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The sliding glass roof was well worth its £1,100 and, like the windows, can be opened and closed remotely from the key fob! See further photos of the roof >>>>

These are the cleverest and most versatile seats I’ve seen anywhere. See further photos of the seats in action >>>>

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Superchips Bluefin Remap

Superchips used to map VW’s competition engines and of course the Yeti engine is a VW unit, so they know what they are doing. VW/Skoda produced several types of 2 litre diesel engines and the Yeti was available with 110bhp, 140bhp (as per my car) and 170bhp. The 140 and 170 engines are mechanically the same, and significantly more sophisticated than the 110bhp engine.

The Bluefin upgrade effectively turns the 140bhp engine into the 170bhp version. It provides a massive increase in mid-range punch as well as (based on many identical 200-mile journeys before and after the upgrade) a 5% improvement in fuel consumption.

The map is specific to this particular engine. The original map is uploaded to Superchips who then return an appropriately upgraded version for installation. If required later on, the unit can be plugged in and the car returned to standard in minutes, and then back to the upgrade again, ad infinitum.

Garmin Nuvi Sat-Nav

The sat-nav is a Garmin nuvi 2598LMT-D and came with free lifetime map updates (up to three per year) and live traffic inputs, allowing continuous monitoring of the fastest route to the destination.

This installation allows it to be folded out of sight when not needed. It is plugged in to a switched USB socket and the cables are only visible if you peer inside the cubby. When in use, the cubby lid is only half open and does not obstruct the driver’s vew at all.

Skoda Internal Bike-Rack

This inventive design from Skoda allows you to secure two adult bikes in the back, with the rear seats removed, simply by removing the front wheels and dropping the forks onto the rack.

I will gladly demonstrate the rack in operation as part of the vehicle hand-over.

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Annoyingly, we picked up a rash of stone-chips 6 or 7 years ago when the truck ahead started spraying us. None of them penetrated the protective zinc undercoat so they have been left as is. The best built cars in Europe IMHO – have you ever seen a rusty Yeti?

I caught a low wall about two years ago. Again, the shell was totally protected and I decided the marks were too small to respray. Someone cleverer than me might want to touch them up though.

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Here we have my much-loved Skoda Yeti for sale.

Summary
This one-owner vehicle has been almost fanatically well cared-for since new. It comes with full history, not just fsh, and some great extras. It has been really reliable and is in fabulous condition for its 8 years and 64,000 miles. I am asking much less than a dealer would so you might need to hurry if you are seriously interested.

I shall miss its incredible versatility, its sunroof and its terrific handling, not to mention its cleverness and build quality, but have decided it’s time to try the world of EVs.

Details

• Model : 2.0 TDI SE Outdoor DSG 4WD with 170hp upgrade
• Year: 2014 (14 reg) collected on the first day of the updated Yeti range.
• Colour: Jungle Green ouside and Terracotta inside.
• Owners: One – the already-retired me.
• Mileage: 64k – just under 8,000 miles per year.
• Exterior condition: Wonderful, including 4 scuff-free alloys and a tilting, sliding sunroof which still works perfectly. Remarkable condition for an 8-year-old vehicle, must be one of the best currently on sale. See exterior photos >>>> There are some stone-chips on the bonnet, plus a small scrape on a front wheel-arch. See photos of blemishes >>>>.
• Interior condition: The inside is showing very few signs of wear. See interior photos >>>>.
• Mechanical condition: Totally spot-on with FSH. All service items have been completed at or before the specified ages or mileages, including the haldex fluid and cambelt & water pump. MOT’d in March with new engine oil, oil filter, fuel filter and brake fluid. There is no outstanding work to be done and all receipts are available.
• Tyres: Continental Premum Contact 6 with 4mm+ tread (20,000 miles of my mostly motorway driving).
• Extras costing more than £1,500:
  • panoramic sliding glass sunroof (£1,100)
  • adjustable front lumbar support (£100)
  • tyre pressure monitor (£100)
  • light assistant (£65)
  • Skoda mud-flaps (£67)
  • still new Skoda Yeti-embroidered textile floor mats (£65)
• Additions costing nearly £900: for more details >>>>
  • re-map to 170bhp, amazing torque increase, easily reversible to standard (£422)
  • Garmin nuvi 2598 sat-nav, detachable, with lifetime map updates and digital traffic (£179)
  • USB sockets in dash top cubby, one currently used for the sat-nav (£29)
  • Skoda interior bike-rack for two adult cycles (£275)
  • unused warning triangle, spare bulb kit and touch-up paint
• Plus the standard ‘SE’ spec:
  • Erebus 17in alloy wheels (a rarely-seen option not in the brochure)
  • black roof-rails (my roof-bars might be available too)
  • dual-zone climate control
  • height-adjustable front seats
  • Bolero radio with 6CD changer (also takes SD card)
  • remote central locking
  • air-conditioned glovebox and between-seats box
  • boot side-rails with sliding hooks & nets
  • boot-lamp which is also a removable LED torch
  • rear parking sensors
  • leather steering wheel, handbrake and gearknob
  • sunset glass
  • telephone prep – GSM II & Bluetooth (not tried)
  • alarm with interior monitoring
  • airbags – front, side & curtain
  • cruise control
  • daytime running lights
  • EBV – Electronic Brake Variator
  • EDS – Electronic Differential System
  • ESBS – Electronic Stability Braking System
  • ESP – Electronic Stability Programme
  • front fog lights
  • headlight washers
  • hydraulic brake-assist

