Difficult to “kill” and easy to repair: what its owners and service station workers say about the Lada Granta

08 April 2020 Lada.Online 33 252 8

Modern AVTOVAZ workers do not remember the history of the appearance of the name LADA. There is an assumption that the name “Lada” comes from the consonant word “Rook”. This image has been used on AvtoVAZ car badges since 1970. At first it was only the export name of the car. The name Lada turned out to be so successful that later all other cars of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant began to be called that.

In general, Lada is a modern female Slavic name. In the Old Russian language, the word lada meant “spouse”, and later “spouse”, “sweetheart”.

Which Lada models have been discontinued?

You, as the owner of a LADA, can always make an appointment for maintenance with an official dealer, buy original accessories or download an operating manual.

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Birth of Lada Granta

At the development stage, Lada Granta had the working name Low cost, which meant “low price”. The Kalina platform was taken as the basis. Since this model did not achieve sales targets, there was a lot of unused equipment that was purchased for its assembly. This decision made it possible to make maximum use of everything that was already in the warehouse. And this, as a result, significantly reduced costs and development time. Thanks to this, the Lada Granta (VAZ-2190) appeared in less than 2 years. The prospects for such rapid development made it possible to save about 30%, which influenced the price formation.

However, the savings didn't stop there. In technological terms, everything was also reduced to a minimum. If we compare some car parts, then in the VAZ-2190 their number was reduced three times or more. The door decoration became very simple, with virtually no decorative elements, there were no electronics on the instrument panel, and the front bumper had the most primitive appearance. The predecessor to this decision was the experience with Renault Logan, which, in turn, ousted the domestic brand from the Russian market.

With the arrival of foreigners in our auto industry, so-called “dummies” appeared. What does this mean? The new brand in its basic version is a combination of chassis, engine and body. This is where the configuration elements end. This is exactly the “Grant” (VAZ-2190) that was at a promotional price. To the surprise of drivers, even simple mirrors and glass were installed here. And such elements as power steering, multimedia, airbags and other equipment could be purchased for an additional fee.

External characteristics

The exterior of the car leaves much to be desired. It looks quite dull and simple. To develop it, the designers used a computer program, which, it is worth noting, was outdated. The resulting layout was so bad that the company had to invite British specialist Steve Mattin to the position of chief designer.

"Lada Granta" (VAZ-2190) is a B-class sedan, however, due to its increased dimensions, it is often classified as a "C" category. The weight of the car is slightly more than one ton, the ground clearance is 160 mm. Dimensions: 4260x1700x1500 mm. The wheelbase parameters did not exceed 2500 mm.

Lada Granta interior equipment

When purchasing a Lada Granta directly in the Norma configuration from AvtoVAZ, the consumer pays attention to the equipment and the presence of interior comfort elements. This complete set of characteristics, which may differ, depending on the client’s wishes, comes with or without air conditioning. The presence of modernized window lifts in front at the touch of a button distinguishes the Norma version from the Standard.

The steering wheel uses power steering. This makes it possible to change the position of the steering column by changing the angle of inclination. This equipment allows you to improve ergonomic performance for the driver by adjusting the main machine control devices according to individual parameters.

The upgraded Lada Granta model is also equipped with a good split-system interior. Which creates comfortable conditions even on hot days. The trunk lock and central locking are functional in their parameters.

When purchased, the Norma package can be supplemented upon request with a heated windshield and exterior mirrors system, and can be supplied with or without air conditioning.

It is also necessary not to forget about small details. Therefore, when purchasing a Lada from the Grant Norma line, many buyers focus on this in order to compare the amount of money paid with the functionality received. The model includes: side and door armrests for the convenience of passengers, an ashtray, and a car cigarette lighter.

The installed filtration system, which is included in the package, prevents dusty air from entering the machine. The on-board computer fully controls the operating parameters of the main car systems.

Tuning solutions

The Lada Granta stands out not only for its interior design, but also for the tuning solutions that determine its appearance. The style and original exterior of the sedan is achieved by making the car body and bumpers in a single color scheme.

The car owes its solid appearance to the installed cast steel wheels. They ensure the stability of the car on uneven surfaces and also guarantee greater safety for passengers.

The radiator grille is framed by an additional chrome trim, which clearly highlights the AvtoVAZ logo. The photo session of the Lada Grant allows every car enthusiast to verify the positive changes that have affected the external design of the car. The range of color schemes for the Granta body is quite wide, this is what is included in the presented package. In showrooms, the car is sold both in the usual shades of light and dark, and in bright cherry and dark blue.

In general, the vehicle attracts attention and does not frighten away with aggressive external features, which expands the possible contingent of buyers. And the presence of a good engine with sufficient power and good interior design bring the model to a leading position in popularity. It depends on what's included in the updated version. The price is suitable for car enthusiasts, starting with a regular wallet size.

