The distributor was replaced at 110.000km due to a faulty condenser.
Brake master cylinder was replaced at 112.000km.
The front suspension bushes were replaced at 106.000km with cheap imitation parts. They had to be replaced again at 112.000km, so this time genuine Lada bushes were installed.
The engine burns a lot of oil, so it probably needs to be rebuilt with new piston rings...
The interior is spacious, and the build quality is average. My '89 model has better seats and soundproofing than earlier models, so it's more comfortable.
The handling is perfect if you are familiar with rear-wheel-drive, but the brakes are barely adequate for fast driving.
The engine is torquey, but 62HP are not enough for the 1000kg+ car. The gearbox may have close ratios, but the car is rather slow.
The car is very robust and reliable.
All the repairs needed were either due to normal wear or due to my aggressive driving style.
The repairs cost is very cheap, cheaper than any other car I've ever owned. The petrol consumption ranges from 8-12l/100km, depending on your driving style...
In general, it is a very honest car, very cheap to run, reliable, with good handling and decent comfort...
It's not a modern car (the original design goes back to 1964), of course, but it's perfect if you seek a low-budget means of transport with lots of character.
After taking my car to the local Lada dealer, I replaced the valve stem seals and the car has stopped consuming oil!!!
They told me that Lada engines start consuming oil after 200.000km and are generally bulletproof!!! Amazing, for such a cheap car!
Therefore, I'm even happier with my car now :-)
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