Dacia Duster.

[Retired]

Hi,

Bron and I will be buying a new car later this year to replace our Toyota Aygo. At the moment the top runner is a Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo but a couple of days ago I saw a Dacia advert on TV so being nosy I browsed the web.

http://www.dacia.co.uk/vehicles/index.jsp

These Dusters appear absolutely brilliant value and score points over the Fabia because they are cheaply available in 4WD which possibly would make the Duster a better buy for us living here on the valley side.

Has any member any experiences of a Dacia Duster because I'm interested? The owners reviews appear positive on the web.

We don't want an all singing all dancing vehicle loaded with every modern gizmo and I'm not even bothered about a radio; simple is better as long as it is reliable doing only around 7,000 miles per year.

Money supermarket insurance quotes compared to our Aygo show the Duster to start at 50p per week cheaper than the Aygo so insurance is also cheap.

Both the Fabia and Duster come with a three year warranty. Finance deals are not required because we will simply pay cash.

It's early days yet but we are starting to look at new cars because the months fly by rapidly and many new cars come with a three month waiting period so we need to be placing our order in May. Obviously we'll make our choice but this is just for interest.

Kind regards, Col.

[camallison]

That was a car I looked at when I recently replaced our car. Only thing against it for me personally was that it isn't available as an automatic - I need that because of my gammy left knee. In the end, I settled for a Skoda Roomster. Now we have had it 2 months, I don't regret my decision - especially with the consumption I am achieving as a result of the engine being only 1.2ltr. Looking at the engine, and many other parts, they are marked as VAG parts, naturally since they belong to that group.

In the end Col, it is horses for courses and personal preference. Are there any online stats for reliability and service support?

Colin

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Colin. I've only just started looking at the Duster and found the Dacia forum which I've briefly browsed. Apart from the odd niggle there doesn't appear to be any real major problems with the Duster all the reports saying what excellent value it is for the money.

http://www.daciaforum.co.uk/index

Bron and I visited our local Skoda dealer a few months ago and looked at the Fabia; Roomster and Yeti; we didn't bother looking at the Citygo which is an excellent little car but like the Aygo too small for us. I can understand you choosing the Roomster in fact all the Skoda range are top class cars but we would now prefer a 4WD and the Yeti is considerably more expensive than the Duster; it would be pointless us spending a great deal of extra money doing so little mileage and depreciation would also be more with the Yeti?

We plan to visit our local Dacia dealer shortly weather permitting to have a close up view of the Duster. There is only one Skoda dealership in Huddersfield but I think there are three Dacia dealerships? As I say its early days yet but better looking around sooner rather than later. We still haven't ruled out the Fabia because it's possible good deals will soon be available because a new version Fabia is either out or due out?

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

Never heard of them: where are they made? Korea maybe. Well it wont be to the build quality of a Toyota I'm thinking but David may take me to task that everything is the same and its all marketing hype .

What about a Suzuki Jimny. Talked to a farmer who used them up in the wilds where you are and he said they were fabulous and would go anywhere cross country. Of course the SX4 S-Cross is more stylish but more money. Made in Japan? maybe, hard to know these days. History is from there and design I guess.
If made in Japan the build will be fantastic, I maintain having had a lot of Honda's that the ones from there are better. This one is on the same exhaust and battery, Shush! it may hear me.

http://www.suzuki.co.uk/cars/cars/new/ji...01416-HT68&gclid=CNrCvMvXybwCFQKWtAodtBEApQ

4WD sounds right up your street Colin ... a new toy to play with. Be wanting it to snow then just to see what it does. Of course all the 2WD folks blocking the road will be a pain ...

Yeah! Got to sort a new car soon. 10 years on the Honda Civic and its been a beaut. Shame the new Jazz isn't over here yet. But I don't want to buy new anyway. I hate the massive depreciation so 2 years old will do. But what to buy?

Gary

[Yorkie]

Never heard of them: where are they made? Korea maybe. Gary

Dacia have been owned by Renault since 1999. They're made in Romania.

As to build quality and 'marketing hype', my son's £150k Aston Martin DB9 has had two recalls and is just a year old - latest one due to 'counterfeit plastic' used on the accelerator pedals.

Where cars are concerned, rational sensible debate isn't possible.

Great British engineering?

Nuff said!.

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Gary. Remember the TV Series "Howard's Way"? Leo in the series I believe had one of the first Suzuki jeeps and I was very impressed by its trendy looks until reports started to appear that these rolled over very easily? I must stress this is from memory and was many years ago but I've never considered owning a Suzuki since; I was never keen on the big (750cc) Suzuki motorcycles either. Thanks though Gary for your suggestion which I do appreciate; I've had a look at the Suzuki Jimny and note there are three variants all having petrol engines and all costing around the same price as the mid range Duster.

I've no problems buying any car from any country as long as the car will do its intended job in a reliable manner and be value for money; I'm not into badge engineering or snobbery; Bron and I just want a car fit for purpose without lots of frills and extras to complicate matters. I used to be interested in cars and enjoyed many years of playing around with them but these days I just want to climb in and drive; in fact I'm no longer bothered about driving because it has become nothing but hassle.

Thanks David; yes the Dacia is made in Romania and is Renault based; Renault has been another car I've never considered buying for no particular reason but having looked at the Dacia range these are based on tried and tested Renault running gear so in this respect I wouldn't think reliability is an issue and reviews state running costs should be reasonable especially when it comes to servicing and spare parts?

