Dacia Duster, 999cc of Throbbing Fun

[sidaorb]

So after a week or so of pros and cons I've finally decided to keep the Logan Stepway and not upgrade to a throbber, just extended the warranty on the Logan for a couple more years at the moment. Though things could change again after the summer.

[Mikebentley]

Out of curiosity what did it cost to extend your warranty and what does it cover?

[The Mad Jock]

Sorry for butting in here out of nowhere but I’ve been following this thread a while now.

I’ve just sorted out another ‘main’ car (a PCH deal) and have been thinking about what to replace our 2008 Suzuki Swift with, once I get my daughter away and driving it. I’ve been a Suzuki fan for years (also have a modded Swift Sport as my sane speed bit of fun) and a year or two old Vitara has been the plan. But they’re a bit small for what I want as ‘this’ car will be the daily shopping/bicycles/allotment hack - I’m not setting out to turn it into a shed but we’ll keep it a long time and it’ll no doubt become such!

So, these Dusters look like a really good plan and the post 2018 ones seem to be better built and better looking to my eye. I know this thread is dedicated to the ‘throbber’ engine and it might be all we need but I was probably after a few more toys and to have that I’d likely be looking at a non turbo 1.6 petrol Prestige (which wasn’t made long post facelift) or the 1.3 petrol turbo. Does anyone have any experience of these engine options please? Does anyone have any experience of owning a Dacia long term (quality/reliability/niggles)?

I guess I’m just looking for a bit of reassurance, I’d normally run a mile from anything non Japanese or Korean as a long term ownership prospect but I really like the ‘classlessness’ of these cars and could see it being ideal so long as it behaved itself!

[Mikebentley]

They seem to be causing few issues. I test drove a 130 Tce Twenty and it went well. There is a very nice Prestige on eBay, the gold one I lposted on here. There is also the guy using a 100Tce as a taxi now with over 150k on it in a Sandero MCV. There don’t seem to be any reliability issues. You could also go to town with the wax treatment if it’s a long term keeper.

[sidaorb]

Mikebentley said:

Out of curiosity what did it cost to extend your warranty and what does it cover?

£275 for 5 years / 60000 miles, low mileage but I've only done 30k in the last 3 years. Appears to cover everything the normal 3 year covers. I had a noise from the water pump on my previous Stepway just before it was 4 years old, they did the water pump and full cambelt kit under warranty, happy days as it was on over 60k at the time.

[croyde]

So you can wait until your standard 3 year warranty is up before adding the extra years?

[sidaorb]

croyde said:

So you can wait until your standard 3 year warranty is up before adding the extra years?

Yes. Last time I came across a discount code just under 2 years into ownership and saved myself 20% unfortunately nothing this time around, but worth being on Dacias promo emails just incase one drops within your 3 years.

[croyde]

Cheers.

Well I have just filled up after my first 380 miles in the Duster and done a brim to brim calculation. This after a couple of weeks of London commuting and a 60 mile round trip to the Chilterns and back.

37.8mpg

After my 90s BMW I'm amazed.

Also have to say that I'm impressed with it on the motorway. I thought it would struggle and handle badly. It was fine and quite happily sat with the fastest traffic.

Edited by croyde on Sunday 28th February 16:31

[Mikebentley]

I think if you go into it with an open mind it is a shockingly clever and competent little engine.

[OppoLocksmith]

I hadn't driven my wife's for a couple of weeks until today, the car is loosening up nicely, engine is reving more freely, mpg is going up and gearbox is really quite enjoyable.

The thing that really stands out is the ride comfort, it's so well suited to the craggy roads around the West Midlands and the increased visibility with the seating position helps too. As I think Mike said previously the turning circle is pretty handy.

[Mikebentley]

The turning circle is great, I can drive down the road, see a side road, turn right and usually turn round in the junction to head back the way I came. The V90 has done 200 miles since September and I was going to use it for work tomorrow. I can’t be bothered though as it is too cumbersome compared to the Duster. I can park safely without the risk of kerbing and visibility is better.

[politeperson]

The Duster is great.

Mine has been used to help me with my car projects and cart me all over the place.

I walked up to it today and was surprised to find the engine running. It is almost silent at idle.

Fantastic.

[MC Bodge]

OppoLocksmith said:

it's so well suited to the craggy roads around the West Midlands

What sort of roads are you describing?

[OppoLocksmith]

MC Bodge said:

What sort of roads are you describing?

Pretty much everywhere; potholes, speed bumps, city centre out to south Brum they're awful round by me and not getting any better.

[MC Bodge]

OppoLocksmith said:

MC Bodge said:

What sort of roads are you describing?

Pretty much everywhere; potholes, speed bumps, city centre out to south Brum they're awful round by me and not getting any better.

Ah, right. I was thinking craggy, as in wild mountain rock outcrops.

[andburg]

craggy i take to be a heavily weathered, bits falling upp, sticking out, sounds like half the roads round here too.

went for a walk with the wife yesterday and we'd discussed car changes for after our vow renewal/rewedding before, saw a 19 plate duster and she admitted she liked the look of it.

6 months time it could well be on the cards, 19/20 car with a few miles and extend the warranty

[OppoLocksmith]

MC Bodge said:

Ah, right. I was thinking craggy, as in wild mountain rock outcrops.

Ha yeah, not huge amount of difference probably more challenging round here with the growing number of deliveroo / amazon drivers. Some of the holes in the road defy believe . . . .

[WinstonR]

Bit of a thread derail but does anyone know how the Duster compares to the Suzuki Vitara? The 2019 1.0L model seems to sell for around the same as a new Duster.

[politeperson]

My Dad had a 2018 1.4l automatic petrol Vitara.

It was perfectly competent, pretty firm ride.

I think the Duster is a bit more off-roady.

[andburg]

WinstonR said:

Bit of a thread derail but does anyone know how the Duster compares to the Suzuki Vitara? The 2019 1.0L model seems to sell for around the same as a new Duster.

i believe the Vitara is smaller and has a much firmer, sportier drive. It's also on my post wedding list, they do offer an extended warranty but no detail on pricing. subjectively I'd expect some better quality feeling plastics in the suzuki but lets be honest, who feels their dashboard and door plastics?