|
Judging by the amount i see on the road, i don't think the below par safety rating puts that many people off the duster. Then again, i have suspected for some time that hardly any people put any serious consideration into how safe or otherwise a car is. For the most part it is simply whether or not they like how it looks. Or in Dacia's case, how cheap it is!.
With regards to the 1.2tce, the kind of person likely to be buying one is not going to be overly concerned about how fast the car is. But it is actually a cracking little engine and perfectly suited to the duster, which despite not being a particularly small car, is not very heavy. The 1.2 tce musters 125PS and 205NM (vs 115PS and 156NM of torque for the n/a 1.6) of torque, so bearing in mind that the 4x2 version weighs 1200kg, for anyone other that boy racers or Jeremy Clarkson wannabe's it will be perfectly fine.
|
|
All noted, ta.
The next part of the equation relates to the transmission. If I'm not mistaken you can only get the twin clutch automatic in diesel form. It could be that that would be a bit of a problem as I'm now accustomed to, and fond of, an automatic car. Maybe the Duster isn't the one for me.
The next possible option might be the petrol Vitara. It comes as a 1.6 non turbo petrol or a turbo 1.4 (which can be specced as an auto.) I've said this before (I think) but the, apparently more desirable, 1.4 only comes as a rather more expensive "S" version and to get the auto version, with metallic, costs £24,600. less whatever discount might be available. Admittedly it has four wheel drive included. You can get the 1.6 two wheel drive automatic (TCSS) for £19,350.
I've forgotten which versions have the torque converter box - I think the 1.4 turbo has it, whereas the 1.6 petrol has the twin clutch ... I think. The diesel auto is definitely twin clutch auto.
|
|
Isn't it just a Renault
|
Isn't it just a Renault
Renault owns Dacia, so obviously there is a very high Renault content in the duster. Not really sure what your point is though?, it is not a new concept, just think back to BL. Of course these days, VAG are the undisputed masters of platform sharing.
Regarding the gearbox, yes you are right, i have also read that the only 2 pedal duster will be the 1.5dci 4x4. But, to be honest, i wouldn't be that keen on buying anything with an automated dual clutch manual gearbox anyway, to many problems.
You might want to consider the Ssangyong tivoli, which is cheap SUV about the same size as the duster. The auto versions of those (both petrol and diesel) use a torque converter auto. But be aware that the petrol tivoli uses a n/a 1.6, so its 'in gear' performance will not be as strong as the 1.2tce duster. It will most likely be less efficient too, but on the upside, the tivoli, like all Ssangyong's comes with a very generous 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. And by the way, the tivoli doesn't score that well in the euro ncap crash tests either.
You pays your money............!
|
Regarding the gearbox, yes you are right, i have also read that the only 2 pedal duster will be the 1.5dci 4x4. But, to be honest, i wouldn't be that keen on buying anything with an automated dual clutch manual gearbox anyway, to many problems.
You might want to consider the Ssangyong tivoli, which is cheap SUV about the same size as the duster. The auto versions of those (both petrol and diesel) use a torque converter auto. But be aware that the petrol tivoli uses a n/a 1.6, so its 'in gear' performance will not be as strong as the 1.2tce duster. It will most likely be less efficient too, but on the upside, the tivoli, like all Ssangyong's comes with a very generous 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. And by the way, the tivoli doesn't score that well in the euro ncap crash tests either.
You pays your money............!
Fair point .... they had caught my eye when, on the few occasions, I've seen one on the road. Round my way you rarely see them... the dealer isn't conveniently placed. The reviews aren't generally glowing but I could see the possible appeal. As it happens the front passenger's safety rating is better than most ... it's all green! ...not many are. but three stars doesn't sit comfortably when the Vitara has five and when the Vitara seems a more sensible buy. However the warranty, as you say, deserves credit on the Tivoli. But I don't think it's for me. The current car is still pleasing us and it might stay with us for a while yet - but it does no harm to wonder what might replace it.
|
|
|
|
Isn't it just a Renault
And what, exactly, are you contributing to the discussion?
|
|
Dacias appear to be very competitive price wise, and like contributors above I've begun to notice a lot of them on the road.
Plenty of low mileage examples of the Duster at reasonable prices on Autodoofer, the only obvious problem being that the model lacks the aesthetic appeal of some of its rivals.
What do the Backroomers think of them as a used choice?
|
|
|
|
As I understand the NCAP results they give a lot of their marks for passive safety, things like extra airbags and various electronic gizmos. If these are not present on base versions then the whole car will be marked down.
The basic Dacias are really very basic. If you are thinking of buying a higher model Dacia its probably worth having a good read of how the actual NCAP score was allocated and seeing if it was marked down for equipment on a higher level car, but not on the base model.
Hypothetical example: A base model car lacks side airbags and electronic braking control. This leads to 2 stars being taken off the NCAP result. A mid trim level has these features, but still has the lower NCAP result.
|
|
|
|
|
All noted, ta.
The next part of the equation relates to the transmission. If I'm not mistaken you can only get the twin clutch automatic in diesel form. It could be that that would be a bit of a problem as I'm now accustomed to, and fond of, an automatic car. Maybe the Duster isn't the one for me.
