Used Lada Vesta: all possible problems

Domestic transport is always a certain lottery. Today AvtoVAZ is the only major manufacturer of passenger cars designed in Russia. This means that by domestic cars we mean cars of this brand. And if a few years ago it was very difficult to find anything worthy among Lada equipment, today the lineup turns out to be more interesting. In particular, the new generation of cars was opened by the B-class sedan Lada Vesta, which is designed to compete with more expensive brothers in the segment. The car is larger than the Solaris and Rio; in the interior it does not at all resemble the old Ladas. In terms of appearance, the car is liked by its owners; there is something completely fresh and unusual about it for a domestic concern. But a new car is quite expensive - the base price is from 513,000 rubles. This is quite a large amount for an ordinary citizen, so you have to look for options.

Today we will consider the option of purchasing a used Lada Vesta on the secondary market in Russia. Not so long ago there was no point in talking about such an acquisition, since no one was selling cars. Today, the market is flooded with advertisements, and you can buy a relatively new sedan with low mileage and get this car for relatively little money. Let's talk about what makes Vesta remarkable after a certain mileage, what problems may arise with the car, and also where to look when buying. Another step would be to analyze the offers on the secondary market and compare with other brands and models in the same price range. Only such consideration will help to understand whether it makes sense to look at a used Vesta on the Russian market. Let's take a closer look at each point that is important to a potential buyer.

Chassis: squeaks, knocks

The creaking of rubber bands in the front suspension “does not affect the speed,” but is annoying. It can be treated by injecting lubricant or replacing it with a non-original one. Although owners of new cars claim that parts from the assembly line are now also quieter.

Most often they complain about knocking noises from stabilizer struts and, less often, from shock absorbers. In the first case, the original parts have become more reliable, so you can safely install original ones. And there are plenty of substitutes on sale, and they literally cost pennies. In short, there is no need to be afraid of malfunctions. It is perfectly audible when driving - a short test drive is enough to notice the extraneous sound. The shock absorbers themselves usually tap unobtrusively and with such a background they can regularly travel tens of thousands of kilometers. However, this drawback can also be used to your advantage when purchasing by bargaining for an additional discount.

Serious investments in suspension should not happen until at least 100,000 km. In terms of quality retention and service life, Vesta is inferior to the tenacious Renault on the B0 platform, but on our roads it shows very good results.

Let's sum it up

There are many opinions about the domestic automobile industry. Some people always drive only Russian cars, others prefer even old, but foreign cars. Experts were also divided in their opinions and reviews. Some consider the new Vesta a waste of money, others praise the car and compare it with cars of a higher class, like Fluence. Make your own opinion - take advantage of test drives at car dealerships or when choosing a used car to make sure that the car is completely suitable for you. This car may not be what you expect. In this case, you will have an escape route and the opportunity to purchase another car.

Also be sure to think through possible alternatives to avoid being disappointed with your purchase. There are many interesting offers on the secondary market that can be considered as a replacement for Vesta. Today, these cars may not be the most comfortable or the most reliable, but they represent the budget class and are the only options available to the average person. So choose those offers that completely suit you in terms of characteristics and appearance. Moreover, in a budget of 450-550 thousand rubles on the secondary market you have a good choice in any age category. What do you think about the used Lada Vesta?

Brake system: consumables for pennies

It all depends on the car’s mileage, the owner’s driving style and the amount of highway use. I had two sets of original pads on the front for 40,000 - 45,000 km with fairly active driving. The discs “fit” along with the second set. It is guaranteed that you will not have to climb thousands into the rear drum mechanisms until the mileage is 120. And, most likely, more.

Starting prices for brake system consumables are tempting: pads for only 200 rubles! Such details do not inspire confidence, so it is better to fork out for something more expensive and trustworthy.

If the owner of the Vesta you liked skimped on brake system components, this could affect the car’s behavior. During a test drive, pay attention to whether the brakes squeak, whether there are jerks when braking, or whether the mechanisms jam after the brake pedal is released. Everything noted can be used when discussing the price of a car.

Options and technical equipment - what to choose?

