Dacia Duster, 999cc of Throbbing Fun

[croyde]

Still prudent Mike. Rented out my spare bedroom to a friend for a few weeks and in return she paid for my half of our trip

The main road around the island is constant bends and switchbacks like a kart circuit and our cheap racer of choice is a Hyundai i10 with ridiculously small wheels and so low it can barely handle a rough carpark

[Mikebentley]

croyde said:

Still prudent Mike. Rented out my spare bedroom to a friend for a few weeks and in return she paid for my half of our trip

The main road around the island is constant bends and switchbacks like a kart circuit and our cheap racer of choice is a Hyundai i10 with ridiculously small wheels and so low it can barely handle a rough carpark

Tickled pink for you mate. You needed a holiday. No sleeping with the friend you know where that will lead!
PS Get her a rent book.

[Mikebentley]

All just to update .. my Duster was collected and inspected (over an hour inspection) with every minor chip or mark noted. My advice would be don’t super detail your car pre collection hoping to impress. The dirt on it will hide all but the most obvious imperfections that way.

The collector said it was in fantastic condition inside and out and advised the dealer to pay the agreed price. Within 2 minutes it was paid. Car now gone.

Enjoy your Dusters you throbbers.

[anonymous-user]

Now it has gone, how would you rate the rust resistance of your car? Not necessarily the body (unless you spotted any rust spots) but more the running gear underneath?

How rusty were things like drive shafts, suspension arms, exhaust, hubs etc.?

[Mikebentley]

There were some bubbles under the paint on the inner wing tops where two pieces were spot welded. A couple of bolt heads had surface corrosion where the slam panel is.

There is an area that collects stones behind the rear wheels that I went overboard with waxoyl and also inside the filler cap as water collects there. Underneath and shocks etc was as good as when it was 6 months old. Brake drums do go rusty though.

[jamesson]

blueST said:

Glad see other self-servicers. I currently do an interim oil/filter change with the scheduled ones still at the garage for warranty purposes. I’ll do them all once warranty is out.

Keep an eye on that exhaust if you plan to keep, I’ve read they are eye wateringly expensive to replace (£1k-ish).

Has anyone with an LPG model DIYed a gas/liquid filter change? There’s should be 2 filters and be DIYable, but I can’t find any info on line.

I was also doing an interim oil change myself and a VAT registered garage one for scheduled services, but I couldn't justify the extra £200 or whatever it would cost me when I can do a perfectly good job of it myself. Taking a gamble with the warranty, of course, but hey.

Thanks for the heads up re the exhaust. That's a bit pricey!

I didn't change the LPG filter(s). I can see where one of them is supposed to go but it's a bit of a bugger to get to. Awkward depth in the engine bay. I have no idea where the other one is and I couldn't find any information online either.

[croyde]

So after driving a Hyundai i10 and an old Suzuki Jimny Jeep in Greece, I've just got into my Duster at Gatwick and it feels like being in something big, luxury and very high end

[Mikebentley]

jamesson said:

blueST said:

Glad see other self-servicers. I currently do an interim oil/filter change with the scheduled ones still at the garage for warranty purposes. I’ll do them all once warranty is out.

Keep an eye on that exhaust if you plan to keep, I’ve read they are eye wateringly expensive to replace (£1k-ish).

Has anyone with an LPG model DIYed a gas/liquid filter change? There’s should be 2 filters and be DIYable, but I can’t find any info on line.

I was also doing an interim oil change myself and a VAT registered garage one for scheduled services, but I couldn't justify the extra £200 or whatever it would cost me when I can do a perfectly good job of it myself. Taking a gamble with the warranty, of course, but hey.

Thanks for the heads up re the exhaust. That's a bit pricey!

I didn't change the LPG filter(s). I can see where one of them is supposed to go but it's a bit of a bugger to get to. Awkward depth in the engine bay. I have no idea where the other one is and I couldn't find any information online either.

This interests me because I don’t believe the dealer ever serviced the LPG system on mine. I don’t think they know how.
A final little story to whet your appetite’s. A colleague who does the same job as myself and is a self employed sub contractor purchased an identical LPG Duster (Comfort) after hearing how good mine was initially. His was 6 months newer and has the 6 speed box and better integrated LPG system. He has had no issues with his.

