look and I love it. I've heard they go good and from what I've heard skodas quality is really second to none!!

[Dougal]

I have the Octavia scout. Longer and lower but sharing a lot of parts. I bought this car over audi a4 and pretty much all others. Amazing car and so underrated. Everything from the ride, handling to the lights and seats just work so well.

[alittlebitconcerned]

We've owned a yeti for nearly a year now. Highly recommended. Smart design.

[olbod]

Some nostalgia.
In the sixties skoda had a model with independent rear end.
It had a round sewer pipe like backbone down the centre with the diff and suspension stuck on the end.
It was very popular with the DIY racing sports car types. Using the engine and gearbox of choice they would stick a Buchanon or Bolewell body on the thing. Some were made to resemble the little lotus and Guy Buckingham's Nota style of thingy.
Some of them were very good and performed well.

[sheerluck]

Skoda are a very underrated brand. Back in the UK, where Skoda have been around since their early days, they were originally rubbish, a joke brand.

Jokes such as "why do Skodas have a heated rear window? To keep your hands warm while you're pushing" or "how do you double the value of a Skoda? Fill it with fuel" were rife.

But since VW took over, they produce some superb cars (pun intended). They get to design some great features, and have the security of the VW parts bin to play with.

8 or 9 years ago, I had a VW Passat Sport and a colleague had a Skoda Octavia RS. They both had the same 1.8l 20 valve turbo engine (which was pretty swift), most of the switchgear and instrumentation was the same, and his cost about two thirds of what mine did.....

[olbod]

Found a pic. Yea.
You get the idea, remove that centre cross member and you can lower the whole seating and body to make a goody.

Sorry for the hijack but this thread stirred a memory.

[Dougal]

All Skoda's have been independent suspension since about the 1940's. They even produced a concept jeep for WW2 which was independent suspension all round.

Their old cars were built specially for the conditions in Czech, the english thought they were rubbish, but the english cars of the time were worse in every way.
Skoda made a lot of rear engined, rwd cars for traction in the snow. These 2wd cars could embarrass many 4wd's. Which is very important when you are in snow for 4 months of the year.

[Slunnie]

You do know that skoda is part of volkswagon...

That's it. VW, Skoda and Audi are all built on VWs modular platforms with different skins and interiors. Most of the drivelines are the same from VW also with each having their own odd special motors.

The Yeti will also be similar to the Audi Q3

[Dougal]

The VW Tiguan shares a platform with the Passat. The Q5 should also.
The Yeti and Scout are Golf based, one platform down in size.

[joel0407]

The VW Tiguan shares a platform with the Passat. The Q5 should also.
The Yeti and Scout are Golf based, one platform down in size.

I haven't looked for other platforms but I know 100% the Tiguan and Yeti are the same base. Both share the same motors, gearboxes and most other things. They are only cosmetically different. I am also aware that Golf suspension parts fit both the Yeti and Tiguan.

At the time that I bought mine VW Australia didn't sell both the Yeti and Tiguan in the same configurations but in other countries they were avalible. The Tiguan 103TDI came with the 7 speed DSG but the Yeti only came with the 6 speed. I know the 7 speed was probably better but coming from conventional manual gearboxes for many years, I found the 7 speed too electric and liked how the 6 speed would rev a slight bit higher and then drop a slight bit lower in the revs when it changed up gears.

At the time VW Australia didn't import the 125TDI like they did with the Tiguan but it was avalible for the Yeti in other countries.

Even the stereo/navigator is the same part. The only differance is the opening screen when you turn the key. One says VW the other Skoda.

Same part number on the springs and shocks. My mate has a Tiguan and they both come with the same tyres.

According to Skoda and VW specs the Yeti in the same configuration is 0.1 seconds slower to the 100km/h. I am unsure how they tested that as the Yeti is 100kg lighter.

What does anoy me though is in the UK, Skoda is sold as VW cheaper brand and Audi is VW upmarket brand. In the UK, the Yeti varies from 5 to 8 thousand pounds cheaper then the Tiguan but in Australia, they are matched in price. VW Australia will tell you it's import costs but if the import cost was fixed then the Tiguan and Yeti should increase the same amount from their parent country so they should have the same 5 to 8 thousand pound (AUD converted) differance in price. If the import cost was percentage based like tax then the differance in price should increase. Someone is make some coin out of selling Skodas in Australia but it's not being returned to the customer in anyway.

I had a heap of trouble buying my Yeti as I wanted a set of options. Trivet in Sydney were rubbish to deal with and they kept trying to sell me vehicles with more options than I wanted and charge me accordingy. I wasnt going to pay several thousand for leather just to get Bi-Xenon lights. I snapped and decided to wait the 3 months and order a vehicle with the set options. I drove to Sydney from Canberra with the cash for a deposit to order the vehicle, all pre arranged before I went. When I arrived I was told Skoda Australia wouldn't let them order any vehicle becasue there was too much stock in Australia. I gave up and made a rant on Face Book, next thing I receive a message for Kinghorne Skoda in Nowra asking what I wanted, I told them, they said they could do it, I headed in with a deposit and ordered on within about 10 minutes.

Something I was considering with my order was the Annapurina Wheel, they are just a different design, same size, same tyres, just a differnt look. In the UK they were a 8 pound option. In Autralia Skoda wanted over $1700. Turned out Skoda dealers in Australia had to order them through spare parts and change the tyres and wheels as pre delivery. I don't know what I was supposed to do with 4 extra wheels? Kinghorne Nowra said there was no option to order these wheels from the factory but they would put it in the notes on the order. Extra bit of luck for me, the car turned up with the wheels I wanted. The sales guy couldn't explain it. I had also had a rant and left my details at the motor show and face book and emailed Skoda Australia.

I just think if someone is making more money out of selling Skoda in Australia then they should make it easier to buy one than a VW. It seems many VW dealers are also Skoda dealers.

Now my problem is I have since moved to Darwin and the VW dealer has a rubbish reputation for service. My first service was done in Nowra and my second is coming close.

Happy Days.

[Dougal]

I haven't looked for other platforms but I know 100% the Tiguan and Yeti are the same base. Both share the same motors, gearboxes and most other things. They are only cosmetically different. I am also aware that Golf suspension parts fit both the Yeti and Tiguan.

At the time that I bought mine VW Australia didn't sell both the Yeti and Tiguan in the same configurations but in other countries they were avalible. The Tiguan 103TDI came with the 7 speed DSG but the Yeti only came with the 6 speed. I know the 7 speed was probably better but coming from conventional manual gearboxes for many years, I found the 7 speed too electric and liked how the 6 speed would rev a slight bit higher and then drop a slight bit lower in the revs when it changed up gears.

At the time VW Australia didn't import the 125TDI like they did with the Tiguan but it was avalible for the Yeti in other countries.

Even the stereo/navigator is the same part. The only differance is the opening screen when you turn the key. One says VW the other Skoda.

Same part number on the springs and shocks. My mate has a Tiguan and they both come with the same tyres.

According to Skoda and VW specs the Yeti in the same configuration is 0.1 seconds slower to the 100km/h. I am unsure how they tested that as the Yeti is 100kg lighter.

What does anoy me though is in the UK, Skoda is sold as VW cheaper brand and Audi is VW upmarket brand. In the UK, the Yeti varies from 5 to 8 thousand pounds cheaper then the Tiguan but in Australia, they are matched in price. VW Australia will tell you it's import costs but if the import cost was fixed then the Tiguan and Yeti should increase the same amount from their parent country so they should have the same 5 to 8 thousand pound (AUD converted) differance in price. If the import cost was percentage based like tax then the differance in price should increase. Someone is make some coin out of selling Skodas in Australia but it's not being returned to the customer in anyway.

I had a heap of trouble buying my Yeti as I wanted a set of options. Trivet in Sydney were rubbish to deal with and they kept trying to sell me vehicles with more options than I wanted and charge me accordingy. I wasnt going to pay several thousand for leather just to get Bi-Xenon lights. I snapped and decided to wait the 3 months and order a vehicle with the set options. I drove to Sydney from Canberra with the cash for a deposit to order the vehicle, all pre arranged before I went. When I arrived I was told Skoda Australia wouldn't let them order any vehicle becasue there was too much stock in Australia. I gave up and made a rant on Face Book, next thing I receive a message for Kinghorne Skoda in Nowra asking what I wanted, I told them, they said they could do it, I headed in with a deposit and ordered on within about 10 minutes.

Something I was considering with my order was the Annapurina Wheel, they are just a different design, same size, same tyres, just a differnt look. In the UK they were a 8 pound option. In Autralia Skoda wanted over $1700. Turned out Skoda dealers in Australia had to order them through spare parts and change the tyres and wheels as pre delivery. I don't know what I was supposed to do with 4 extra wheels? Kinghorne Nowra said there was no option to order these wheels from the factory but they would put it in the notes on the order. Extra bit of luck for me, the car turned up with the wheels I wanted. The sales guy couldn't explain it. I had also had a rant and left my details at the motor show and face book and emailed Skoda Australia.

I just think if someone is making more money out of selling Skoda in Australia then they should make it easier to buy one than a VW. It seems many VW dealers are also Skoda dealers.

Now my problem is I have since moved to Darwin and the VW dealer has a rubbish reputation for service. My first service was done in Nowra and my second is coming close.

Happy Days.

The platforms are different in several major measurements. You are talking about individual components being the same, which we all know. But that is not the platform.

I have compared the Tiguan to the Yeti. They are very different vehicles in dimensions and room both internally and externally.
In the 2012 models (when I was looking) there was over a foot difference in length alone.
The Tiguan is ~30mm longer and wider in wheelbase. Longer overhangs front and rear and a much longer boot.
It is the next size up in platform. Passat based, not golf based.

I hated the DSG and tried to buy a new manual superb or Scout. Couldn't but found a 3 year old Scout coming off fleet lease and bought in within half an hour.

[joel0407]

The platforms are different in several major measurements. You are talking about individual components being the same, which we all know. But that is not the platform.

I have compared the Tiguan to the Yeti. They are very different vehicles in dimensions and room both internally and externally.
In the 2012 models (when I was looking) there was over a foot difference in length alone.
The Tiguan is ~30mm longer and wider in wheelbase. Longer overhangs front and rear and a much longer boot.
It is the next size up in platform. Passat based, not golf based.

