RE: PH Blog: price point
Discussion
Chris, I quite agree with your sentiments here. Next year I'll be replacing my work runaround (currently a 06-plate Clio III) with a Sandero and will be giving the Duster a serious look as an everyday runaround for my wife (to replace her knackered 05-plate Ka). I had originally thought the Fiat Panda 4x4 would be tough to beat, but the Duster makes it look expensive!
All those on here whinging about A/C are completely and absolutely missing the point.
I have AC in two of my four cars - only ever commented on when in the South of France - in the UK I just open a window!
Anyone who thinks Brits don't like a good value proposition is a brand snob. As Michael O'Leary once said 0n launching a Frankfurt route:
"Jürgen [Weber, Lufthansa chairman] says Germans don't like low fares. How the f
k does he know? The Germans will crawl bk-naked over broken glass to get them."
The same apples to Brits and well built cheap cars - the days of mortgaging the house for an Q7 or gone - this is all about austerity chique.
I have AC in two of my four cars - only ever commented on when in the South of France - in the UK I just open a window!
Anyone who thinks Brits don't like a good value proposition is a brand snob. As Michael O'Leary once said 0n launching a Frankfurt route:
"Jürgen [Weber, Lufthansa chairman] says Germans don't like low fares. How the f
k does he know? The Germans will crawl bk-naked over broken glass to get them." The same apples to Brits and well built cheap cars - the days of mortgaging the house for an Q7 or gone - this is all about austerity chique.
Maty said:
What's the engine spec on the basic model then?
If it was capable of 40+ mpg I'd be interested at 9k!
105bhp 1.6 16v. Official combined MPG of the 2wd version is 39.8, so probably low-mid thirties in reality?If it was capable of 40+ mpg I'd be interested at 9k!
So you can only get the petrol in white?! Just spent some time on the Dacia configurator, I can't find any clear explanation what all the different option packs add? Cheapest 4x4 comes out at £10995. Most expensive is £18045!
I am all for cheap cars. Considering that a high proportion of Discoverys, Range Rover Freelanders, and almost all Evoques, alternate between the local school and Waitrose as their destinations, why would you want to tie up all that money in 4 wheels, 5 seats and an engine? At least you know that the basic Duster will only ever depreciate by £8995 maximum - which is around what your Range Rover costs by the first time you fill the fuel tank. Badge snobbery is best reserved for the snobs - we are above all that surely?
They will sell lots of these.
The normal Brit will be delighted at the chance of ridding themselves of the burden that is a complex machine which consistently does 1 thing only, breaks down.
Many are fed up being robbed because they bought one of the usual suspects "white goods" cars. Post sales these cars generally cost £1000s due to the endless attention required by carefully under-engineered systems, most of which are simply not needed.
That means AC, FBW, SBW, TBW, Stop start, ALL unrequired Electrical systems, the great dual mass robbery, the nonsense of adjustable setups, traction/idiot control systems, etc, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on, and on, and on.
I just feel pity for the badge snob.
They are so institutionalised they do not know any better and will continue to blindly throw their high APR% borrowed money at the problems without thinking. These blinkered souls happily endebt themselves and their poor families so they can prove to strangers just how very important they are not. Good for them
you will ALWAYS need more than Dacia offers.
The normal Brit will be delighted at the chance of ridding themselves of the burden that is a complex machine which consistently does 1 thing only, breaks down.
Many are fed up being robbed because they bought one of the usual suspects "white goods" cars. Post sales these cars generally cost £1000s due to the endless attention required by carefully under-engineered systems, most of which are simply not needed.
That means AC, FBW, SBW, TBW, Stop start, ALL unrequired Electrical systems, the great dual mass robbery, the nonsense of adjustable setups, traction/idiot control systems, etc, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on, and on, and on.
I just feel pity for the badge snob.
They are so institutionalised they do not know any better and will continue to blindly throw their high APR% borrowed money at the problems without thinking. These blinkered souls happily endebt themselves and their poor families so they can prove to strangers just how very important they are not. Good for them
you will ALWAYS need more than Dacia offers.drybeer said:
I saw load of these in France this summer.
