Just spoke with grandpa he said that the Ladas engine was OHC like you said.
What were the differences in the gearbox?
What were the differences in the gearbox?
Worst car in the world?
- Thread starter expat
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: Rust_Belt_Pete
Originally Posted By: chrisri
Originally Posted By: Rust_Belt_Pete
Originally Posted By: chrisri
No, it wasn't. Car was based on a 124 chassis and shared many components, but they were quite different. Fiat had OHV engine in base trim, and twin cam in higher. Five speed gearbox. Lada had single OHC engine that was Fiats design, but never built in Italy or for Fiat. Gearboxes were different too. Lada had different rear suspension, and drums in place of rear discs on Fiat.
So it's not fair to say they were the same.
You forget that the original Fiat and Lada had OHV engines not a SOHC or DOHC.
Maybe we are confusing each other I am talking about the original Lada, it was called Jiguli. It was renamed into Lada because that word meant something else in your corner of the world
You are probably talking about later models with the sloped windshiled that did not look like Fiat 124.
No, again, even the original Lada that looked like a 124 clone (twin round headlights) was different mechanically. Fiat had in base trim OHV engine, but ALL Ladas were SOHC (Fiat designed engine specifically for Lada). Rear suspension was different, Lada never got rear discs.
Both 124 and Lada was common here, I worked on both.
My family had 2 of them in the soviet union. I am going to go ask me grandpa about the OHV and OHC engine, he worked on them I was just a kid.
How were the ladas as far as rust resistance is concerned compared to germans and japanese?
First Ladas were very well built cars. At that time they were very competitive with western cars- Soviets offered mid size car for a price of small car, and quite advanced on top of that. To be fair it was light ahead of Ford Escorts and Opel Kadetts.
So what happened? Five years later everyone moved on, and Lada was still making same old Lada. It became obsolete. To stay competitive they had to lower the price. With price going down so did quality. Twenty years later they were still producing essentially the same car as in early 70s. Only not as good.
Originally Posted By: chrisri
Originally Posted By: Rust_Belt_Pete
Originally Posted By: chrisri
No, it wasn't. Car was based on a 124 chassis and shared many components, but they were quite different. Fiat had OHV engine in base trim, and twin cam in higher. Five speed gearbox. Lada had single OHC engine that was Fiats design, but never built in Italy or for Fiat. Gearboxes were different too. Lada had different rear suspension, and drums in place of rear discs on Fiat.
So it's not fair to say they were the same.
You forget that the original Fiat and Lada had OHV engines not a SOHC or DOHC.
Maybe we are confusing each other I am talking about the original Lada, it was called Jiguli. It was renamed into Lada because that word meant something else in your corner of the world
You are probably talking about later models with the sloped windshiled that did not look like Fiat 124.
No, again, even the original Lada that looked like a 124 clone (twin round headlights) was different mechanically. Fiat had in base trim OHV engine, but ALL Ladas were SOHC (Fiat designed engine specifically for Lada). Rear suspension was different, Lada never got rear discs.
Both 124 and Lada was common here, I worked on both.
My family had 2 of them in the soviet union. I am going to go ask me grandpa about the OHV and OHC engine, he worked on them I was just a kid.
How were the ladas as far as rust resistance is concerned compared to germans and japanese?
First Ladas were very well built cars. At that time they were very competitive with western cars- Soviets offered mid size car for a price of small car, and quite advanced on top of that. To be fair it was light ahead of Ford Escorts and Opel Kadetts.
So what happened? Five years later everyone moved on, and Lada was still making same old Lada. It became obsolete. To stay competitive they had to lower the price. With price going down so did quality. Twenty years later they were still producing essentially the same car as in early 70s. Only not as good.
Worst Car in the World: The one that strands you.
Originally Posted By: camrydriver111
From Communist-era cars there are ones worse than the Lada. Lada is just the most famous because it was exported to the West, which means it was one of their best cars.
Due to the Fiat origins, which was the European car of the year in 1967, the Lada is a decent car.
I don't have first-hand experience but the Moskvich and Zaporozhets look a lot worse.
Father in law had a Moskvich in the 80s. From what I heard, a very capable car for russian roads, with relatively high ground clearance and very soft suspension with leaf springs in the rear; which gave lots of articulation and thus decent traction for a 2wd car.
On the other hand, my wife remembers him working on the car every weekend, so reliability must not have been too great.
