British car buyers are facing an astonishing five-month waiting list for the new Dacia Duster, dubbed the cheapest new SUV on sale in the UK.
The Romanian-built car is attracting waiting list lengths reminiscent of a supercar or executive model, leaving many with a lengthy wait before they can drive the £9,000 SUV.
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The waiting list for the SUV - which costs less than a new Ford Fiesta - has been put in place after one in five Brits chose the bargain basement model.
The first shipments of the Dacia Duster, which is owned by French brand Renault, arrived in the UK at the end of last year but some customers could be forced to wait a little longer to get behind the wheel of the car.
Many customers who pre-ordered their Duster have been given initial delivery dates of March this year but those ordering now could be forced to wait for summer as demand outstrips supply for the budget SUV.
According to the brand: "Customers who placed an order during the pre-launch period are naturally being given priority in the queue."
Dacia has received over 2,000 orders for the Duster SUV since its launch this year - a third more than it predicted for the car touted as the cheapest new SUV on sale in the UK.
Entry-level Access models come in two-wheel drive variation and a basic level of equipment does not even include a radio but this has not put off British buyers.
According to Dacia, the news is a 'blow to some critics who claimed the attention-grabbing entry price purely a marketing stunt'.
Meanwhile, orders for the higher-specification 4x4 version of the SUV are 40 per cent higher than expectations, according to Dacia's latest figures.
The figures have been boosted by vehicle valuation experts at CAP, who have labelled the Duster one of the least depreciating SUVs in the UK.
Latest figures suggest the Duster will retain 34 per cent of its initial value after three years/60,000 miles, more than many of its SUV rivals.
And Dacia does not think the good news will stop there. The Dacia Sandero, a five-door hatchback that will become the cheapest new car on sale in the UK at around £7,000 and is expected to attract more interest from cash-conscious car buyers - if they are patient.
Written by Stephen Hurrell
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