First impressions of the trip: Vesta doesn’t drive at all compared to Almeria Classic

When AvtoVAZ first showed the production version of its new car Lada Vesta, everyone was a little shocked. No one expected that in Tolyatti they would ever be able to finally put their heads together and come up with something original and new, and not continue to copy their old ideas, presenting the same Kalina or Granta under a new name.

The car turned out to be an order of magnitude more successful than all its predecessors and, finally, was able to fulfill the dream of AvtoVAZ employees - they began to compare it with foreign models, as they say, “on an equal footing,” without any concessions, which means that the resulting car turned out to be at least competitive. And if the joint test drive with Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris was obvious, then for some reason few people wanted to compare the new Lada with the odious Nissan Almera. Well, let's try it!

Important points

The choice is not an easy matter, there are many manufacturers to suit every taste and budget, studded, Velcro. Different sizes of tires and wheels. Let's try to understand a complex topic using a specific example. I’ll show you which tires I chose, the tire size – width, height, wheel size. I’ll tell you why I decided to choose these particular tires, what motivated me and how much it costs.

I do not advertise any products or collaborate with stores. I bought the wheels with my own money. All advice is personal, you may not agree with it. Please express your questions and opinions in the comments.

Electrical diagrams, wiring harnesses, pinouts, contacts

The wires in the presented diagrams have a letter designation of color and a designation of the number of the circuit element to which this wire is connected.

Drive connecting the battery with the housing assembly (location)

Connecting wire of the battery with ground assembly (location)

Wire harness connecting battery and starter (location)

Engine ground wire assembly (location)

Front right door wiring harness assembly (location)

Front left door wiring harness assembly (location)

Rear door wiring harness assembly (location)

Ignition system wiring harness assembly (location)

Instrument panel wiring harness assembly (location)

Front wiring harness assembly (location)

Rear wiring harness assembly (location)

Rear bumper wiring harness assembly (location)

Rear additional right wiring harness assembly (location)

Rear additional wiring harness assembly (location)

Additional wiring harness assembly (location)

Tire markings and designations

Surely not all drivers know what numbers mean what on tires. For example, factory tires on the Lada Vesta are 185/65 R15.

Profile height in % of width. That is, in our case, 65% of 185 mm (about 120). Tire type is radial, designated by the letter “R”. There are also diagonal tires, but now they are more often used for special equipment.

Next, the diameter is indicated, not the radius, as many people mistakenly believe. It's the letter "R" that confuses them. The diameter is written in inches (25.4 mm).

We are looking among classmates

Within 650 thousand rubles. The selection of fresh foreign cars under three years old is not that great, but it is there. Let us say right away that we did not go into the technical condition of the cars we are selling, but we checked their legal purity using publicly available sources.

In our opinion, Ford Fiesta is undervalued by Russian buyers. The car offers good handling and original design

In our opinion, Ford Fiesta is undervalued by Russian buyers. The car offers good handling and original design

For example, for 650,000 rubles. They are offering the 2016 Ford Fiesta sedan (105 hp) with a mileage of 36,500 kilometers at the "hood" auction. The equipment is almost identical to Vesta: two pillows, standard audio system with USB and AUX, air conditioning, on-board computer. According to the title, one owner, judging by the databases, the car did not work in a taxi.

The interior of Fiesta is quite boring and does not create a festive mood. Yes, and there are some problems with ergonomics.

The interior of Fiesta is quite boring and does not create a festive mood. Yes, and there are some problems with ergonomics.

The cars are assembled in Tatarstan, the 1.6-liter engine is adapted for AI-92 fuel (as on Vesta, by the way), it is quite reliable. But the interior of the pre-restyling Fiesta is boring, the plastics are very cheap, and the fabric seat upholstery wears out pretty quickly.

Disk options

The diameter must match that indicated on the tire. The disc must also be the correct width.

Rim width is measured in inches (in our case 6 inches). This disc can accommodate tires with a width of 175 to 205 mm.

But ideally 185-195 mm. The disc must also fit the car (Lada Vesta). The number of mounting holes on the disk and hub must match (4 pcs.). The diameter of the location of the mounting holes (100 mm) is also important.

