2.0 TDi 140 BHP Tour de France 4x4

Excellent / versatile family transport (which is a bit "different")

I bought my 140 BHP TDi 4x4 Yeti in anticipation of tackling snow, that never arrived!

I've now covered 60K miles (over 3 years) and have found the car to be spacious and very versatile, despite it's relatively dimminutive size.

There have been 2 major negatives during my ownership - the first was the car has developed "zinc inclusions" on the lower aspects of the front doors. A previous (2012) Yeti suffered similarly and required re-painting of the affected panels. My current (2014) is now developing the same problem, but as it's outside of any manufacturers warranty I think I'll just dab on a blob of touch-up paint!

The second was the EA189 emmisions update. This had a profound (negative) effect on the car and led to me electing to have it remapped. This has transformed the car, both in terms of improved fuel economy (-16% post EA189 update, but now +5% over pre-EA189 levels) and performance (175 BHP / 310 lb/ft). I've re-mapped several petrol and diesel VAG based cars and have found better performance (and fuel economy) in every case, with no obvious reduction in mechanical reliability (over ~200k combined miles).

Aside from these 2 negatives I have genuinely enjoyed owning / driving the Yeti and am struggling to find anything equivalent to replace it with. I've now test-driven lots of alternates (Peugeot 3008, Seat Ateca, Skoda Kodiak, Octavia Scout, Skoda Superb etc) but each time get back in my Yeti and realise how good it is!

I did consider one of the last of the line 2.0 TDi Euro 6 Yeti's, but felt the Ad-blue implementation is poor and it appears such SCR systems may not actually offer much benefit in "real life" driving.

My Yeti has proved competent in snow / poor condtions and the recently fitted Michelin Cross Climates have further improved grip / noise levels.

I have owned 3 Yeti's now (2009 1.2 TSI, 2012 2.0 TDi 2WD and the current 2014 4x4) and genuinely regret not being able to find an alternative which offers such a blend of practicality, dependability, performance and ? character.

I plan to run the current car for the forseeable future and can only hope I avoid the (predicted by HJ) typical TDi failure points (dual mass flywheel / EGR valve, injectors, Turbo etc).

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