Dacia Disappointment. What did I really expect?
Discussion
We went from a Velar HSE-Dynamic to a Duster Comfort 130PS and there's a gulf in terms of material finish and perceived quality and features.
But nothing's gone wrong with the Duster, while we did get the black screen of death a few times on the Velar - and it's a lot easier to use all the features because there's fewer of them so you remember where they are in the menus, and don't have to drill down far to find everything.
Does 40mpg overall and sits happily at 90 if you want, still doing 35mpg. Enough poke to surprise other drivers. Scrabbles a bit out of tight corners, but I didn't buy a Mini, so I don't care.
The carpet quality is the worst thing - bobbling up and impossible to clean. Aside from that, yeah, hard plastic. How often do you actually stroke your dashboard?
It's doing a job for us while the kids are small and the payments need to stay low. Should have a few grand left in it when the PCP is up in 2 years. It'll still be on the same tyres and probably need a set of front discs and pads and a damn good valet in 4 years of ownership, which is exactly why we bought it.
But nothing's gone wrong with the Duster, while we did get the black screen of death a few times on the Velar - and it's a lot easier to use all the features because there's fewer of them so you remember where they are in the menus, and don't have to drill down far to find everything.
Does 40mpg overall and sits happily at 90 if you want, still doing 35mpg. Enough poke to surprise other drivers. Scrabbles a bit out of tight corners, but I didn't buy a Mini, so I don't care.
The carpet quality is the worst thing - bobbling up and impossible to clean. Aside from that, yeah, hard plastic. How often do you actually stroke your dashboard?
It's doing a job for us while the kids are small and the payments need to stay low. Should have a few grand left in it when the PCP is up in 2 years. It'll still be on the same tyres and probably need a set of front discs and pads and a damn good valet in 4 years of ownership, which is exactly why we bought it.
I'm hoping not to be disappointed. I've ordered the most basic Essential model Duster with smallest 1.0 TCe100 motor. Did treat myself to the rubber mats and the LPG version. It is purely to function as everyday family transport and just seemed like too good a deal to pass up. It was cheaper than a lot of 3 year old used SUVs I was originally looking at.
croyde said:
I also have some rather fetching waterproof seat covers in a ruby colour.
Think the red leather in a BMW M3
Brightens up the cabin and useful for when I paddleboard or just spill my drink.
my daughter chose quilted urban camo car seat covers in ours to match the black and white, I actually quite like themThink the red leather in a BMW M3
Brightens up the cabin and useful for when I paddleboard or just spill my drink.
CraigyMc said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
CraigyMc said:
InitialDave said:
The drum brakes one is scraping the barrel hard
He might be old enough to remember how crap things were before disc brakes existed.Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
Infact the only car I've ever had which did move on its handbrake after being parked was my Cerbera with big ventilated disc brakes at the back.
Wacky Racer said:
Well as a result of reading this thread I ordered a new Duster auto three weeks ago and picked it up this afternoon. I had never even given the brand a thought before. Very pleased with it so far. 
Looks good on red, I struggled trying to find a Dacia in the spec I wanted in a good colour CraigyMc said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
CraigyMc said:
InitialDave said:
The drum brakes one is scraping the barrel hard
He might be old enough to remember how crap things were before disc brakes existed.Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
CraigyMc said:
InitialDave said:
The drum brakes one is scraping the barrel hard
He might be old enough to remember how crap things were before disc brakes existed.Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
The drum contracting onto the shoes actually applies the handbrake harder if anything.
MonkeyMatt said:
Wacky Racer said:
Looks good on red, I struggled trying to find a Dacia in the spec I wanted in a good colour Wacky Racer said:
Well as a result of reading this thread I ordered a new Duster auto three weeks ago and picked it up this afternoon. I had never even given the brand a thought before. Very pleased with it so far.
How on earth did you manage that? I know people who ordered in Oct/Nov who have been told it's likely to be Mar-May before delivery.FNG said:
We went from a Velar HSE-Dynamic to a Duster Comfort 130PS and there's a gulf in terms of material finish and perceived quality and features.
But nothing's gone wrong with the Duster, while we did get the black screen of death a few times on the Velar - and it's a lot easier to use all the features because there's fewer of them so you remember where they are in the menus, and don't have to drill down far to find everything.