I hated the DSG and tried to buy a new manual superb or Scout. Couldn't but found a 3 year old Scout coming off fleet lease and bought in within half an hour.

I don't knw how they acheive differnt wheel bases but they are definatly the same platform. As is the Tiguan to golf. None of them match exactly. The Tiguan is longer in the body mainly due to larger over hang from bulging bumps. I'm not saying that's good or bad but just differnt styling.

Using you theory that the wheel base stays the same for a platform, how do you explain the 2012 passat wheel base being 2711mm and the 2012 Tiguan wheel base being 2605mm? And then the golf is 2574mm?

Even better. Just read the first line: Volkswagen Tiguan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I will admit the DSG took some getting used to. I came from a mildly modified WRX so I realy liked to change gears for myself. I hate the old torque converter auto of my Disco 2 but the DSG is another animal all together. Let my know when you can change you manual gearbox in under 0.008 seconds. I know 0.6 is nominal and slowest is 1.2 seconds but when it does a slow change is the least likely time you would need a fast change. You need to drive a DSG every day for a week to really get the hang of it. If I really want to hook in, I'll slip it to "S" copming into corners because it changes down earlier and provides more engine braking then slip it to "D" mid corner because I like acceleration from the lower down torque rather than in "S" when it holds the gear for longer and revs more.

Happy Days.

[joel0407]

The platform is the A5 (PQ35)

There is 18 different vehicles listed for this platform
Volkswagen Group A platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[joel0407]

Best of all.

I like to tell my mate who has a Tiguan. My Yeti was built in the Czech factory where generations of car builders have been assembling cars since 1905. Where his Tiguan was assembled in China, just down the road from the Cherry factory, arround the corner from where Great Wall cars are made.

This is just a laugh but in 2012 the Tiguan was coming from China along with some other VWs. One of the golfs was assembled there and another not. It was something like the 5 door was assembled in China but the 3 door was built in Germany.

I think they were moving production of the Yeti from Czech to China not long after I bought mine. I haven't made any effort to find out where the current facelift model is made.

I know mine was assembled in Czech becasue you are able to track your vehicle all the way from the factory with the VIN. I think you can do this with most VW group cars. Once you know which ship it's loaded on, you can track that ship around the world and then watch that ship in at least Australian ports on web cams. I watched a few vehicles get unloaded in Fremantle. At Melbourne I saw the ship come into the harbour but there was no webcam coverage of where it docked. I saw vehicles being unloaded in Port Kembler but there's no was to know which one is yours.

Happy Days.

[joel0407]

I have compared the Tiguan to the Yeti. They are very different vehicles in dimensions and room both internally and externally.
In the 2012 models (when I was looking) there was over a foot difference in length alone.
The Tiguan is ~30mm longer and wider in wheelbase. Longer overhangs front and rear and a much longer boot.
It is the next size up in platform. Passat based, not golf based.

If you are trying to claim the Tigaun is a lot bigger inside. I can't argue without looking at the actual measurements but I can tell you flex seating in the rear of the Yeti make a heap of differance. Most sales guys don't even know how to use it.

I went to the Sydney motor show and while the Skoda chick was hot and whe seemed pretty inteligent, she knew sweet FA about the car. I showed how to move the seats around and she was impressed. I thought she was supposed to be impressing me. Well she did impress me with her appearance but she couldn't impress me with the vehicle.

I have 2 kids and fly large R/C planes so I need a bit of space sometimes. The Yeti is our family car and the Disco is mine and used for off road trips. I only bought the Disco when I moved here to Darwin so it was just the Yeti and before then. I lived in Canberra but I would go home to Bathurst every lot of days off (shift work). By the time you load up the whole family you end up with a fair bit of gear to fit in a car.

The rear seats move foward and back just like the front seats in other cars. Then the rear centre seat can be removed and the rear side seats move in 1/4 of a seat to give more arm room. This still leaves enough space in the center for a sports bag with stuff to keep the kids occupied. Taking out the whole centre seat in the rear on its own makes a heap more space. It also allows long R/C plane wings to go between the seats.

It does have the odd design flaw though. In other countries you can order the vehicle with run flats and no spare. I wouldn't have run flats but in fitting the spare to the rear they have taken about double the space they needed too. In vehicles with no spare tyre they have a split level storage in the rear. In Australia we only get the upper level and the lower level is marginally filled with a emergency wheel and then a bucket load of foam. It's a good foot and a half deep but mainly filled with foam. If you ever have a look at one, take out the spare and then look at the space under that:eek:.

Happy Days.

[Dougal]

The 2012 Passat wheel track is halfway between the Yeti and Tiguan. So that's not helping either.

Yes huge difference in interior room and space between the Tiguan and Yeti. Sure the Yeti has a great seat system, but you've got to remove them to make more space.
In comparison the Scout has more boot space and more usable than an A4. I almost bought a Tiguan, the nearest dealer had two manuals in from a factory trial. But they sold (days) before I got there.
The buyer of the last manual tiguan traded a manual scout, it was also sold before I got there.
Yet these morons tell you they don't stock manuals because there is no demand.