The diameter of the central hole of the wheel must also match (for us 60.1 mm). If it is larger, then you can buy special inserts.

Disc offset

This important parameter, denoted by the Latin letters “ET”, is measured in mm. It means the distance between the axis of symmetry of the disk and the axis of attachment of the disk to the hub.

The smaller this distance, the more the disc moves outward, and the larger the car track.

For example, on a Lada Vesta on 15-16 wheels the offset is 50 mm and the track is 1510 mm.

If we take the “Cross” version, then it has 17 wheels with an offset of 43 mm. Compared to the regular version, the wheel is 7 mm larger. The track will already be 1524 mm - 7 mm will be added to each wheel.

It is not recommended to change this parameter by more than 5 mm; the car’s handling and the load on the suspension will change.

All acceptable wheel types are listed in the owner's manual. Therefore, it is better to follow AvtoVAZ’s recommendations.

This is 185/65 R15 or 195/55 R16. The first size is the most common. The second is not produced by all factories and is more expensive than 205/55 R16. Although a little smaller in size. It installs on standard 16-wheel drives without any problems and doesn’t hit anything on Vesta.

Exterior

There are fundamentally different approaches to design here. If the designers of Vesta tried to make their milestone model as spectacular and aggressive as possible, then the creators of Almera chose a completely different path. They decided to create a copy of Teana, only noticeably smaller and much cheaper, doing everything in a strict and respectable style.

The Russian sedan stands out with a powerful radiator grille and a massive air intake. The front is decorated with the letter “X”, made of chrome strips along the contour of stylish optics. Inflated and powerful sidewalls, with the same X-shaped stampings along the entire length of the wings and doors, are decorated with branded wheels. And the faceted shape of the rear lights, coupled with the large letters LADA, complete the successful image.

Vesta's appearance is impressive, especially in comparison with other AvtoVAZ models.

Almera is not like that. Large L-shaped headlights, a powerful radiator grille made of chrome strips, a classic bumper and a forward-sloping hood create an impression of solidity. It only intensifies when looking at the serious profile and expressive stern. Impressive length, streamlined lights, nicer wheels, a powerful trunk lid and other attributes make Nissan definitely recognizable.

Miniature Teana - this is how Almera can be called.

But there are also criticisms. Thus, Vesta is often reproached for her too aggressive style, which, according to some, is overflowing. On the other hand, Almeria's design is often found lacking in harmony. So in terms of appearance, the decision will depend on the tastes of the visitor to car dealerships.

How to choose tires

I decided on some parameters in advance - I definitely decided that I would buy studded tires. I live in a small town where the roads are not always cleaned; sometimes I go out of town. If you live in a region where there is a real Russian winter, then there is no alternative to thorns.

Velcro performs much worse on ice than studded tires. Of course, it is quieter and more comfortable, but if you make a choice between comfort and safety, then the second is more important.

I decided exactly what brand of tires I would buy. The last car had Michelin X Ice North 2.

I've driven it 65 thousand km in 7 years and it still looks fine. Over time it has lost its properties, but most of the thorns have been preserved. The tires are comfortable and performed well on slippery roads and asphalt.

I also decided to put Michelin on the Lada Vesta; last year a new modification, X Ice North 4, was released.

I read a lot of reviews, feedback, comments. This is one of the best tires available today. You shouldn't skimp on tires. If you compare the braking distance at 100 km per hour on good tires and cheap ones, the difference is 30-40 meters.

Of course, tires cannot provide a guarantee, and you can fly off the track with any tires. But high-quality wheels will help you avoid an accident, and the chance of this is much higher.

Often people do not have enough money, they buy the tires they earned. Something else is not clear - cheap tires on alloy wheels. It is better to buy high-quality rubber, but stamped ones. Beauty and tuning are good, but safety is more important.

