The modern secondary car market in Russia is crowded. There are an incredible number of offers for selling cars, but there have been much fewer buyers in recent years. And this played a positive role in the democratization of the market, prices dropped a little and came into line with reality. Therefore, purchasing a used car has become much easier than before. Many owners of a couple of hundred thousand rubles can go to the market and buy themselves a very attractive vehicle with good characteristics and operating capabilities. Lada Priora is one of the representatives of the budget class, which is very popular in the secondary market. Today it is a classic car with quite good technology and inexpensive maintenance. And if when purchasing at a dealership you receive a guarantee and don’t have to worry about possible childhood illnesses, then in the automotive market you will have to take a serious look at the details.
When buying a used Priora, you should pay attention to many important factors of the car. In particular, the technical condition, features and damage to the body, and interior parts play a significant role. In the Russian market it often happens that buying a car for a person is a holiday and an event of a lifetime. Behind the euphoria of the purchase, the buyer often does not see minor shortcomings that greatly spoil the impression of the transport in the future. Therefore, you should choose a car with a cold mind, assessing all the shortcomings. At the very least, you will be able to ask the seller for a discount based on your findings. Also today we will talk about what to do when you finally purchased such a desired car and became the owner of a Lada Priora with a certain number of kilometers on the odometer. This is important to observe in order to enjoy the operation.
Engine
A working engine consumes 7 liters in the city, 5 on the highway. Early internal combustion engines have a serious drawback: when the timing belt breaks, the piston hits the valves and bends them. The attachments turned out to be quite reliable. There may be a problem with the generator (the car will stop starting), but replacing the diode bridge and brushes will easily solve it.
Indicators and ignition coils also fail. The price of a regular service is 300-500 rubles. Repairs will cost 10 times more.
Drums are another sore spot for the abbess. Instead of the required 3-5 years, he may work less. There are electrical or alarm problems that are draining the battery.
Over the years, the Priora engine loses stability and power. Reasons: piston burnout, low compression, wear of piston rings or cylinders.
If the engine does not start, the problem lies in the fuel system, faulty sensor, throttle valve, incorrect timing or air leaks through the hoses. Please note that repairing an internal combustion engine will be expensive - from 10 to 50 thousand rubles. In particular, replacing a torn timing belt and valves costs about 15 thousand rubles.
Self check
A method for those who understand cars and can determine the condition of the engine themselves. If you decide to check the car engine yourself, then start by opening the hood of the car.
When checking yourself you need:
- While you are near the running car, you can check the sound of the car's engine. It should operate smoothly, without changes in sound and without making the sound louder or quieter without pressing the pedals. It is worth remembering that the sound of a diesel engine is different from the sound of a gasoline engine - it “rumbles” like a tractor, while a gasoline engine operates in the same key. The sound of boxer engines, which are found on some sports cars, for example, on the entire Subaru line, is also different - these engines “growl” even at idle.
- Take a ride in a car. In fact, the only way to see the engine “in action” is the ability to independently evaluate the power and response to the pedal, to understand whether everything is working as it should, and whether the car is losing power, whether there are any “dips” when driving, and so on.
- Inspect the engine compartment and find out if the car has had a frontal impact. If you can see that the front end of the car has been recovering from a severe accident, it is worth considering that this may affect the performance of the engine in the future.
- Connect the diagnostic wire - if you have such equipment, you can read the error logs of the on-board computer and find out for sure what problems the engine has. But be careful – sometimes unscrupulous sellers use technology to erase errors from the computer’s memory.
If you have a diagnostic wire and you are checking a foreign car that is not too old, then connect a laptop through it and read the errors recorded by the on-board computer. In modern cars, the computer reads errors and saves them in a log, which can always be viewed using the appropriate equipment, which is simple and inexpensive: you only need an OBD cable, a laptop and software for your car brand.
If you are unlucky and come across a “dead” car, the computer will generate a bunch of errors, including engine errors. Next, you simply compare the error numbers with the database and get information about what exactly is wrong, and there can be a huge variety of different defects: from malfunctioning engine mounts, leading to vibrations in the cabin, to missing ignition coils or scuffing in the cylinders.
Electrics
Be prepared for the fact that you will often have to change the dimensions and low beam bulbs. The windshield wiper switch will "get in the way" and the windows will not go up.
Factory alarms often fail: they go off falsely and refuse to close or open doors. The problem can only be resolved by installing a new system. The price of such pleasure is 10-30 thousand rubles (more expensive if with an automatic machine).