The 0.08ms gearchange of a DSG is pointless as it's only reactive and only into a pre-selected gear. A manual gearbox is in the gear I need before I plant foot. Active vs reactive.
Here's the situation where a DSG can literally mean death: Passing a truck in an alpine pass. Finally get a space, pull out to pass and the DSG needs to change from 6th to 4th. The first gearchange is split second, the second takes around 1.5 seconds. Leaving you with interrupted power for long enough that your safe passing window is gone.

I live in a place where passing trucks on winding alpine roads is more common than traffic lights.

Sure you can use the lever and pre-select the gear you need. But it's a pointless automatic gearbox that needs baby sat in situations where you need simple gear selection.
The ZF 6sp auto in the mondeo IMO ****es all over the 6sp DSG.

The other downsides of DSG for me were the higher purchase price, the lower resale price, the more frequent servicing, the more expensive servicing, the fuel economy hit, the cost of repairs and the fact it's still got a DMF flywheel to replace.
Not to mention it got completely flummoxed about 3 times while test-driving it. Roundabouts confused it completely. Back off as you coast in and it selects a higher gear then pre-selects a higher gear again, plant foot to accelerate through and you get ~1.5 seconds of hesitation and power interruption while it tries to change gear and pre-select the next appropriate gear.
Common problem. Owners tell me they use the paddles to work through it.

[joel0407]

Yes huge difference in interior room and space between the Tiguan and Yeti. Sure the Yeti has a great seat system, but you've got to remove them to make more space.

Yeti is 310L with seats and 1665 without.
Tiguan is 390L and 1520L with seats folded foward because they cant be removed and they only fold 60/40. There's no meantion of the Yeti with just the centre seat removed which is how we run all the time. I have no doubt it will be more than 390. So they only place with Tiguan wins is with all the seats in place. That's not a huge differance in my book.



The 0.08ms gearchange of a DSG is pointless as it's only reactive and only into a pre-selected gear. A manual gearbox is in the gear I need before I plant foot. Active vs reactive.

No not is sport mode. Mine changes down gears as I come into a corner under brakes and is ready to go when I go from the brake to accellerator. So it's a whole lot more proactive than old autos were.



Here's the situation where a DSG can literally mean death: Passing a truck in an alpine pass. Finally get a space, pull out to pass and the DSG needs to change from 6th to 4th. The first gearchange is split second, the second takes around 1.5 seconds. Leaving you with interrupted power for long enough that your safe passing window is gone.

I live in a place where passing trucks on winding alpine roads is more common than traffic lights.

As I said I came from a mildly modified WRX so slow passing would not be acceptable. I often look down when passing and see surprisingly high speeds. I won't post them up here.

While this might not be an area where the DSG shines, it certainly does no worse than a manual. There is no more effort to flick the leaver across to manual mode and change down a couple of cogs than to depress a clutch and move your gear stick. Thing is then you have to depress your clutch twice more and change back up a couple of gears while the DSG just gets flicked back to "D".


Not to mention it got completely flummoxed about 3 times while test-driving it. Roundabouts confused it completely. Back off as you coast in and it selects a higher gear then pre-selects a higher gear again, plant foot to accelerate through and you get ~1.5 seconds of hesitation and power interruption while it tries to change gear and pre-select the next appropriate gear.
Common problem. Owners tell me they use the paddles to work through it.

This all says to me you didn't know how to use it. And using paddles doesnt let the gearbox learn how you drive. Most demo cars are babied around with a sales guy in the passenger seat. The gear box expects you to be slowing down nicely and the stopping at intersections. Drive it like you usually drive and the auto part will work how you want it. The harder you brake the quicker it changes back gears, not up. Back off and coast into a round about and it will change up becasue it thinks you dont need power. Brake and it expect the next move to be accellerate.

That's all if you want to drive in Auto. Flick it to manual and it all gets even better again. F1 drivers don't skip gears, ralley car drivers often have sequential gearboxes and can't skip gears. I can't think of a situation where I really need to skip gears unless I'm going from driving slow to driving fast. If I'm already driving fast, I'm in the gear to match the speed. If I brake, I change down as the car slows. If I speed up I change gears as I need to and it's a bloody lot faster than any manual.

I'm just saying you need to give a DSG box more time before you say you don't like them. It's like you've read the cover of a book and said the story is no good.

Happy Days.

[Dougal]

Yeti is 310L with seats and 1665 without.
Tiguan is 390L and 1520L with seats folded foward because they cant be removed and they only fold 60/40. There's no meantion of the Yeti with just the centre seat removed which is how we run all the time. I have no doubt it will be more than 390. So they only place with Tiguan wins is with all the seats in place. That's not a huge differance in my book.

The volume only tells part of the story. The shape of the Yeti load space could not work for me.
Try to fit a mountain buggy in with functioning back seats and get back to us.


No not is sport mode. Mine changes down gears as I come into a corner under brakes and is ready to go when I go from the brake to accellerator. So it's a whole lot more proactive than old autos were.

Why would I need to brake into corners? They don't suddenly jump out in front of me!


While this might not be an area where the DSG shines, it certainly does no worse than a manual. There is no more effort to flick the leaver across to manual mode and change down a couple of cogs than to depress a clutch and move your gear stick. Thing is then you have to depress your clutch twice more and change back up a couple of gears while the DSG just gets flicked back to "D".

