RE: Dacia Duster

[RemarkLima]

Ashley1987 said:

IanO said:

Maybe lane assist and keyless entry, but then that really is it.

And Maybe a powered tailgate and ipod connection, thats all, thats the lot!

And perhaps a soft touch dash, Bi-Xenon's and height adjusting air suspension... And that's all, honest!

[gweaver]

300bhp/ton said:

That's what my guess is


Wonder if monkey will start claiming how good a Mariva is on track for his next review.... when compared to it's peers that is

You obviously haven't driven a Meriva VXR on track! I drove one at Oulton Park on a Vauxhall experience day and thought it was a hoot - far better than the rest of the VXR range (ok, so that's not saying much), VXR8 excepted.
The high centre of gravity and relatively low grip made it less capable, but much more fun, and a lot of the instructors thought the same.

[RenesisEvo]

Bash Brannigan said:

How about a head to head between this and a Panda 4x4?

Good idea, I hope Harris could be persuaded to film a Panda and a Duster head-to-head, preferably with plenty of mud, snow and sideways.

The Panda 4x4 (on winter tyres) really appeals to me a cheap all-purpose car to knock about in. The problem is the petrol 4x4 Panda is £13,950, the diesel just shy of £15k. But that includes a lot more kit (including air-con, although I haven't found out if you can get heated seats), and makes a high-spec Duster hard to justify unless you really need the extra space or towing capacity. Having said that, the basic no-thrills Dacia does make the Panda look chintzy and full of superfluous toys.

[Roo]

big_boz said:

There is actually one for €6,900 but i cant speak French so it might have something wrong with it.

What, this one?



Yep, I'd say there was something worng with it.

[big_boz]

Roo said:

big_boz said:

There is actually one for €6,900 but i cant speak French so it might have something wrong with it.

What, this one?



Yep, I'd say there was something worng with it.

Cheers for the translation!

[toppstuff]

I am also a fan of the Dacia Duster.

Too many cars these days are like Apple iphones. They flatter to deceive with their excess shinyness and needless baubles, which often only exist to distract people from the reality of the product itself - which is usually mediocre at best.

The Dacia is an antidote to this.

It is the anti-Audi.

[300bhp/ton]

gweaver said:

300bhp/ton said:

That's what my guess is


Wonder if monkey will start claiming how good a Mariva is on track for his next review.... when compared to it's peers that is

You obviously haven't driven a Meriva VXR on track! I drove one at Oulton Park on a Vauxhall experience day and thought it was a hoot - far better than the rest of the VXR range (ok, so that's not saying much), VXR8 excepted.
The high centre of gravity and relatively low grip made it less capable, but much more fun, and a lot of the instructors thought the same.

lol

That wasn't quite my point. If someone said "Seriously, it's very good on track" that sort of hints that you are comparing to other vehicles also very good on track, such as an Elise, Caterham, Meganne 26.r that can good on track vs a Scenic.

[sinbaddio]

Surely the acid test Chris, is whether it will get the Fezza out of the paddock?

[y2blade]

I love those Steelies

[gweaver]

300bhp/ton said:

lol

That wasn't quite my point. If someone said "Seriously, it's very good on track" that sort of hints that you are comparing to other vehicles also very good on track, such as an Elise, Caterham, Meganne 26.r that can good on track vs a Scenic.

Your point was well made and I did get it..
I expect the Dacia is more fun than supremely capable off road, but it probably compares well with peers such as the Panda 4x4 and the little Suzukis, and I expect it is seriously good for the sort of adverse conditions that you'd expect those cars to see in normal use (muddy farm tracks, icy mountain roads etc).

[mccrackenj]

W124 said:

mccrackenj said:

Just love the painted uncovered steels too, so refreshing.

I'll be taking the 15 hole alloys of my latest W124 soon for a refurb and will be putting steels on for a while. I had already painted one of the steels in wheel silver paint with a few top coats of lacquer for a laugh. After seeing this I'm very tempted to do all 4 now and put them on the W124 without plastic covers. If I do I'll take a picture.

For sure. The W124 spec I like the most is a 230 with steels. In a flat colour... The W210 has been a revelation by the way. No rust, no faults of any kind and it feels very solid. Plus they are seriously cheap if a good one can be found. I got an insanely over specced Avantgarde estate - 2001 - Full MB SH - big petrol - years MOT for £1700 with 6 months ticket on it and new quality tyres. That's proper budget motoring if you ask me. The rides a bit harsh - but other than that, it's top.

Certainly some tempting looking W210s around. I must admit I could be tempted to have one with a stupidly big engine for a while, just for the novelty. Wouldn't replace the w124 though.

[ambuletz]

Also worth noting is that the petrol version only comes in entry level trim. So the only way of adding air-con would be to opt for one of the diesel variants which start at £11,500. How much does speccing air-con on a car normally cost? £500?

[big_boz]

ambuletz said:

Also worth noting is that the petrol version only comes in entry level trim. So the only way of adding air-con would be to opt for one of the diesel variants which start at £11,500. How much does speccing air-con on a car normally cost? £500?

Echo......

[MarshPhantom]

Loads of these around in France last time we went over, even in upmarket Le Touquet, they look pretty cool. They are a bit like a modern day 2CV.

Edited by MarshPhantom on Wednesday 9th January 15:46

[geeks]

No lo range that's why they gave it weirdly geared 1st and 2nd. Sniff petrol summed it up much the same as Mr Harris and i am thinking long and hard about picking one up when its on sale over here!

[jof]

RicksAlfas said:

Here you go. It's got mud up the side and everything.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZOAs127Gg&fea...

...well that demonstrator won't have had any wading prep at all would it

I am no stranger to a muddy field, and I have to say the bit of field in the pic with the defender is pretty tame. Probably get my wife's polo over that.



Over a properly plowed field (not the nice grassy edge), anything without mud tyres and 400mm of axle clearance will soon get in to trouble.

However for general running around and horsey duty here in deepest darkest Somerset, this would work well.

I'll save the plowed fields for the Defender thanks

Edited by jof on Wednesday 9th January 16:38

[Life Saab Itch]

300bhp/ton said:

If

Indeed.

[300bhp/ton]

jof said:

Over a properly plowed field (not the nice grassy edge), anything without mud tyres and 400mm of axle clearance will soon get in to trouble.

Take a look where the wheel markings are - it's only parked on the grass, but didn't drive down on the grass. Also the picture doesn't show the entry or exists used in the field. Of which you would have needed a proper 4x4 with low range to tackle properly.

[schmalex]

I saw a pair of Dacia Dusters driving down the Blackwater Valley Road yesterday morning. They really do look very good in the flesh.

[jof]

300bhp/ton said:

Take a look where the wheel markings are - it's only parked on the grass, but didn't drive down on the grass. Also the picture doesn't show the entry or exists used in the field. Of which you would have needed a proper 4x4 with low range to tackle properly.

I can imagine - the field entrances around here are all a bit 'pay and play' at the minute too :-)

Nonetheless, I still reckon 'plowed field' is a bit ambitious.

More... 'Muddy Track' perhaps?

Edited by jof on Wednesday 9th January 16:53