After that, he had a few Lada Nivas. And following that, a Chevrolet Niva (which he just sold last month), and which he considered a great car. No rust in 6 or 7 years, and only planned oil changes at the dealership and absolutely no DIY-work needed. His idea of a good car is basically that the car must get him to his datcha and back (over gravel/mud roads) and be mostly reliable in doing so... Air conditioning? Leather seats? Airbags? Design? That's for weak, decadent feminized western [censored]...
Here is some old east german TV footage on the Moskvich. The tester praises the car's performance under demanding conditions, but fails not to mention and to show the side effects of the soft leaf-springs on on-road handling.
Enjoy!
From Communist-era cars there are ones worse than the Lada. Lada is just the most famous because it was exported to the West, which means it was one of their best cars.
Due to the Fiat origins, which was the European car of the year in 1967, the Lada is a decent car.
I don't have first-hand experience but the Moskvich and Zaporozhets look a lot worse.
Father in law had a Moskvich in the 80s. From what I heard, a very capable car for russian roads, with relatively high ground clearance and very soft suspension with leaf springs in the rear; which gave lots of articulation and thus decent traction for a 2wd car.
On the other hand, my wife remembers him working on the car every weekend, so reliability must not have been too great.
After that, he had a few Lada Nivas. And following that, a Chevrolet Niva (which he just sold last month), and which he considered a great car. No rust in 6 or 7 years, and only planned oil changes at the dealership and absolutely no DIY-work needed. His idea of a good car is basically that the car must get him to his datcha and back (over gravel/mud roads) and be mostly reliable in doing so... Air conditioning? Leather seats? Airbags? Design? That's for weak, decadent feminized western [censored]...
Here is some old east german TV footage on the Moskvich. The tester praises the car's performance under demanding conditions, but fails not to mention and to show the side effects of the soft leaf-springs on on-road handling.
Enjoy!
Last edited:
We were getting Lada's in the late '80's in a trade deal - butter for cars. Sometimes parts would be hard to get as they hadn't recieved their butter shipment. Bad timing, because then import restrictions were lifted, and the market was flooded with cheap used JDI's. There was no way a very basic Lada could compete with a JDI with aircon, power windows, power steering and central locking...for less money. So I've worked on plenty, and owned a couple, a 2104 and a Samara.
I onced repaced all gearbox and transfer box bearings on a Niva that had done 30,000km, put it back together and it was just as noisy as before...that was a waste of time. Another time I adjusted the camchain on a sedan...engine running you slackened the adjuster and then tightened it again. When I loosened it there was an almighty clatter of valves hitting pistons. I shut it down, loosened the chain, then told him he better sell it.
One of my daughters drove the Samara, it was the car she learnt to drive in...not a bad car really. She was on a course in the CBD, and was paid a travel allowance, so she would drive the Samara to the bus route, park it and bus into the city with a free ticket. One day she came back, and the Samara was gone! She rang her mother in a panic, and they went to the cop shop to report the car stolen. When the cop asked the make and model, and she said Lada, he burst out laughing and said he doubted it would be stolen, and to check the council tow away yard. Yep, she had parked it in the wrong place and it had been towed. So she didn't get out of driving a Lada that easily...she still had to tell her friends she had a Lada. When petrol was very expensive here in the early 21st century, we would use our Diamante around town, and the 2104 on trips because it was much better on gas.
Rust is what killed them, there was no rust proofing, and the paint was not very good...any chip was a rust point, any water trap a rust hole.
I onced repaced all gearbox and transfer box bearings on a Niva that had done 30,000km, put it back together and it was just as noisy as before...that was a waste of time. Another time I adjusted the camchain on a sedan...engine running you slackened the adjuster and then tightened it again. When I loosened it there was an almighty clatter of valves hitting pistons. I shut it down, loosened the chain, then told him he better sell it.
One of my daughters drove the Samara, it was the car she learnt to drive in...not a bad car really. She was on a course in the CBD, and was paid a travel allowance, so she would drive the Samara to the bus route, park it and bus into the city with a free ticket. One day she came back, and the Samara was gone! She rang her mother in a panic, and they went to the cop shop to report the car stolen. When the cop asked the make and model, and she said Lada, he burst out laughing and said he doubted it would be stolen, and to check the council tow away yard. Yep, she had parked it in the wrong place and it had been towed. So she didn't get out of driving a Lada that easily...she still had to tell her friends she had a Lada. When petrol was very expensive here in the early 21st century, we would use our Diamante around town, and the 2104 on trips because it was much better on gas.
