Any real life yeti owners out there?

[mark t]

thanks for your suggestions bluey and kiwi -

bluey, you are right about deals on 'in stock' cars - but none of the ones I've come across are meeting my needs (white with fabric seats etc) but that's OK- as long as I can order what I want. For which I'm being told a 16 week wait. The main reason for wanting 16" wheels is to allow a better selection of tyres, i'm after an all terrain tyre, I've run Goodyears AT+11 on my last two vehicles (a forester and a pajero) and they are pretty good for my needs which includes a fair bit of charging down dirt tracks and across paddocks.

"Australian 4WD TDI Yetis appear to come with towbar prep from factory. Ours has it (1D7 trailer hitch preparation)." Bluey

Thats encouraging, I've been told 'around $1600 for the tow bar, fitted'.

Re the head restraint comfort issue, I see the current passat has them forward/backward adjustable, that would be a good solution for my partner in the yeti - I wonder if they'd fit, might check it out at the dealers.

[bluey]

(white with fabric seats etc)
...
I've been told 'around $1600 for the tow bar, fitted'.
...
Re the head restraint comfort issue, I see the current passat has them forward/backward adjustable, that would be a good solution for my partner in the yeti - I wonder if they'd fit, might check it out at the dealers.

I was told we got the last TDI manual white fabric seats in captivity 2 wks ago. Brisbane Prestige had a few white ones various models last I looked. Their TDI had leather and DSG. Bryan Byrt Skoda has a lot of groovy ones, not sure exact models - two tone paint jobs, inc white with black roof.

Worth getting a parts price for DIY install, since the euro sourced kit is EUR300 + whatever shipping (heavy) + need to rewire for local plug. Or get Westfalia mechanicals + Skoda electrics.

Head restraint is non-issue by adjusting seat back recline. The idea is to minimise whiplash and that probably requires the head to be close to the restraint.

[mark t]

[/QUOTE]Head restraint is non-issue by adjusting seat back recline. The idea is to minimise whiplash and that probably requires the head to be close to the restraint.[/QUOTE]

ta, I'll keep exploring.

agreed about reclining the seats, the problem being that my girlfriend doesn't, she wants to sit upright without feeling like her head is being pushed forward, which seems fair enough really, but I think we'll be able to sort it.

[NotYet]

Re the head restraint comfort issue, I see the current passat has them forward/backward adjustable, that would be a good solution for my partner in the yeti - I wonder if they'd fit, might check it out at the dealers.

Let us know how you get on with this Mark. Would happily pay good money if such a head restraint fit the Yeti. It might stop the whining sounds coming from the passenger seat ...!

[BJ75]

I doubt there is a better towbar than genuine/OEM, which is apparently Westfalia. Detachable bar has a special storage box in the boot.

The NZ sourced 'BestBars' towbar unit that Skoda Australia install on the Yeti doesn't quite have the special storage box, but rather a vinyl bag to sit your towball tongue in, which then sits in the storage compartment next to the spare.

I was faced with the dilemma of towbars before purchasing my Yeti. First problem was that the dealer couldn't accurately describe how the towbar was different from the aforementioned Westfalia units fitted to Yetis in Europe. They simply said, "It's similar ... but doesn't look like that".

If I'd been better aware of the similarities between Tiguans & Yetis I would've just found a Tiguan with one installed and looked at that. But alas, I just went ahead and ordered it from Skoda - mainly becuase it would be included in the purchase price, and would be part of the financing rather than me having to come up with the $1K+ myself after picking it up.

In hindsight, I should've just waited it out, until Hayman-Reese had a unit to suit the Yeti available. The BestBars unit has cause me nothing but problems. I really have no idea why they use this unit. Well ... not true, I know why they 'think' they should use it - because you don't have a big square hitch visible from the rear. But it's a small price to pay for those of us that use bike carriers which slide into horizontal receivers.

Anyway ... long story less-long, it's the only annoying part of what is otherwise an awesome, awesome car.

Oh ... I'm a real life Yeti owner.

