Dacia Logan MCV .... update

[Fab Foodie]

Just before Christmas I purchased a Logan MCV Laureate Prime special edition plus a few extras for less than £12k. After 2500+ miles I thought I'd share my first impressions ... after all, there aren't many about ... yet!
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-dacia-has-landed-and-been-signed-for.190907/

My previous trusty and ultra reliable motor was a Citroen C8 2007 model with 130k trouble free miles (except the air-con was kaput). Other than that and tyres/brake pads etc it was a fab workhorse. But returning 40mpg average and being a big beast we no longer needed it was time for it to go before anything costly. In fact .... my garage ended-up buying it!

http://www.daciaretail.co.uk/new-dacia-cars/dacia-logan-mcv/laureate-prime/dci-90/

My needs are simple. Mostly I drive motorways for work plus trips to sarf Lundun to see the MIL. I get a car allowance and claim mileage for business travel so economy helps. We need 1 estate car, the other is a diminutive C1.

I like basic .... bicycles, cars, whatever. Utility is good. And chuffin' eck, cars are a price these days. With work I get a lot of hire cars from Merivas (fab) to Jags/Mercedes/Audi Quattros/Range Rovers so I know what a so called 'good car' feels like, but I can't justify the costs. Furthermore, my travels take me to 'developing' markets where the likes of Dacias etc. do sterling work from the frozen wastes of Russia to the steaming summers of Turkey so they can't be all bad. Taxi drivers us 'em which is usually good sign of cost and reliability.

After a bit of research I took the plunge and it's fab. If you're in the market for a mid sized estate that's cheap to run and own you can't go far wrong. Prices from just £7k for christ sake!

OK, whilst it's Ford Focus/BMW 3 series in size, it doesn't handle anything like them, but it's OK. The ride soaks-up minor road imperfections well but tends to bouncy over undulating surfaces. Road noise is low and the whole thing is pretty quiet at 70mph (2000rpm) on the motorway. Gearing is a tad tall, but you get used to that. Switchgear etc is familiar to Renault owners. It also has Sat-nav, Cruise control, Speed limiter, Eco mode (inc Stop/start), MP3 stuff etc. Seats are not figure hugging or super-plush but comfortable enough for 300 miles at a go. Rear leg room is fine for the 6'plus teenagers I transported.
The boot is huge, second to none for the price ... important for bike carrying as are the standard fitted rood rails.
Right now I'm averaging 59 to the gallon.
Dealer service was great, even includes free valeting whenever!

So if you're looking for a low-cost voluminous and economic new motor, put aside your disbelief and try a Dacia Logan. After all, people laughed when I bought an early Skoda Octavia .... they're no joke now .... but neither are they a bargain. But the Dacia is

 

[subaqua]

we had an early Octavia. people laughed. for a bit. but not for long.

might be worth having a look at them for the next divebus

 

[Drago]

I had an early Octavia. It was unremarkable in every conceivable way, yet cost pretty much the same as similar sized mainstream offerings. When I took the (now ex) Wife's Boxster to work on sunny day and she went out in the Sloda she was at a petrol station when a tanker drove past, snagged the front wing and pretty much tore the front of the car off. While Wasn't best pleased, I was also far from upset - Skoda had done no more than do create a competent but dull machine, just like every other manufacturer did at the time, and then went on to charge much the same as everyone else. No one was laughing because they were too tired from all the yawning.

 

[Levo-Lon]

America are suing the VAG group which will cost them billions..
Dacia may be a good option.. after all the suing is over...

reviews are good for the car @Fab Foodie glad its proving a good buy

 

[RichardB]

Thanks for the write-up. I might be in the market for a replacement for my Mondeo estate in the near future and I had wondered about a Dacia. I don't need or want theatre lighting, electric handbrakes or stop-start technology, but finding a modern car with a basic spec is fairly difficult. I had more-or-less made up my mind that I was going to look out for a well looked-after 80s or early 90s barge, but a new Dacia might be within budget at that price. I've heard some awful stories of poor quality control, so a review from an actual owner is really helpful.

