RE: 2022 Dacia Duster Extreme SE | PH Review

[MightyBadger]

Silvanus said:

It may be an expensive Dacia, but for what you get its a very cheap car

And that seems to be the issue for most.

[Ouroboros]

I saw one up close, white one. It looked like it had been painted with dulux. Do the premium spec ones use Farrow & Ball?

[anonymous-user]

Ouroboros said:

So a cheap car is now expensive, seems odd really.

I do wonder how many they sell.

The issue for Dacia is one of their main competitors is actually themselves with Renault, especially when it comes to the Clio vs the Sandero/Stepway. They have gradually increased the price over time and I agree that Dacia does not really make sense once you get to this price range.

I have ordered a Stepway essential in White, I would say I am a typical Dacia buyer in that I am coming from a 15 year old car. I personally have never had all the gadgets and to be honest I don't actually want diamond cut alloys, keyless entry, a reversing camera etc., I actually see having a manual handbrake and a key to start the car as a plus point.

I was looking to spend £5K on a second hand car, but considering that gets you an ten year old car with 80K+ miles I wasn't that keen. Plus I didn't want the hassle of having to look at heaps of junk described as "immaculate" or risk buying something with issues. Putting £5K down against the Stepway means a monthly payment of £72 and for that I get a 3 year warranty/breakdown, no MOT for 3 years and hopefully no consumable costs for a good few years.

To me the whole point of a Dacia is to get a brand new car for the cheapest possible price, as I said it seems the perfect car for people who would normally buy a 10 year old second hand car instead.

From talking to the salesman it would appear that I am the exception and the majority of people order the car in Prestige spec as "it doesn't make much difference to the monthly price". For me that seems to defeat the point of Dacia, as others have said you might as well go and buy something from a main stream brand instead.

[Lester H]

Yes, I like it. However, how many more of you are smiling at the way bargain basement cars gradually creep up market in price and start including gadgets which as the car ages, become unreliable. I wonder if a new sub brand will emerge when the chip shortage lessens.

[tannhauser]

757 said:

Friend of mine was thinking of buying one of these, but asked his mechanic for advise, and he said he looked over one a while back up on the ramps, and the safety aspect or materials used underneath leaves a lot to be desired, with worrying amounts of cost cutting, in terms of impact in the event of a crash - he wouldn't put his family in one, and surprised it passed any safety checks, this kind of thing stuck with me some what - I am sure its fine, but surely a solid used buy from another marque would be better, no?

https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/dacia-flunks-anothe... even under performing on basic aspects, bit worrying, not just the modern gimmickey aspects cars are tested against now.

Edited by 757 on Monday 16th May 08:29

Your friend’s mechanic was talking bks, as are those crash tests.

[ch37]

PositronicRay said:

A year ago a prereg with few frills could be had at £10-11k. That's when they make sense.

It's all relative though, prices have gone up across the board (and everything has gone bonkers in the past 12 months or so) so a reasonably basic spec Duster is still great value compared to anything else you could buy. The cheapest Aygo you can buy now is £15k, it was only 5 minutes ago that the cheapest Aygo was in the 4 figures!

The cheapest new car on sale in the UK is now (I believe) just shy of £12k, the Kia Picanto.

Many of those pre-reg £11k Dusters are now worth more used than people bought them for.

Edited by ch37 on Monday 16th May 10:24

[Ouroboros]

tannhauser said:

as are those crash tests.

NCAP tests are rubbish now, wow.

''“The vehicle may be more affordable than others in the same category, but in terms of safety it appears that you do get what you pay for,”''

That statement validates what the mechanic said. There is no conspiracy it is a cheap car made to a very cheap budget. if safety isnt a priority then it is the car to buy.

[tannhauser]

Ouroboros said:

tannhauser said:

as are those crash tests.

NCAP tests are rubbish now, wow.

''“The vehicle may be more affordable than others in the same category, but in terms of safety it appears that you do get what you pay for,”''

That statement validates what the mechanic said. There is no conspiracy it is a cheap car made to a very cheap budget. if safety isnt a priority then it is the car to buy.

Have you actually read them or looked into them? EuroNCAP has lost its way over the years. Too much emphasis on passive systems, and making up results for the Jogger based on the Sandero. Like I say, bks.

They hadn’t even tested the F32 4 Series I’m looking for.

[Firebobby]

Can't fault them for the money. You get what you pay for. Problem is now, even Dacia are going down the add everything route, so the price creeps up relentlessly! Someone mentioned they wouldn't have one because of drum brakes in the rear!! High end EV's are going down the rear drum route because discs just rot away through lack of use. Drums are mechanically sound. If you're that bothered get a fake disc cover.

[ayman82]

LuS1fer said:

Things I hate on cars that keep my money firmly in my pocket

Flat paint

Grey paint

Black wheels.

I call it urban lack of imagination.

What made you buy a Grey Vauxhall Insignia?

[Ouroboros]

ayman82 said:

What made you buy a Grey Vauxhall Insignia?

lol

i like the Dacia at 10k, but 20k no siree.

Am i right in thinking price has doubled since introduced.

[LuS1fer]

ayman82 said:

LuS1fer said:

Things I hate on cars that keep my money firmly in my pocket

Flat paint

Grey paint

Black wheels.

I call it urban lack of imagination.

What made you buy a Grey Vauxhall Insignia?

Ah, you mean metallic platinum or something.
Simple really, bought used and based on price and spec with a choice of one that was someone else's choice of colour. I think the Vauxhall colour palette was pretty dull unless you went for bright red. You convince yourself...

Now I wish I hadn't but I can't justify changing it.if I was buying a car new, there is no way I would pick grey.

My Mustang is silver too, also not my ideal choice.

I personally loved my Spirit Blue Fiesta ST but Ford dropped the colour.

[anonymous-user]

Ouroboros said:

lol

i like the Dacia at 10k, but 20k no siree.

Am i right in thinking price has doubled since introduced.

The Duster essential is now £14,845, as others on this thread have said, they paid about £11K for one a year or so ago.

The Sandero Stepway essential started off at £10,995 when they were released less than 18 months ago, that car is now £13,795.

The Jogger which has only been out for a few months was originally £14,995 in Essential spec and that car is currently £16,645

The prices are definitely creeping up and they are certainly not the bargains they were. On the other hand, Dacia are not the only manufacturer increasing prices, go and look at the list price of any white goods cars and you will be shocked.

[Baked_bean]

I think people are struggling to grasp that the £20k car is a top trim level model and you can still buy one far cheaper…. You can’t complain that 5 years ago the entry model was cheaper than a top trim level now.

Lots of the ‘premium SUV’s’ start at £30k and the used market is crazy.

In relative terms it is a good value no thrills car.


I love how the comments section on pistonheads articles are just full of angry gammons who are never happy.

[Ouroboros]

Baked_bean said:

In relative terms it is a good value no thrills car.

Sukuki offer cheaper cars with 4x4 noy 2x4. Yet you don't get people spaffing over how affordable them are. Dacia has become the middleclass beacon,

[ch37]

Ouroboros said:

lol

i like the Dacia at 10k, but 20k no siree.

£10k, what planet are people on?!

Current cheapest cars on sale in the UK...

£11,810 Kia Picanto
£12,295 Dacia Sandero
£12,995 Citroen C3

The Duster starts at £14,485.

Cheapest 'SUV' after the Duster? MG ZS, £16,495. Pretty much everything else after that apart from a Citroen Aircross is basically a £20k starting point.

These days the base spec comes fully painted with a stereo and AC, the original Duster had none of those things and virtually nobody bought that headline grabbing cheapest model.

[MightyBadger]

Not everybody likes cheap SUVs.

[Silvanus]

Ouroboros said:

Baked_bean said:

In relative terms it is a good value no thrills car.

Sukuki offer cheaper cars with 4x4 noy 2x4. Yet you don't get people spaffing over how affordable them are. Dacia has become the middleclass beacon,

Couple of early lunch time pints? Cheapest new 4x4 SUV on sale is a Dacia Duster, next cheapest is a Suzuki Ignis or Fiat Panda, both of which are tiny city cars, not a medium sized crossover/SUV

Edited by Silvanus on Monday 16th May 12:13

Edited by Silvanus on Monday 16th May 12:26

[Silvanus]

MightyBadger said:

Not everybody likes cheap SUVs.

Clearly not, they don't half make a few people angry though

[ch37]

Ouroboros said:

Sukuki offer cheaper cars with 4x4 noy 2x4. Yet you don't get people spaffing over how affordable them are. Dacia has become the middleclass beacon,

The cheapest Ignis Allgrip is £18,249, and it's tiny. The 2WD Duster starts at £14,485 (I believe the cheapest 4WD Duster is about £20k, but that and the Ignis aren't even vaguely comparable)