Yes the French love the Dacias.I sat in a Duster last year and played a little bit with the Controls. The clutch is nearly perfectly weighted , the shifter travel is not to long and not to light, it's quite comparable with the megane RS 250.
I think this is the new samurai and the other Dacias are the new Renault R5.
I read that in the midterm Dacia will probably built more cars than renault.
AbarthChris said:
JonathanLegard said:
CDP said:
Beefmeister said:
This is the boggo model for £8995. I think it's bloody ace!
Except you don't seem to be able to get it with air conditioning unless you move up the range. It's about the one extra that I actually like.Nah - I like A/C - I'd rather have it than electric windows, electric seats or cruise. I find it more useful here with the random climate, with de-fogging, then cooling, then heating (all within a couple of hours) than I do in hotter climes. My point is that Reanult have underestimated the appeal of the "UN spec' car - not offering it with A/C is a silly mistake.
TORQ said:
Yes Wildcat, the Rancho was the one I was referring too, well remembered. It could have been a success but the audience clearly wasn't ready!
I think it was bevause it wasn't very good. Great concept, poor execution. As a kid I loved them. Still have brochures for it.Edited by TORQ on Friday 9th November 23:29
ukmike2000 said:
Badge snobbery is best reserved for the snobs - we are above all that surely?
Snob. 
In essence I agree with Chris but unless I'm missing something the manufacturers are still making us pay for decent comfortable, economical estates for high mileage users ie. 25K+ a year. I want to replace my E39 530i Touring but can't see much further beyond a VW Passat estate or a Ford Mondeo estate.
Buying new the Mondeo I get £3500 off in addition to any deals due to my father having previously been an employee. Still means I'm likely to pay £25K for a 2.0 diesel...
I'd rather get a couple of year old Volvo, Audi or Skoda Octavia VRS estate for £15K and have £10K to pay for 2-3 years petrol.
Edited by Agent Orange on Saturday 10th November 21:18
richardeallen said:
I cant get my head around everyone talking about lack of aircon. I take it the base model comes with window winders.....
I am never, never buying a car without air con. Life is just too short to live without that one little comfort.
Each to their own but air con is a must have for me
Pistonwot said:
They will sell lots of these.
The normal Brit will be delighted at the chance of ridding themselves of the burden that is a complex machine which consistently does 1 thing only, breaks down.
Many are fed up being robbed because they bought one of the usual suspects "white goods" cars. Post sales these cars generally cost £1000s due to the endless attention required by carefully under-engineered systems, most of which are simply not needed.
That means AC, FBW, SBW, TBW, Stop start, ALL unrequired Electrical systems, the great dual mass robbery, the nonsense of adjustable setups, traction/idiot control systems, etc, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on, and on, and on.
Agree with all that except for air con obviously. Just one question do these definitely not have dual mass flywheels?The normal Brit will be delighted at the chance of ridding themselves of the burden that is a complex machine which consistently does 1 thing only, breaks down.
Many are fed up being robbed because they bought one of the usual suspects "white goods" cars. Post sales these cars generally cost £1000s due to the endless attention required by carefully under-engineered systems, most of which are simply not needed.
That means AC, FBW, SBW, TBW, Stop start, ALL unrequired Electrical systems, the great dual mass robbery, the nonsense of adjustable setups, traction/idiot control systems, etc, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on, and on, and on.
Edited by Pesty on Sunday 11th November 01:49
I love the look of these, my only question would be; would people not go to their local Nissan / Honda garage and buy a used Qashqai / CRV with all the toys, bells & whistles for less money than the basic spec Duster... and still enjoy at least a years free warranty? Diesel, Air Con, Cruise Control etc etc is surely a preferred set up despite the car being 2nd hand - also, there's a similar type of classless, ronseal type motoring to be had.
However, I do prefer the look of the Duster to anything else in its category.
However, I do prefer the look of the Duster to anything else in its category.
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