A test competitor for any bride

Both test drives and convenience tests show that AvtoVAZ’s new product is at least as good as its eastern sister. You can try to get to the bottom of the trunk volume (Almera has 500 liters versus Vesta’s 480), but it immediately becomes clear that such a slight advantage is just nitpicking. We can congratulate each other - the Tolyatti Automobile Plant has finally managed to create a good car, in some moments even ahead of its foreign competitors in class.

After reading this article, you will understand that now the only choice you will need to make before buying a car is choosing the name of the car, and not the advantages.

How much money is needed

I had 30 thousand rubles, went shopping, compared prices.

Advice: do not buy tires and wheels at the first store you come across, prices vary greatly.

In neighboring stores, the price per set may differ by 6-8 thousand. For example, I found Michelin tires for the Lada Vesta in the cheapest store that cost 3,950 rubles. The most expensive one costs 4,900 rubles. “SKAD” wheels: cheap – 4000, expensive – 4500.

The kit could be bought for 32 thousand, and exactly the same one in another store for 38. This is provided that the diameter is R15. If we compare 16 wheels, I couldn’t find Michelin 195/55 R16 tires; other options start from 5,500 rubles. The closest size to the factory one is 195/60 R16, but the price tag for it is too high - from 6800 rubles.

A larger tire 205/55 R16 costs from 5,500 rubles - a difference of 1,300. The price for 16 SKAD wheels is 5,000 rubles, a set with tires costs about 42 thousand.

I found the wheels and tires in an online store, I won’t indicate the name so as not to advertise. It turned out cheaper there, the order is delivered within a week, tire fitting costs 600 rubles. For the money with alloy wheels it was only enough for 15 wheels. I wanted to buy 16 from stampings, but I didn’t. I also considered buying 16 wheels without rims to put them on the factory ones. Later I thought about saving up money for good CDs.

Clutch, gearbox, transmission Lada Vesta

Products from the Dustershop77 range on the topic of the article:

Advantages and disadvantages

For 15 disks, the advantages are:

1. Price (the set is 9,000 rubles cheaper).
2. The car drives smoother.
3. The wheels are practical, easier to find in a store.
4. It's harder to get a side cut.
5. Less chance of denting discs.

With 16 wheels, the Lada Vesta looks more beautiful and handles better. As a result, I settled on size 15 - 195/65 R15. In this size, the outer diameter, compared to stock wheels, is 13 mm larger. The wheel arch is filled out more, but the wheel appears visually smaller. The ground clearance rises by 6.5 mm.

This option is also suitable for the Cross package. The difference in outer diameter with standard tires is only 2 mm.

I was worried that the front wheels would hit when turning. Therefore, I bought wheels with an offset of not 50, but 45 mm. This does not affect anything, and for the Cross the offset is generally 43 mm.

Whose salon is better?

In terms of interior configuration and ergonomics, both models do not differ categorically, however, the Russian car has a number of competitive advantages.

The interior of the Nissan Almera G15 is a big loser, as it looks boring and unassuming against the backdrop of its impressive appearance. There are no innovations here: the dashboard is copied from Logan. The interior is designed in one gray tone, the plastic is cheap, the air nozzles are round, and the aluminum inserts stand out as foreign and unnatural. This interior is not at all conducive to a long stay in the car. The only thing that can catch the eye is the chrome-plated edging of the ventilation system holes and the steering nameplate.

As for the ergonomic characteristics here, things are going well. Conveniently located keys, an informative dashboard, but the seats are not very comfortable. The rear is spacious, making the car suitable for large families. The sound insulation is let down and while driving you can hear the engine running in the cabin, the whistling of the wind outside the window, the sounds of falling raindrops, etc.

Lada Vesta pleases with a spectacular interior with a branded multi-function steering wheel and an informative instrument panel. Despite the fact that the plastic is not of the highest quality, it looks high-quality and organic. Contrast is provided by chrome trim. The seats are more comfortable than those of the Almera, but the second row is tighter than that of its competitor. In terms of visibility and sound insulation of the interior, Vesta greatly benefits from comparison in Almeroy.

Does the speedometer differ in speed?

Many companies have conducted tests that compare speedometer readings with real speed. An error of 3-5 km at 100 km per hour is normal and exists on almost all cars. Usually the speedometer shows more than it should. The higher the speed, the greater the error, which can reach 20 km per hour.