Depreciation on your son's Aston Martin David in a year would possibly pay for a Duster or two? £150K isn't a sum I would wish to pay just for everyday transport but what the heck whatever pushes your buttons I say? I prefer getting dirty rubbing old machines down than driving these days. Any car whatever the cost is only a machine made up of many parts each of which can break or go wrong; even a Rolls Royce can break down but I would think the company would like such matters kept quiet?

Our little Aygo is a capable little car and this is our second Aygo but last summer I ended up very ill indeed whilst lifting bags of aggregate from its boot over the very deep boot lip so I said at that time enough is enough and now a low boot lip is a must. The bigger Duster will also be very handy for carrying machines; when I loaded the Aygo with two cast iron lathe beds it was plane spotting on the way over to Halifax where I had the beds re-ground. I wouldn't knock our own British industry because we are still capable matching the best engineering in the world even if our industry has been considerably reduced.

Good question Gary; what to buy and each of us are different as are our requirements when it comes to car ownership; good luck with whatever you finally choose and perhaps like me you can share your story? I bet you get another Honda Gary though?

Kind regards, Col.

[Refugee]

I would have a look at this little car and then memorise the shapes of the moldings on things like door handles and things and go home and search the Renault web sites for trouble with the parts behind them. Look at cars in a Renault show room to compare them.
Renault had a lot of trouble with central locking not too long ago. Plastic water pump impellers can also be a big problem too. Again check owners websites for models with the same running gear for posters that have had trouble. Just go through all the usual faults and check the prices of spare parts before you buy.
Some manufacturers actually under cut the prices of fake spare parts in order to keep there customers safe.
Others can get quite greedy.

[Radio Fixer]

Dacia sounds kinda like Lancia which was an upmarket car from Italy years ago. So a bit of marketing perhaps ?

Aston Market second hand doesn't sound right for me then David.

A real issue with a Dacia will be trade in value in 3 years time. If you haven't liked it and want to put it against something else then I bet its really poor. Against another maybe slightly better.

Do you remember the Citroen BX models from about the 70's (I think that's the right model number), looked at those in a showroom a few times. There was always trim hanging off and handles on the floor. Can remember the sales guy saying they would all be secured properly when it left them. Ugh! No thanks: might have been good cars though.

My gut feeling is that a 3 year old Toyota will have much better residual.

Gary

[John M0GLN]

Dacia sounds kinda like Lancia which was an upmarket car from Italy years ago. So a bit of marketing perhaps ?
Gary

The name Dacia comes from the ancient region of Romania where the company started in 1966.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_Dacia

John

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Refugee. I've been reading owners reviews on forums and other websites because usually if something looks too good to be true it usually is but apart from the odd niggle regarding bits of rust appearing these Duster's appear worth buying for people like Bron and me. We only keep our cars three years until the MOT is due and the manufacturers warranty expires so apart from consumables like tyres we won't be getting our hand in our pocket to be buying spares.

You sure hit a sore spot regarding me and Citroen BX's Gary. We owned a BX many years ago and it was truly dreadful and should have been driven straight into the nearest scrapyard. We bought it second-hand but certainly it wasn't by any means an old car; we hated and detested the thing and it still winds me up just thinking about it. An old Wartburg would have been better than the Citroen. Previous to the BX we owned two 2CV's and these served us well. What a disaster the BX was.

Lancia is another car I've not seen for many years; in those days I believe the majority of Italian cars were true rust buckets such as The Alfa Romeo "Alfasud"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu4FGsJAJ-c

When I was younger I'd have liked to own what is termed a "super-car" such as the Aston Martin; I actually fancied a red Ferrari Dino but having splashed out a small fortune I would have quickly realized loading lots of old machinery wouldn't be the thing to do so I ended up with lots of old bangers I wasn't scared to abuse or scratch. I'm pretty sure anyone owning a car like an Aston Martin could also afford to own a second car to cart stuff around in.

You are of course right Gary in that a three year old Toyota will have a much better trade in value than a Duster but considering what the Duster costs new compared to say a RAV 4 then possibly the Duster will win; anyone on a low budget though could stretch to a Duster and perhaps the Duster will last ten years and if so then it will prove very cheap motoring indeed. My own feelings are that I would prefer to buy a brand new less desirable car than a second hand car for similar money but again it comes down to personal choice. I'm not yet fully sold on a Duster and not yet seen one on the road but Bron and I will visit our local Dacia dealership to have a look. I'd prefer a Skoda Yeti but these are a lot more expensive to have sitting on the drive most of the time. The Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is a very well regarded car by its owners and it's still one of our top choices because although only 2WD I could buy winter tyres and snow chains as I have done with the Aygo; it's interesting though looking at what's on offer these days and car prices in this sector are very competitive; it's even possible the Monte Carlo will be heavily discounted as it starts being phased out which appeals to me not just in monetary terms but the car having had a good long production it will be very reliable with no hidden expensive problems?

A Fabia would just squeeze into our garage but I doubt a Duster would.

http://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/rav4-specs-prices

For comparison Gary please see Toyota Rav 4 prices which start at around £22K; double the price of a Duster which allows for a huge depreciation on the Duster should this happen in three years at Duster trade in?

I think heavy rain and wind is forecast for this afternoon so I'm not playing in the garage having just done the supermarket shopping and put the car away. For once I'm not complaining about the weather because we are not flooded out of our home and so far the electric is still connected.

I'll spend a bit of time on the computer looking at car options and reviews. For what it's worth I'm not interested in Ford; Vauxhall; Definitely not Citroen or even Renault although the Duster is Renault based. The Duster appeals because it is big so so should ride better than our tiny Aygo; it is cheap and above all it is 4WD which suits our terrain.

Thanks John for the information regarding the Dacia name.

Kind regards, Col.