Dacia Bigster... hello!!
Discussion
I collected my new Dacia Bigster yesterday. 
I'd never heard of them but Pistonheads did a review way back in March ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...) and as soon as I read it I did think it seemed like a good fit. Frustratingly I didn't appreciate they wouldn't actually be in the showrooms to view or demo till May and I really wanted to see one. As soon as I saw one I knew it would do.
We'd had a new Duster for 3 years but about a year ago we decided to get a new Defender 110 to add to the fleet and p/x'ed the Duster on the basis it would likely do a vaguely similar job. That meant keeping our little Toyota Aygo run around. We quickly realised that was a mistake and holding on to the Duster rather than the Aygo would have made more sense.
Anyhow, here is Biggles the Bigster. Extreme Spec 4x4 in Terracotta. I'd not seen one in that colour when I ordered mine and until I collected mine yesterday still hadn't. Looks more brown in the photos than in real life. I like it.
Very first impressions are that yeah, it feels like a bigger Duster and everything is very familiar. The tech side is a big step up from the Duster and it all feels more plush and solid, although that's obviously all relative. Full length sunroof makes it feel very spacious inside as well. Just under £30k including a package of 4 years free servicing. 2 MOTs and since the warranty extends by a year with a Main Dealer service then 4 years warranty to start
Most sensible bases covered I think with some dafter stuff in the garage....
I've probably become a bit of a Dacia fanboy in terms of value for money but I'd expect to see a good few more on the road over the coming months.
I'd never heard of them but Pistonheads did a review way back in March ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...) and as soon as I read it I did think it seemed like a good fit. Frustratingly I didn't appreciate they wouldn't actually be in the showrooms to view or demo till May and I really wanted to see one. As soon as I saw one I knew it would do.
We'd had a new Duster for 3 years but about a year ago we decided to get a new Defender 110 to add to the fleet and p/x'ed the Duster on the basis it would likely do a vaguely similar job. That meant keeping our little Toyota Aygo run around. We quickly realised that was a mistake and holding on to the Duster rather than the Aygo would have made more sense.
Anyhow, here is Biggles the Bigster. Extreme Spec 4x4 in Terracotta. I'd not seen one in that colour when I ordered mine and until I collected mine yesterday still hadn't. Looks more brown in the photos than in real life. I like it.
Very first impressions are that yeah, it feels like a bigger Duster and everything is very familiar. The tech side is a big step up from the Duster and it all feels more plush and solid, although that's obviously all relative. Full length sunroof makes it feel very spacious inside as well. Just under £30k including a package of 4 years free servicing. 2 MOTs and since the warranty extends by a year with a Main Dealer service then 4 years warranty to start
Most sensible bases covered I think with some dafter stuff in the garage....
I've probably become a bit of a Dacia fanboy in terms of value for money but I'd expect to see a good few more on the road over the coming months.
Edited by renmure on Sunday 8th March 13:52
I sold my Alpine back to the dealer as I realised that I needed something practical as my only car 
Whilst I was waiting on paperwork I sat in both the new Duster and the Bigster and was pretty impressed.
Seemed lightyears ahead of my mk2 Duster 1.0 that did me stirling service for 3 years.
Has ruined my plans of getting some old snotter now and I quite fancy the Bigster auto hybrid but reviews of that powertrain don't seem too favourable.
How are you now finding yours seeing as it's manual with the 1.2 engine, I think.
The free services are brilliant. Who's the dealer?
Cheers.
Whilst I was waiting on paperwork I sat in both the new Duster and the Bigster and was pretty impressed.
Seemed lightyears ahead of my mk2 Duster 1.0 that did me stirling service for 3 years.
Has ruined my plans of getting some old snotter now and I quite fancy the Bigster auto hybrid but reviews of that powertrain don't seem too favourable.
How are you now finding yours seeing as it's manual with the 1.2 engine, I think.
The free services are brilliant. Who's the dealer?
Cheers.