Content to follow…

We moved in as long ago as 2008, so don’t hold your breath.

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In a trip of great contrasts, we particularly liked (in no set order):

1. the crew’s bon homie even when things weren’t perfect
2. being away, doing something very different
3. the few days we hung around in Aigues Mortes enjoying Howard and Doreen’s hospitality
4. dining out, some meals being absolutely outstanding
5. dining on-board, with good ready-meals, Marie’s excellent omelettes and salads with French bread and wine
6. the wines, which were always good, even if obscenely dear in restaurants
7. the cheeses, such a variety
8. the breakfasts (thank you Richard!) and posh tarts
9. having a viable plan, being equipped to replan when necessary and never worrying about fuel despite several absent pumps (well done Colin)
10. the incredibly varied scenery – even the ugly bits were interesting
11. ascending the awesome Rhone and Saone locks
12. seeing so many herons and other birds, including a huge flock of cormorants
13. the silly ducks, and some herons, which would wait until we were almost alongside before panicking and flying on ahead of us, only to repeat the entertainment again and again
14. the beautiful and welcoming Canal Lateral a la Loire and, almost as good, the Canal de Briare
15. learning to use all the different types of lock and getting the hang of lassoing distant bollards
16. the relative lack of rain, especially on the canal sections – not our usual UK experience
17. watching Richard trying to clamber up steep, sometimes weedy or muddy banks in order to set the next lock (‘taking a flying leap’ in R’s imagination)
18. the more relaxed starts to our R&R days
19. some of the VNF staff and shopkeepers, who were both helpful and delightful despite us struggling with the language
20. showing off in our posh boat, even if some traditionalists were probably unimpressed
21. being looked after so wonderfully at Port Pinche by Yves and Julien – and Maya
22. (Richard) getting home and being able to get out of bed with enough space to stand up
23. (Marie) getting home and being able to have a proper shower
24. (Colin) getting to Port Pinche and not having to plan or feel responsible for so much
25. the sense of satisfaction at having done the trip and avoiding disasters by good judgement as much as by luck

Wow, that’s quite a list of positives!

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^^ Reflections page

That headline is perhaps a bit strong. We are grateful to be able to contemplate an adventure like this at an average age of 75. Perhaps ‘dodgy age’ would be more acurate, where we are each living with our little issues and, of course, at our age things are more likely to go wrong or to get worse.

For example, Marie had been suffering a little sciatica this year and then twisted her knee walking home from the shops just days before departure to France. During the trip, she hurt her knee again, poor soul, and was unable to walk/limp for more than a few yards at one point. Then, as the knee started to recover with the help of anti-inflamatories and some bandages, her sciatica got worse!

Anyway, we accepted the risk and mostly got away with it.

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