One Sixth Of UK Dacia Duster Buyers Opt For "Poverty Spec"

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Steel wheels? Crank rear windows? Those features would be poison on a car sold in North America, but Dacia’s UK division isn’t having any trouble selling base model Dusters.

UK mag Auto Express reports

A sixth of pre-orders have been for the entry-level Duster Access model, which starts from just £8,995 and comes with 16-inch steel wheels, power steering, electric front windows and central locking.

So far, 1,000 pre-orders are on the books; not bad for a budget car that can’t even be test-driven so far.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Pch101 Pch101 on Oct 31, 2012

    The one-sixth ratio of base model sales doesn't sound particularly unusual. And I don't think that having partial power window and seat packages are unusual in Europe, either. We're spoiled on this side of the Atlantic -- we get more car for less money.

  • Onyxtape Onyxtape on Oct 31, 2012

    If only I could get a poverty-spec 3-series with crank-up windows, manual seat adjustment, stick, and plastic knob radio/climate, that would remove any hesitation I have to buying German.

  • Carfriend313 Carfriend313 on Oct 31, 2012

    One sixth is hardly a demographic...trust me, that spec is 'poison' in the UK too. Those won't be easy to sell on, particularly as a new example is so cheap.

    • Sinistermisterman Sinistermisterman on Oct 31, 2012

      Really? Before moving to Canada I tried selling on my Ford Fiesta 'Ghia' with A/C, leccy windows and all the other mod cons. Two of the people who came to look at it complained that it wasn't a more standard model as "All that complicated stuff will just break." Whilst people like my mother like their automobiles stuffed with plush leather and electronic gizmo's, myself and plenty of people I know are far happier with simple machines that won't bankrupt and/or perplex you if they go wrong.

  • Sinistermisterman Sinistermisterman on Oct 31, 2012

    Considering most cheaply made alloy wheels tend to weigh more than steel wheels, I never really saw the reason why people 'upgrade' when in fact it is detrimental to the ride. That, and having had to fix numerous electrical gremlins in numerous cars, I've always opted for 'pov-spec' cars, as they tend do go wrong far less.

    • See 1 previous
    • Azmtbkr81 Azmtbkr81 on Oct 31, 2012

      @TR4 Not good for the wallet either. I swapped the 17in wheels on my Mazda 3 for lighter 16in wheels from a lower spec'ed 3 and now save $30 per tire and increased mileage by 1 MPG.

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