Comments: 1-15, 16-19
Both headlights needed to be replaced.
Rubbers around joints needed replacement.
I made a big trip with it trough Scandinavia, 7500km in three weeks, and after ca. 6000km it left me stranded with a broken ignition, the costs where 400 Euros to be towed 100km and 100 Euros for repair costs.
After the trip the fuel indicator broke down.
Also the heater got stuck in on position.
Horn did not work anymore
Heater of rear screen does not work.
Plastic winders of both side windows broke in pieces.
Hole corroded trough in wheel arche.
Corrosion on hatchback.
Hatchback also opens very heavely, people who are not used to it think it is locked when it is not.
Side windows do not close properly.
Lock of left door does not always work.
It is a very basic form of transportation, it is very slow in acceleration, but after a long time it can reach a tops peed of 160 km/hour to everyone's surprise.
It has a lot more space than it looks like at first, more space (and comfort!) than for example a 1995 Opel Astra, 1997 Volkswagen Golf or 1992 Toyota Corolla. This space is only available for the front seats and booth, at the costs of the rear passengers.
It also is quite fuel economic, in city 15km to the liter is possible 18km to the liter on secondary roads.
Most of the noise (and it's a lot) comes from the side windows that do not close properly.
All the used materials are of inferior quality and crumble to pieces.
The hatchback of this car seems to be of different quality than the rest of the body work. It's paint is not as smooth (or should I say even rougher) and of slightly different color. It does not fit very well, it opens difficultly, and corrodes a lot more than the rest of the bodywork. Still the previous owner and dealer claim it has never been replaced.
It makes coming and going squeaking and rattling noises from everywhere.
It is not very reliable and looks awful, although it grows on you (except the front, you need to be blind for that).
To my opinion it could be a good car for developing countries with poor road conditions where cars tend to breakdown anyway and labor is cheap, in the developed world it is a dissapointment, rediculed by others (that have to overtake you, even if you do 160km/h on the freeway and they cannot go faster either) so do not get involved in them!
Once you have owned a Lada, you know for sure that you will never, under any circumstances travel in a Russian helicopter.
I saw an 'N' registered Lada of the same model last week.
This one had several rust holes in it.
When the driver was driving off, the engine just cut out at the junction, and I know he did not stall it because I do know what a stall sounds like.
It also had a very lean smell of unburnt petrol coming from the exhaust.
160km/h in a lada, that's gotta be some kind of record!
Errr.. no, it's not quite a record, my LADA 110 16V (Yes!) will easily exceed the 200km/h! The only modifications made were an other chip in the computer and a REMUS exhaust.
So far it ran faultless for 34.000 km's and has annoyed a lot of GTI drivers who have had big trouble to overtake it!You can have a lot of fun with a LADA for the price of an ALTO. Howzat!
OK, this site seems pretty useful... lots of reviews, even for the rarest cars. But you've gotta wonder how much you can rely on the opinions of those that own the car their reviewing - I'm wondering if people generally somehow grow attached to their wheels, even if it is the biggest pile of crap ever excreted from a factory.
I got to thinking this when I read that so many people are fond of their Lada Samaras - a joke of a car if ever there was one...
Now don't be so harsh. VAZ-company built Lada Samaras for a long time and with various levels of quality. Towards the end quality and workmanship got better and with electronic fuel injection, engine problems ended.
Also, I think with the older models the biggest problem was owners not taking good care of their cars.
Samaras drive well, are sturdy and good in wintery slippery conditions as well as being cheap transportation.
Of course the more money you spend on a car, the better it gets, but it's still the same points A and B you are moving between.
The character who delights in rubbishing the Samara (in language, which one may describe as rather low, and certainly most unsavoury) neglects to tell us WHY? Is it because he is just another of those prejudiced individuals, who seem to derive a weird sense of pleasure in simply being as nasty and hateful as they can be? Notice, he presents no facts or evidence to back up his hateful venom. His "comment" is best described in language that he understands best- and that is: 'CRAP'.
Trust me, Russian car is bad car. We Russians, like foreign cars: Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, and so on.
Many of these foreign imports are second hand (used) vehicles with relatively high mileages, and have suffered quite a lot of wear and tear. Enjoy them in the short term, but get ready for on-going EXPENSIVE repair bills as they start breaking down- and remember, you won`t have any come back (warranty agreements) to fall back on. Nothing "bad" about Russian cars. Trust me. May not be as "sophisticated" as what you might want to be seen in, but let me tell you, my friend, in the long run, they will be much LESS EXPENSIVE to repair and maintain than your older foreign imports, that have seen better years. Wait till you have to start locating and replacing all the electronic gadgetry such as "black boxes", computer programmes, modules etc.- which will all start failing. That`s when the REAL fun starts. Don`t want to believe me? That`s O.K. Your hip pocket will soon wake you up. Enjoy! Oh, and Good Luck!
Curious comment from the Russian gentleman, who asks us to "trust" him when he states that Russian cars are "bad". Sorry, how can we trust you? You provide absolutely no evidence for your opinion- therefore it`s not worth anything. Also, who do you represent when you say "We Russians"? Maybe, it`s just you and a couple of mates? Read a few reviews; might just open your eyes. Russian cars are not as good as some brands, but they certainly are not bad. In fact, some like the Niva are better and far more reliable than other more costlier 4X4s from other countries, like Korea. Try being a little bit more objective; then we might listen.
Well, if anybody spend few minutes to compare Samara with the same sized cars from other companies the result for the price,internal size, economic & top speed will be Samara's, also acceleration is not bad at all "for the 1500cc model" as I read here it's very correct "the much you spend the much you got",regular maintenance is essential for any car, for the hatch door, it's not correct what mentioned it's differs than the rest of the car "maybe the old owner changed it",as I got it new mine is doing good, no color changes.
You may trust me, because I had many marks and models of Russian cars.
I agree that they have got a good price, new car - about three hundred thousand roubles or ten thousand dollars. It is price of not very old foreign car. However, you will have many problems with same Lada after one year and will not have any problems with import after five years, you will only change oil, filters, belts etc.
So, better I will drive (example) Toyota 2001 year made. With automatic transmission and full electric equipment.
Perhaps, new model of Lada will appear soon, but it will be another car and another price.
Best regards from Russia!
"You will not have any problems with import (used imported car) AFTER five years". Really? Sounds like wishful thinking, to me. After 5 years, or so, all makes of cars are prone to developing problems - often due to normal, or in some cases, excessive wear and tear, high mileage, and (in some cases) poor maintenance and abuse by the previous, original owner. If you are lucky, you might get a good one - but generally, buying second-hand is risky. You might just be buying somebody`s else`s problems. Expensive repairs are not pleasant at the best of times - and 'high tech' imported cars, with all their complicated electronic gadgetry, can be VERY expensive to repair and maintain. However, each to their own. At least, you`re aware.
'The grass always seems greener on the other side. Doesn`t it.
I am from New Zealand, and I am proud to say that I own a 1993 Samara 3-door hatch-back. It is a fantastic little car. I have just done some major work to it because of abuse and misuse on the part of the last owner, and, if I thought it was fast when I first bought it a year ago, then it is really fast now. As a bog standard car, its 0-100kph time right down at the 8.0-8.5sec mark. The cost that I incurred in replacing the engine, renewing the clutch, rebuilding the cooling system (mechanical and electrical), overhauling the badly corroded electrics (from use as a dune buggy), and other small miscellaneous items was about NZ$1200. I could not have expected to do repairs to the same degree on any other car for less than four times that price. I am absolutely satisfied with Lada.
P.S. I also have a 1985 2105 (Riva). I went off the road at 115kph avoiding an overtaking oncoming car, flew over a drainage culvert, through some farmer's fence, and into a paddock full of hay bales. The only damage was to the car, and that was only a slight dent in the sump!! I drove away!
Great to hear from another Lada enthusiast. Loved your comment about the Riva. People who`ve never owned or driven these cars, just don`t realise how strong and tough they are. I had a V.W. Transporter van collide into the front side of my stationary 1992 Lada Niva, a few years ago. The whole front of the V.W. was demolished, and the van was a write off. The Niva`s front wheel arch was pushed in by approx. 10 - 15 cms., and the steel road wheel was slightly buckled. That was it. I drove home without any problems. The thickness of the body panels on these cars is nearly double that of other cars. Sure that makes the cars relatively heavier - but it also makes them extremely strong and durable- and that`s very comforting, especially when a large V.W. van runs into you at 60 km./hr! And you simply step out - without a scratch. Love my Lada!