The next possible option might be the petrol Vitara. It comes as a 1.6 non turbo petrol or a turbo 1.4 (which can be specced as an auto.) I've said this before (I think) but the, apparently more desirable, 1.4 only comes as a rather more expensive "S" version and to get the auto version, with metallic, costs £24,600. less whatever discount might be available. Admittedly it has four wheel drive included. You can get the 1.6 two wheel drive automatic (TCSS) for £19,350.
I've forgotten which versions have the torque converter box - I think the 1.4 turbo has it, whereas the 1.6 petrol has the twin clutch ... I think. The diesel auto is definitely twin clutch auto.
Sorry KB, I didn't read all the way through this post!. The 1.4 turbo vitara has the dual clutch gearbox, the n/a 1.6 has a torque converter auto. But I wouldn't write this version off before a test drive, as it seems to be pretty well regarded by the motoring press. The vitara, if memory serves, is even lighter than the duster, so it's 118bhp (I think) 1.6 should be perfectly capable in most circumstances. The only area it may struggle with would be overtaking on single carriageway roads at higher speeds due to the relative lack of torque. I've also read that the vitara can be a bit vocal at higher speeds, which I guess would be a symptom of its lack of weight (sound deadening material is very heavy).
|
|
Just a quick point .... Are you sure the 1.4 Turbo "S" has the twin clutch? I recall the dealer telling me that the 1.4 "S" has a torque converter (as well as four wheel drive as standard) and that the 1.6 petrols and the 1.6 diesel both had TCSS (Twin Clutch System by Suuzuki).
But having had a look on the Suzuki website it does specifically say the diesel is TCSS (i.e twin clutch) ... but just says "Automatic" in both the 1.6 and the 1.4 version descriptions.
Edited by KB. on 06/12/2017 at 20:11
|
Just a quick point .... Are you sure the 1.4 Turbo "S" has the twin clutch? I recall the dealer telling me that the 1.4 "S" has a torque converter (as well as four wheel drive as standard) and that the 1.6 petrols and the 1.6 diesel both had TCSS (Twin Clutch System by Suuzuki).
But having had a look on the Suzuki website it does specifically say the diesel is TCSS (i.e twin clutch) ... but just says "Automatic" in both the 1.6 and the 1.4 version descriptions.
Well, i had been sure, but after doing some research, i'm not any more!. Without registering with suzuki, which you need to do in order to download a brochure, i can't find out for sure. What little i could find out suggests that the 1.4t does have a torque converter auto. I'd have to assume that your dealer knows what he is talking about, but, my problem with that assumption is that i am 90% certain the 1.6 n/a petrol is a torque converter auto!. That the diesel has a dual clutch gearbox can possibly be explained away by the fact that it is a fiat engine and fiat themselves do not do a torque converter auto. So what i would suggest is downloading a pdf brochure off the website to check the exact wording on the specs. I do have a vitara pdf on my phone which i managed to download last year, but it does not list the 1.4t.
However, under transmissions for the 1.6 petrol, the options are: 5 speed manual or 6 speed auto.
For the 1.6 diesel, they are: 6 speed manual or TCSS.
Not really sure why it should be so difficult to find out this info?!
|
The 1.2 will be a four cylinder version of the 0.9 three cylinder turbo, which is a great engine in our all be it lighter smart forfour. With 125 ps it will be more than capable.
Go to Russia and you won’t see a Dacia, they are all Renaults.
|
|
|
|
I also found it difficult to work out what type of auto gearbox the Vitara S 1.4 had when I test drove one a few weeks ago. The brochure didn't didn't specify the type, but the salesman said it wasn't a dual clutch or CVT. However, when I compared the official fuel consumption figures for the manual vs automatic, they were very close, so if it is a torque convertor type, it must be a remarkably efficient one.
One thing I didn't like was that every time I moved the selector from drive to reverse and from reverse to drive, the stop-start system kicked in and stopped the engine and then restarted it.
|
|
That "stop/start" malarkey sounds outrageous. Surely there must be a way round it? But equally surely the salesman (who you would have queried it with) should have had the answer to the conundrum?
What sort of impression was you left with after the drive?
|
|
I was originally interested in the S-Cross which is also available with the 1.4, but they only had a 1.0 so the salesman suggested I had a test drive in that to get an idea of the car and then I could have a test drive in a Vitara S with the 1.4 to get an idea of the engine. Both were automatics.
I found the S-Cross with the 1.0 very underpowered and was disappointed with the way it handled on bumpy road surfaces. The Vitara S was smoother and the extra power from the 1.4 engine was noticeable (but nowhere near as good as my A3 1.4 TFSI). However, at speed, tyre noise was very intrusive.There was also an annoying rattle from the dash.
The shifts from the gearboxes were smooth but both cars exhibited the same stop-start issue when changing direction. I suppose it's possible that if you move the gear lever quick enough it might not happen?
|
|
|
|
|
A quick google on Booster Jet Vitara
Suzuki explain, a six speed automated manual transmission that incorporates hydraulically controlled clutches and a gear change assembly that enables it to be driven in a similar way to an automatic gearbox. The system utilises one clutch for 1st, 3rd and 5th gears and the other for 2nd, 4th and 6th gears. Operating the transmission in this way ensures that whether the driver is accelerating or decelerating, the desired gear is instantly available.
That's off my shopping list & maybe yours
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