Rust is what killed them, there was no rust proofing, and the paint was not very good...any chip was a rust point, any water trap a rust hole.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: expat
BUT, the differance is, the Hoffman was a one off car, built by an individual, from scrap, in 1951 Germany. I imagine 'anything' that got you down the road, without getting too wet would be kind of, desirable.
The 3 wheeled Reliant was in PRODUCTION for decades!
and was at one time Reliant was Britain's largest car manufacturer.
But even so, does that make the 3 wheel reliant The worst car in the world?
Well, that depends on your criteria.
The reliant was inexpensive to own (could be driven and taxed as a motorcycle),
was quite reliable, did not rust and was the type of basic transport that many in Britain wanted at that time.
You could even race them.
The guy just sitting there on the chassis after all the body panels had fallen off made me HOWL with laughter!!
BUT, the differance is, the Hoffman was a one off car, built by an individual, from scrap, in 1951 Germany. I imagine 'anything' that got you down the road, without getting too wet would be kind of, desirable.
The 3 wheeled Reliant was in PRODUCTION for decades!
and was at one time Reliant was Britain's largest car manufacturer.
But even so, does that make the 3 wheel reliant The worst car in the world?
Well, that depends on your criteria.
The reliant was inexpensive to own (could be driven and taxed as a motorcycle),
was quite reliable, did not rust and was the type of basic transport that many in Britain wanted at that time.
You could even race them.
The guy just sitting there on the chassis after all the body panels had fallen off made me HOWL with laughter!!
Fiat 500 POP. "The Italians are coming, the Italians are coming," and what showed up? The 500 POP.Selling about a well as the first Fiats sold in this country several decades ago.
Wonder how fast it could get through a down hill ski race course without the snow.
Originally Posted By: VNTS
Old Honda Accord from late 70's, CVCC stratafied Charge Engine, panels which rusted with 18 months, blown head gaskets, warped rotors( had to bust Front wheel bearings to repair) etc A true POS!
One of the buyers of that car installed homemade front fender liners and Honda copied the design! Real rush-to-market job.
Old Honda Accord from late 70's, CVCC stratafied Charge Engine, panels which rusted with 18 months, blown head gaskets, warped rotors( had to bust Front wheel bearings to repair) etc A true POS!
One of the buyers of that car installed homemade front fender liners and Honda copied the design! Real rush-to-market job.
Mk4 Golf/Jetta
almost any European car from 1998-2005
almost any European car from 1998-2005
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2024
Originally Posted By: stroked93
Renault Alliance
Behind this 110 percent.
First car was an 86 Renault Alliance 2 door. Biggest pile on the planet.
Renault Alliance
Behind this 110 percent.
First car was an 86 Renault Alliance 2 door. Biggest pile on the planet.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: VNTS
Old Honda Accord from late 70's, CVCC stratafied Charge Engine, panels which rusted with 18 months, blown head gaskets, warped rotors( had to bust Front wheel bearings to repair) etc A true POS!
One of the buyers of that car installed homemade front fender liners and Honda copied the design! Real rush-to-market job.
Wold have helped if they bothered to paint the [censored] car correctly. Car of the year my ar5e!
Originally Posted By: VNTS
Old Honda Accord from late 70's, CVCC stratafied Charge Engine, panels which rusted with 18 months, blown head gaskets, warped rotors( had to bust Front wheel bearings to repair) etc A true POS!
One of the buyers of that car installed homemade front fender liners and Honda copied the design! Real rush-to-market job.
Wold have helped if they bothered to paint the [censored] car correctly. Car of the year my ar5e!
My mom was totally jonesing to buy a Chevy Vega in the mid-'70s, my dad's old Merc broke down and they only had the '66 Comet running.
Once dad starting working again, mom got really sick of walking to work in a hurry...they didn't get along at all and he worked 2nd shift, anyway. He should have been able to drop her off, but probably would have had to get up early and they really preferred to not share each other's company.
The Vega was affordable and mom thought it was cute. Then, we took a trip to Florida (think mom was considering moving there since she had relatives around Jacksonville, we stayed for about 6 weeks) and mom rented a Vega to drive to Orlando and Miami...she never once spoke about buying one again. What a piece of garbage, the rental was already falling apart with a few thousand miles and had zero power.