The most popular engine in the car is the base 1.6 liter with 106 horsepower. Also in more expensive versions you can purchase a 1.8-liter unit developed by VAZ, which produces a good 122 horsepower. Among the gearboxes there is a traditional 5-speed manual transmission, as well as a newfangled Russian AMT robot also with 5 shift stages. You won't get much excitement from the technology. Otherwise, it’s worth looking at the following features:

the robotic gearbox was installed here in order to save money, it definitely does not evoke positive emotions and forces you to visit the service center often, so it’s better not to buy it;
The 1.8 engine is not bad, but while it is constantly undergoing minor modifications, this means that the first units are full of childhood illnesses and troubles that are better avoided by the buyer;
the junior unit is quite well known to the Russian buyer, it is the simplest aspirated engine that can be serviced in any garage, it is reliable and has a good service life;
There are also completely uninteresting trim levels of the car, such as the basic one; it doesn’t make much sense to buy them, since you will have to experience real discomfort while traveling by car;
When choosing a car on the secondary market, you should give preference to cars with air conditioning, a good set of sensors, a good security system and other advantages.

By the way, a well-equipped car in the showroom will cost about 700,000 rubles, so a new car, after a detailed study of the price range, becomes completely inaccessible. If you want to take the basic package, then be prepared for the fact that there is practically nothing in it - a steering wheel and pedals. In general, you will get much more pleasure and pleasant emotions from driving a Vesta in good configuration than when using a base.

Body: all chipped, but not rusting

Vesta's body resists corrosion well. The quality of steel and its protection is top notch! Even chips down to bare metal remain shiny with its natural color. But the quality of painting is not the best. The hood, front bumper and fenders quickly become covered with white chipped spots. But since they don’t “bloom,” I see no reason to make a problem out of it.

Rust on a used car is a sign of poor quality repairs. At least for now, Wests are no more than 4.5–5 years old.

The chrome on the car is unstable and takes on a shameful appearance after three or four winters.

The exhaust system mounts live and do not require attention. The burnout that occurred on our car in the corrugation area is rather an exception.

Our case of corrugation burnout is rare. For the most part, graduation on Vesta does not cause any trouble.

What else can you buy if not Lada Vesta?

On the secondary market, prices start at 450,000 per base. Frankly speaking, it is better to add another 60,000 rubles and buy a new car under warranty. At least this way you will know for sure that no one has used the car and it has zero mileage. In better trim levels the layout is more pleasant. A good version from the factory costs 700,000 rubles, the same equipment on the secondary market will cost 520-550 thousand. For the same money you can look at the following cars:

Hyundai Solaris 2015. Also a good option - a practically new car with minimal mileage and in excellent condition. Korean technology is much better than domestic technology, but more expensive to maintain.
Nissan Almera 2016. This car is practically no different from Vesta in terms of reliability and cost of repairs, and also has similar childhood problems. At its core, it is a relative of Lada.
Ford Fiesta sedan 2015. An excellent choice with German roots, but Russian assembly and technology. The machine is modern, reliable, easy to operate and maintain, but quite expensive if problems occur.
Volkswagen Polo 2015. Also a good, solid car with a small body, a quite reliable naturally aspirated engine and good equipment. But it's worth looking for low-mileage options.
Chevrolet Cruze 2015. One of the best options for the money is a C-class car with excellent equipment and a very modern appearance, it drives great on any road, and is easy to use.

If you want a used car with an age of up to 3 years and optimal characteristics, you should pay attention to Vesta or Chevrolet Cruze. The rest of the cars are very similar to domestic vehicles, both in terms of technical parameters and maintenance costs. The advantage of Lada is that you support a domestic manufacturer; there are no other significant benefits in such a purchase.

We invite you to watch a video review of the car:

Optics and glazing: all scratched

Headlights and lanterns for Vesta are not cheap. Defects on them are a reason for good bargaining. Headlights lose effectiveness over the years due to worn-out shades. It’s too arrogant to demand a discount on the price of new headlights, but for polishing it’s ok.

Turkish Sisecam glass is very soft and scratches easily. This applies to both wind and side winds. Abrasion on them is normal, so do not rush to suspect the owner of a twisted mileage.

Glass scratches quickly, and this, unfortunately, is the norm.

How to choose a used Vesta - what to look for when buying?

You need to look at the mileage, general condition, and also pay great attention to the condition of the paintwork. If the metal parts of the body are painted, then this car has been in an accident. After an accident, even a small one, the Vesta body will no longer be so successful in terms of safety. Its main elements are deformed, and the reliability of the structure is lost. When choosing, you should also pay attention to several other factors:

price and compliance with the configuration - models of 2016 and sometimes 2022 are available on the market, their cost cannot be higher than 600,000 rubles, this makes no sense when purchasing;
exact mileage value - you can determine the real mileage during diagnostics at one of the official VAZ services or simply at a good station with computer diagnostics of cars;
the condition of the interior parts - on Vesta the plastic wears out quickly, but heavily worn parts indicate careless operation of the car and a fairly high mileage of this car;
tires - it is better to buy a car with the tires that were installed at the factory, in which case you will be sure that the mileage will not be high (Belshina in standard, Continental in luxury);
condition of the sills and bottom - low ground clearance often causes unpleasant effects, such as chipped paint and a protective layer of paintwork on the sills and the onset of rust.

