So - this Dacia Duster thing....

[wildcat45]

I understand Dacia is coming back to the UK with an uber cheap SUV based on an old Clio platform.

The ultimate antidote to badge snobbery and it is easy to assume it will be crap.

However, at about 12 grand new for somoene looking for a cheap dog transporter, minor load lugger or thing to generally abuse with an apparent rough terrain if not off road capability, could it make sense?

This design is nothing to do with the 1980s Dacia that was imported into the UK.

I quite like the idea of a cheap, honest tough kickabout motor that you can get new for used car prices. A Lada Niva for the 21st century? (They still build them too out in Siberia or somewhere.)

[vdubbin]

Jonny Smith did a preview of the Duster in North Africa, it impressed him.

http://youtu.be/ODfuWcvbwKU

[Classic Grad 98]

Like the idea of Dacia much more than the horde of models Renault have just withdrawn from the UK market. The bottom of the market needs more honest uncomplicated cars whilst everyone gets carried away with emmissions regulations and small forced induction engines...

[TheHeretic]

Lots of Dacia vans, cars and Dusters here in BG. The cars are a bit 'meh' but no doubt they are cheap. The vans and the duster, however, look decent enough.

[PH lurker]

In my opinion it should be difficult to compete with the used car market. I don't want to open up the new vs used argument but surely it would be difficult to compete with used vehicles like the one shown below. I know that many people like a new car for piece of mind and they like low running costs but surely this has some appeal:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3486422.htm

SUBARU FORESTER 2.0 XT 2004 (2004) 111,000 miles £4,470
I accept that this car will not offer the same piece of mind and low day to day running costs with its high milleage but the price to purchase it is much lower and I wouldn't mind a 2.0l .

[Matt UK]

PH lurker said:

In my opinion it should be difficult to compete with the used car market. I don't want to open up the new vs used argument but surely it would be difficult to compete with used vehicles like the one shown below. I know that many people like a new car for piece of mind and they like low running costs but surely this has some appeal:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3486422.htm

SUBARU FORESTER 2.0 XT 2004 (2004) 111,000 miles £4,470
I accept that this car will not offer the same piece of mind and low day to day running costs with its high milleage but the price to purchase it is much lower and I wouldn't mind a 2.0l .

If everyone considering new, bought used, the model sort of breaks...

Didn't TG or 5thG use one for a drive across some sort of desert road? Seem to remeber they were impressed with it.

[PH lurker]

Matt UK said:

If everyone considering new, bought used, the model sort of breaks...

Didn't TG or 5thG use one for a drive across some sort of desert road? Seem to remeber they were impressed with it.

Interesting . It does break but why do used cars seem so unpopular if low value new ones are thought to sell OK.

I'm not claiming everyone should try to buy used, as it mean there were less bargains to be had etc. but those looking for a £12k 4x4 could consider lots of (approx.) £5k used buys like the one I posted. As there are still 'bargain' £5k 4x4s then surely the market isn't that big for low priced 4x4s. If you see what I mean. I think I'm missing something here but can't fathom it. Maybe the used cars are all knackered and people appreciate new metal.

I think TG might have. I seem to remember something in a magazine where the overall impression was that it was good and good value for money.

Do people really like having brand new cars 'that' much?

[Matt UK]

PH lurker said:

Do people really like having brand new cars 'that' much?

Not sure, but darn glad they do!

It means there's plenty of tasty used metal out there for the likes of you and me

[Fire99]

Just been having a wee trawl around the net at these little chappies. My first impression is that i'm rather taken. Might be a nice little replacement for the Jeep for urban stuff + a bit of beach work, at the sailing club.

[XitUp]

wildcat45 said:

I quite like the idea of a cheap, honest tough kickabout motor that you can get new for used car prices. A Lada Niva for the 21st century? (They still build them too out in Siberia or somewhere.)

Niva is cheaper, even with LPG, and I would imagine is a lot tougher.

http://markkey.co.uk/

[TheHeretic]

XitUp said:

Niva is cheaper, even with LPG, and I would imagine is a lot tougher.

http://markkey.co.uk/

Even here in BG, the Niva isn't looked on too favorably. They may have a novelty value in the UK, but they are frankly awful, unreliable heaps when you speak to owners out here. It does have it's plus points. You can normally get them to accept most car parts. Unfortunately that may well be more often than you'd like.

[Pints]

There are other cheap, small 4x4s available which I'd imagine are going to be sight more reliable.

[Fire99]

Pints said:

There are other cheap, small 4x4s available which I'd imagine are going to be sight more reliable.

I don't see why the Duster should be unreliable? The Renault engines aren't awful and I don't remember the Dacia brand having any major issues.

[XitUp]

TheHeretic said:

Even here in BG, the Niva isn't looked on too favorably. They may have a novelty value in the UK, but they are frankly awful, unreliable heaps when you speak to owners out here. It does have it's plus points. You can normally get them to accept most car parts. Unfortunately that may well be more often than you'd like.

That's interesting. It says they come with an unlimited mechanical warranty for as long as you own it. Perhaps they've improved in recent years.

[TheHeretic]

Plenty of Dacia's over here. Not many in the Uk, but they seem popular as work vans, etc.

[off_again]

€11,500 on a billboard here in France - ok, steel wheels and likely to have very little equipment. But its supposed to be a bit of a bargain and durable too. Practical cheap car that isnt a piece of st? Cant be bad.

[Harji]

I hired a Dacia Duster for a few days when I was working in Romania, better than an X-trail, refreashingly basic inside and did it's job well as many of the roads in the Romanian countryside are dirt trails, and I was there in winter.

If I recall,engine/dash is Renault , everything else Nissan. I have a couple of pics, gives an idea of what we took it through.

[Fire99]

Harji said:

I hired a Dacia Duster for a few days when I was working in Romania, better than an X-trail, refreashingly basic inside and did it's job well as many of the roads in the Romanian countryside are dirt trails, and I was there in winter.

If I recall,engine/dash is Renault , everything else Nissan. I have a couple of pics, gives an idea of what we took it through.

I rather like it. It has a refreshing simple ruggedness. But that is coming from a former XJ Jeep owner, so it's hardly surprising.

[Harji]

Fire99 said:

I rather like it. It has a refreshing simple ruggedness. But that is coming from a former XJ Jeep owner, so it's hardly surprising.

It does actually look good, even in Brown. I couldn't realy fault the car, even it had a pull out stereo. there are some epic roads in Romania and some downright st ones and some great off roads roads, if you know what I mean, and it handled all of them. Pretty economical as well.

I'm interested in one, and a couple of other guys I was with were impressed as well.

[Harji]

Here's the link to my original thoughts about the car

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...