Interesting stories from Lada Granta

There were several interesting stories associated with Granta. The first is choosing a name. An advertising ploy was invented, the purpose of which was to bring the car as close as possible to the people. Thanks to the slogan “The people's car - the people's name,” it was possible to attract the attention of people of different incomes. A competition was held, in which a resident of Krasnoyarsk became the winner. The prize is a new Lada Kalina. Even here, the company ended up winning by presenting an unpopular model.

Another story that happened during testing of the VAZ-2190 car gave great interest to this model. The debut took place with the participation of the President of the Russian Federation. Putin personally wanted to arrange a test drive, but the manufacturers forgot to warn about the features of the gas pedal. In the pre-production version, an electronic version was installed. As a result, it was possible to start the car only on the fifth try. After this, people's opinions were divided; many considered this an imperfection and an indicator of poor quality of domestic products. However, the interest and attention of the masses was still attracted to Grant, and this is exactly what the manufacturer needed.

Russian cars break down

This is probably the only legend that slightly holds back the sales volume of the car. Many car owners are already tired of the breakdowns of their foreign cars and would love to buy a Lada, but are simply afraid. After all, in the comments there is a lot of stuff about how all Lada cars often break down.

This once stopped me, so I bought foreign cars, in which a lot of things broke. Even then, I couldn’t understand why people complain about VAZ malfunctions, but my father’s “ten” doesn’t break down at all. Then I began to guess that the problem was different.

Since I started driving VAZs, and that was 7 years ago, I haven’t contacted a car service center with unexpected breakdowns. There were only repairs and maintenance as planned. The car was always running. I didn’t have this with some foreign cars.

Production history

Production of sedan cars began on November 18, 2004. On July 21, 2006, assembly of the Lada Kalina hatchback began, and on August 4, the sale of the first car took place. In July 2007, production of the LADA Kalina with a new 16-valve 1.4-liter engine began, and in September of the same year, AvtoVAZ began production of the LADA Kalina with ABS.

In August 2007, the first export-spec Lada Kalina sedan was released. At the same time, due to a defect in the steering column, 6,200 cars produced in December 2005 - January 2006 had to be recalled. They were repaired by an AvtoVAZ dealer. Due to a defect in the casting of the steering gear housing, AvtoVAZ recalled 171 Lada Kalina cars, which were produced on May 24 - 25, 2006. In addition, AvtoVAZ recalled 8,400 Lada Kalina cars due to defects in engine mounts [3].

Over two years, 80,000 cars were assembled, the daily assembly rate was 335 units. In 2007 it is planned to reach a production rate of 145 thousand per year.

In May 2007, while visiting AvtoVAZ, Vladimir Putin, then President of Russia, took a Lada Kalina for a test drive on a test track. According to him, he managed to reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour [4].

How to find out the truth

I know the whole truth about VAZ cars, since I have been driving them for many years. Until I started driving myself, I was also afraid of the Russian automobile industry. I read a lot of reviews and forums where there was negativity. I would have remained with a bad opinion if I had not bought the Lada.

The cheapest Lada Granta Standard - detailed review

Bad comments and reviews are always prevalent in many areas. People who are happy with everything rarely communicate on forums and write reviews. Now everything has changed. Now there are more good reviews. Is it worth buying a Lada Granta? How can you find out whether a person is telling the truth or not? Until you experience it yourself, you will not know the truth.

Equipment

Like other VAZ cars, the Lada Granta is available in three options:

  1. The standard provides stamped wheels, special connectors for audio equipment, seat belts with an indicator, an airbag for the driver, and an immobilizer. Price from 300 thousand rubles.
  2. Norma will be pleased with air conditioning, partial power accessories, in particular, electric front windows, central locking and tailgate drive, power steering, and rear seat headrests. Cost – from 350 thousand rubles.
  3. Luxury - two airbags, multimedia systems, heated seats, climate control, as well as BAS and ABS. You will be pleased with the electric mirrors and automatic windows. For such a package you will have to pay at least 450 thousand rubles.

The domestic auto industry has always paid a lot of attention to the car assembly process, thereby emphasizing the level of quality and reliability of the car. At the same time, each modification could differ both in engine and in interior design and the presence of appropriate modules, with or without air conditioning.

Thus, the Lada Granta, which is in demand on the market and its Norma equipment, is a good example of the right combination of money spent and opportunities acquired as a result. It acts as a happy medium between the expensive luxury version and the base model of this line. And many potential buyers are interested in learning about the equipment and characteristics, as well as what is included and what the most popular Norma equipment is directly on the Lada Granta car.

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