[bluey]

The NZ sourced 'BestBars' towbar unit that Skoda Australia install on the Yeti doesn't quite have the special storage box, but rather a vinyl bag to sit your towball tongue in, which then sits in the storage compartment next to the spare.

Eeeek. So they don't actually use an OEM/Westfalia towbar. (as per post #154 Yeti - Forum Members Picture Thread - BRISKODA.net - Page 6 - The Skoda Forum and Community) How rude. VWA also uses locally sourced towbars for Polos when I inquired, though VW parts said they could order *any* VW part on earth for me if I had a part number for an OEM/Westfalia Polo towbar. Don't have an immediate need to tow.

Apparently the VWA Tiguan bar is also sourced from Bestbars (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...n-63152-3.html). Photo in tiguan brochure looks like a "standard" sort of towbar.

Can't believe it is worth getting a local company to design and build an inferior product when the OEM product exists and meets european standards and surely could be imported and fitted for a lot less than the ?$2k asked for the Tiguan bar.

---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 AM ----------

Just saw this VW GTI accessories pricelist, parts excluding fitting.

http://27772.smugmug.com/Cars/2009/GTI-Academy/IMG2660/763715978_zq2NN-L.jpg

The Skoda mudflaps and carpet floor mats were less than half of those prices.

---------- Post added at 05:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------

Check carsales.com.au - WA dealer has a new white TDI DSG cloth seats listed <$38k.

[BJ75]

Eeeek. So they don't actually use an OEM/Westfalia towbar. (as per post #154 Yeti - Forum Members Picture Thread - BRISKODA.net - Page 6 - The Skoda Forum and Community) How rude. VWA also uses locally sourced towbars for Polos when I inquired, though VW parts said they could order *any* VW part on earth for me if I had a part number for an OEM/Westfalia Polo towbar. Don't have an immediate need to tow.

Apparently the VWA Tiguan bar is also sourced from Bestbars (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...n-63152-3.html). Photo in tiguan brochure looks like a "standard" sort of towbar.

Can't believe it is worth getting a local company to design and build an inferior product when the OEM product exists and meets european standards and surely could be imported and fitted for a lot less than the ?$2k asked for the Tiguan bar.[COLOR="Silver"]

No, they're not using the Westfalia. I really have no idea why not. Apparently iron bull tow bars can get the factory Westfalia unit in for approx $1400 installed. But at the time I purchased my Yeti I didn't have the spare cash to go this option, and the factory unit meant it was part of the purchase price and therefore financed. Plus it was installed by the dealer and so if anything goes wrong with the wiring I can easily take it in to get fixed there.

I'll put up some pics later but its identical to the Tig setup in that other thread (which I forgot I'd posted in when I was looking into all this).

One of the first odd things about the BestBars unit is the cover panel they provide for the hole in the bumper they create for you to access the receiver. With the Westfalia unit, the electrics plug and securing point completely folds away once the swan neck's removed, and the bumper cover panel can click into place and thus make the whole tow bar completely invisible. However the BestBars unit's square receiver is way too bulky and the plug or securing points don't fold away therefore there's clearly no way the cover panel they provide could ever be put in place there. Maybe they provide it in case I pull the whole tow bar off myself later?

Another downer about the bar, though of little concern to me, is that the towing limit is 1200kg compared to the Westfalia's 1800kg I believe.

However ... there is one plus. A major one, for which I am thankful. From what I can tell there is absolutely no adapter in existence to provide a horizontal 2in square hitch receiver from the custom conical 3 ball lock thingy Westfalia attachment method. Thus a large majority of square hitch mount bike carriers could never work. And the fact that i could get a vertical to horizontal sq hitch adapter was good news. Plus, if I didnt have such a carrier, there are plenty of alternatives which require screwing a base mount component into a standard tow ball tongue. The Westfalia unit, in its slender elegance, is a one piece forged unit by the looks of it - no tongue. It'll be good for nothing but towing something, or using one of those "clamp onto the actual ball" type euro bike carriers, which I'd trust with a couple of DHbikes about as far as I could throw one, left handed, hungover, and after doing a thousand bicep curls.