An automatic that requires manual intervention (baby-sitting) has failed as an automatic. It's also a situation where the best conventional TC automatics have no problems.

I like and prefer driving manuals. Pressing the clutch and moving gears isn't a problem that needs solved for me. The manual gearbox is in exactly the gear I selected and it stays in exactly that gear until I change it.

Your DSG will change up if it thinks you rev too high. It will change down if it thinks you rev too low. It gives you some limited gear selection in the middle which is required as it often gets it wrong.


This all says to me you didn't know how to use it. And using paddles doesnt let the gearbox learn how you drive. Most demo cars are babied around with a sales guy in the passenger seat. The gear box expects you to be slowing down nicely and the stopping at intersections. Drive it like you usually drive and the auto part will work how you want it. The harder you brake the quicker it changes back gears, not up. Back off and coast into a round about and it will change up becasue it thinks you dont need power. Brake and it expect the next move to be accellerate.

Don't know how to use a supposedly automatic gearbox? Doesn't that make it a crap automatic gearbox? An automatic that needs baby sat? One that needs un-necessary braking to work out which gear to be in?

The decelleration/coast/acceleration patterns when entering roundabouts confuse DSG and leave it flummoxed for several seconds. There is no debate about this. It is well documented.


That's all if you want to drive in Auto. Flick it to manual and it all gets even better again. F1 drivers don't skip gears, ralley car drivers often have sequential gearboxes and can't skip gears. I can't think of a situation where I really need to skip gears unless I'm going from driving slow to driving fast. If I'm already driving fast, I'm in the gear to match the speed. If I brake, I change down as the car slows. If I speed up I change gears as I need to and it's a bloody lot faster than any manual.

Why do DSG owners always compare their gearbox to F1?
They have absolutely nothing in common with design or function.
Skipping gears? Have you driven a 6sp manual car lately? 6th is cruising gear, 4th is overtaking. There is no point going 6-5-4 and 4-5-6 in a passing maneuvre unless you are a dim-witted DSG which has to. It's 6-4 prior, then 4-6 afterwards.


I'm just saying you need to give a DSG box more time before you say you don't like them.

Why would I waste more time on a gearbox that costs more, is worth less, can have horrendous repair costs, higher running costs, higher service costs and requires more frequent servicing?

For my use there is absolutely nothing in the "like" column.

[joel0407]

Why would I waste more time on a gearbox that costs more, is worth less, can have horrendous repair costs, higher running costs, higher service costs and requires more frequent servicing?

For my use there is absolutely nothing in the "like" column.

Because it makes a perfect change everytime (mine has never failed).

If I'm in heavy traffic, I can put it in "D" and forget about it.

If I want to drive a bit quick, I can put it in "S" and it does a pretty good job. I can't expect it to be psychic.

If I want to drive really fast, I can do it mamually and there is no way anyone can change gears as fast in a conventional, road going manual vehicle.

I meantioned before that if you brake into corners then it changes down gears. You responed that why would I brake into a corner, you can see it coming. You don't actually need to brake, you only need to activate the brake switch for it the start changing down. Then if you apply the brakes, it will change down faster the hard the brakes are applied.

I have owned and driven manual cars for over 20 years. The only automatic cars I have driven have been work cars and it's only been in the last 6 years that my work place has had automatic vehicles.

The Yeti is the second automatic vehicle I have owned, the Disco the third. The Disco would be manual but sometimes you take what you can get with second hand vehicles. The first auto was a 1979 Toyota Corolla that I had when I learned to drive. I actually did more driving in manual work vehicles and took one of them for my driving test.

I am not getting old and lazy. I just love how fast the DSG will change gears. I'm pretty sure that most people would have taken more than a day to learn to drive a conventional manual and while you can just jump in and drive a DSG, you wont get the most out of it until you have spent some time with it.

Happy Days.

[sashadidi]

In New Zealand three of my friends had VW golfs and one had a skoda from 2005 onwards, all had gearbox problems which were denied and denied until out of warranty, average cost NZ$10000 plus, plenty on European forums about these as well, alright until you get a bad one...... and you need a mortgage
VW, Skoda, Audi issue DSG recall for NZ | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8791119/VW-Skoda-Audi-issue-DSG-recall-for-NZ)

Lived in Portugal a while back and our neighbours a few Skodas which were great value compared to VW (cost wise) but the servicing charges there were the same and took the gloss off ownership for them as they were "sold" as a cheap VW.
In NZ Diesels can be NZ$5000 more I am told yet in Europe price difference can be as little as NZ$800........

[snowbound]

All Skoda's have been independent suspension since about the 1940's. They even produced a concept jeep for WW2 which was independent suspension all round.

Their old cars were built specially for the conditions in Czech, the english thought they were rubbish, but the english cars of the time were worse in every way.
Skoda made a lot of rear engined, rwd cars for traction in the snow. These 2wd cars could embarrass many 4wd's. Which is very important when you are in snow for 4 months of the year.

I owned a Skoda Estelle! They said it was impossible to put a tow bar on it. I did LOL. Also I heard that when the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia (thank god for spell check) they put Skoda engines in their Tiger tanks! And while on the subject I also have driven tractors called Zetor, and these were builtby skoda.

