RE: Dacia Duster: PH Fleet
Discussion
Well... I read Piston Heads articles because I have a passion for performance motoring. There are plenty of other websites & info sources out there that cater for the more hum-drum side of the automotive world...
So why then has the prospect of this long termer made me prick up my ears with keen interest and actually chuckle out loud in eager anticipation of what's to come??? Funny old world isn't it.
I can only conclude that there's something intriguing (and I suppose relevant that most people can connect with) about the diarised adventures of a petrol head who is using a normal, cacky vehicle for everyday duties. I guess most PHers find themselves in a similar situation in 'real-life' whereby we come to accept that some sort of utilitarian box is the optimum solution for daily chores that inflict wear & tear, rack up the miles and cake on the road grime etc
I cannot wait to hear what sort of a companion the Mighty Duster makes... They're so endearingly unpretentious I desperately hope it fairs well.
Come on the Dacia!!! Bring on the next instalment guys
So why then has the prospect of this long termer made me prick up my ears with keen interest and actually chuckle out loud in eager anticipation of what's to come??? Funny old world isn't it.
I can only conclude that there's something intriguing (and I suppose relevant that most people can connect with) about the diarised adventures of a petrol head who is using a normal, cacky vehicle for everyday duties. I guess most PHers find themselves in a similar situation in 'real-life' whereby we come to accept that some sort of utilitarian box is the optimum solution for daily chores that inflict wear & tear, rack up the miles and cake on the road grime etc
I cannot wait to hear what sort of a companion the Mighty Duster makes... They're so endearingly unpretentious I desperately hope it fairs well.
Come on the Dacia!!! Bring on the next instalment guys
I have been seriously considering one of these and was even looking at a 2014 Cat D/C, can't remember which, that appeared to only need a new front bumper and a headlight.
It was going for £3400.
I think throwing options at it is not the point. I have all those toys on my Mustang and apart from playing with them when new, I just drive it now. More to go wrong.
You can buy the basic model for a tad under £10k. Wind up windows in the back and a little petrol engine. Absolute bargain and hard to find secondhand as people keep them.
Seen some for sale around the £5k/6k mark at 3 years old and over 100,000 miles so they obviously keep going and that is pretty glacial depreciation for a car that was £8500 new.
It was going for £3400.
I think throwing options at it is not the point. I have all those toys on my Mustang and apart from playing with them when new, I just drive it now. More to go wrong.
You can buy the basic model for a tad under £10k. Wind up windows in the back and a little petrol engine. Absolute bargain and hard to find secondhand as people keep them.
Seen some for sale around the £5k/6k mark at 3 years old and over 100,000 miles so they obviously keep going and that is pretty glacial depreciation for a car that was £8500 new.
Toaster Pilot said:
I have a 2WD Duster Access on order for March delivery 
- they hardly sell any in that spec though
A friend has one on order for March delivery - I believe it's pretty much top-spec! - they hardly sell any in that spec though There IS something oddly appealing about them; perhaps it's a bit of a Suzuki Swift thing in that they seem to be better than the sum of their parts.
Also the Skoda/SEAT thing, in that they seem to make the main brand (Renault/Volkswagen) versions seem a bit pointless.
jhonn said:
Roma101 said:
Wow. People like you still exist.
You'll need to explain yourself a little more - what is it about I posted that you find so surprising/objectionable?I was commenting on your remarks about Nissans and Renaults being unreliable etc., implying a continuation of the perceived myth that all Renaults and Nissans are automatically unreliable etc.
Now, you are probably going to tell me that you or people you know have had loads of Renaults and Nissans and they have been really unreliable. If this is the case, it does not mean that all Nissans and Renaults are automatically unreliable.
I don't want to drag up a well trodden conversation. There are countless other threads out there which deal with this.
However, the simple conclusion is that some people have had good experiences, some bad. Just like with every other manufacturer out there. I really wouldn't let any perception of these two brands put you off of buying this car if you are considering it. I never did with any of my Renaults and had no regrets.
^^^ No worries; By the time that I might be considering buying one of these (a few years away), there'll be plenty of recent info on their reliability and I can make a decision then. My prejudice is based on personal experience with Nissans (Pathfinders/Navaras) and Renaults up to about 5 years ago - things may have improved since then.
