Scout or Yeti?

[Michelle]

Trying to decide which to get, Scout or a Yeti. What do you think?

Requirements and needs:
Driving myself to work on sealed roads.
Enough space to fit 6 medium size dogs maybe once a year.
Space for 2 or 3 20kg bags of animal feed, plus groceries, maybe the odd bale of hay.
Need high water clearance for wet season flooding.
Need good stability, traction and safety for same reason.
Need get up and go for overtaking road trains, but not a speedster, currently drive a Holden Astra wagon (aka Vauxhal Opel I believe) and happy with the speed and handling of that.
Drive about 600km a week
Diesel
Manual
No off road but want the security of having the extra traction of 4WD/AWD if I need it.

The Yeti is probably what I need but I am concerned it will be too small. Although I can take those seats out if I need to transport the dogs. I wouldn't want to be doing that every two weeks when I get bags of feed though.

The Scout seems to have the space I am used to, but the Yeti sounds like it will be more capable with thunderstorm, flooded roads and wet season driving. This is a decider for me. I do not want to be stuck on the road or feel unsafe with a tropical storm raging around me. I don't find it exciting or amusing.

From what I can find out, they both have the same wading depth. Both seem like they will do what I need.

At first I was set to buy a Tiguan but then I discovered the Yeti, and now the Scout. Took a Tiguan for a test drive and it was very nice, but I hate the button handbrake. I want a 'real' handbrake! Also seems like better value for money to get a Yeti now.

Taking Yeti and Scout for test drive, hopefully next week. Just wondering what other people think are the pros and cons. For anyone who may have chosen between the two or the Tiguan, what influenced you and has it turned out as you thought after buying?

Cheers,
Michelle

[RSOK]

Hi Michelle,

Were it me and that list of needs (inc 4x4) was mine, it'd be a Scout for me (assuming your budget is closer to $40k than $30k). It's larger, more useable boot space, arguably will handle better on sealed roads, available in diesel 4x4.

Eg the extra boot space was a clincher in my decision to buy an Octavia RS wagon over a Golf GTI, and by the sounds of it you need boot space for your hay and dogs etc... I don't often fill my boot but it's there when I need it and there've been times I'm glad I've had that much boot space! In the end it's gotta be better to have it when you need it rather than be left with half your goods sitting on the ground wondering why you didn't get something with more boot space to suit your needs.

BTW if they've both got the same 'wading depth' than I fail to see how the Yeti might be 'more capable' in a storm? I see no advantage of being in a Yeti compared to a Scout then while driving thru some minor floodwater (if that's what you do).

[Jake02]

Hi Michelle,

I'm going to have to disagree with RSOK and say get a Yeti. From what you said, it sounds like the Yeti is perfect for you. Yes the Scout's boot is bigger with the seats up but with the seats down the Yeti is a good 300 litres bigger and the rear seats are much more useable in how they slide/recline/fold/tumble/come out. To fit 6 'medium sized' dogs into a Scout you'd still have to fold the seats down anyway.

The Yeti is more capable off-road because it's shorter with way less overhang on each end - meaning there's less chance of scraping it off-road and it's a newer system with the 'off-road' mode with hill-descent control - it's Skoda's first proper 4WD. The Yeti is also a lot newer (the Octavia is being replaced next year) and a lot funkier/cooler! The Yeti has won many awards, including a few car of the year awards, the Scout has not. But the Scout is better value though (despite the Yeti's on-road price being the Scout's RRP).

In the end both are great choices (certainly better choices than the Tiguan) and I wish you luck with your purchase!

[Transporter]

Hi Michelle,
go to the dealer take everything that you need to fit in your new car with you and try fitting it in the Yeti and Scout and compare them both, that's what I would do. Or borrow the car for a day and see how it fits your requirements.

[RSOK]

Hi Michelle,

I'm going to have to disagree with RSOK and say get a Yeti. From what you said, it sounds like the Yeti is perfect for you. Yes the Scout's boot is bigger with the seats up but with the seats down the Yeti is a good 300 litres bigger and the rear seats are much more useable in how they slide/recline/fold/tumble/come out. To fit 6 'medium sized' dogs into a Scout you'd still have to fold the seats down anyway.