The galvanized body in this car is a rather conventional thing. You can already see rust on 2016 cars. So after purchasing a used Lada Vesta, you should contact a good service center and perform a thorough inspection of the body. If necessary, you can do the processing so that the machine can live for several more years without any problems. Without treatment, the body will begin to show pockets of rust very soon.

Interior: durable

Unlike the optics, the interior trim turned out to be very durable. It is non-staining, does not stretch much, and the plastic is scratch-resistant. A dirty or damaged interior is a clear sign of poor maintenance.

With minimal attention and care, the seats will remain presentable for years. A dirty interior is a signal of a careless owner.

“Crickets” do not appear in Vesta even with runs well over 100,000 km. They can only arise after poor-quality assembly of the interior outside the factory. For example, alarm or soundproofing installers. However, after 70,000 - 80,000 km, it is quite normal to catch a light background from slightly moving trim panels when driving. By this mileage, if the car has not spent all of it on perfect asphalt, a certain “fatigue” of the fasteners begins to appear.

Power unit

When Vesta had just entered the assembly line, there was only one engine offered for it - a 106-horsepower 1.6-liter. In fact, this engine is a modified version of the 21129-series engines previously installed on Priora. The unit has a timing belt drive, has been adapted to work with a French transmission, and its entire piston is manufactured by Federal Mogul (USA). In general, it demonstrates good technical performance and is distinguished by good reliability. But, as you might guess, there are some nuances in its operation.

First of all, it should be noted that the engine is “tailored” to Euro-5 and is made using imported standards, so in order to avoid problems with the fuel and oil systems, it is important to use only high-quality appropriate fluids. If there is a problem with the fuel system, gasoline consumption increases noticeably - a consequence of a faulty catalyst, fuel pump or injectors. It’s not uncommon for the engine to start “sputtering”, and sometimes stop starting altogether. There is no main reason as such, but the services have already compiled some kind of statistics: it could be in the fuel, software or engine electrics. In fact, the electrical part of Vesta is quite extensive, so from time to time any sensor may well begin to fail.

The owners mention another weak point - the radiator of the imported Valeo stove: it has leaks, and replacement is carried out completely as a whole (the stove will cost 20 thousand rubles), and it is not so easy to change: you need to disassemble half of the interior.

The engine itself is placed quite tightly in the engine compartment, which also complicates its maintenance. So, in order to replace the timing belt, you will need to disassemble almost half of the right side of the engine, and if you need to remove the pan, you will have to remove the gearbox as well. Naturally, all this increases the cost of maintenance, making it similar to a foreign car. So for regular maintenance you will have to pay about 10 thousand rubles, which is comparable even to cars of a higher class.

Options

The budget status of the model, fortunately, did not affect the options installed on it. It's not about quantity (there are many), but about quality. All equipment usually works without failures. Individual glitches are possible, which are most often explained by the peculiarities of the condition of a particular machine. Thus, a radio that did not respond well to button presses could be flooded with soda. And an inadequately functioning rain sensor, it turns out, is simply “blind” behind a worn or cracked windshield.

If the windows of the Vesta you like are sweating, it means that the owner has neglected to replace the cabin filter. Even an element departing 15,000 km does not allow this. This means that the filter has not been changed for even longer.

Final verdict

It took me about forty minutes to do everything. And during this time I could not find any compelling reasons to refuse to buy a car. This is a rare case where the seller turned out to be gold. He honestly told what happened, was ready for any checks, showed the service book, knew what was changed and when and why. And most importantly, everything he said did not differ from the Autocode data.

Author: Maxim Golenetskikh

Which model would you like to see reviewed next? Suggest your options in the comments.

Gearboxes

There is also a whole range of types of gearboxes. There are no special problems with the mechanics, even the clutch takes a long time. They complain that it works noisily, our cable and French boxes are humming. The main disadvantage of the Lada Vesta from the point of view of gearboxes is the lack of a normal classic automatic. There is a single-disk robot, but this is a dead-end solution. They came to a dead end for reasons of economy, to make the car affordable.

Many famous manufacturers have followed this path, and each time they failed. The VAZ, which receives a lot of criticism, is no exception. It is clear that a classic machine gun would be more appropriate. Then the Lada Vesta could compete with any representative of its class, and even outshine it.