On the regular Lada Vesta and the Cross version, the difference in the outer diameter of the wheel is about 15 mm. On cars with the same gearbox and equal engine speeds, the speed varies. Vesta Cross will go 2.5 km/h faster. But it’s unlikely that anyone adjusted and adjusted the speedometer on the Cross. If I'm wrong, write in the comments, maybe everything is wrong.

If you measured the actual speed of the car, be sure to write it down. Let's find out how different the speed of a regular Vesta is from the Cross configuration. Also indicate what wheels are installed on your car and their offset. If you set a certain size and difficulties arise (for example, the wheel began to touch), write to us. This will warn other drivers. Your experience may be useful, please share it.

For originals

If you are a fan of the “French”, then as an alternative you can consider the Peugeot 408 sedan assembled in Kaluga. This car formally belongs to the C-class. In the secondary market there are several cars with a 150-horsepower gasoline engine. Moreover, for 600 thousand you can find a car with only 50 thousand kilometers, manufactured in 2016.

From the front, the Peugeot 408 almost completely replicates the 308 hatchback. But the rear stern attached makes the appearance of the sedan heavier.

From the front, the Peugeot 408 almost completely replicates the 308 hatchback. But the rear stern attached makes the appearance of the sedan heavier.

There will also be side airbags, 2-zone climate control, and an audio system with Blueooth. The offer seems very tempting, but before purchasing it is still worth conducting a thorough technical inspection.

The French salon, originally created for the Chinese market, does not shine with design delights. The materials are cheap both in appearance and touch.

The French salon, originally created for the Chinese market, does not shine with design delights. The materials are cheap both in appearance and touch.

The design of the Peugeot 408 sedan is far from the elegance of a hatchback, and the platform is old. In addition, these cars were used quite often in taxis (never trust the stated mileage). But the 150-horsepower engine is paired with a fairly reliable automatic transmission, which cannot be said about the 120-horsepower version with the notorious AL4 - the curse of the entire PSA concern. In 2011, it was modernized and even changed its index to AT8, but most of the “childhood diseases” have not gone away.

Is the car out of warranty?

If you do not put something completely unusual on the car, then there will be no problems with the dealer. They sell and install wheels themselves, which do not always correspond to the dimensions of AvtoVAZ. If you were denied a warranty due to the size of the wheels, be sure to write and we will discuss the issue. So far I am not aware of such cases.

As a result, I ordered Michelin X Ice North 4 size 195/65 R15, they are a little more expensive than 185. I paid 4040 rubles for them. I bought the wheels from SCAD Samurai with an offset of 45 mm - 3590 rubles. Plus 600 rubles – tire fitting. Slightly exceeded my budget, spent a total of 31,120 rubles. The discs were packed in boxes, nothing was damaged.

The stove on the Lada Vesta does not warm the feet well - what to do

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14.43. Corrosion of metal

Approximately 70% of the cost of a car is determined by the condition of the body. And it, in turn, depends on whether the car has been in an accident and, most importantly, on the degree of its corrosion damage.

The causes of accelerated corrosion are divided into two groups and are related:

– with design or technological features of specific models; – with external influences.

The first group includes:

– the occurrence of high voltages and vibrations of the body metal; – the presence of “pockets” in the load-bearing sections of the bodies; – use of thin metal sheet (0.7–0.8 mm); – the use of metal with impurities that increase the corrosion rate; – the presence of corrosion concentrates in the form of moldings and other decorations.

External influences include:

– sulfur compounds, carbon dioxide and chlorides contained in the environment; – saline solutions used to combat ice.

In our conditions, various salt solutions have the greatest impact, as they lead to the formation of conductive “bridges” between body parts, which, as a rule, have different electrical potentials. This causes the most rapid type of metal destruction – electrochemical corrosion. The bottom line is that all cars have a single-wire electrical circuit, and, therefore, currents “walk” through the body from one consumer to another.

