Very sadly we are selling this car which we bought in France over 6 years ago as a stopgap. We took it over to the UK for a couple of years and imported it back in 2022. Because of the meticulous care and servicing of the previous owner it lasted pretty well for the first four years. But since we came back to France it has caused problems. In 2023 the gear stick failed on a cold January day in Limoges. Last year the compressor for the hydraulics failed in Angoulême. Now finally the starter motor failed in Limoges on a Sunday on one of the hottest days of the year. My OH is too frail to take this kind of hassle so we have to buy a new car and sell this one. We’ve been to a Citroen dealer who offered between €500 and €1000 in part exchange so this is the sort of price we’re looking for. Unfortunately it broke down at the worst time of year when all the local garages are closed bar one where it’s been for nearly two weeks without being looked at. We should get our new car on September 5th and will keep the Xantia insured until the end of September.
If you’re getting a new Citroën, take the part exchange.
Unfortunately not we’re getting a Dacia Sandero
Why not just trade it in Geoffrey, and minimise the hassle.
Surely you mean “fortunately we’re not getting a dacia”
I couldn’t trade it in because the car is stuck in the only garage that’s open at the moment. So it may be repaired this week or maybe next week if I’m lucky. I’ve also just learnt that it can’t be sold privately with only 10 months Crt. So I’m afraid it’s for the scrap yard
I’m pretty sure that you can sell it with a fail.
The day I consider getting a duster is the day I walk into the sea, however shit life gets if it ever gets duster shit there really isn’t much point carrying on…
Great song though…
Another one bites the duster
Another one bites the duster
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the duster (yeah)
Hey, I’m gonna get you, too
Another one bites the duster
Poor old Freddy knew his cars.
Nevertheless, they’re not that bad.
A competition version of the Duster, fitted with a 350 hp (261 kW) V6 petrol engine and driven by Alain Prost, took part in the 2009–2010 edition of the French ice racing championship Andros Trophy,[162] finishing in second place at the end of the season.
The new Dusters look nice too.
Fascinating. Are dusters (and other Dacias) so bad? No experience of them at all, but they seem very popular in France. I noticed they even have a Range Rover equivalent based on size and style (or lack).
I’ve known people who’ve had a Duster (ok but very plasticky) a Dacia Logan (truly awful), a Sandero (almost as awful) and a 7 seater that I can’t remember the name of or what it was like as I was getting a lift back from the rugby at Brive 
Can you name one car costing less than 20000 that’s not plasticy and as slow as a funeral. I’d be grateful if you can as we’d go and buy it.
Citroen C3?
The eC3 is excellent. I had one for a few weeks and could find absolutely nothing to fault it, great little car, and for those who haven’t yet taken advantage of the bonus écologique it can become remarkably cheap. The Grande Panda, which is probably basically the same car as they’re both Stellantis, looks great too
It’s a Renault built down to a budget, what could possibly go wrong? 
Dacias aren’t “drivers’ cars”, then? 
We’ve tried the C3 and Fiat Panda and the Sandero is no worse than either. It is also the cheapest option and will be available in two weeks. The choice at this time of year is very limited. The entry price was €13000 which was not available so we had to opt for the next which is just above €16000. Anyway thanks for all the good advice and we still have 10 days to change our mind.
My daughter has a Dacia Duster (in the UK) and it has proved more reliable and less expensive to run than their previous cars - a Mazda CX-5 and a Volvo something-or-other.
Admittedly, it’s built to a budget and it’s unlikely to win any races, rallies or concours d’elegance, but for her it provides inexpensive and reliable family motoring.
I reckon about one in 10 or 11 cars round here (Morvan) is a Dacia of some description, they are astonishingly popular.
I do have a memory of a new one breaking down in front of us going into Autun, and helping the elderly couple push it off the road. But there seems to be a lot around, and they can’t be that bad. Not a drivers car for sure though, but neither is most of the output or VAG, Stellantis et al.
They are ‘real people’ cars, Porridge.
The Duster is what a lot of French families can just about afford, and the Sandero is a starter car for someone wanting to buy new, or for a single ordinary person.