 

[HertzvanRental]

Just before Christmas I purchased a Logan MCV Laureate Prime special edition plus a few extras for less than £12k. After 2500+ miles I thought I'd share my first impressions ... after all, there aren't many about ... yet!
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-dacia-has-landed-and-been-signed-for.190907/

My previous trusty and ultra reliable motor was a Citroen C8 2007 model with 130k trouble free miles (except the air-con was kaput). Other than that and tyres/brake pads etc it was a fab workhorse. But returning 40mpg average and being a big beast we no longer needed it was time for it to go before anything costly. In fact .... my garage ended-up buying it!

http://www.daciaretail.co.uk/new-dacia-cars/dacia-logan-mcv/laureate-prime/dci-90/

My needs are simple. Mostly I drive motorways for work plus trips to sarf Lundun to see the MIL. I get a car allowance and claim mileage for business travel so economy helps. We need 1 estate car, the other is a diminutive C1.

I like basic .... bicycles, cars, whatever. Utility is good. And chuffin' eck, cars are a price these days. With work I get a lot of hire cars from Merivas (fab) to Jags/Mercedes/Audi Quattros/Range Rovers so I know what a so called 'good car' feels like, but I can't justify the costs. Furthermore, my travels take me to 'developing' markets where the likes of Dacias etc. do sterling work from the frozen wastes of Russia to the steaming summers of Turkey so they can't be all bad. Taxi drivers us 'em which is usually good sign of cost and reliability.

After a bit of research I took the plunge and it's fab. If you're in the market for a mid sized estate that's cheap to run and own you can't go far wrong. Prices from just £7k for christ sake!

OK, whilst it's Ford Focus/BMW 3 series in size, it doesn't handle anything like them, but it's OK. The ride soaks-up minor road imperfections well but tends to bouncy over undulating surfaces. Road noise is low and the whole thing is pretty quiet at 70mph (2000rpm) on the motorway. Gearing is a tad tall, but you get used to that. Switchgear etc is familiar to Renault owners. It also has Sat-nav, Cruise control, Speed limiter, Eco mode (inc Stop/start), MP3 stuff etc. Seats are not figure hugging or super-plush but comfortable enough for 300 miles at a go. Rear leg room is fine for the 6'plus teenagers I transported.
The boot is huge, second to none for the price ... important for bike carrying as are the standard fitted rood rails.
Right now I'm averaging 59 to the gallon.
Dealer service was great, even includes free valeting whenever!

So if you're looking for a low-cost voluminous and economic new motor, put aside your disbelief and try a Dacia Logan. After all, people laughed when I bought an early Skoda Octavia .... they're no joke now .... but neither are they a bargain. But the Dacia is

One of the more erudite posts, if I may say so.

 

[Saluki]

Thanks for the write up.
My big old Saab won't last forever and I have greyhounds and bikes to move about, not to mention guitars, amps and the occasional bales of hay and straw,
I also like to hitch up a caravan from time to time. Do you think a Dacia would be happy towing a micro-caravan?

 

[Fab Foodie]

People can be so cruel.

One adapts ....

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thanks for the write-up. I might be in the market for a replacement for my Mondeo estate in the near future and I had wondered about a Dacia. I don't need or want theatre lighting, electric handbrakes or stop-start technology, but finding a modern car with a basic spec is fairly difficult. I had more-or-less made up my mind that I was going to look out for a well looked-after 80s or early 90s barge, but a new Dacia might be within budget at that price. I've heard some awful stories of poor quality control, so a review from an actual owner is really helpful.

Right now there is nothing to suggest that the build quality is nothing less than very good. Some of the plastics are a bit basic but it's all well put together and finished.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thanks for the write up.
My big old Saab won't last forever and I have greyhounds and bikes to move about, not to mention guitars, amps and the occasional bales of hay and straw,
I also like to hitch up a caravan from time to time. Do you think a Dacia would be happy towing a micro-caravan?

It's not a heavy car and the rear suspension becomes a bit bouncy when loaded which may not be the perfect characteristic of a tow car. The 1.5dci Renault engine is a known quantity and seems pretty tractable.

 

[biggs682]

@Fab Foodie you should have applied for the top gear role

glad you are happy with the Dacia and keep the updates coming please

serious note could you transport 3 road bikes in it once fr wheels removed and standing up ?

 

[Fab Foodie]

@Fab Foodie you should have applied for the top gear role

glad you are happy with the Dacia and keep the updates coming please

serious note could you transport 3 road bikes in it once fr wheels removed and standing up ?

I'll have to check, with the rear seats in place I suspect not but I need to find out!

 

[Fab Foodie]

I bet you could get three Bromptons in it, though

Oh yes .... Don't tempt me!

 

[dellzeqq]

He married a South London girl! The boy has taste! (Although the car looks like a Lego kit)

 

[perplexed]

He married a South London girl! The boy has taste! (Although the car looks like a Lego kit)

He may have taste, but does he have to frisk her for weapons...