We will not delve further into the theory, leaving it to specialists in the field of corrosion, and turn to practical issues. These results are based on the use of three types of instruments during the examination, which make it possible to evaluate:

– change in the thickness of the “living” metal, that is, not subject to corrosion; – the degree of erosion of the metal from the inside, in other words, the degree of its loosening or destruction by oxides; – the thickness of cosmetic layers (paint, putty), which allows you to determine whether the body has been repaired and attempts to hide it.

The results of the examinations carried out by specialists allow us to draw the following conclusions:

1. In the conditions of our region, the rate of corrosion penetration into metal for cars with winter operation is 0.2 mm per year and 0.1 mm per year for cars that have not seen salt.

2. Corrosion develops especially quickly in areas that have undergone body repairs, and very quickly if this repair was carried out using welding or soldering, since electrochemical pairs are created from dissimilar metals. For those buying a car, especially a foreign car, this is fundamentally important. It’s not for nothing that thrifty Europeans almost always sell even a slightly damaged car (albeit after receiving insurance) for next to nothing – $1–2 thousand. The reader probably knows for himself how much they are then resold in our markets. But if you are lucky enough to discover a hidden defect before making a purchase, know that the real cost of such a car is 25–50% lower than that of an undamaged one. We must not forget that sooner or later you will be selling a car, and without experts, only very naive people now make expensive purchases.

Comparison of Lada Vesta 1.6 and Nissan Almera 1.6

The corrosion process occurs most quickly in cars that are used in winter and stored in garages, especially warm ones, without first dissolving the salts with running water. We emphasize, not rinsing, but dissolving. Those who believe that by washing the lower part of the car with a strong jet are doing a good deed are very mistaken. Salts dissolve easily even without strong pressure, but protective coatings from a powerful jet quite quickly “unstick” from the metal and sag, creating only the illusion of protection. In the cavities formed between the metal and the sagging mastic, corrosion develops much faster than on open metal.

It is highly not recommended to wash the car with hot water, since due to different temperature expansion, the protective coatings that first warm up “slide” off the metal, creating a negative effect.

Those who believe that the thicker the protective coating, the better, are wrong. It's just the opposite. The main thing is that there are no breaks in the coating, and therefore it must be updated regularly.

In conclusion, some practical advice. Of the two cars, the better one is not the one that is “younger,” but the one in which the process of metal destruction has not penetrated to a depth of more than 0.4–0.5 mm. In this case, no treatment can prevent the formation of holes after one and a half to two years. And vice versa, even an old car, which has had reliable protection since the beginning of its operation, will last for many years. In our conditions, it is possible to repair the engine and chassis of a foreign car, but it is not economically feasible to repair a badly rotten body.

Comparison

We compare two new manual transmission hatchbacks purchased at a dealership from different manufacturers by category:

1. Engine operation. Over several tens and hundreds of thousands of kilometers, owners of Solaris have no complaints about it, no repairs are carried out. The Priora has problems with spark plugs after 30 thousand kilometers, and after another 20 thousand the timing belt breaks and bends the valves. At the same time, when replacing the spark plugs, a preventive inspection was carried out; there were no complaints about the belt. When examining the timing bearings, play was discovered; they turned out to be of different production and of low quality - Polish and Chinese. After another 20 thousand kilometers, the timing roller jams and the valves bend again. In terms of build quality, the Priora is significantly inferior to the reliable Korean.

2. Transmission. Here again Solaris is in the lead; it had no problems, whereas on Priora the clutch fork had to be replaced after 20 thousand kilometers. After short runs, many Priorovodov hear the noise of the bearings from the gearbox and the crackling of the clutch pedal.
3. Winter operation. Cars were placed on an equal footing.

Which car is better to use: Priora or Solaris

It is not entirely correct to compare a representative of the domestic automobile industry with the Korean one. Although often future owners choose between Priora and Solaris. This is due to the fact that you can buy a fully equipped Lada for almost the same money as a “Korean” in the “comfort” assembly. In terms of their technical characteristics, these cars are similar, but in terms of operation they will have differences. A comparative analysis will help solve the question of which is better - Lada Priora or Hyundai Solaris.