[Dougal]

I owned a Skoda Estelle! They said it was impossible to put a tow bar on it. I did LOL. Also I heard that when the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia (thank god for spell check) they put Skoda engines in their Tiger tanks! And while on the subject I also have driven tractors called Zetor, and these were builtby skoda.

Those tank diesels were something like 44 litres.:eek:

It was Hitlers invasion of Czech that forced them to change to driving on the right. Prior they drove on the left like us and built RHD cars. Just one more reason to hate Hitler, otherwise I'd be importing central european spec cars for peanuts.

[mikehzz]

My son has had an Octavia RS from new in 2008. It's been a faultless car and very well appointed. It looks like a VW inside and under the bonnet without the higher price tag.

[Dougal]

My son has had an Octavia RS from new in 2008. It's been a faultless car and very well appointed. It looks like a VW inside and under the bonnet without the higher price tag.

Park it next to a golf of the same year. The Octavia is far better appointed. Mine is.

[AndyG]

Some time back I was happy with double de clutch, throaty side draft webers and Scandinavian flicks. Now more than happy with VW passat, DSG, leather, etc etc, life moves on.

[Hoges]

Found a pic. Yea.
You get the idea, remove that centre cross member and you can lower the whole seating and body to make a goody.

Sorry for the hijack but this thread stirred a memory.

yeah...the Skoda and the Simca Aronde had lay-back front seats...:eek::angel::twisted::wasntme::p

[mikehzz]

Driving through the Czech Republic you still come across some daggy old Skodas pre VW and blowing smoke from the exhaust and every window from the chain smokers inside....:D

[Jedimastermat]

Drove a diesel Octava Wagon around Europe for many a time. Agricultural at the time but we really loved it. Reliable as, with a hint of understeer at 160kmh on the autobahns (or maybe that was me)

[superquag]

"...This all says to me you didn't know how to use it. And using paddles doesnt let the gearbox learn how you drive.....The gear box expects you to be slowing down nicely and the stopping at intersections. Drive it like you usually drive and the auto part will work how you want it....quicker it changes back gears, not up. Back off and coast into a round about and it will change up becasue it thinks you dont need power. Brake and it expect the next move to be accellerate.

I'm with Dougal on this one. MY driving style for automatic cars is a result of a couple of Valiants, my HZ Holden and the Lady Sarah (Classic). I don't roar up to round-abouts then squander all that energy by turning it into useless, expensive heat... then plant the hoof and 'buy' it again by accelerating through and out... Great for impressing the Natives or Girl-friend... but does nothing for my drive-train(s) or wallet.

Smoooth techniques saves money, does not cost you in time, easy on the neck/spine and retains grip when you need it. (changing direction)
On the work Nissan,(petrol, towing it's maximum weight..) thinking ahead mean the difference between 3.2km/litre and 4km/litre. :eek:

For corners or roundabouts I'll gauge the speed so that braking is minimal or non-existant, using 3rd gear on Sarah if required.

The manual Mazda is a whole new enviroment.
-use gears for "everything", and skipping as and when required. Or lotsa revs in alllll gears...:twisted::twisted::twisted:

The old auto bus is different again and the manual ones also get skipped gears when appropriate. The other auto bus is a different technique in some details...

Horses for courses, but I'm not interested in paying out for mindless machines that are pandering to the brain-dead.
Or boy-racers. :wasntme:

[joel0407]

I'm with Dougal on this one. MY driving style for automatic cars is a result of a couple of Valiants, my HZ Holden and the Lady Sarah (Classic). I don't roar up to round-abouts then squander all that energy by turning it into useless, expensive heat... then plant the hoof and 'buy' it again by accelerating through and out... Great for impressing the Natives or Girl-friend... but does nothing for my drive-train(s) or wallet.

Smoooth techniques saves money, does not cost you in time, easy on the neck/spine and retains grip when you need it. (changing direction)
On the work Nissan,(petrol, towing it's maximum weight..) thinking ahead mean the difference between 3.2km/litre and 4km/litre. :eek:


I don't understand what you want the gearbox to do. If you want it to stay in a high gear and coast up to the round about then just take you foot off the accelerator but then when you want it to go again there will be a slight delay while it changes down and then goes. No more of a delay than the time it takes you to depress a clutch, change gears and release the clutch in a conventional manual. It's just a different action to for the same result.

If you want it change down gears, provide engine braking and be ready for when you ask it to go then you only need to put you foot on the brake pedal. You don't actually need to be applying the brakes and burning off energy in heat, as you say. If you do actually brake however, the hard you brake the quicker it will change down and be ready for you to accellerate harder when you go from braking to accelerating.

And you'll always feel connected with the road and be able to drive of the accelerator unlike the disconnected feel you get with a torque converter automatic. You don't have a torque converter to be wasting energy either.

Yes they have some teething issues but I definatly think they are they way of the furture. There are so many cars these days that just aren't coming out with a manaul option. It used to be an auto was an option. I know the old torque converter auto has come a long way but I still don't like them. Give me a conventional manual any day.