The Yeti is more capable off-road because it's shorter with way less overhang on each end - meaning there's less chance of scraping it off-road and it's a newer system with the 'off-road' mode with hill-descent control - it's Skoda's first proper 4WD. The Yeti is also a lot newer (the Octavia is being replaced next year) and a lot funkier/cooler! The Yeti has won many awards, including a few car of the year awards, the Scout has not. But the Scout is better value though (despite the Yeti's on-road price being the Scout's RRP).

In the end both are great choices (certainly better choices than the Tiguan) and I wish you luck with your purchase!

No doubt Jake Yeti's rear seats are more practical in terms of moving (removing?) them to change up the cargo space, can't disagree there. If Michelle needs to often carry more gear than the Scout's big boot can swallow with the rear seats in place then this is somethig she may want to take a closer look at.

But given Michelle has stated "No off road" I'm not sure she'd be looking to utilise Yeti's shorter overhangs or newer hill-descent controls.

Certainly agree either car would make for a happy owner, and as Transporter says a test drive and "real-world" loading scenario would pretty much decide it for Michelle.

[Michelle]

Well, that's one for a Yeti and one for Scout, and one for either lol, which reflects exactly where I'm at!

I guess my reason for thinking the Yeti would handle better is just that it 'looks' more like a 4WD with the higher stance. Conversly though, that really means it's probably not as safe since it has a higher center of gravity than the Scout, which would hug the road more.

I am probably leaning to the Yeti because it will be easy to slip into any park,and spaces are getting microscopic now at the new ticky tacky box shopping centers springing up everywhere. I used to have a Festiva years ago and I could park that thing nose first anywhere, anyway. Never had to reverse park once!

I want to balance my desire for space against the practicality of driving for most of the time with just me in the car. On the other hand, I don't want to be shifting seats around in the Yeti every fortnight, no matter how easy it might be. I guess so long as I have enough room in the boot to fit the feed, I can always throw the groceries on the rear seats, which is what I do now if I only have a few things.

I am looking forward to the test drives next week. Transporter, do dealers down south really let you guys take a car for a whole day? They looked at me sideways here when I wanted to take the Tiguan for an hour and a half so I could test it on the stretch of highway I am familiar with. And I had to book that in advance.

However, on the minor point of aesthetics, the Yeti is just plain weird and reminds me of an old Terios while the Scout has a more elegant look! Heh heh.

[pologti18t]

Judging from I can see the Scout will have a much larger load area than the Yeti.

If you can handle a manual have you looked at the equally visually challenged Subaru outback diesel?

[onyertod]

Two different beasts of course. The Octy is a great load carrier, (Had a house front door in mine yesterday!) but having owned an Octavia wagon (Same size as Scout -roomy but cant imagine having six dogs in it - my two are enough!) and a Roomster (Same removable varioflex seating as the Yeti), my hands down choice for a dog box would be the Yeti. Why? - Flat floor so no drop into boot, Yeti back seats fold right out of the way (or out of the car if need be). Your Scout back seats could get easily trashed by the doggies while your Yeti seats can be out of harms way.
On the other hand you do a lot of driving and I think the Scout / Octavia will probably be a better drive than any SUV short of an X3/5.
So I have been no help at all really. : - )
just my 2 cents..

[Michelle]

I'm not sold on the Subaru I'm afraid. I did look at them in the first instance when I looked at the Tiguan, ASX Aspire and RAV4 but I have to say the finish and quality of the Euro cars seems to be a fair bit ahead of the Jap cars. The Subaru is still prettier than the Yeti though!

Flat floor for the dogs is a bonus. That is good to know. I've discovered 'flat' seems to be open to interpretation as far as some salespeople are concerned. One thing I dislike about the Astra is that, although the seats do fold flat, the seat part when folded up remains loose and wobbles around in a very annoying way. How hard can it be to have a little locking lug?

As for the amount of driving, yes, I am looking for a bit of comfort I must admit. The Astra seats are ok but not as nice as lumbar support would be.

I've just noticed that the Scout has a 6 stack CD as an option...wha? I'm not a luddite exactly but not into ipods and so forth, is the mp3 thing meant to take the place of cd player now?

[Jake02]

However, on the minor point of aesthetics, the Yeti is just plain weird and reminds me of an old Terios while the Scout has a more elegant look! Heh heh.

If you don't like the look of it then buy the Scout, lol. Problem solved . I'm the opposite; I can't believe that the foglamps being put into the headlights slightly could make people think so little of the styling. Each to their own really. I like it because it's different - it's not ultra-convservative like every other car on the road!