The ideal solution would be Westfalia tow bar and electrical loom, with a Hayman Reese plug_in attachment. So get to work, engineers!



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[bluey]

So you don't trust the Germans to build a bike carrier that works??

They do make a few interesting things that clamp to the ball... Westfalia Portilo | Homepage

Can't figure who makes the ironbull yeti bar. It doesn't look like the OEM Westfalia, nor a Witter. Very well priced though at $365 for towbar parts. Witter enable bike carrier + towing at the same time.

[Transporter]

So you don't trust the Germans to build a bike carrier that works??

They do make a few interesting things that clamp to the ball... Westfalia Portilo | Homepage

Can't figure who makes the ironbull yeti bar. It doesn't look like the OEM Westfalia, nor a Witter. Very well priced though at $365 for towbar parts. Witter enable bike carrier + towing at the same time.

It certainly looks goods to me. It would be interesting to know how much would be the postage?

[BJ75]

So you don't trust the Germans to build a bike carrier that works??

I reckon it would work with a couple of nice, 10 - 12kg slim road bikes with 450mm wide bars and easy to secure hardtail frames. Or maybe a few simple Euro cruiser hybrids.

2 x 18kg full suspension DH bikes with 750mm wide bars, long wheelbase, and odd-shaped frames with oversized/square tubing? Not so much.

I know Germans engineer the crap out of most things, but those types of carriers are great for narrow bikes, or the two same hardtail or simple short travel full suspension XC MTB's over and over.

If, like me, you are often taking different bikes, or picking up different riding buddies, they're absolutely useless.

And I don't think I could ever trust that towball clamp. Not over rough terrain anyway. Hence why I opted for this: iSi Advanced 4x4 Bicycle Carrier and Bike Rack Systems

Can't figure who makes the ironbull yeti bar.

I thought it was the Westfalia unit, but I just re-read the email I received from Iron Bull and while it said it was imported from Europe, it indeed did not say the name Westfalia. So I've no idea either. Oh and I got the price wrong too - the $1400 is what I paid for mine, Iron Bull only $900:

"Yes I have Skoda Yetti towbars in stock. I have fitted about 5 so far including the 4x4. I have the dedicated electric kit which functions just like the original Skoda (Europe) wiring kit. My towbars are imported from Europe and are swan neck style, not square section. Max. Capacity is 2000kg compared to the genuine Australian Yetti towbar which is only 1200kg.

All up cost fitted is around $900."

[bluey]

The westfalia portilo system is rated to carry 54 kg of building material. So I don't think 36 kg of bikes would worry it. The attachment lever looks more than a foot long.

[mark t]

a bit more on the ironbull towbar

Hi Mark,

I have fitted seven towbars to Yeti’s so far. They are a bit difficult to install but after a few it gets easier. The genuine (Australian) towbar is made in NZ and only has a rating of 1200 or 1400kg? The European towbars are all built to mount the same as per EC standards. Both the Euro and Smart towbars are detachable but the smart type is quicker to remove (see drawing). My towbars are made in Poland but are on par with the Westfalia towbars.

Let me know when you get the car. The dealer will quote about $1800 fitted!!!

Cheers,

Jeff

Ironbull.

[mark t]

Originally Posted by mark t
Re the head restraint comfort issue, I see the current passat has them forward/backward adjustable, that would be a good solution for my partner in the yeti - I wonder if they'd fit, might check it out at the dealers.

Let us know how you get on with this Mark. Would happily pay good money if such a head restraint fit the Yeti. It might stop the whining sounds coming from the passenger seat ...!

the forward/backward adjusting head restraints in the current passat have the same sized mounts as the yeti (and tiguan) and so should be interchangeable, I'll keep pursuing.

[mark t]

well I bought my yeti today, a white dsg diesel from richmond skoda- with the off road button, pick it up next week!

[VWSceptic]

Drove my new Yeti home today: diesel 103 4x4 manual (with off-road button, roof bars, mats ,rear and front sensors) $32,394 (plus rego). Impressed with its driving handling/engine and good gear changes..... Now have to work out all those electronic system.... ...