He recommended an LPG Duster to a third party who also does the same job as the two of us. He purchased a Prestige model but with the older LPG system (2020). Now unbeknown to me until today he has been having issues with running on LPG. It won’t switch over and when it does he gets 22 mpg. He keeps taking it into the same dealership as I did and they keep telling him there is nothing wrong with it. When he picks it up the MPG goes up to about 35mpg strangely for about 2 weeks then fails again.

The point of mentioning this is that for 12 months I was effectively called a liar and that there was nothing wrong with my car. I was told Dacia were involved but there was nothing wrong with it. It clearly isn’t an isolated issue as this other person I still don’t know was and still is going through what I did. They must have known they had two customers with the same issue but made me feel like a liar.

Ultimately their loss I will never buy a car off that dealer group and nor will anyone else I know.

[braddo]

politeperson said:

…

Ultimately, I needed something that could pull a 1 tonne trailer with a 2 tonne car on it and spend most of its time under a car port waiting for weekends to come round. I discovered Christian and Wilma on the LR Time Youtube Channel. He makes the machines that builds German cars and loves Discos.

They convinced me that the Disco 3 (not the 4) could be made to work in the same reliable way! I purchased a "cheap road tax" solid one for £1,400, added new take off Defender steel wheels from a 2023 model and then spent £3k on preventative servicing. It has been an absolutely superb non depreciating asset to add to the fleet.


As far as the Duster went, I would still have another, in my opinion, it is miles ahead still even with the price increases. I find its unpretentiousness even more appealing now than I did 3 years ago.

The Disco looks superb on those steelies; I ordered a Defender with those wheels but covid killed my plan. And the 3 is a design classic. Good luck with making it reliable - if anyone can it will be you

[DaHell]

• I shall not advertise........ NOTHING*

My comment got removed, come on PH

[PositronicRay]

I've never been keen on the part painted bumpers some models attract. But saw one in silver yesterday. Looked OK as it all matched.

[DaSugg]

They look better with unpainted bumpers and painted white

[politeperson]

braddo said:

The Disco looks superb on those steelies; I ordered a Defender with those wheels but covid killed my plan. And the 3 is a design classic. Good luck with making it reliable - if anyone can it will be you

Well Braddo, So far so good, I have started a new thread on it. It is great.

[lord trumpton]

I've always like the oddball Duster and Ive recently bought one for daily usage.


I've had lots of fast, spicy cars over the years but this Duster is just so pleasant and unassuming that its really taken my fancy

I went for the Wagner spec 'Essential' trim in Dusty Khaki. It's bang on.

[braddo]

politeperson said:

Well Braddo, So far so good, I have started a new thread on it. It is great.

Hopefully your new thread won't be hijacked to become a general owners' thread. Meow!

[muchacho]

lord trumpton said:

I've always like the oddball Duster and Ive recently bought one for daily usage.


I've had lots of fast, spicy cars over the years but this Duster is just so pleasant and unassuming that its really taken my fancy

I went for the Wagner spec 'Essential' trim in Dusty Khaki. It's bang on.

Superb m’lud. Wagner or not, we are keeping this thread alive with the quintessential Duster wheel..



Just back from a 2,000 mile trip to France.

[lord trumpton]

muchacho said:

lord trumpton said:

I've always like the oddball Duster and Ive recently bought one for daily usage.


I've had lots of fast, spicy cars over the years but this Duster is just so pleasant and unassuming that its really taken my fancy

I went for the Wagner spec 'Essential' trim in Dusty Khaki. It's bang on.

Superb m’lud. Wagner or not, we are keeping this thread alive with the quintessential Duster wheel..



Just back from a 2,000 mile trip to France.

Agreed - Steel wheels are the real deal

With the added benefit of not having to worry about kerbed wheels when the wife goes out in it

[politeperson]

A pair of superb vehicles I must say, new and second hand.

Well done.

[jamesson]

lord trumpton said:

I've always like the oddball Duster and Ive recently bought one for daily usage.


I've had lots of fast, spicy cars over the years but this Duster is just so pleasant and unassuming that its really taken my fancy

I went for the Wagner spec 'Essential' trim in Dusty Khaki. It's bang on.

This looks absolutely fantastic. Top choice, sir.

[lord trumpton]

Thank you kind Sir

It's really growing on me. Wife likes it too.

The youngest however - well he's not keen haha

He's got far more expensive taste than any 10 year old should have