Dacia Duster, 999cc of Throbbing Fun

[andburg]

I just sling ther reg into autobulbs and buy one

dont trust random no name amazon ones

https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/382-p21w-led-bul...

that should be right for a duster

[Huzzah]

andburg said:

I just sling ther reg into autobulbs and buy one

dont trust random no name amazon ones

https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/382-p21w-led-bul...

that should be right for a duster

Thank you, I'll try one.

[jamesson]

63,000 miles in mine now and in keeping with changing the oil at half the recommended intervals I did just that. No particles or anything suspicious in the oil filter but I did detect a slight coolant leak owing to a small crack in a hose. Replacement ordered, just waiting for the Dacia dealer to get it in stock.

That aside, it is making a hard to describe but almost gurgling and sometimes brief chirping noise on an intermittent basis. I thought perhaps the auxiliary belt was due for replacement but the service schedule says 90,000 miles so not sure what's going on there.

I've given it to my local friendly mechanic to trace and fix.

Other than that, no problems and I can't see myself ever getting rid of it.

[BuyaDuster]

That is good to hear. No reason why an engine should wear at all for years and years if the correct oil is changed regularly.

I do not currently have one, although I do miss my old one.
Such a good car for many reasons.

I have however purchased a few for friends as I am a BCA account holder, so get access to 10,000 cars a week going into the trade.

In fact I am waiting for one to turn up tomorrow, a white 1.0l 6speed duel fuel Comfort model with one previous owner, 20,000 miles on the clock, 4 services in the book, on a 21 plate. No issues reported and 6mm of tread on all the tyres.

This was £8,400 on the hammer and is going to a good friend of mine.
What a great car that will be too, could think of anything nicer for them.

[ncjones]

Back in February I had the pleasure of driving one of these for the first time, a bargain (£107) 6 days rental in Iceland. It had 286k of rental kilometres on it but it was still running well and coped with the gravel roads easily. Our cabin was 20km from the nearest tarmac road so it took a pounding every day. It had studded tyres so was awesome on the snow. It was 4x4 and I have no idea what engine was in it other than it was petrol.

Edited by ncjones on Tuesday 29th April 09:36

[ChocolateFrog]

I saw a taxi with the 1.3TCe engine. Over 200000 miles so that engine seems to be holding up well. Only issue I've seen is that the plastic thermostat housing can crack.

No idea how prevalent that is but I suspect it's rare. For a relatively small outlay though I'll be changing it at 5 or 6 years as a precaution.

[ayedubya]

Reading the last couple of pages of this readers thread... it has got me into thinking maybe a Duster would do me.

I have until 25/5 to buy a new car (existing car: 2012 focus titanium x on 132k) as my insurance is due for renewal then, been looking to spend around 20-22k

I have changed job as a consultant and now am on the road a lot more than when I was a salaried office dweller- going from 6k miles per year to around 17k/year.

My new work takes me along forestry/farm roads perhaps once every couple of months, otherwise its mostly motorways/city driving... I was thinking about the following cars:

Corolla 2L excel
Sportage 1.6 diesel hybrid
Tucson premium hybrid

I live on a narrow street and think the Tucson is maybe a bit big for my needs. I like the idea of stop/go cruise but also think when I am new to being self-employed, and will be hammering the miles... do I need to go up to my budget limit, and maybe a Duster would do me.

This thread has got me thinking a Duster could be a comfortable commuter I wouldn't be too miffed about driving down a gorse bush lined farm track.

It would need to be auto, and I would like some comforts/decent economy.

What would be the pick of the model/trim level? If I could spend £15k and have something with warranty and lowish miles I could be swayed.

[andburg]

ayedubya said:

Reading the last couple of pages of this readers thread... it has got me into thinking maybe a Duster would do me.

I have until 25/5 to buy a new car (existing car: 2012 focus titanium x on 132k) as my insurance is due for renewal then, been looking to spend around 20-22k

I have changed job as a consultant and now am on the road a lot more than when I was a salaried office dweller- going from 6k miles per year to around 17k/year.

My new work takes me along forestry/farm roads perhaps once every couple of months, otherwise its mostly motorways/city driving... I was thinking about the following cars:

Corolla 2L excel
Sportage 1.6 diesel hybrid
Tucson premium hybrid

I live on a narrow street and think the Tucson is maybe a bit big for my needs. I like the idea of stop/go cruise but also think when I am new to being self-employed, and will be hammering the miles... do I need to go up to my budget limit, and maybe a Duster would do me.

This thread has got me thinking a Duster could be a comfortable commuter I wouldn't be too miffed about driving down a gorse bush lined farm track.

