I have a thing for the Dacia Duster...

I have a thing for the Dacia Duster...

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Ved

Original Poster:

3,825 posts

174 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
I've seen dozens of these crop up over the last year and they are oddly appealing. In white with steel wheels I think they look great; very much a simple rough and tumble car you can just throw around as a means of simple transportation. Apparently on the basic spec even the stereo is an option so there're certainly priced low and for good reason but for what you get, even on the top spec models, is quite good.

Maybe it's this left-field approach or the fact it can actually do a bit of off-roading to back up the looks. I dunno. It's just a good little thing in on a highway of very dull cars. Maybe I need to see some professional help but am I alone?




TwigtheWonderkid

43,248 posts

149 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
You're not alone. It has a utilitarian sparseness about it that I think is very appealing. But like a Trabant, it's the bottom of the range model or nothing. I don't want fancy stuff like radios.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
I like them but I think I'd import a Lada Niva instead.

Emubiker

951 posts

179 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
ve sold plenty of them, new, pre-reg and used. they hold their value well. Do not buy a white one though, they do rust, something to do with the paint not being of a good quality. The cheap access is pretty poor though as it only comes a 1.6 petrol, but an Ambiance Diesel is still a good cheap utilitarian but still decent car to have.


soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Jimmy Recard said:
I like them but I think I'd import a Lada Niva instead.
The trim plastics are ghastly.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
soad said:
The trim plastics are ghastly.
That doesn't stop me liking them.

I've been in plenty (and driven several) abroad over the last few years so I'm reasonably well informed to decide on it. That said, I haven't been in or driven a Duster.

TurboHatchback

4,151 posts

152 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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I saw a number of these in Iceland in places where only fairly knobbly 4x4s go, that by itself suggests they are fairly rugged little things. I quite like the look of them actually.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Get one bought, OP.

paulyv

1,017 posts

122 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Had a good look around them at several European motor shows. Their stands are often a little desolate so I take pity and clamber all around their vehicles. The basic Duster feels like an excellent and tough little thing which deserves some success.

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Can you get brown ones in the UK yet?

GeordieInExile

683 posts

119 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Definitely understand the appeal. Especially in white, with black plastic bumpers and on steelies. Awesome.

Do they have manual windows and mirrors? They bloody better.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
GeordieInExile said:
Definitely understand the appeal. Especially in white, with black plastic bumpers and on steelies. Awesome.

Do they have manual windows and mirrors? They bloody better.
Basics such as a radio and Bluetooth connectivity aren't available on the entry-level Access model.

The top-spec Laureate has electric windows, mirrors and air-con, but it’ll cost you more than a basic Nissan Juke...


Ghost91

2,964 posts

109 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Cracking value for money.

They were nicknamed the Ruster when they came out, but as far as I know, the problems have been sorted and the new ones are okay.

For me it would definitely be base model or nothing... We've been tempted with an access Sandero, change from 6k for a new car with warrantee!

patmahe

5,744 posts

203 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
soad said:
Get one bought, OP.
Yep and report back to all us closet Duster fans smile, would love a proper 4WD version but cannot justify it to myself at all, maybe if we get a harsh winter smile

I also like the Sandero Stepway, but oddly not such a big fan of the normal Sandero.

Edited by patmahe on Tuesday 1st December 14:16

anothernameitist

1,500 posts

134 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
patmahe said:
Yep and report back to all us closet Duster fans smile, would love a proper 4WD version but cannot justify it to myself at all, maybe if we get a harsh winter smile

I also like the Sandero Stepway, but oddly not such a big fan of the normal Sandero.

Edited by patmahe on Tuesday 1st December 14:16
+1

Butter Face

30,191 posts

159 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Truckosaurus said:
Can you get brown ones in the UK yet?
Not in the basic spec, only white.

And brown (Cinnamon) was available but has now been discontinued!

ian996

837 posts

110 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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soad said:
Basics such as .... Bluetooth connectivity
As an old ***, the above made me laugh

aka_kerrly

12,416 posts

209 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
If you accept it for what it is, an old Clio jacked up an given a new exterior then the Dacia is astonishing value.

I drove a 2014 model about several hundred miles over a long weekend from Gloucester to Scotland, I tried hard not to let any brand snobbery clouding my judgement.

In short, It surprised me an my passengers, it proved comfortable by virtue of reasonable interior combined with a pleasant suspension set up. The 1.5dci has just about enough power to not have to thrash it constantly, is reasonably frugal an was far from the worst car I've driven!

I'd say it was easily on a par with a relative's 2004 Toyota Rav4 which I think is acceptable given a Dacia is considerably cheaper than a new Rav.


Emubiker

951 posts

179 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
aka_kerrly said:
If you accept it for what it is, an old Clio jacked up an given a new exterior then the Dacia is astonishing value.

I drove a 2014 model about several hundred miles over a long weekend from Gloucester to Scotland, I tried hard not to let any brand snobbery clouding my judgement.

In short, It surprised me an my passengers, it proved comfortable by virtue of reasonable interior combined with a pleasant suspension set up. The 1.5dci has just about enough power to not have to thrash it constantly, is reasonably frugal an was far from the worst car I've driven!

I'd say it was easily on a par with a relative's 2004 Toyota Rav4 which I think is acceptable given a Dacia is considerably cheaper than a new Rav.
You seem to be confusing the sandero and stepway with a duster. The duster is actually the old qashqai underneath, the sandero and stepway are the old clio.

Butter Face

30,191 posts

159 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Emubiker said:
aka_kerrly said:
If you accept it for what it is, an old Clio jacked up an given a new exterior then the Dacia is astonishing value.

I drove a 2014 model about several hundred miles over a long weekend from Gloucester to Scotland, I tried hard not to let any brand snobbery clouding my judgement.

In short, It surprised me an my passengers, it proved comfortable by virtue of reasonable interior combined with a pleasant suspension set up. The 1.5dci has just about enough power to not have to thrash it constantly, is reasonably frugal an was far from the worst car I've driven!

I'd say it was easily on a par with a relative's 2004 Toyota Rav4 which I think is acceptable given a Dacia is considerably cheaper than a new Rav.
You seem to be confusing the sandero and stepway with a duster. The duster is actually the old qashqai underneath, the sandero and stepway are the old clio.
Well he's got a point, they all use the same 'platform' (B0 Dacia platform) but yes, the parts underneath are different.