Does 40mpg overall and sits happily at 90 if you want, still doing 35mpg. Enough poke to surprise other drivers. Scrabbles a bit out of tight corners, but I didn't buy a Mini, so I don't care.
The carpet quality is the worst thing - bobbling up and impossible to clean. Aside from that, yeah, hard plastic. How often do you actually stroke your dashboard?
It's doing a job for us while the kids are small and the payments need to stay low. Should have a few grand left in it when the PCP is up in 2 years. It'll still be on the same tyres and probably need a set of front discs and pads and a damn good valet in 4 years of ownership, which is exactly why we bought it.
The only people who stroke dashboards are journalists. But nothing's gone wrong with the Duster, while we did get the black screen of death a few times on the Velar - and it's a lot easier to use all the features because there's fewer of them so you remember where they are in the menus, and don't have to drill down far to find everything.
Does 40mpg overall and sits happily at 90 if you want, still doing 35mpg. Enough poke to surprise other drivers. Scrabbles a bit out of tight corners, but I didn't buy a Mini, so I don't care.
The carpet quality is the worst thing - bobbling up and impossible to clean. Aside from that, yeah, hard plastic. How often do you actually stroke your dashboard?
It's doing a job for us while the kids are small and the payments need to stay low. Should have a few grand left in it when the PCP is up in 2 years. It'll still be on the same tyres and probably need a set of front discs and pads and a damn good valet in 4 years of ownership, which is exactly why we bought it.
Aslong as the dash isn't too shiny or reflective in the windscreen who cares.
Hard plastics probably offgas less than the spongy ones anyway.
ChocolateFrog said:
FNG said:
We went from a Velar HSE-Dynamic to a Duster Comfort 130PS and there's a gulf in terms of material finish and perceived quality and features.
But nothing's gone wrong with the Duster, while we did get the black screen of death a few times on the Velar - and it's a lot easier to use all the features because there's fewer of them so you remember where they are in the menus, and don't have to drill down far to find everything.
Does 40mpg overall and sits happily at 90 if you want, still doing 35mpg. Enough poke to surprise other drivers. Scrabbles a bit out of tight corners, but I didn't buy a Mini, so I don't care.
The carpet quality is the worst thing - bobbling up and impossible to clean. Aside from that, yeah, hard plastic. How often do you actually stroke your dashboard?
It's doing a job for us while the kids are small and the payments need to stay low. Should have a few grand left in it when the PCP is up in 2 years. It'll still be on the same tyres and probably need a set of front discs and pads and a damn good valet in 4 years of ownership, which is exactly why we bought it.
The only people who stroke dashboards are journalists. But nothing's gone wrong with the Duster, while we did get the black screen of death a few times on the Velar - and it's a lot easier to use all the features because there's fewer of them so you remember where they are in the menus, and don't have to drill down far to find everything.
Does 40mpg overall and sits happily at 90 if you want, still doing 35mpg. Enough poke to surprise other drivers. Scrabbles a bit out of tight corners, but I didn't buy a Mini, so I don't care.
The carpet quality is the worst thing - bobbling up and impossible to clean. Aside from that, yeah, hard plastic. How often do you actually stroke your dashboard?
It's doing a job for us while the kids are small and the payments need to stay low. Should have a few grand left in it when the PCP is up in 2 years. It'll still be on the same tyres and probably need a set of front discs and pads and a damn good valet in 4 years of ownership, which is exactly why we bought it.
Aslong as the dash isn't too shiny or reflective in the windscreen who cares.
Hard plastics probably offgas less than the spongy ones anyway.
CraigyMc said:
He might be old enough to remember how crap things were before disc brakes existed.
Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
I have owned over 200 cars and this has never happened to me. Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
biggbn said:
CraigyMc said:
He might be old enough to remember how crap things were before disc brakes existed.
Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
I have owned over 200 cars and this has never happened to me. Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
biggbn said:
CraigyMc said:
He might be old enough to remember how crap things were before disc brakes existed.
Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
I have owned over 200 cars and this has never happened to me. Personally I wouldn't own a car with rear drums either - you park up with them warm, then things contract and you find your car has rolled into a hedge.
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