Dacia Duster?

[Tha Ulsterscot]

@Tha Ulsterscot , did you get one?

No, over ruled by other half, but I would have been happy enough with one. Ended up with a Hyundai Tuscon, but I could have had two Dusters for the same money. Maybe I'm just a tight old Git.

 

[Nithsdale]

Late to the party

Sister bought a Sandero 18-24months ago to replace a Corsa. She says the Dacia is a superior car for her and her boys (nicer to drive, nicer plastics, better seats, more room/more practical...). I did say to her it might not be in as good condition as the Corsa when it reached 10yr old like the Corsa was though, to be told the Corsa was completely f**ked underneath and wouldn't go through another MOT.

Our vets run the Dusters, they seem pretty happy with them. No bad words really.


Back of my mind, if the rust doesn't kill the Dusters - once they get some age and are cheap to buy they should make a great farm machine as a rival to the Jimny

 

[JP1]

Late to the party

Sister bought a Sandero 18-24months ago to replace a Corsa. She says the Dacia is a superior car for her and her boys (nicer to drive, nicer plastics, better seats, more room/more practical...). I did say to her it might not be in as good condition as the Corsa when it reached 10yr old like the Corsa was though, to be told the Corsa was completely f**ked underneath and wouldn't go through another MOT.

Our vets run the Dusters, they seem pretty happy with them. No bad words really.


Back of my mind, if the rust doesn't kill the Dusters - once they get some age and are cheap to buy they should make a great farm machine as a rival to the Jimny

I would think giving a Duster as a test car to a vet in D&G would be quite a stiff test ; Clarkson and the indestructible Hilux comes to mind

 

[Muck Spreader]

I would think giving a Duster as a test car to a vet in D&G would be quite a stiff test ; Clarkson and the indestructible Hilux comes to mind

The Duster was originally designed with Russia and India in mind. Tough, no fills with well proven Renault mechanicals. The early RHD ones were made in India and did have rust problems. Most European ones including RHD come from the Dacia plant in Roumania.

 

[Nithsdale]

I would think giving a Duster as a test car to a vet in D&G would be quite a stiff test ; Clarkson and the indestructible Hilux comes to mind

Certainly the vets in question could well be the biggest in this area and they cover some remote land!

I should say the local scanner had his son running about in one, but I noticed through the winter there it was changed for an Isuzu D-Max before the sheep scanning season kicked off. Never got a chance to ask the reason for change...

 

[JP1]

The Duster was originally designed with Russia and India in mind. Tough, no fills with well proven Renault mechanicals. The early RHD ones were made in India and did have rust problems. Most European ones including RHD come from the Dacia plant in Roumania.

Is the pickup made in Romania?

 

[Nithsdale]

The Duster was originally designed with Russia and India in mind. Tough, no fills with well proven Renault mechanicals. The early RHD ones were made in India and did have rust problems. Most European ones including RHD come from the Dacia plant in Roumania.

I thought they'd shifted production to Brazil?...

 

[Muck Spreader]

Is the pickup made in Romania?

Brazil I think, but need to check

 

[seedman stains]

The price has gone up a bit in the last few years the secret has got out.
A Brazilian uh!

 

[Muck Spreader]

I thought they'd shifted production to Brazil?...

Don't think so. But with the UK being a small market you never know where they may have to fit production in.

 

[Cowabunga]

Certainly the vets in question could well be the biggest in this area and they cover some remote land!

I should say the local scanner had his son running about in one, but I noticed through the winter there it was changed for an Isuzu D-Max before the sheep scanning season kicked off. Never got a chance to ask the reason for change...

Probably because his was a 2wd.

 

[Nithsdale]

Probably because his was a 2wd.

Why probably?

But it was 4wd.

But probably more to do with the Isuzu having more storage space for his scanning kit - it being a much larger vehicle.

 

[Cowabunga]

Why probably?

But it was 4wd.

But probably more to do with the Isuzu having more storage space for his scanning kit - it being a much larger vehicle.