It would need to be auto, and I would like some comforts/decent economy.

What would be the pick of the model/trim level? If I could spend £15k and have something with warranty and lowish miles I could be swayed.

while its a lot of miles, as an average that's only 70 a day, could you go EV? Something like a an MG ZS long range which is pretty narrow, high riding and has a real world 200+ miles can be had relatively cheaply. £20k could well see you in a brand new pre-reg along with some potential tax benefits for buying a new EV.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

My only issue with the Duster is the new version looks so good compared to the previous version and makes it look very dated.

I love the look of the new ones, I know I would be annoyed I didn't spend the extra to get the new shape every time I saw one.

[ayedubya]

andburg said:

while its a lot of miles, as an average that's only 70 a day, could you go EV? Something like a an MG ZS long range which is pretty narrow, high riding and has a real world 200+ miles can be had relatively cheaply. £20k could well see you in a brand new pre-reg along with some potential tax benefits for buying a new EV.

Not to steer this thread into a "what car should I buy" one I live in an apartment and don't think I would benefit from the EV overnight cheap leccy charging sadly. Also as I am a new ltd biz I think my accountant said getting the biz loan/etc might be challenging and to wait a year.

And to the other poster (forgotten how to multi quote) I agree it would be our only car and I would probably be envious of the newer shape duster, even the badge is far improved!

[ChocolateFrog]

The LED indicator in one of my headlights has just failed, 6 weeks out of warranty.

£600 used. Going to see what good will there is at the dealer.

Surely this should come under Consumer Rights Act? It's not wearing part and it's not replaceable.

[jamesson]

Good luck. I found my dealership to be broadly very unhelpful and Dacia UK didn't give a flying fk either, and that's while it was still in warranty.

[ChocolateFrog]

jamesson said:

Good luck. I found my dealership to be broadly very unhelpful and Dacia UK didn't give a flying fk either, and that's while it was still in warranty.

I know. I've had equally poor dealer experiences.

Motivated by the fact they're £600 used so I'm guessing maybe double that new from the dealer.

[ChocolateFrog]

£144+vat to tell me what I already know, assuming it takes them less than 40 mins.

I couldn't despise dealers anymore than I already do.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

ChocolateFrog said:

£144+vat to tell me what I already know, assuming it takes them less than 40 mins.

I couldn't despise dealers anymore than I already do.

They are charging you £144+VAT to tell you that it is broken, you need a new lamp unit and it is out of warranty?

[119]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

ChocolateFrog said:

£144+vat to tell me what I already know, assuming it takes them less than 40 mins.

I couldn't despise dealers anymore than I already do.

They are charging you £144+VAT to tell you that it is broken, you need a new lamp unit and it is out of warranty?

Who pays for their time then?

If it was that easy one could have walked in and prefer one from the parts department and fitted it themselves.

[blueST]

Assuming no good-will is forthcoming and if I had the time and the energy, I'd make a nuisance of myself by taking them to small claims court. It's not expensive to do yourself. I would be really interested to know what the court would make of these very expensive non-consumable parts failing so early in the cars life. I have a feeling that if you could show the car was not abused the court would look favourably on the claim.

[ChocolateFrog]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

ChocolateFrog said:

£144+vat to tell me what I already know, assuming it takes them less than 40 mins.

I couldn't despise dealers anymore than I already do.

They are charging you £144+VAT to tell you that it is broken, you need a new lamp unit and it is out of warranty?

Yes. They call it diagnosis.

[ChocolateFrog]

119 said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

ChocolateFrog said:

£144+vat to tell me what I already know, assuming it takes them less than 40 mins.

I couldn't despise dealers anymore than I already do.

They are charging you £144+VAT to tell you that it is broken, you need a new lamp unit and it is out of warranty?

Who pays for their time then?

If it was that easy one could have walked in and prefer one from the parts department and fitted it themselves.

I could very easily do that. That's exactly what I've done for the last 26 years.

Having never bought a new car before I was under the assumption that A) warranties were pretty cast iron and dealers/manufacturers were reasonable and genuine and B) that non-wearing, non-servicable (expensive) parts would last ATLEAST 5 years but reasonably 10 to 15 years or longer.

[ChocolateFrog]

blueST said:

Assuming no good-will is forthcoming and if I had the time and the energy, I'd make a nuisance of myself by taking them to small claims court. It's not expensive to do yourself. I would be really interested to know what the court would make of these very expensive non-consumable parts failing so early in the cars life. I have a feeling that if you could show the car was not abused the court would look favourably on the claim.

Tempted but I guess I would have to suck up this diagnosis fee first which really sticks in the throat.