Operating experience of Lada Kalina Universal

I'll tell you my story about the operation of the Lada Kalina Universal. I will say in advance that before that I owned many cars, started, like most motorists, with a VAZ 2101. Then, after a few years, I read it to Troika, then to Five. After the classics, I bought a VAZ 2112, but I screwed up a little with the choice, took 1,5 with a 16-valve engine, for which I later paid. The valve bent several times.

Then he decided to buy a new car, thought for a long time what to buy, the choice was between a used German, a new Daewoo Nexia and a new Lada Kalina Universal. After I found out the price of spare parts for the old Merina, I was shocked and decided to abandon this venture. Then I looked at the new Daewoo Nexia, but I really didn’t like the metal, it’s too thin, and already on the new cars the yellow color appears on the door locks. After all these doubts, I decided to buy a new Kalina. Since I absolutely do not like the sedan, the choice was between a hatchback and a station wagon. I opened the trunk of the hatchback, and realized that it certainly did not suit me. There is no room there, even for a small hiking bag. And I bought myself a Kalina Station wagon, since the appearance was fine with me, and the spaciousness of the car is simply superior.

Of all the colors that Lada Kalina has in general, there was only one color for the station wagon in the showroom - sauvignon, dark gray metallic. I wanted, of course, white, but I had to wait at least a month. I took the standard with electric power steering in the configuration, at that time, and this was a little over a year ago, in January 2011, I gave 276 rubles for my station wagon. Luckily, by the way, I made a purchase, since next week all Kalinas went up in price by 000 rubles. From the dealership to my house, the path was long, 10 km long. I didn’t drive along the highway, since the car was new, it was necessary to go through a run-in, I didn’t even turn on the fifth gear. I was very pleased with the quiet interior compared to previous VAZ cars, and it’s not even that it doesn’t creak or crack inside, but the very quality of sound insulation was amazing, it is an order of magnitude higher than the same Twelfth model.

Some time after the purchase, I bought floor and trunk mats, did not process the car with anti-corrosion treatment yet, since it was winter, especially since the front wheel arch liners were from the factory, and according to AvtoVAZ, some of the Kalina's body parts are still galvanized. The run-in was carried out neatly, the engine was constantly turning at medium speed, in fifth gear it did not drive more than 90 km / h until a run of 2500 km. Then he increased the maximum speed to 100 km / h. The winter turned out to be quite snowy that year, and as we know from the factory, all cars are equipped with all-season Kama tires. Since there was no money after buying a car, I traveled on this rubber all winter, by the way, the rubber never failed, it was possible to drive neatly without feeling any discomfort.

Ambassador of the onset of spring, decided to do a little car? I bought myself an inexpensive radio tape recorder, put the speakers on the front doors of medium power. The radio was taken by Pioneer with an output for a flash drive, the speakers were taken by Kenwood. I didn’t set the alarm, because the regular one is quite satisfied, although it does not have a shock sensor, but Kalina is not such a stolen car. So there is no need to worry. The car starts normally in winter, from the first or, in extreme cases, from the second time. Even this winter, the frosts were down to minus 30 degrees, but there were never any problems with starting the engine. Rubber put on this winter studded Kleber from Michelin. Gave 2240 for one cylinder. During the winter, not a single spike flew out, at a speed of about 60 km / h when entering a sharp turn on ice, there was never a skid, the tires are really cool. I also bought seat covers, of course I wanted without support, but there was no choice, I bought inflated ones.

Now I’ll tell you about all the problems that have occurred over a year and a half of operation of my Lada Kalina Universal. Although in fact, it can be said that there were no problems during all this time. Of course, there were all sorts of little things, but to change something - this was not the case. The first problem with my Kalina is that there were small creaks, but there was one terrible creak on the left side of the back door. I was looking for this creak for a very long time, until I leaned on the rear left door handle and heard this terrible creak. Then he lubricated the door lock, or rather a silent bolt, and that's it, the creaking stopped.

Then, problems began with the brake system malfunction indicator, more precisely with the brake fluid shortage lamp. She began to blink constantly, although the level of the brake fluid in the reservoir was normal, and the brake pads were also normal. I was looking for a solution to this problem for a very long time, until I removed the float from the tank, took it out and realized that the reason was in it. He just filled up with brake fluid, and therefore constantly drowned, respectively, the light was constantly blinking. I poured all the liquid out of it and everything became normal again, the light bulb did not bother me anymore. Then there were minor problems with the front brakes, I bought new brake pads and decided to change them. Although they were not that worn out, they still did not look new, and after replacing the brakes were excellent.

Recently there was a problem with the standard alarm of my Kalina. After the next car wash, the alarm began to behave rather strangely, began to spontaneously work, and when you close the car, it gave a strange sound signal, as if either the door or the hood was not closed. Then, after all, I found the reason for this strange behavior of the signaling, it turned out that during the car wash, water got into one of the sensors, namely, which is located under the hood. I opened the hood, the car stood under the sun for several hours, and everything became normal.

For 30 operation, I changed only two bulbs in the headlight, a dipped beam lamp and a marker lamp, the price of the entire repair cost me only 000 rubles. I changed the oil three times, every 55 thousand and changed the air filter once. The first time I filled in engine oil was Mobil Super semi-synthetic, the second and third times I filled in ZIC A +, but the last change that I am going to do the other day, I decided to replace it with Shell Helix. After the first winter, I also poured semi-synthetic oil into the gearbox, the gearbox began to work much quieter in winter, and the gears began to turn on easier.

During all this time that I own a Lada Kalina Universal, I have never been disappointed that I bought this particular car. There were no problems, there was no repair either. I only changed consumables and that's it. The fuel consumption of Kalina with an 8-valve engine is also quite decent. On the highway at a speed of 90-100 km / h, no more than 5,5 liters. In the city, too, no more than 7 liters per hundred. I think this is more than normal. The car is not demanding for gasoline, I pour both 92nd and 95th, there is practically no difference. The salon is very warm, the stove is simply superior, the airflow is incredible. Warm car, in a word. A very comfortable and roomy interior, especially when the rear seats are folded down, you get a spacious area for cargo transportation. High ceiling, even with a large height, passengers feel comfortable in the car. Now I would also take the Station Wagon, especially since since 2012 there have been several changes, a new 8-valve engine with a lightweight ShPG, plus everything else and electronic control of the gas pedal, the so-called E-gas. Yes, and they also say that Kalina will have a completely different appearance in 2012. It is possible that changes will be in the design of the front of the body, headlights, bumper, etc.