Our neighbor across the street bought a Vega and it would stall out about 6 times before finally getting going. The lady who drove it refused to warm it up for even a few seconds, I think it was a bad combination of a terrible car and a stupid driver. Interestingly enough, her husband had a luxurious car that ran very well as well as a mistress he eventually took off with.
Once dad starting working again, mom got really sick of walking to work in a hurry...they didn't get along at all and he worked 2nd shift, anyway. He should have been able to drop her off, but probably would have had to get up early and they really preferred to not share each other's company.
The Vega was affordable and mom thought it was cute. Then, we took a trip to Florida (think mom was considering moving there since she had relatives around Jacksonville, we stayed for about 6 weeks) and mom rented a Vega to drive to Orlando and Miami...she never once spoke about buying one again. What a piece of garbage, the rental was already falling apart with a few thousand miles and had zero power.
Our neighbor across the street bought a Vega and it would stall out about 6 times before finally getting going. The lady who drove it refused to warm it up for even a few seconds, I think it was a bad combination of a terrible car and a stupid driver. Interestingly enough, her husband had a luxurious car that ran very well as well as a mistress he eventually took off with.
+2 on the Vega.
When my now Brother-in-law graduated college, he bought a new 1974 Vega.
He took a job in Pittsburgh and after my sister graduated college, she moved to Pittsburgh.
I hadn't seen the car in a while until 1976. My sister called and said that she would be home for the weekend and needed her little Brother's help. She said the Vega did not pass PA inspection because of rust. She did not want to put any appreciable money in it, but needed to have the rust holes patched.
After taking one look at that thing, I suggested the junkyard. After two Pittsburgh winters, the rear quarters were rusted out, the drivers door skin was just hanging, holes in the front fenders, as well as rust around the windshield and rear hatch.
I spent two 12 hour days working on that mess. I ended up using old license plates, a ton of rivets, and a lot of bondo. Got it sanded and primed, and went with her to get rattle cans of the dark blue color that it was, so she could paint it when she got back. The car passed inspection after that.
It survived another year and half until the transmission bit the dust going up a hill at 61K.
They thought the Monte Carlo they replaced it with was a much better car.
When my now Brother-in-law graduated college, he bought a new 1974 Vega.
He took a job in Pittsburgh and after my sister graduated college, she moved to Pittsburgh.
I hadn't seen the car in a while until 1976. My sister called and said that she would be home for the weekend and needed her little Brother's help. She said the Vega did not pass PA inspection because of rust. She did not want to put any appreciable money in it, but needed to have the rust holes patched.
After taking one look at that thing, I suggested the junkyard. After two Pittsburgh winters, the rear quarters were rusted out, the drivers door skin was just hanging, holes in the front fenders, as well as rust around the windshield and rear hatch.
I spent two 12 hour days working on that mess. I ended up using old license plates, a ton of rivets, and a lot of bondo. Got it sanded and primed, and went with her to get rattle cans of the dark blue color that it was, so she could paint it when she got back. The car passed inspection after that.
It survived another year and half until the transmission bit the dust going up a hill at 61K.
They thought the Monte Carlo they replaced it with was a much better car.
IMHO one of these 3 :
CityRover - so bad they would not let TopGear test drive it.
Austin Alegro - summed up everything bad about the British motor industry.
SsangYong Rodius - so ugly.
CityRover - so bad they would not let TopGear test drive it.
Austin Alegro - summed up everything bad about the British motor industry.
SsangYong Rodius - so ugly.
Gotta love the dirt/off road segment of the video.
How about we make it a law that if you're apprehended texting and driving you have to drive one of these for a month. Required amount of miles too. Convicted drivers will probably emerge as better drivers after piloting one of these for a month!
How about we make it a law that if you're apprehended texting and driving you have to drive one of these for a month. Required amount of miles too. Convicted drivers will probably emerge as better drivers after piloting one of these for a month!
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: NGRhodes
IMHO one of these 3 :
CityRover - so bad they would not let TopGear test drive it.
Austin Alegro - summed up everything bad about the British motor industry.
SsangYong Rodius - so ugly.
Some might say Sso ugly...
;^)
IMHO one of these 3 :
CityRover - so bad they would not let TopGear test drive it.
Austin Alegro - summed up everything bad about the British motor industry.
SsangYong Rodius - so ugly.
Some might say Sso ugly...
;^)
- Status
