Hi all.

Looking for my next car ... after 3 Skoda Octavia vRS diesels in a row (wonderful cars!) I feel the need for a change!

I would like a heavier car as we do a lot of caravanning and our next 'van is likely to be heavier than the current one. I would also like a 4x4 as we live in the village that time (and the snow plough) forgot!

The logical step would have been a Skoda Yeti with the same 170bhp TDi engine as my current car, BUT sometimes I like the look of the Yeti and sometimes I don't ... also it is not that much heavier than the Octavia. Would also need to go for the top spec model to get that engine which has a lot of nice kit ... most of which I don't need.

Looking at the alternatives the only one that appeals is the Freelander.

The model I am interested in is a new 2011 model (actually more likely to be a 2012) TD4 S.

I would be looking at adding climate control, the cold climate pack, audio pack, folding mirrors, load space cover, full size spare wheel, front and rear mudflaps and a fixed swan neck towbar with 13 pin electrics .... oh and it would be in fuji white.

Here are my questions:

What sort of mpg are people getting from the new 150 bhp engine with manual gearbox?

Any reliability issues with this engine?

Anyone towing with this engine? (I am currently towing 1310Kg of 2010 Swift Island Jura with Alko ATC electronic stability system ... but next 'van could be in the 1500Kg area).

Recommendations for dealers in central Scotland?

Thanks in advance!

Skoda are okay, stick with the Yeti.

Dealer Central Scotland - Stratstones, Cupar.

Interesting ... of the few Land Rover dealers I have visited only Strathstone at Cupar have shown any interest in selling a car!

Yep, a few on here have used them and no negative reports. Their aftersales and parts department are actually the best you'll find in the UK bar none with the exception of Yeoville aka the Large One on the D3/4 forum.

fl2's cannot tow caravans due to clutch transmission and taste and decency issues At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

You can land a helicopter on a yeti!!That is very cool!! Agree with Cg terrible at towing a towbar is £1.2 million!

Only £1.2 million eh ... no problem. I'd pay millions to continue caravanning!

chicken george wrote:

fl2's cannot tow caravans due to clutch transmission and taste and decency issues

If you'd like to tell my dear lady wife her caravan is anything less than tasteful then be my guest ... be aware she is a nurse and knows how to inflict pain with minimal effort on her part!

Dont all women! Cant be worse than the nurse that took a blood sample from me. Went to one arm, back to the other etc. After several pricks I was left with a bruise from my wrist to my upper arm that still remained 3 months later. No doubt she got her performance payment that year!

Caravans are okay, so long as you dont end up behind one, then they are the scourge of the roads.

Get held up behind one Not in a Freely

Try and use tactics like playing one dealer off against another to get the price down. If you can get a good deal, go for the GS. An S with added extras won't be worth any more come part chop time. The GS with cold climate pack had all the kit I wanted.

As for the engine, mine is the MY10. For the 'new' shape , they have lowered the BHP and increased the torque. Now that the engine has hit 10k miles, I am into the low 40's mpg and I do have a heavy right foot so decent MPG and the manual box is superb. That said, for towing the auto will make life so much easier for you, just cough up £1500 more and more to tax and run if you want the easy life of towing. If you are experienced with towing though, the manual will be fine. (I don't tow, thumbs up from CG )

It laughs in the face of heavy snow as I found out driving home in a blizzard last winter and taking side streets to avoid traffic and its awesome off road.

Great car and residuals are great thanks to the bad winters. Good hunting  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

ad210358 wrote:

Get held up behind one Not in a Freely

The Doctor wrote:

Try and use tactics like playing one dealer off against another to get the price down. If you can get a good deal, go for the GS. An S with added extras won't be worth any more come part chop time. The GS with cold climate pack had all the kit I wanted.

As for the engine, mine is the MY10. For the 'new' shape , they have lowered the BHP and increased the torque. Now that the engine has hit 10k miles, I am into the low 40's mpg and I do have a heavy right foot so decent MPG and the manual box is superb. That said, for towing the auto will make life so much easier for you, just cough up £1500 more and more to tax and run if you want the easy life of towing. If you are experienced with towing though, the manual will be fine. (I don't tow, thumbs up from CG )

It laughs in the face of heavy snow as I found out driving home in a blizzard last winter and taking side streets to avoid traffic and its awesome off road.

Great car and residuals are great thanks to the bad winters. Good hunting

40 mpg you must have small feet and little legs! I never get mine past 20mpg!

landy19840 wrote:

40 mpg you must have small feet and little legs! I never get mine past 20mpg!

Quite the opposite but I get into the low 40's when taking things a little steadier. I usually don't drive very economically at all but even then I get 34-36mpg mostly.  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey