Dacia Duster

Jbutler_2

Hey,

I am thinking of changing my car, I have a renault megane at the minute but I'm tempted by the new Dacia duster.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of these and what people's thought are on dacia brand as a whole? I know its a 'cheaper' brand but from what I have read and seen I've been quite impressed.

Any help much appreciated.

worried_jim

Thread already running -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4487519

sharpy2010

Jbutler wrote: »

but I'm tempted by the new Dacia duster.

Oh dear! Lol.

Netwizard

Nothing wrong with Dacia. I think they offer good, back to basics motoring for someone looking for a cheap new car.

If you search youtube, there is numerous vids of the duster keeping up with the big boys off road, but you have to pay slightly more for the 4x4 duster.

Shame they don't offer aircon on the basic model. I think they missed a trick there. The basic model looks awesome on steelies and in UN white

Of course in the UK, there are badge snobs, and people who snub cars without ever driving them. Most people would probably walk straight past Dacia but truth be told, I haven't read a bad thing about them online yet. Reviews and online forums seem to praise them for exactly what they are. Back to basics, cheap motoring.

Of course, people in this country don't keep cars too long before upgrading or keeping up with the neighbours, but if you purchased a bogo spec Duster, and ran it for 10 years, its cost you peanuts.
You can also upgrade the warranty for peanuts as well!

Comments like this one from the thread linked above: "If my dad ever brought home a Sandero or Duster I'd personally remove his scrotum." I cant understand, but I guess its like Skoda. They used to be rubbish and got a reputation for being rubbish, but now they are bloody good cars, but offer someone a Skoda Fabia or an Audi A3, most people will go with the A3. Badge snobs

If you venture into Europe, Dacia's are everywhere, but then the frech are very loyal to their own.

If they did the bogo spec one with aircon, I would probably get one. The thing I like about cars like this is that you can park it in the supermarket, without worrying too much about parking dents or other careless people bashing it.
You can chuck the kids and the dog in it, along with all your camping gear or holiday stuff. Come winter, if you go for the 4x4 version, you wont have any problems with snow or crap weather,
The Duster will take it all in its stride, and again, if you pick up the odd stone chip or dent, its not the end of the world (especially if your buying it to run into the ground for the next x amount of years!)

Servicing will be pretty cheap. Insurance should also be pretty cheap, because none of the badge snobs in the UK would want to steal it anyway!

Look on the Dacia forums for pictures and actual owners opinions of what they are like to live with.

There is a picture thread running here: http://www.daciaforum.co.uk/topic/478-post-your-duster-pic-of-the-day/ and I think they look pretty dam good for the price.

Hintza

If you buy one you really need to be thinking that you will keep it until it dies as the residuals will probably be dreadful, especially in the early years. As they were for the Korean cars.

I'd be tempted.

photome

sharpy2010 wrote: »

Oh dear! Lol.

Whats your experience of them

alastairq

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/dacia/


Has plenty of good stuff to say about them.

I'd have one, given the option!

Probably the SAndero Stepway..if only to cope with the inevitable potholes..ground clearance is king, I'm afraid.

And with the 0.9 turbo motor! Reckoned by the above to be the better engine?

Question is.....do you want toys?

From my viewpoint, I have no need whatsoever [given my decades [40-plus] of driving and owning experience, not to shove in yer faces, but for me to fall back on]..for power steering, electric windows, aircon, or even, fancy music systems.
[if ever I did, then the base model would suit...as would a quick trip to HAlfords?]

I do like a vehicle where I do not have to be overly concerned if I move off-tarmac.

But I don't need 4 wheel drive.

{especially like Land Rover's one-wheel-at-a-time drive!]

Even the 2 wheel drive Duster would be fine......especially if some nice aftermarket-type diff lock comes on the scene?

[Deleted User]

I was behind one this week and I thought it looked nice and something different than all the usual cars on the road. If I had the cash I would get one just to be different!

diesel_dog

In all fairness they don't look too bad and current owners seemed to be quite pleased with their purchase. The entry model spec looks quite low and could do with some more toys.

Badge snobs will just turn there noses up at it but, in all fairness people still do that with Skoda even though there a decent enough car. Time will tell ....

Freefall

diesel_dog wrote: »

In all fairness they don't look too bad and current owners seemed to be quite pleased with their purchase. The entry model spec looks quite low and could do with some more toys.

Badge snobs will just turn there noses up at it but, in all fairness people still do that with Skoda even though there a decent enough car. Time will tell ....

I was looking at this too. The only problem (thats not mentioned before) I see is that other cars on the market although with a higher list price have a larger dealer margin so discounts are invariably given whereas the Dacia dealers seem to almost universally say no discounts on the Dacia AND from a finance perspective the competitor models seem to benefit from manufacturer subsidised financing.

All this combined with lower residual values leads to question whether or not the cost of ownership is no different to that for a "badge" which at the least has a track record so one can see up-front what the reliability may be.

I am no expert though and not done any number crunching.

diesel_dog

Totally understood and agreed, but seen as there not showing any interest in discounting the cars at the moment, which may be due to supply shortage, they may offer good part exchange prices ;)After all neither a franchised or manufacturer dealer will want to turn sales away unless all the employees are working for free.

For most manufacturers to enable more sales for the numbers game, they'll also be looking at hitting the leasing companies and to do that they will have to offer discounts.

If or when they do hit the lease market then I'd imagine a realistic residual value will be attached to the vehicle. Looking at CAP and glass's, etc, will just give current auction sales trends as opposed to expected future residuals.