Dacia Duster for the wife, alternatives for £9k?

[Andehh]

We have a young family with the birth of our son, and my daughter every other weekend. We are making do with her Peugeot 207 currently & my 5 Series for long journies but when it comes to the 4 of us going away we always struggle (no toys, nothing but the basics) due to the BMW having a narrow boot which ends up being 100% push chair & stuff. Even just the 3 of us is a squeeze in my car - everything packed in everywhere.

I have been looking into the Dacia Duster, 1.5 dci laureate which ticks a lot of the boxes for cheap, spacious, economical and with her Peugeot 207 hardly being the pinnacle of anything positive AND being in need of disposal I don't see it as a step down quality wise.

Anyone have any views on it? Potential cheap & spacious 1-2 year old alternatives?

Thanks

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 12th July 19:59

[chasingracecars]

Given your needs I think a Ford S-Max would be best. Sounds like you need space. It might be older then the two years old but there are plenty about for that money with 50k miles on. Even titanium versions.

[talksthetorque]

I think you are looking at the wrong end of the opportunity spectrum here.
Your car + £9k = Newer estate version of your car with larger engine ( plus a roofbox if you want)

[Andehh]

Have purposefully avoided MPVs, I just don't feel strong enough in life to accept I have to buy a MPV before I turn 30!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Duster is quite an entertaining thing, but wouldn't a used Kia Sportage be worth a look?

[Deerfoot]

A used Yeti might be worth a look.

[poing]

Make sure you get the facelift Duster, defined by a different front grille, as they are built in a different factory and don't suffer the early rust issues.

[anonymous-user]

poing said:

Make sure you get the facelift Duster, defined by a different front grille, as they are built in a different factory and don't suffer the early rust issues.

This point.

The updated model gets the new 1.2 Tce engine which also maybe worth a look.

If not the C4 Cactus gets many good reviews. Just don't go for the automatic.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Deerfoot said:

A used Yeti might be worth a look.

Yes, Sportage or Yeti.

[Skyedriver]

Not looked at a Duster but most of these "big" 4x4 are smaller inside than most estate cars.
My old Volvo 940 being a prime example. Even so, with two dog cages in the back we need a roof box when on hols.

[chasingracecars]

Andehh said:

Have purposefully avoided MPVs, I just don't feel strong enough in life to accept I have to buy a MPV before I turn 30!

Is the s-Max really and MPV or a a big estate/hatch? Being part of the "I want a 4x4" is worse I think.

I have had both and got looks in the 4x4 even though I needed it to get to the house for 4 months of the year.

Big estates are excellent and sod the image make life easier, more relaxed, more fun.

Plus the car will work out for years and you will have a Chaterham or Porsche before your 40!

[48Valves]

Personally I think you would be better of with an estate of some description.

[Andehh]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

If not the C4 Cactus gets many good reviews. Just don't go for the automatic.

Funnily enough the cactus is looking like even more of a bargain, for a 20% smaller boot. That's next on the list to have a poke around at.

As for an estate/changing my car - I do an easy 25k a year, and am slowly driving my car into the ground. Changing it now & replacing it with a similar estate would be hugely expensive and wouln't really move the situation on much 0 her car is still in dire need o replacing whilst it is still worth something.

We also dont change cars very often, so this car would see her through the next child as well.

Even looking at your traditional MPVs calls for a step up in monies or step down in age/mileage.



Any thoughts on the Citroen C4 Cactus?

[Liggle]

We are looking at the Renault Captur for this missus around this price range. Bang up to date styling and interior design wise, the same array of engines to choose from as the Duster, and a 4 year warranty on them too.

[scotlandtim]

Forget the duster - buy the Dacia Logan MCV.

We have one as a family car and I can't fault it. The 1.5dci Laureate model. Yes, it's dull and uninteresting but it's got loads of room inside with a huge boot. Roof rails meaning adding a roofbox is easy. i have a towbar on mine and get well over 70mpg.

Also - it's cheap! From bying it as an economy exercise I've grown to like it, it's like being back in the simple cars I learnt to drive in, but with a few modern extras - Cruise, sat-nav, bluetooth stereo and not much more! I bought mine at 2 yrs old with 30K on the clock for £6k - would do the same again!

[roystinho]

We have a 63 plate duster, it's fantastic. Dirt cheap to buy, dirt cheap to run, doesn't matter when the kids make a mess with food/mud etc. Boot is massive. Hasn't missed a beat at all. It gets totally abused with tip runs, bike chucked in, camping trips etc.

Also has an amazing ride quality to it, and not just for what it costs. I can't think of many more comfortable cars until you get into über luxo barge territory.

Definitely a keeper for the crappy jobs even once the youngest is old enough to have a regular hatch or estate for family duties

[paralla]

With a young family presumably safety is of some importance.

Part of what makes Dacia's cheaper is that they are not engineered to the same safety standards as parent company Renault. Duster gets 3 stars where a Kadjir gets 5 stars.

Everyone is different, some people are fine with 3 stars but if it were my little one I'd be looking at something slightly older with better crash test results.

[Ozzie Osmond]

One of the enduring mysteries is why some people value a child's life more highly.

Mind you, that's probably why I won't go out on the road in 50-year old cars whether they were built in Malvern 50 years ago or built in Caterham last week.

I have a sneaking admiration for Dacias but can't help thinking there's better value in something "lightly used". Cars depreciate about 15% a year for their first 3 years so there's quite a lot that's affordable and still carrying full warranty cover.

[HTP99]

paralla said:

With a young family presumably safety is of some importance.

Part of what makes Dacia's cheaper is that they are not engineered to the same safety standards as parent company Renault. Duster gets 3 stars where a Kadjir gets 5 stars.

Everyone is different, some people are fine with 3 stars but if it were my little one I'd be looking at something slightly older with better crash test results.

You are correct, however the amount of stars gives an overall scores; the Duster compares very well to the Kadjar for:

• Adult Occupant: 74% Duster, Kadjar 89%
• Child Protection: 78% Duster, Kadjar 81%

The Duster loses significantly on:

• Pedestrian Safety: 28%, Kadjar 74%
• Safety Assist (rear seatbelt warning, lane assist, ESC, speed limiter) 29% Duster, 71% Kadjar, however the Duster was tested before ESC and speed limiter was standard.

Lets be honest, when it comes to crash results, a purchaser only really cares about how safe they and any occupants will be in the event of a crash, in that respect the Duster performs very well.

[gazza5]

Liggle said:

We are looking at the Renault Captur for this missus around this price range. Bang up to date styling and interior design wise, the same array of engines to choose from as the Duster, and a 4 year warranty on them too.

Missus looked at the captur - ended up with pug 2008. Didn't like the 0.9 tce engine, she preferred the 1.2 3 cylinder of the pug 2008. Diesel is no good for her as she only does 6k a year.