Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Aren't they all built and assembled at prodrive, just off the M40 in the Midlands.

If they can't be cleaned then you could dye them back to the original colour.

Carbon Collective do a really good leather interior deep clean/protect kit for about £40.

The only thing a detailer is going to have that you won't have lying around the house is a steam cleaner.

That's good to know, thanks!

@lynx 2010 Lexus RX 450h

It's made my argument for an estate much stronger.

Potentially weighing up a Octavia Estate vs a Yeti at the minute. Would appreciate thoughts on reliability and issues with 80K+ mileage. Partner did not like the Auris hybrid estate I thought made sense at the minute.

Parenthood is imminent and want something to go see family up north regularly. Looking for something that will have low long run costs.

Mazda6?

I'd have a look at the yeti in person, especially if you've already got a pram. Idk if the boot is that big. Yes you can remove the rear seats and do all sorts of cool stuff. But with a baby in the car you ideally want the stuff stowed away safely in the boot not sharing the cabin with an infant. So def something to check.

That said the yeti is really fun.

I have an Octavia Estate with 97k miles. Got a full drains up service done with a local TSI specialist and they were happy with it. Boot is massive, bigger than my old C Max.

Without folding seats, the Yeti's boot is 2/3 the size of the Octavia Estate.

Google tells me boot space is a similar size between the two once you fold seats down. But I think in the Yeti to get that space you need to remove space, so would seem more of a faff to me.

I went with a smaller pram and a hatchback. Pram would slot behind or in front of passenger seat.

I wanted a Yeti, but the wife didn't like the look of it.
We got a Suzuki Vitara in the end, as the wife wanted seats that were higher as it's easier for her to lift kids/car seats in an out without bending over. We had a regular saloon before (company car) and this really makes a huge difference in getting the sprogs in and out, as well as on your back!

I've got to be honest, I have never ever understood this whole bending over thing.

Maybe because we had a rotating seat(?) But it never seemed that hard and before long they're climbing in by themselves anyway (which is easy for them to do in a lower car).

Depends how tall you are.....

I'm 6'5", so it makes a big difference for me. My wife is quite small and she found it really hard on her back with a regular saloon.

^^

But yeah. That's probably fair.

Out of curiosity though, did either of you have a rotating seat?

Quick run to the tip/screwfix, as is tradition for a new car. Perfectly practical.

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Plus matching kiddy seat.

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2 kids, the first doesnt have a rotating seat, the second one does.

Tbh, we really barely used the rotating function as it's just an additional operation x2 with little perceived benefit.

Accord estates were massive but mostly diesel and non ulez compliant.

Have you tried the woolies kits leather restore colour kits recently? As they were the best, at least a two decades ago.

woolies kits

+1, still very good IMO, got a kit for the 900.

is the cornering improved?

Negative camber swing axle says no.

I wanted an Octavia estate but we ended up with a Yeti as one came up that ticked all the boxes and was in budget. 1.2 TSI is peppy enough in town and good on fuel, but sometimes feels a little strained on the motorway (although fine.) Facelift models only had the 1.2TSI really, a few 1.4s are newer and out of our budget.

Major selling point is the room in the back seats is huge - very easy to take a child seat in and out, and comfortable for an adult of any height to sit in. We're also expecting (next week!) so wanted something my partner could sit comfortably in the back with a baby when it's very young.

Boot isn't as big as an estate, but a pram fits fine and it's easier to park. Higher up driving position is nice (we used to have a van).

Sorry, my sarcasm was missed.

Good to know the woolies stuff is still good.

Did you clean with leather soap first? Or an automotive leather cleaner? Always wondered which was better as a prep.

Tho I usually cleaned old rover seats.

Used neets foot oil on rear of some MR2 MK1 seats that the leather had dried and cracked badly.

I thought you were both taking the piss.
#csb I’ve been in countless stock and slammed beetles, buggies and the like and bagged ones drive so much nicer than ones with stock style suspension. Obviously a little bit of clearance helps.

I am with Hugo on this. Rotating child seat makes it sooo much easier to get them in and out, no matter the age. Also definitely helps with the strain of lifting them in for me.