The electric power steering often does not work properly: it turns abruptly, and the steering wheel has to be pushed or compressed by itself. Usually the previous owner solves this problem under warranty. If not, be prepared to pay the mechanic at least 10-15 thousand rubles. Or try cleaning the contacts or changing the speed sensor.
The heating system may also fail if this has not happened before. The price for spare parts is from 1 to 1.5 thousand, repairs are another 1000 rubles.
Should you pay attention to the little things in Priora?
On forums and from car experts, you can hear that it is worth checking the suspension in detail, taking into account every detail of the car before transferring money. This is an ideal option, but such a complex of verification work will take more than one day, and no buyer will agree to this. Therefore, it is not necessary to check small suspension components, the tightness of the muffler and other issues on the Priora - all of this is actively failing. But the following details are worthy of your attention:
- the condition of the interior plastic - if there are scratches on the parts, you will drive and look at them for a very long time, so it is worth eliminating this unpleasant problem in your car;
- the condition of the steering wheel is not only aesthetics, but also an assessment of the quality of use; the steering wheel should not be too cracked and ugly on a car with a mileage of 50,000 km;
- seat upholstery is again an important factor, since you will not change any seats or upholstery on this car, budget cars are bought to drive, not to spend money;
- door cards, ceiling and other elements - all this is very expensive in the store, you will not exchange parts for new ones, and driving with ugly ones is very unpleasant, considering the money given;
- the operation of all locks, including the ignition switch, as well as the normal operation of the alarm and other elements, otherwise problems with electronics and mechanical parts will drive you crazy.
These are the unexpected elements worth checking when purchasing a Priora. On the car, door closing sensors, suspension parts, steering elements constantly fail, factory paint comes off, chips form, and glass breaks. These are normal indicators of vehicle wear and tear, given the quality of its factory production. Therefore, pay more attention to what could be damaged due to careless operation of the vehicle.
Sores
Of course, Prioreza has sores that you just need to beware of and always have a certain amount of rubles with you in case of “exacerbation.”
- The most common type is rust. Wheel arches, wheel arch mountings, door bottoms (hidden cavities) are more susceptible to corrosion. Rust appears on the roof, closest to the windshield, and on the hood, near the washing machine nozzles. To prevent rust from getting into the car, treat the stains with anti-corrosion putty.
- Over time, the gearbox in the Priora often begins to creak when changing gears. The reason is weak synchronizers. The squeak often disappears as suddenly as it appeared, but it's best to see a mechanic. Due to the unreliability of the box, the shaft may explode, causing the gearbox to simply break. Repairs and a new box will cost 40-50 thousand rubles. Some car owners, to prevent the problem from recurring, install boxes from other VAZ models, for example VAZ-2115.
- Sick priority No. 3 - immobilizer. Over time, it completely stops working, because it’s just cheap from the factory, made in China. The owners repair or re-solder, or do chip tuning. The price of the problem is 2-3 thousand rubles. If you are interested in Priora, this problem has not yet arisen: get ready.
- 8 out of 10 The previous owners have already replaced the brake, clutch and heating hoses. Keep these items under control, otherwise serious repairs will not be avoided. The price of the problem is 5-6 thousand rubles.
- The lighting control unit is often covered. Also, in which mode it fails, the headlights turn on. If you were driving on the freeway with your high beams on and the unit fails, the lights will stay on even when you turn off the car. Luckily, changing it is quick and easy, and with the right hands you can even do it yourself. The cost of the element is 1-1.5 thousand rubles.
- Another plague that “opens up” in 9 out of 10 priors is the “glutton” of oil. When it appears depends on operating conditions and mileage. In addition, the spark plugs and exhaust pipe will remain clean and there will be no leaks. Experienced car owners advise that in case of unusual oil leaks, contact assistants as soon as possible. Most likely, you will have to repair the cylinder head, which will cost 20-30 thousand rubles.
The set of ulcers is quite large, and their removal is quite expensive. But keep in mind: similar procedures with a more or less inexpensive foreign car will cost 1.5-2 times more.
Main places of damage to the body
The body of this car is not bad and much better than its predecessors. Personally, I don’t see rusty Priors very often, except for those that have clearly been broken and are therefore rusting. There are several body options to choose from: here you can find a sedan, a station wagon, a hatchback, and even a three-door. In general, there is plenty to choose from.
