Introducing the new Lada (and this is no joke)

Now you would think this was a Vaxuhall Astra MK4 wouldn't you? But its not, its actually built by Vaz (Lada) in Russia and will be sold under the Cheverlot name in eastern markets.

So I guess in many ways this is the new Daewoo Nexia. As soon as this car comes to the UK (if it ever does) espect Astra MK4 prices to tumble.

Also note the name Viva, this must be named after the old Vaxuhall/Opal Viva.

Don't expect the find modern GM engines in here though, I would imagine Lada engines with GM single point fuel injection units is as good as it gets.

Expect build qualitiy to on par with the Lada Riva or Fiat Regret(a).

 

I know AT, all the cars look the same these days take the Citreon C2, Mazada and Peugeot, can't remember the model numbers but all built in the same factory, same chassis, like BORING! I think they're all doing this now, same shit different label.

 

Good old worldwide franchising.

Got a clapped out car design? Flog the production rights to some developing country along with a spares support package for the 5000 yrs. Cheaper than developing your own car from scratch and a nice little earner for GM.

It's all been done before though - Morris Oxfords made in India, 1980's Ladas were old Fiats, China gets Rover (oops... not quite the same deal there :JPS: )

 

haha well the original Lada (The Riva in the UK) is the apparantly the worlds 3rd best selling car, they have sold millions and millions of the things, many ended up in the UK only be reexported back to Russia in the late 90's.

The cars sold in the UK were of higher quality of the Russian cars which makes me worry how bad the Russian Ladas must be.

As for platform sharing its made cars boring, Cherelot is a fine example, is it built by Lada, Daweoo, Opel? Citeroen and Peouguet have been sharing parts for the last few decades as they are both owned by PSA. The 106/Saxo was the ultimate piss take though.

I hate the way all cars have the VW style door handles as well now, its bad enough we have virtualy identical VW, Audis, Skodas and Seats without other companies trying to copy.

The other day I saw the back of these flashy 4WD and thought it must be the new M-class, it turned out to be a bloody Kia.

I am just waiting for Longbridge to start production of Hindustan Cherry built under licence from Nissan now

The big difference now is that all cars seem to share the same platforms now, British Leyland did this on a massive scale and look what happened to them.

 

Most of the manufacturers are working with the same computer program and to the same set of safety standards. It's no wonder they come up with the same answers.

On the other hand Alfa don't do bad, and I quite like the Mazda RX7 with its suicide doors

 

look a car gets you from a to b and back again, nothing more and nothing less. unless you are stinking rich, and can go out and buy a decent car. if you pay more than 10 grand for a car you must be insane. you might aswell get 50 pound notes and burn them. a maybach merc looses a grand a week in depreciation.

 

I'd partly disagree with you there, ol' mucker.

a car is there to get you from a to b in one piece. most of the cheaper cars do not offer the safety element, especially with the increasing number of X5s on the school run.

if you're travelling with small children then you need space for prams, various other paraphinalia, soft pizza dough etc there's very little sub 10k that meets those 'family car' requirements. I agree that you may as well burn your money as far as depreciation goes. and every time I go to trade in a car there seems to be some new excuse why my old car is worthless. and then they try to stitch you up with various other insurances because the car and insurance industry are crooked bedfellows.

that said, as far as fast depreciation goes, look no further than a MC cartridge for "exhibit A"

 

no everyone wants to drive a berlingo tho...

 

£10K will get you a very good second hand car, and if you really want to go new a £10K Mitsibishi Charisma will get you electric everything, all the airbags, ABS etc and you will get a lot change from you £10k and have a brand new car.

 

when you work out the hp payments, depreciation, insurance(on expensive cars) and road tax it's a ----ing expensive buiness.
and kennyk i buy all my gear second hand(can get back what i paided for it then)
and the van den hul cartridge i didn't buy one, i did some flooring work for my friend and he gave me it as a bonus, for doing a good job on is 18th century parquet floor. i would not pay any more that 200 quid for a cartridge.

 

you should try one first before dimissing it.i've had 3 and all did 100,000 miles ,without even a new battery
one of clarksons favourite cars.

 

only joking mate...just with all the flak on avtalk...I assume you're the same guy...!

 

If you shop around, you can get a new Citroen Xsara Picasso for 10 grand and that is a roomy, practical and safe family vehicle.

As for the new Lada, well I never liked the Vauxhall... :lol:

 

You mean RX8 the RX7 was the early version AFAIK.

Yep we're heading for blandsville with the cars looking the same, only availible in silver, all one shape, couple this is Magnolia decorated boxes known as houses, well all end up looking the same, driving the same car, living in the same house, same, same same, can't anyone see what is going wrong here!

 

citroens are great cars and the picasso for 10 grand is a bargain. my berlingo cost 9 grand here in sweden and for that i got

elec windows, abs, aircon, heated seats, cd,alloy wheels,power steering, remote locking, cruise control. a bargain and very roomy aswell.

 

Shouldn't you replace "roomy, practical and safe" with "fugly and made by Shitroen"? Trully a loathsome car in the looks and brand department... all IMHO of course.

I mean, I've often said I'd drive "ANYTHING" if someone'd give me the eyesight to do it, but driving an overturned soap dish? Do me a favour!

Lee - watch out, we'll all end up like Ernold Sayme (off of Blur's "The great escape" album!

 

yea ugly but it's practicle ok.
i don't buy a car for what it looks like

 

Had three Citroens, all brand new, they all found it hard to travel 200 metres w/o breaking down. One of them spent 27 days in the garage in the first year. There's a reason they're bottom of the JD Power survey

 

you have been unlucky i've found the opposite i've had 10 over the last 20 years and they have been marvelous cars. i wont buy anything else at all

 

bit of a lemon was it?