So, the Dacia Sandero... the UK's cheapest new car @ £5995

[C7 JFW]

What a great idea.

[Chrisw666]

Brilliant, I hope they sell shed loads of them.

The less pretentious than us French market loves Dacia and I could see myself being happy to pay for one of these or a duster as a utility daily driver, which is the function the majority of us who need a car need most of all.

[750turbo]

Almost universal approval in here, bar 1 or 2.

That is a first, oh and well done Dacia!

[va1o]

Birdster said:

NCAP test for old model, which didn't fair too badly. Says the next test is due 28th November 2012.

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/dacia_sandero_2008/3...

If it scores 5-stars will be seriously impressive!

[HTP99]

God there are some arrogant people on here.

Not everybody wants a VW, not everybody wants a super high spec car, there are alot of people out there that see a car as white goods, they want to come out in the morning, turn the key and go about their business with no fuss and no frills, and to have no worries about it breaking down etc, this car will be perfect for them, it fills a gap that isn't filled at the moment.

[Garlick]

HTP99 said:

there are alot of people out there that see a car as white goods, they want to come out in the morning, turn the key and go about their business with no fuss and no frills, and to have no worries about it breaking down etc, this car will be perfect for them, it fills a gap that isn't filled at the moment.

That would be me. Appeals as a car for the Mrs to use for the station run and for us both to use for pottering about.

[esvcg]

kambites said:

esvcg said:

Sure your right, but the headline for this motor is that it's cheap. I would guess if we weren't in recession this car would never be sold here, so their kinda playing off economic misery!

What's wrong with that? They're providing a product that the market (presumably) demands; that's a good thing.

Nothing wrong with it, but IMO having such a cheap car launched with the emphasis on cheap, is just a crappy sign of the times we're in.

It's the motoring pound shop mentality.

Surely people in this country can/want to do better than this, that's what I find sad.

[CDP]

Mr E said:

I like the idea of a completely basic car.

Cheap one make race series anyone?

They have missed a trick or two. It's a new marque so they can set the image fairly early on.

2 litre GTI for half the price of the Polo. I'm certain Renaultsport can make it handle.
A one make series with roll cages and extinguishers carried at the dealerships.

[folos]

renault had one on display in cardiff a few weeks ago, looks good to me!

[SystemParanoia]

or even better.. a clubspec rally version

petrol engine,gearbox and 4x4 from the duster, 1" suspension lift on spacers and FIA rollcage right from the dealers

i'd buy it!

[Mr E]

esvcg said:

Surely people in this country can/want to do better than this, that's what I find sad.

A lot of people don't care about cars. They just want something that works.

I like it as a bargain basement utility vehicle (I like the duster too). Yes, I'm not going to buy one new, but for sub 3 grand in a few years time it may well make a compelling argument.

[eldar]

Simple and cheap, what isn't to like? Fewer electrical components to break, £7k for 7 years motoring with a warranty. Assuming it is worth nothing when the warranty runs out, that is only £20 week, cheap.

[LuS1fer]

This is nothing new. Datsun and other Japanese companies did it in the 70s and ended up very profitable, the japanese were then undercut by the Koreans and here we are, full circle, with the Europeans undercutting the Koreans.

Oddly, my 6 year old car-mad son, is quite taken by Dacias, not least from discussing whether it was Day-see-a or Dar-chee-ya and subsequently they always make his list of unusual cars "spotted" amid Ferraris and Maseratis...

[Birdster]

I don't think it's arrogance. Well at least not from me. I don’t rate Volkswagen build quality. An ex had two Polo’s and bits of trim used to fall off. Nice handling car though and was comfortable.

We have one reasonable car and an old Astra G (MK4) 1.7dti that is pushing 190000K. I'm happy to drive the Astra. I love it in fact as it loves to be thrown around. I hope that as long as I continue to look after it I hope that it will serve me well. I service it myself and carry out the usual weekly checks.

I get 600 miles from a tank of diesel for just over £65. Cheap basic motoring, front electric windows, a stereo and RCL. Air conditioning doesn't work, but not I'm not fussed. It is all that I need to park in a crowded car park, where unfortunately it has a few battle scars from the usual careless door dingers etc.

It's just that IMO with the world that we live in of 'must haves' and 'keeping up with jones' that Dacia may have a hard time cracking the market like Skoda, Kia and Hyundai did at first.

What happened when their quality went up? The price did also.

[CDP]

Mr E said:

esvcg said:

Surely people in this country can/want to do better than this, that's what I find sad.

A lot of people don't care about cars. They just want something that works.

I like it as a bargain basement utility vehicle (I like the duster too). Yes, I'm not going to buy one new, but for sub 3 grand in a few years time it may well make a compelling argument.

I've changed my views these days.

There are racing cars and cars. The latter gets you from a to b but I'd rather spend my money on going round in circles.

[thinfourth2]

esvcg said:

Surely people in this country can/want to do better than this, that's what I find sad.

Okay Compare this to a poverty spec Audi A1

Tell me why the Audi is better

As in my eyes I prefer the Dacia as its less then 50% the cost of a baby Audi

[esvcg]

thinfourth2 said:

esvcg said:

Surely people in this country can/want to do better than this, that's what I find sad.

Okay Compare this to a poverty spec Audi A1

Tell me why the Audi is better

As in my eyes I prefer the Dacia as its less then 50% the cost of a baby Audi

if for no other reason, it's aspirational.

[racerbob]

You see loads of them here in France. I was talking to a French mate of mine who has owned one from new for about 6 months, he originally had a Clio, he does 150 miles a day commuting to and from work, has had no problems whatsover, he thinks it's pretty good and well put together. No frills motoring, good to know it's at least an option, I know my better half is thinking about one, I'll just keep to driving the toys...

[SystemParanoia]

SystemParanoia said:

or even better.. a clubspec rally version

petrol engine,gearbox and 4x4 from the duster, 1" suspension lift on spacers and FIA rollcage right from the dealers

i'd buy it!

... never mind

just sell this

[Birdster]

SystemParanoia said:

SystemParanoia said:

or even better.. a clubspec rally version

petrol engine,gearbox and 4x4 from the duster, 1" suspension lift on spacers and FIA rollcage right from the dealers

i'd buy it!

... never mind

just sell this

Thats looks quite cool.