Skoda Yeti - is it worth it to "be led" by a tempting price tag?

There are many stories associated with the Yeti model from Skoda. One part of motorists responds in a positive way, and the second - in a negative way. During sales in Russia, 73 cars were sold. The secondary market is saturated with Skoda Yeti. Moreover, in comparison with models of the same class, the price is lower. A reasonable question arises - is this option worth attention, or is it better to bypass the Czech Bigfoot on the tenth road?


If you understand the nuances, finding a “live” car is real. But you should be prepared for the fact that you will have to review a lot of cars, sometimes the bill goes to tens. There are more problematic "Yetis" on the market than really worthy options in which you do not have to invest hundreds of thousands in order to bring the car back to normal.

Engines and their features

As many auto mechanics say, if you drive a Yeti and are not familiar with the “jekichan” (as the Check Engine is called in slang), then the previous owner pulled the bulb out of the panel. This is due to the fact that the low-volume turbocharged Volkswagen units installed on most Yetis do not inspire confidence. The entire TSI line has a similar design, so the “sores” of the motors are the same.



Especially "distinguished" option for 1,2 liters. With this budget engine, with a declared timing chain resource of 200 thousand, it stretches much earlier. If you do not pay attention to the appearance of extraneous sounds when starting the motor (the chain “rustles”), then it will simply jump to the tooth. And these are bent valves and a solid piston repair cost. The problem is the small diameter of the channels in the lubrication jacket that go to the hydraulic tensioner. Pollution clogs them, the knot wedges, which provokes a breakdown. A similar "trouble" occurs in 1,8 liter engines, but much less frequently.



The 1,2 and 1,4 liter options are sensitive to the quality of gasoline. Therefore, it should be filled only at proven gas stations. Maslozhor - a characteristic "sore" for TSI. It is provoked by coking of the channels through which the lubricant enters the nodes and not the best configuration of the oil scraper rings.





The only 1,6-liter aspirated, which they began to install later and assembled in Kaluga, is more tenacious and easy to operate. The main thing is to monitor the oil level and change it in time. Most often, the unit passes 300 thousand or more without significant investments.
On all-wheel drive versions, a 1,8 liter TSI and or a two-liter turbodiesel were used. The latter option is considered the most reliable, but is rare, since the price of a new car with TDI was much higher.

Трансмиссия

The car used both five and six-speed mechanics. Both options can be called problem-free. Most often they go for 300 thousand and require minimal attention.

Paired with a 1,6-liter aspirated was a proven Aisin automatic machine, which also belongs to reliable units. Most malfunctions are caused by mileage or non-compliance with the oil change schedule.

But there are more questions about robots. The DSG6 option is more reliable, but rarely serves more than 100-150 thousand km. It has a "wet" clutch, which can cause significant costs when it wears out.



But the more “advanced” version of the DSG7 with a dry clutch has a bad reputation, although it has been repeatedly improved and relieved of many of the “sores” of the first years. Options from 2014 are much more reliable, but they also often fail. Problems can appear even at 30 thousand mileage, and in the range from 50 to 100 thousand there are disruptions in almost all cars.

Body

It's no secret that the design of the "Yeti" is an amateur. She definitely will not fall into the style icons, but the car is not included in the TOPs of ugly cars either. Skoda has its own charm. Everything is done carefully, the outlines of the front windows and the rear part, in which the side glazing goes to the trunk lid, give the model recognition. It can be seen that this is a car with a claim to improved off-road performance.



The biggest questions arise on the corrosion resistance of the body. For many buyers, it was repainted according to a complaint in a year or two. After the warranty period has expired, the body has to be done independently. If the owner followed the car and made repairs at the stage of bubbles, there will be no problems. But when corrosion severely affected the metal and the elements were digested or not made very well, then you can buy an ideal car, and in a year a lot of “bugs” will appear on it.



Problem areas are the front and rear arches, the lower part of the doors and the trunk lid. Often swellings pop up on the hood or roof for no apparent reason. Do not ignore chips, as rust appears quickly in their place.



After the purchase, it makes sense to check the bottom, the inside of the arches and carry out processing. This, if it does not save from corrosion, will delay its appearance for a year or two. Many people stick a film on the hood, arches and lower part of the doors, it protects against chips, thereby reducing the risk of “bugs”.

Brakes, suspension and steering

There are no complaints about the braking system, it is exactly what you expect to see it in such a car. ABS and ESP work fine, although in some situations, stabilization is more of a hindrance than a help. Many owners note that the front pads pass 30-40 thousand, although this can hardly be called a small resource. Brake discs serve 100-120 thousand km.

The suspension is a little stiff, but this has a positive effect on its resource when driving on not the best quality roads. It perfectly fulfills small irregularities, large ones are felt, but everything is within the normal range. But the car predictably behaves in corners, sharp maneuvers and keeps the track at speeds over 120 km no worse than the leaders in this segment. The resource is also solid, almost all nodes take care of 100 thousand or more, except for the stabilizer struts.



The steering is one of the best features of the Yeti. The electric booster is set up correctly - easy maneuvering on the spot, weighting the steering wheel at speed. At the same time, the car responds well to short movements, which allows you to equally effectively rebuild on the track and drive in tight spaces. The system runs for 150 thousand, problems arise only occasionally.

Salon and electrical

According to the interior design, the model of the VAG concern is immediately recognizable - the characteristic configuration of the tidy and the center console. Everything is quite simple, but at the same time it is convenient and rational. The seats are generally good, although some find it uncomfortable. There is enough space in front, given the high ceiling, but the width is small. Behind you can also sit comfortably. An unpleasant surprise awaits except in the trunk. The declared volume of 405 liters is reduced due to the spare wheel and the raised floor level to 322 liters.



Plastic is inexpensive, but pleasant enough to the touch. It does not scratch as much as in budget models, squeaks may appear over time if the joints are not glued with a special tape.





It is worth noting the unstable operation of the air conditioning panel, the failure of the speakers Often the electrician fails due to flimsy wiring, especially the harnesses in the doors, as well as the control systems for power windows, mirrors and ABS.

Seals deform over time and do not provide a snug fit of the elements. And the backs of the front seats become loose, especially if their position is often changed.

The result?

On the plus side, we have good off-road performance, good steering and suspension, a comfortable interior and a choice of powertrains (it is important to find the right one). Of the minuses, it is worth noting a large number of cars with problematic engines, body corrosion, interruptions in the operation of robot boxes and wiring glitches. Is it realistic to find a normal option? Yes, if you take your time and check everything in detail.



As for the price, the first generation, aged 9-12 years, costs an average of 685 thousand. Restyled versions, aged 5-9 years, cost 1,1 million. The price tag is affordable, the main thing is not to make a mistake when choosing and not to save on comprehensive diagnostics.