Because a good proportion are 2wd. They are also unsuitable for any but the lightest of trailers. The engine, clutch and transmission is shared with the 1.5 litre Nissan Juke. First is quite high geared. Its good for bad roads and that's its limit in practical terms.
I wouldn't mind one as a local runaround if I was in that kind of market again. Its an alternative to the Fiat Panda in my opinion, and I had one of those and it's still going strong, driven by my sister-in-law on my wife's side.

 

[Bwcho]

Run two Duster commercials in our business. Only had them for 12 months but doing 20k pa. So far reliable, no frills cheap 4x4. Haven't checked under for rust but I'd have thought that a warranty issue. I think they compete well with other cheap vans like the Kangoo, Berlingo etc. You get what you pay for..

Hi @Doc

I was just wondering whether you could give a long-term review on your experience of the 2x Dusters?

I'm looking at getting one and came across your post. Real life thoughts and verdict would be much appreciated.

 

[Doc]

Hi @Doc

I was just wondering whether you could give a long-term review on your experience of the 2x Dusters?

I'm looking at getting one and came across your post. Real life thoughts and verdict would be much appreciated.

Well, both have gone back now (lease purchase 3 yr contracts). I drove both on odd times during their tenure and was happy doing so. We had zero mechanical issues but a bit of body damage over their time.
We haven’t replaced them with same as other commercial vehicle options ( L200’s) have been price competitive and frankly they have been more comfy and desirable rides for our professional staff.
If I was looking for a cheap, no frills ‘paddock basher’ I’d still recommend a duster with all terrain tyres. In the snow event of Feb 2017 here the Dusters kept going whilst others faltered. Not really a towing vehicle though.

 

[pgk]

Well, both have gone back now (lease purchase 3 yr contracts). I drove both on odd times during their tenure and was happy doing so. We had zero mechanical issues but a bit of body damage over their time.
We haven’t replaced them with same as other commercial vehicle options ( L200’s) have been price competitive and frankly they have been more comfy and desirable rides for our professional staff.
If I was looking for a cheap, no frills ‘paddock basher’ I’d still recommend a duster with all terrain tyres. In the snow event of Feb 2017 here the Dusters kept going whilst others faltered. Not really a towing vehicle though.

The towing and early rust on two I viewed put me off duster, I need a small 4wd run about which will tow 750kg unbraked and it was difficult to find one, in the end opted for very tidy Freelander 2 with fsh from a very suburban couple. They even polished it again in the week between agreeing to buy and picking it up. Two months in only complaint is fuel economy of 41mpg which is 11mpg behind the 2wd estate it replaced on similar journeys save the freelander also goes across the ridge and furrow on a regular basis.

 

[steveR]

These were awesome! Not for travelling miles though.View attachment 678002
SS

Remember the first time I saw one of these in the early 80s in mid Wales when Marshalling the Welsh 2 Day enduro. Middle of a bog, in the absolute bloody nowhere, this little beaut came rolling across the ground to a checkpoint. Amazing, as the only other offerings at the time were the Honda ATC's and a few early ATV's I suspect.

Almost an early Mule??

 

[Robt]

The towing and early rust on two I viewed put me off duster, I need a small 4wd run about which will tow 750kg unbraked and it was difficult to find one, in the end opted for very tidy Freelander 2 with fsh from a very suburban couple. They even polished it again in the week between agreeing to buy and picking it up. Two months in only complaint is fuel economy of 41mpg which is 11mpg behind the 2wd estate it replaced on similar journeys save the freelander also goes across the ridge and furrow on a regular basis.

Erm cake and eat it come to mind! 41 out of a free lander is good!

 

[Ashtree]

Lad at work bought himself a Duster petrol model just coming on five years ago now. Just 55k miles on it now. Had a leaky door seal, and a failed wiper motor done on warranty. Apart from that, only seen the dealer for service. He plans to trade for a new one in January.

 

[Drillman]

For lightweight 4x4 that runs forever and always had a ready buyer you don’t need to look further than a auld Subaru Forester.

the pikey hare coursers favourite 4x4xfar for a reason!