Faults:

- Brake pedal mechanism developed a strange squeak when releasing the pedal, but this only happened when the car was moving.

- Rubber seals on the front doors starting coming loose and falling off.

- Rattles from the A-pillar and headlining trim.

- Erratic infotainment system.

General Comments:

I bought this car knowing it was at the budget conscious end of the market, but I believed the cost saving was in using old technology, less soundproofing, hard plastics and less equipment.

I was very impressed with how practical it was for such a small car. Everything I put in the boot it swallowed. Also, the turning circle is very tight making maneuvering around tight spaces surprisingly easy.

It is also comfortable, the automatic gearbox is smooth and it is reasonably quick off the mark. From an engine, transmission and electrical point of view I have had no problems.

However, in the 21st century, even with budget cars I expected everything to be screwed together properly, and unfortunately this is not the case with the Duster. The build quality is the biggest let down and what has led me to terminate my PCP early.

The infotainment system would switch on by itself, but this was easily fixed by the dealer which was fine. The issues started when the rubber door seals started coming loose and fell off. These are the kind of comments found when describing a 20 year old car, not a 2 year old car, and when I took it to the dealer they said it was wear and tear, which I find absolutely outrageous as the clips do not wear out in 2 years as they are not consumable parts like tyres and brakes. This then questioned the longevity of the car.

About a month ago the brake pedal started making a strange squeaking noise - not even my 17 year old Saab has ever done this, and after the experience with the rubber seals I decided the car had to go before I start paying hundreds of pounds in repair bills due to premature wear and tear, which is better described as faulty workmanship.

Unless Dacia improve on their quality, I won't be returning to this brand again.