The body of the Priors is more rigid than that of the same ten. And together with installed airbags, the car shows good results in crash tests. However, Priora is still inferior in safety to new foreign cars. At 64 km/h the front crash test is poor. There was a crease in the front pillar on the driver's side. Thus, the car cannot be called a very reliable car in terms of durability. In addition, if you buy a used Priora, you should take into account such a factor as metal fatigue, which increases over the years.
Coupled with a relatively weak body, the Priora has low quality paintwork and poor corrosion resistance. The front arches may simply begin to rot over time. Decorative chrome plated sabers also became a sore spot on the car.
What are the Priors hiding?
We found several first-generation Priors on car sales sites and tested them using the Autocode service
. Here are the most interesting examples of controls.
Priora 1. 2012, price 250 thousand rubles
The seller indicated the mileage was 150 thousand km, the last one registered below. There would be something else to worry about. Two owners in the ad and in the report. There are no thefts, guarantees, restrictions or accidents. The technical inspection is valid until January 2022. But there are unpaid fines.
If you decide to buy such a car, ask the owner to pay the fine. Otherwise, one fine day they may go to the bailiffs and the traffic police will impose restrictions on the car.
Priora 2. 2011, 210 thousand rubles.
According to the report, the car has had 5 owners. For a seven-year-old car, this is not a very good indicator. Also, the owner does not write anything about the accident, but it happened.
The accident happened 3 years ago, perhaps the current owner does not know this.
Bail, theft, no restrictions. Valid technical inspection. But 13 unpaid fines since March 2022! Here are just a few:
Judging by the fines, the driver had heard almost nothing about the order on the roads, which means that the car could have worn out quite well. The number of owners is confusing. If five people changed cars, something might be wrong. However, one can only guess about this.
Priora 3. 2008, price 158 thousand rubles.
The seller indicated that the mileage is current, there are actually three owners. Nothing criminal about a 10 year old car. Bail, theft, no restrictions. Technical inspection is current.
The car was in an accident. Probably the collision was minor: the shot hit the lighthouse, and repair work was not planned at all.
There is a fine, but it is paid.
Of all the cars tested, this is exemplary. And for that kind of money it’s a gift. But it's still worth checking the documents.
Priora 4. 2009, price – 187 thousand rubles.
The seller did not indicate the mileage in the ad. During the inspection at the beginning of May 2022, 160,000 kilometers were recorded. Not that much mileage.
The seller writes that the car’s windshield was replaced, everything else is “original.” There are 2 cases in history, the first may indicate the reason for replacing the glass.
It’s strange that the 9-year-old Prioresha already had 8 owners. Some changed too often.
In December last year, the insurance company calculated 46 thousand rubles to repair the damage: purchasing and installing new spare parts, painting the hood, fenders, doors, mirrors.
The price of the car is too high, you can ask the seller for a discount.
We looked at 5 pre-modeled Priors from 2007-2012. There are different problems, but the most common is frequent changes of ownership. Apparently, as soon as serious breakdowns begin, they prefer to get rid of the car. Cars with unpaid fines are not uncommon. Sellers of used Priors with mileage are a little less common. They also like to overload. With an ace up your sleeve—the test results—confidently ask for a discount.
Conclusion
It’s worth buying a car, but at the same time having a couple of tens of thousands of rubles in your pocket. A family mechanic or professional field inspection can help you save money. Not a bad car if you previously drove a simpler Russian model, for example, a Zhiguli, or didn’t have a car at all and just got a driver’s license. Maintenance and repair of Prioras is in any case cheaper than a foreign car, so if you want to save money, this is also your option.
What do you think about buying a Lada Priora? Leave your comments below the text.
Let's sum it up
Selecting and purchasing a used car is a challenging task. You should not just visually look at the vehicle and, in anticipation of traveling on it, give the seller money. It is important to find out the real condition of the machine, look at all its important parts and components. If you don't do this, you will regret it in the future. Particular troubles are caused by problems with the body or an unnoticed increase in mileage and untimely maintenance for this reason. We can cite dozens of individual examples where buyers were not satisfied due to insufficient quality inspection of the car before purchase.
Always remember that in addition to the Priora you are examining, there are hundreds and thousands of other offers on the market. So you can always find the best option if you don’t rush too much and act rashly. Sellers often put pressure on the fact that they already have a sale option and need to make a decision urgently. Never buy a car spontaneously, otherwise unpredictable and unforeseen problems with its technical condition may arise. And solving these problems sometimes costs no less than the car itself. What do you think about purchasing a used Priora?
