.jpg?p=100903_03:41)
.jpg?p=100903_03:43)
.jpg?p=100903_03:38)
.jpg?p=100906_10:12)
.jpg?p=100823_02:23)
.jpg?p=100810_03:51)
03 March 2010 - 11:00
Geneva show: Dacia
Here's some news to warm the cockles of James May's heart. Dacia, Renault-owned bargain-bucket manufacturer of the, er, legendary Sandero hatchback, is officially launching in the UK in 2010.
But at first it won't be selling the Sandero. Pants.
The first model will be the Duster crossover. This is actually rather good news, for the Duster is a fine thing. It's a conspicuous bargain at about £12,000, and has none of the pointless pretensions that blight so many of the breed.
As Renault's chief operating officer Patrick Pelata says: "It's a modern day Renault 4. Cheap, roomy, practical, and you don't mind getting it dirty." Given you still see ancient Renault 4s driven by French farmers to see their sheep at the top of mountain tracks, he's got a point.
Dacia is doing especially well in Germany, the country where, in the normal run of play, being ‘premium' counts for everything. But apparently there's a new breed of people who could easily afford, say, a BMW X1, but don't want to the flash. They want simple things and a materially simple life.
Which just happens to be just the kind of honest cheap-car philosophy our James keeps going on about.
And the Sandero? It arrives about a year after the Duster. But it will be the Mark 2 version. Let's hope it retains the charm of the original.
Paul Horrell, Consultant Editor of Top Gear magazine
Want to comment on this?
please make the new reasonably priced car a left hand drive sandero, and when Mk2 arrives in the uk u can swith it to that
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
The Duster. Right. What's next, the Y-front family sedan? The Speedo roadster?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
What is with this dreadful paint colour?! I've seen it on a few other show cars and it is akin to looking down the jacks after emptying your bowels.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
£12k for what is quite a handsome 4x4 (albeit in any colour BUT the one shown!)? Let's hope it's not powered by a wet fart (as cheapo 4x4s tend to be), and give it something meaty enough to be worth driving. :)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
GIMME LANCIA IN THE UK, NOT DACIA!!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
hahahaha.who names their car 'DUSTER'?that's one of the most ridiculous names i have come across.but,in a way it is apt,considering the target demographic of this car
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I think Jeremy should buy James one since he got the other one smashed up.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Brilliant more news on Dacia!!!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
we have enough cheap crap brands here already such as hyundai, kia and even chevrolet we do not need this rubbish coming also. Fiats panda is still the best cheap non flashy small car on the road. This brand is just renaults economy brand, toyota may have lexus as and exclusive luxury brand well dacia is just renauls own non luxury brand, and i hear peugeot is bringing back talbot to compete with dacia. Overall though your better off with a decent used car. A peugeot 406 excecutive is a good example its cheap, quite reliable and easy to run, and becuase its about 8 years old all the depreciation is gone and its just a bargian
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I remember the original Dacia Duster from the 80s - cheap and cheerful boxy little thing. When you think back to cars like that and the Matra Rancho, you can see the seeds of the SUV trend.. albeit the low-fat version.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
At least they could name the car after James May
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
The thing about the newer Dacia models is that they are cheap AND extremely reliable. Cheapness comes from them being built from the parts bin of previous gen Renaults. Reliability comes from the same thing, as well as from simplicity (these are really basic cars, can't compare them not even to modern Kias). I owned a Logan for two years while back in Romania and it was unbreakable. And I've had plenty of friends and taxi drivers that had similar experiences.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
@Kuang there is no such thing as "Dacia Duster from the 80s". maybe u can show us some pictures.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
@ixul there was another Duster in Romanian auto industry built by ARO (an off road manufacturer). Google "aro duster" and you'll find plenty of pictures. That was a tough little piece of an off road car.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
The most honest car!!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Romanian off-road vehicles in the past http://www.aro4x4.cz/english/fotogalerie.php
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Ixul: Giani41 is right - in the UK, the ARO10 was marketed as the Dacia Duster. > http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/aro-10-1980.html
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Sorry for the double post - found a better article for you: http://www.difflock.com/buyersguide/pastmasters/daciaduster/index.shtml
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Great news!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Hey guys, i am really proud of the Romanian product. I don't know how much you know about the country, but there aren't many good news for the Romanians, the Duster is one of the few. If you want, you can see on youtube some recent testing with the car : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkFA3W8sZ4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUeeSnl6bYg Enjoy .. i hope James May will be thrilled and it will write another book after the Car Fever :) !
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
sorry but dacia is the new ,,weapon,, 4 terrorists... STOP dacia prod before it gets out of hand... :))) dacia.... :))))
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
@Kuang: as a romanian, i can tell you that ARO and DACIA are brands of different manufacturers. (ARO HQ located in Campulung and DACIA HQ located in Pitesti)
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
OMG ! i must have one!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Dacia in the UK?? Finally my life is complete
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Advertisement
Test Driven
.jpg?p=080926_03:52)
BMW 5 Series
The 530d is absolutely gorgeous in nearly every way. If the irritatingly impressive 520d didn’t exist, we’d take one right now
Advertisement
Open Car Bar
scottneal commented on this article
03 March 2010
Dacia in the UK. Yes. Wow. I'm filled with excitement.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.