It would be great if they offered a five or seven year warranty as standard, like some of the Korean manufacturers - that would go a long way to addressing some of the previous concerns.
It would be great if they offered a five or seven year warranty as standard, like some of the Korean manufacturers - that would go a long way to addressing some of the previous concerns.
tomic said:
Is this the same 1.2 engine you get in a Qashqai?
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jan/28/niss...
I wouldn't worry too much about that. I lease one of those Qashqais for my wife and it's taken 2.5 years of relentless thrashing from myself without any mechanical engine issues. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jan/28/niss...
It's had lots of other niggles, though - currently, the driver's side window is the only one that works, for instance!Johnnytheboy said:
Toaster Pilot said:
I have a 2WD Duster Access on order for March delivery - they hardly sell any in that spec though
Last time I was in a Dacia showroom, all the Dusters were 2wd for some reason. - they hardly sell any in that spec though A dealer will want in his showroom and in stock what sells; every single one of the Dusters that we have on order for stock for our dealership are 2wd, our demo is a 4wd but only because it was auto issued, we wouldn't have specced a 4wd if given the choice.
Having a 4wd as a demo, is actually a negative due to gears 1 and 2 being lower in a 4x4 than the 2wd, thus the drive and acceleration at lower speeds is worse than in a 2WD and it does give a negative experience to many who test drive it when looking for a 2wd.
HTP99 said:
Johnnytheboy said:
Toaster Pilot said:
I have a 2WD Duster Access on order for March delivery - they hardly sell any in that spec though
Last time I was in a Dacia showroom, all the Dusters were 2wd for some reason. - they hardly sell any in that spec though A dealer will want in his showroom and in stock what sells; every single one of the Dusters that we have on order for stock for our dealership are 2wd, our demo is a 4wd but only because it was auto issued, we wouldn't have specced a 4wd if given the choice.
Having a 4wd as a demo, is actually a negative due to gears 1 and 2 being lower in a 4x4 than the 2wd, thus the drive and acceleration at lower speeds is worse than in a 2WD and it does give a negative experience to many who test drive it when looking for a 2wd.
Johnnytheboy said:
Fair enough. I guess I fall at the first hurdle (this is not a Dacia thing) of not understanding why anyone wants a car that looks like a 4x4, but isn't.
Some of the advantages are..Increased ground clearance - even the 2WD seems to sit a little higher than a conventional estate (handy for snow or rutted tracks)
'Command' driving position - more visibility around corners and more on-road 'presence'
Tyres and suspension may have the ability to soak up more punishment (handy for our potholed roads)
Maybe slightly more utility - (a bit boxier for awkward loads)
jhonn said:
^^^ No worries; By the time that I might be considering buying one of these (a few years away), there'll be plenty of recent info on their reliability and I can make a decision then. My prejudice is based on personal experience with Nissans (Pathfinders/Navaras) and Renaults up to about 5 years ago - things may have improved since then.
It would be great if they offered a five or seven year warranty as standard, like some of the Korean manufacturers - that would go a long way to addressing some of the previous concerns.
Sounds like a logical plan. It would be great if they offered a five or seven year warranty as standard, like some of the Korean manufacturers - that would go a long way to addressing some of the previous concerns.
I suppose if you have been burned before, then you are more careful. I never have been so I am sure you can understand my view.
Renault offer a 4 year warranty for Renaults. I am not sure if they offer this for Dacias though.
Regards
Roma101 said:
jhonn said:
^^^ No worries; By the time that I might be considering buying one of these (a few years away), there'll be plenty of recent info on their reliability and I can make a decision then. My prejudice is based on personal experience with Nissans (Pathfinders/Navaras) and Renaults up to about 5 years ago - things may have improved since then.
It would be great if they offered a five or seven year warranty as standard, like some of the Korean manufacturers - that would go a long way to addressing some of the previous concerns.
Sounds like a logical plan. It would be great if they offered a five or seven year warranty as standard, like some of the Korean manufacturers - that would go a long way to addressing some of the previous concerns.
I suppose if you have been burned before, then you are more careful. I never have been so I am sure you can understand my view.
Renault offer a 4 year warranty for Renaults. I am not sure if they offer this for Dacias though.
Regards
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