I'm surprised there not equally fuel efficent as a manual. A torque converter auto can't be as fuel efficent as an Manaul due to the energy loss in the torque converted but that's not there with the DSG. There's a little energy used in maybe more ferequent gear changes but then you could argue that the DSG will keep the engine in it's optimum operating RPM range where a person might be a little bit lazy to change a manual even if they don't realise it. Mine is currently running a bit high on consumption for its 27,000+km but when out of town it has frequently been towing a light but stil a box trailer with 2 dogs on board and then many of the town trips have been from running my daughter to school and back everyday.

Happy Days.

[Dougal]

I don't understand what you want the gearbox to do. If you want it to stay in a high gear and coast up to the round about then just take you foot off the accelerator but then when you want it to go again there will be a slight delay while it changes down and then goes. No more of a delay than the time it takes you to depress a clutch, change gears and release the clutch in a conventional manual. It's just a different action to for the same result.

For a start with a manual you don't change gear on the exit from the corner. If you require a lower gear, you change down while coasting down on the way in.
The reactive "delay" that the DSG has while finding the right gear on the way out is the equivalent to being the passenger when the driver keeps getting the gear selection and timing wrong.

It's the difference between reactive gear changes vs planning ahead. To make an auto plan ahead and be in the right gear you need to trick it into changing gears. Which defeats the purpose of having an auto.


And you'll always feel connected with the road and be able to drive of the accelerator unlike the disconnected feel you get with a torque converter automatic. You don't have a torque converter to be wasting energy either.

That's a big and wrong assumption. The TC on a modern 6sp auto has an aggressive lock-up schedule and only unlocks for breif times during gear changes and at low speed.
There is no energy lost through the TC while driving. In fact the only energy losses in a modern TC auto is driving the internal hydraulic pumps. Which is exactly what the DSG does.

Which is why the DSG gets the same real world fuel economy as other modern automatics.


Yes they have some teething issues but I definatly think they are they way of the furture. There are so many cars these days that just aren't coming out with a manaul option. It used to be an auto was an option. I know the old torque converter auto has come a long way but I still don't like them. Give me a conventional manual any day.

DSG isn't the way of the future. It is merely a stop-gap. Conventional TC autos with the same number of gears match drive efficiency but have several huge advantages.
The first is being able to use the TC to smoothly apply drive at low speeds and cushion gear changes without wearing clutches.
The second is being able to go from any gear to any other gear without penalty. The DSG can only make one fast change to the pre-selected gear. If you require a gear that wasn't pre-selected then you've got a long and possibly dangerous power interruption on your hands.


I'm surprised there not equally fuel efficent as a manual. A torque converter auto can't be as fuel efficent as an Manaul due to the energy loss in the torque converted but that's not there with the DSG. There's a little energy used in maybe more ferequent gear changes but then you could argue that the DSG will keep the engine in it's optimum operating RPM range where a person might be a little bit lazy to change a manual even if they don't realise it. Mine is currently running a bit high on consumption for its 27,000+km but when out of town it has frequently been towing a light but stil a box trailer with 2 dogs on board and then many of the town trips have been from running my daughter to school and back everyday.

Happy Days.

How can they reach manual gearbox efficiency when there is an internal hydraulic pump to drive?
Answer: They can't.

See above for the TC auto corrections. Real world fuel consumption is a wash between modern conventional auto and DSG. Still significantly worse than a manual gearbox with all but the worst drivers.

[ramblingboy42]

I was having a chat to Sebastian Vettle and he reckons none of you guys have any idea how to drive properly......

[Dougal]

I was having a chat to Sebastian Vettle and he reckons none of you guys have any idea how to drive properly......

I'd drive a little differently if someone else was paying for and fixing the cars.:angel:

[joel0407]

For a start with a manual you don't change gear on the exit from the corner. If you require a lower gear, you change down while coasting down on the way in.
The reactive "delay" that the DSG has while finding the right gear on the way out is the equivalent to being the passenger when the driver keeps getting the gear selection and timing wrong.

It's the difference between reactive gear changes vs planning ahead. To make an auto plan ahead and be in the right gear you need to trick it into changing gears. Which defeats the purpose of having an auto.



That's a big and wrong assumption. The TC on a modern 6sp auto has an aggressive lock-up schedule and only unlocks for breif times during gear changes and at low speed.
There is no energy lost through the TC while driving. In fact the only energy losses in a modern TC auto is driving the internal hydraulic pumps. Which is exactly what the DSG does.

Which is why the DSG gets the same real world fuel economy as other modern automatics.



DSG isn't the way of the future. It is merely a stop-gap. Conventional TC autos with the same number of gears match drive efficiency but have several huge advantages.
The first is being able to use the TC to smoothly apply drive at low speeds and cushion gear changes without wearing clutches.
The second is being able to go from any gear to any other gear without penalty. The DSG can only make one fast change to the pre-selected gear. If you require a gear that wasn't pre-selected then you've got a long and possibly dangerous power interruption on your hands.



How can they reach manual gearbox efficiency when there is an internal hydraulic pump to drive?
Answer: They can't.

See above for the TC auto corrections. Real world fuel consumption is a wash between modern conventional auto and DSG. Still significantly worse than a manual gearbox with all but the worst drivers.


Exacly how much experience do you have with driving a DSG?

[joel0407]

For a start with a manual you don't change gear on the exit from the corner. If you require a lower gear, you change down while coasting down on the way in.
The reactive "delay" that the DSG has while finding the right gear on the way out is the equivalent to being the passenger when the driver keeps getting the gear selection and timing wrong.