[ausspace87]

Test drive both. You will be surprised how well the Yeti drives, that would be my choice!

For the Subaru loyalists, you should probably go to the Subaru forum. There you can massage your egos and your regrets about buying the ugliest car on the road with the most technically backward engineering this side of a Proton... I just love Subarus...

Here we speak about Skoda.

[wai]

I guess my reason for thinking the Yeti would handle better is just that it 'looks' more like a 4WD with the higher stance. Conversly though, that really means it's probably not as safe since it has a higher center of gravity than the Scout, which would hug the road more.

The Yeti is 158 mm higher, however the bulk of the mass is really down where the engine and drive is, which would be little different. As for roadholding, again, overall height and centre of gravity are just two parts to it. You would probably be hard pressed to find that much of a difference in general use. I went from a Torana to a Hiace SBV and now have a Caddy Maxi Life. In general use, there was little between them, and the Hiace was definitely no slouch.

I am probably leaning to the Yeti because it will be easy to slip into any park,and spaces are getting microscopic now at the new ticky tacky box shopping centers springing up everywhere. I used to have a Festiva years ago and I could park that thing nose first anywhere, anyway. Never had to reverse park once!

I want to balance my desire for space against the practicality of driving for most of the time with just me in the car. On the other hand, I don't want to be shifting seats around in the Yeti every fortnight, no matter how easy it might be. I guess so long as I have enough room in the boot to fit the feed, I can always throw the groceries on the rear seats, which is what I do now if I only have a few things.

However, on the minor point of aesthetics, the Yeti is just plain weird and reminds me of an old Terios while the Scout has a more elegant look! Heh heh.

No matter what vehicle you have parking just takes getting used to.

Space appears to be important to you, so take a tape measure along with you and measure the space in the various configurations.

It is a "boxy" design but then that generally does give you the most usable space. On looks, you only have to look at a Yeti beside a Toyota Ruckus and a couple of other and the Yeti starts looking quite good!! There seems to be a cubist revolution going on.

I don't know if you have seen the show Drive It! from DW TV? It is actually a very good show if a little "German" . One thing they do when comparing load space in cars and vans is to use bottled water crates. This is where the usable space shows up compared to the manufacturer's claimed load space. Of course the more boxy the design will generally see you get more in it. Again, this is where the tape measure comes in.

For me, it would be the Yeti, but it comes down to a personal choice. After all, you have to live with it. You have to be a little remote from things. Set out what is important to you and compare that. Only then look at the other aspects. No point in the flashiest looking one if it can't do what you want it to do, and no point in getting something that is not pleasing to your eye when you can get something that meets all your key needs but has been take to with the ugly stick.

[Michelle]

Jake, I actually like the front, it's the square box at the end that seems to be stuck on that leaves me shaking my head. Although, as Wai said, it's the boxy design that equates to more room. One can't have everything I guess.

As I said though, aesthetics are a minor point. Oh my goodness Wai, you are right about the Ruckus, that thing is truly awful. Good name though.

I will take a tape measure. That is a good idea.

The dogs are really only taken all together in the car maybe once or twice a year, so, yes, I would still have to put the seats down no matter which car. I have to put the seats down now to take them so it's OK. I just don't want to have to do it regluarly. If the Yeti's and Scout's are easy 'one touch' that will be good as the Astra's are a source of frustration.

I haven't seen Drive It! but I did see Clarkson on Top Gear get a helicopter to land on the roof of a Yeti. Entirely pointless but fascinating to see! It's on utube somewhere. Probably someone has put a link to it in the forums here somewhere I expect as it's old news but I hadn't seen it before.

[Transporter]

Test drive both. You will be surprised how well the Yeti drives, that would be my choice!

For the Subaru loyalists, you should probably go to the Subaru forum. There you can massage your egos and your regrets about buying the ugliest car on the road with the most technically backward engineering this side of a Proton... I just love Subarus...

Here we speak about Skoda.

Not so fast mate, many people who own Skoda or VW in this forum, owned Subaru before and they mention it freely from time to time in here. No real harm to the original topic in that. Just for the reference the Subaru has no technically backward engineering as you mentioned. The boxer engine and they symmetrical AWD is excellent and almost bullet proof.

[PassatB6]

Good video review here from Carbuyer.com: