1998 Moskvitch 214145 Svyatogor review from Russia

Gearbox jammed at 2,500 km.

Ignition coil malfunction at 25,000 km

Coolant overflow tank cracked 3 times.

This car is a loyal performer if you know your way around cars. It is my first car and I love it, despite that it has no power steering, power windows, or a moonroof.

A Renault 2.0 EFI engine added just the right amount of muscle to the car - it "shows teeth" even to more refined cars and can show-off from a low-start easily.

The big negative moment is the inadequate brakes - the vented front brake disks and disks at the rear would have been a better choice for a car that can make 190 km/h on a highway - standard disks and rear drums make speeds higher then 160 km/h uncomfortable.

Suspension is a simple yet durable construction, that allows you to forget about it for more than 60.000 km, even on Russian roads.

This car offers you a chance of being a mechanic yourself as it is easily repairable in the garage and the spare parts are cheap.

Handling is good - it keeps its direction easily, even on the asphalt that's developed deep tracks from heavy trucks, and it takes a lot to make it spin, even on a wet road.

It's a shame that AZLK factory in Russia, which has manufactured these cars, ceased functioning in 2002.