It's the difference between reactive gear changes vs planning ahead. To make an auto plan ahead and be in the right gear you need to trick it into changing gears. Which defeats the purpose of having an auto.


I don't understand how or why you'd be "Tricking" the gearbox. No gearbox is psychic. Just rest your foot on the brake peddle and it will change down on the way in and there is no delay on the way out because it's already changed down.



That's a big and wrong assumption. The TC on a modern 6sp auto has an aggressive lock-up schedule and only unlocks for breif times during gear changes and at low speed.
There is no energy lost through the TC while driving. In fact the only energy losses in a modern TC auto is driving the internal hydraulic pumps. Which is exactly what the DSG does.

Which is why the DSG gets the same real world fuel economy as other modern automatics.

I'd like to see a video of a torque converter gear box that has no slush while "locked up".

I'm happy to put a video on my dash an reord the tacho and speedo while in any gear. There is no slush at all. The speedo and tacho will move relative to each other.

Every torque converter auto I have driven has slush. Locked up, in gear the engine will still rev up 300 - 400rpm without a corresponding change in vehicle speed.

Happy Days

[Dougal]

Exacly how much experience do you have with driving a DSG?

Enough to avoid them forever.


I'd like to see a video of a torque converter gear box that has no slush while "locked up".

Seriously?
What do you think "locked up" means? There is a mechanical connection which prevents any movement or "slush" in the torque converter.


Every torque converter auto I have driven has slush. Locked up, in gear the engine will still rev up 300 - 400rpm without a corresponding change in vehicle speed.

Those were either not locked up or broken. The mis-information here is amazing.

[joel0407]

I happy to learn something here. Show me an torque converter automatic with zero slip.

[Dougal]

I happy to learn something here. Show me an torque converter automatic with zero slip.

When locked up none of them slip.

What you are likely confused about is the TC on many unlocking on full acceleration. It does this to effectively lower the gearing and provide a little better accelleration.

The last auto car (built in 1998) I had I even wired in a lock-up over-ride switch to make driving in alpine passes more tolerable. This would let you stall the car, just like a manual if you forgot to unlock it.

Locked is locked. There is no give.

[joel0407]

Enough to avoid them forever.



So how much is it then. You seem to know how terrible they are to drive.


I've had mine for over 27,000km. I ordered it new and picked it up with something like 7km on the clock. My trip from work to home in Canberra had 13 round abouts (you can check on google maps if you like), I've drifted it around on dirt, I've taken it off road where a mate in was worried he wouldn't make it in a Land Cruise (mainly due to his lack of diff locks and the Yetis traction control), I've towed a trailer over 4,000km in 3 days from Canberra to Darwin. It gets used to take my Daughter to school only 3km away and then gets used for trips away in the NT sitting on the 130km/h speed limit for 300km+.


Happy Days.

[ramblingboy42]

lets get back to Yeti's.......I like them.

[Dougal]

So how much is it then. You seem to know how terrible they are to drive.


I've had mine for over 27,000km. I ordered it new and picked it up with something like 7km on the clock. My trip from work to home in Canberra had 13 round abouts (you can check on google maps if you like), I've drifted it around on dirt, I've taken it off road where a mate in was worried he wouldn't make it in a Land Cruise (mainly due to his lack of diff locks and the Yetis traction control), I've towed a trailer over 4,000km in 3 days from Canberra to Darwin. It gets used to take my Daughter to school only 3km away and then gets used for trips away in the NT sitting on the 130km/h speed limit for 300km+.


Happy Days.

What's your fuel consumption over that time? Actual fuel into the tank, the dash readouts are optimistic but can be calibrated with VCDS.

[joel0407]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/1341.jpg (http://www.fuelly.com/driver/joel0407/yeti)

Can one of you guys click on the banner and tell me what you can see? I'm hoping you can see all my fuel ups and the graph. You should be able to pick when I drove to Darwin and stuff due to the multiple fill-ups in a couple of days. Under the graph you should be able to choose "Chart all fuel-ups". May 2013 was when I drove up with the trailer and then Oct 2013 was another trip down loaded up with the family and luggage. I didn't drive it much in between those times as it's a lease vehicle and I was basically saving KMs.

I should also note the fuel here in the NT isn't as good as fuel in other states. Our fuel here comes from Singapore or something and it's pretty rubbish. When I travel over east or down south, my fuel economy picks up after my first fuel up in Queensland and then gets worse after my first fuel up in the NT. Due to a couple of really expensive servos along the way I usually carry a Jerry can just to get past them and it's definitely the fuel. I suspected it could have been a head wind one way but after the fuel up at Mt Isa in QLD, I'm still traveling in the same direction. It's not just been a 1 off, it happens every time.

The first time I drove to Darwin in the Yeti with the trailer on we went across the weigh bridge at 2.6T but usually the trailer is empty with just the Dogs on board (no dogs in the car). The trailer is basically just a 1.2m square crate on wheel so it's not overly large but it's pretty heavy built for it's size.

Sorry about all the extra info that's not Yeti related but it helps to explain why my fuel consumption is a little high.

FYI all my gear box talk has been Yeti related. I have a DSG 103Tdi Yeti.

Happy Day