Welcome to the family

Time to stop looking at it from a 0-62 point of view and instead get some Dacia enthusiasts to o er their perspective on our Duster. By Curtis Moldrich

Luxury, technology, driving satisfaction – three factors that rank highly in the world of the car enthusiast. The Dacia Duster is a car that goes out of its way to avoid all three of those expensive, frivolous, decadent qualities – and yet here I am at a gathering of people who are highly enthusiastic about the Duster and its Dacia kin.

What gives? I’ve spent half a year trying to come to terms with the Duster, and can’t get any warmer than a respectful acknowledgement that it fits a purpose eciently and cheaply. It’s a sensible choice, not an emotional one.

But despite its clear shortcomings, the Duster has something of a cult following, with Facebook groups and owners’ clubs around the world full of Duster fans. Want to know which roof rack fits a Mk I best or how easy it is to install a more streamlined aerial? Want to… lower one? The Dacia Owners UK forum, for example, has you covered. And here I am at the DaciaWorld forum’s annual meeting, Daciafest.

Held at Carsington Water, the second-ever ocial Daciafest isn’t a huge affair, but the commitment of the people who are here makes up for it. There’s a marquee with a big Dacia sign on it, which seems to be the focal point for people with walkie-talkies, combat trousers and Dacia branding. But the rest of Daciafest is essentially a line of parked Dusters dotted with other Dacias, surrounded by animated owners.

Just like any other car meet, bonnets are up, hands are on hips, and there’s some heavy gesticulating, too. But whereas at other car meets the conversations are about epic overtakes, we Duster drivers are more preoccupied with other drivers cutting us up. It happens a lot.

There are families here, and on a green near the car park – next to a fifth birthday party – I find other forum members playing rounders. These people love their cars, but this is a social event just as much as a chance to discuss Dacia.

From talking to various owners, it seems there’s often an element of loaded-potato-skin about Dacia ownership: boring initially ⊲

but ready to be infused with flavoursome memories and growing families or just perfect as a dependable, affordable tool.

But enough of the context. Why are these people here – and what do they see in the Duster that I just can’t right now? To investigate I plucked three devotees from the event and asked about their experiences of Dacia ownership, while also seeing what they thought about my car.

KATHLEEN TOPLEY Has owned a big variety of other cars but for the last four years has been delighted with her Sandero Stepway. Her question is, has the new Duster got too slick for its own good? LUCIAN POPESCU Romanian, and proud of his life-long involvement with Dacias. Regularly drives between Britain and Romania, so prizes reliability, comfort and low running costs.

CURTIS MOLDRICH Proving resistant to Dacia’s magic, but CAR’s web editor won’t rest until he’s explored every avenue in search of an understanding of what makes the Duster – and its fans – tick. MARTYN STEER Owns a 20015 Mk1 Duster, bought because of its practicality and low running costs, and it won him over with its charm. But is the Mk2 a significant improvement?

At last an actual smile, seven months into life with a Duster