Edited by croyde on Monday 18th August 11:43
I really like it. It drives very much like our previous Duster although it’s obviously noticeable bigger and more spacious. All the criticism that could be leveled at the previous Duster for feeling a bit under powered or slow (ours was a similar 1 litre manual) could probably be leveled here too but, like the very light steering feel, it was a known quantity for us. The tech stuff all works well with a few quirks.
The servicing aspect was a Dealer offer (Arnold Clark) which was so cheap upfront that it was a no brainer. They did say that wasn’t transferable so I guess they make up the money if you sell the car and don’t use the 4 services but I expect we will have it long enough to cover the cost.
I’ve seen a couple on the road now and think they look quite chunky and nice.
The servicing aspect was a Dealer offer (Arnold Clark) which was so cheap upfront that it was a no brainer. They did say that wasn’t transferable so I guess they make up the money if you sell the car and don’t use the 4 services but I expect we will have it long enough to cover the cost.
I’ve seen a couple on the road now and think they look quite chunky and nice.
I have had mine now for just over a month and covered 1800 miles. It’s been brilliant. Driver assistance is easy to turn off and the car is much more refined that the 22 plate Duster it replaced. My wife doesn’t like the powered tailgate but I do, even though the dog nearly brained itself trying to leap into the back prematurely.
The drive is good - doesn’t seem to be much body roll and what wind noise there is barely noticeable. Fuel consumption is already better than the Duster and the extra room is most welcome.
Connectivity is fine and the stereo is tolerable, if not anywhere audiophile. For the money there is nothing to dislike,
The only gripe I had is minor - the wheels are too big for (19” FFS!) the Yokohama Geolanders that I would put on out of personal preference.
Perhaps something else will be forthcoming.
I bought a space saver wheel and tools from the wheel shop, and did go for the fitted mudflaps, rubber mats, and both official bootliners, as well as a removable dog-guard. The permanent dog-guard the Duster had was a royal pain in the arse.
If it serves anywhere near as well as the Duster did, I shall be well pleased.
The drive is good - doesn’t seem to be much body roll and what wind noise there is barely noticeable. Fuel consumption is already better than the Duster and the extra room is most welcome.
Connectivity is fine and the stereo is tolerable, if not anywhere audiophile. For the money there is nothing to dislike,
The only gripe I had is minor - the wheels are too big for (19” FFS!) the Yokohama Geolanders that I would put on out of personal preference.
Perhaps something else will be forthcoming.
I bought a space saver wheel and tools from the wheel shop, and did go for the fitted mudflaps, rubber mats, and both official bootliners, as well as a removable dog-guard. The permanent dog-guard the Duster had was a royal pain in the arse.
If it serves anywhere near as well as the Duster did, I shall be well pleased.
My only beef about my Bigster full Hybrid. Having diamond cut 19s.
Not needed on this type of car and as I don't park it carefully like a sports car, because it's supposed to be ruff n tough, I've already scraped and dinged mine.
Shame there wasn't an option to have the 17s off the lower model.
Can't fault the rest of the car so far. Ridiculously economical in town, easy to drive, comfy, roomy and good on the motorway.
Seems zippier than it's official 0 to 60 too.
I got the space saver plus tools from Wheelshop for £160 and it fits perfectly under the boot floor.
A plastic shaped boot liner for £20 and a rubber mat from Lidl for a fiver.
Bought interior rubber mats from Dacia.
2000 miles so far and I'm happy with it
Not needed on this type of car and as I don't park it carefully like a sports car, because it's supposed to be ruff n tough, I've already scraped and dinged mine.
Shame there wasn't an option to have the 17s off the lower model.
Can't fault the rest of the car so far. Ridiculously economical in town, easy to drive, comfy, roomy and good on the motorway.
Seems zippier than it's official 0 to 60 too.
I got the space saver plus tools from Wheelshop for £160 and it fits perfectly under the boot floor.
A plastic shaped boot liner for £20 and a rubber mat from Lidl for a fiver.
Bought interior rubber mats from Dacia.
2000 miles so far and I'm happy with it
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