Buying a new Dacia - advice?

poppasmurf_bewdley

I run a Sandero Stepway 1.5 Diesel , which I've had for two years now. 

It's impossible to get less than 50mpg from the 1.5 engine. The car has been totally reliable.  I've made two long trips to France in the last couple of years in the car, and being in a Stepway makes you realise how many Stepways are in France.  They must be the most popular car over there. 

I did try the three pot petrol engine, but after a couple of minutes realised it was a truly horrible engine.  The diesel is a much better one.

Would I have another?  Yes.  

jimbo6977

AdrianC said:

jimbo6977 said:

AdrianC said:

jimbo6977 said:

AdrianC said:

jimbo6977 said:

We don't get the Dacia Lodgy or the Lada Largus either which is a shame because I'd probably have had one or other.

The Largus is just a rebadged old-shape Logan estate, with production moved from Romania to Russia. I suspect it's not sold in the EU because of not meeting Euro6 emissions, and other C&U requirements.

The Lodgy is the same bits as the Sandero/Logan, just slightly taller, and a lot fuglier.

All true, but they also come with 7 seats. 

Completely irrelevant to the OP.

Fair enough.
Suzuki Celerio.

Discontinued last August, and even smaller than the Sandogan/Logero twins.

Cheapest Suzuki is the Ignis - smaller than the Dacias, but £5k more.

Again all true, but there are v low mileage Celerios available for cheap, as you'd expect in the scenario.

Having experienced Sandero, Celerio and Ignis, I would say the Ignis is the most practical and comfortable of the 3 but of course this is reflected in the price. 

Celerio, whilst smaller, I found less boomy and clattery than the Dacia and just a more pleasant cabin experience. Plus it gives excellent fuel economy and will have the balance of a long warranty.

facade

My advice for buying a Dacia, which most posters disagree with , is go for the poverty spec at the headline price.

Once you start sprinkling it with glitter, in an attempt to make it "nice", you are spending serious money, and might as well get a car that isn't a budget make.

mobileron

Buy a Skoda read about reliability, you wont consider anything else.

noclaf

To the OP, I'm in a similar boat to you albeit my current car has been absolutely solid over 10 years of my ownership, MK1 focus...I cannot sing it's praises enough for reliability and handling however it looks tatty now and has taken a fair bit of abuse.
IL be going petrol rather than diesel but I'd consider/suggest Mazda 3's, Honda Civics and maybe Kia/Hyundai Ceed/I30..my only must is that whatever car I go for I want a reliable engine and solid auto gearbox.
Hence I will exclude the Focus Ecoboost  Powershift. autos..maybe unfairly but that combo does not fill me with confidence for long-term ownership like my current focus 1.8 Duratec/Yamaha designed engine does.
Hope that helps and as someone else suggested stay away from the Mazda 2.2.diesel...far too many issues. The Honda 1.6 and older 2.2 diesels are excellent.

peter12345678910

noclaf said:

To the OP, I'm in a similar boat to you albeit my current car has been absolutely solid over 10 years of my ownership, MK1 focus...I cannot sing it's praises enough for reliability and handling however it looks tatty now and has taken a fair bit of abuse.
IL be going petrol rather than diesel but I'd consider/suggest Mazda 3's, Honda Civics and maybe Kia/Hyundai Ceed/I30..my only must is that whatever car I go for I want a reliable engine and solid auto gearbox.
Hence I will exclude the Focus Ecoboost  Powershift. autos..maybe unfairly but that combo does not fill me with confidence for long-term ownership like my current focus 1.8 Duratec/Yamaha designed engine does.
Hope that helps and as someone else suggested stay away from the Mazda 2.2.diesel...far too many issues. The Honda 1.6 and older 2.2 diesels are excellent.

I have to agree with focus mk1, it had very good torque and usually starts well when lights turn green, the zetec engine was very satisfying, but it did have rust under rear doors, electric seats lasted 7 years and cost 1000. Though it could have kept going but it started playing up after a long trip carrying too many tiles in the boot.

noclaf

peter12345678910 said:

noclaf said:

To the OP, I'm in a similar boat to you albeit my current car has been absolutely solid over 10 years of my ownership, MK1 focus...I cannot sing it's praises enough for reliability and handling however it looks tatty now and has taken a fair bit of abuse.
IL be going petrol rather than diesel but I'd consider/suggest Mazda 3's, Honda Civics and maybe Kia/Hyundai Ceed/I30..my only must is that whatever car I go for I want a reliable engine and solid auto gearbox.
Hence I will exclude the Focus Ecoboost  Powershift. autos..maybe unfairly but that combo does not fill me with confidence for long-term ownership like my current focus 1.8 Duratec/Yamaha designed engine does.
Hope that helps and as someone else suggested stay away from the Mazda 2.2.diesel...far too many issues. The Honda 1.6 and older 2.2 diesels are excellent.

I have to agree with focus mk1, it had very good torque and usually starts well when lights turn green, the zetec engine was very satisfying, but it did have rust under rear doors, electric seats lasted 7 years and cost 1000. Though it could have kept going but it started playing up after a long trip carrying too many tiles in the boot.

I think the MK1 focus was v underated..lack of comfort aside it does everything else v well...excellent handling, reliable and practical. Mine has just passed 75k so plenty of life left though I'm hoping if in a few months the used market gets an injection of ex PCP/lease/financed cars being offloaded will be a good time to change.
Oh and agree re rust on mk1's, every year I'm asking my mechanic to check praying it hasn't started rotting away!

consumers_revenge

Oddly have a mk1 focus and a new dacia.
The dacia in middle trim, used to be called the ambiance, has pretty much everything you would want in a car except rear legroom for adults and as the driver you will find your knee rests on the door handle but dont notice after a while.

Only advice I will give you is FOR THE LOVE OFF GOD DONT BUY THE 1.0 SCE PETROL ENGINE!!!!

Its a decision Ive regretted since day 2. The 1st is dire and same for 2nd til you get some revs up. After that its fine, even on the motorway I feel.
But again if you are doing any A and B roads, especially with any hills you wont want the air con on as that zaps most of the engines power which has been know to kick in at the wrong moment and if you are on something like a roundabout can scare the life out of you.
if you get the TCE engine I'm told its a great package.

cymruchris

You can pick up an '18 Honda Jazz for the money you're looking to spend - I would say much more refined, higher quality build, and Japanese reliability. Dacia are owned by Renault, and they aren't 'bad' cars - plenty of owners buy them, and they get them from A-B and back again. You can't knock them for having a reasonable look, a reasonable car at a reasonable price - but if I had the choice of a new Dacia or a used Honda - it'd be the Honda every time. 
Something like that one:
https://www.bristolstreet.co.uk/used-car/2400239/honda-jazz-1.3-i-vtec-s-5dr-petrol-hatchback/

Alanp

I would agree with the jazz, just a quick look on autotrader shows a few Mazda 2s, Suzuki swifts, for around the same money as a new sandero, don’t be afraid to look at cars that are slightly over budget, as you can negotiate down to a price you’re happy with