Is it worth buying an old foreign car? Which is better: an old foreign car or a new VAZ? What is better to buy a VAZ old foreign car

And are you constantly afraid for him, even after purchasing a CASCO policy? Is a newer car costing you more than your old car? Maybe it's time to buy again old car, which is really more profitable to own in certain cases?

We all strive to have fresher and more cool car. True, this does not always work out, since everything depends on our budget. Nevertheless, most of us, even with small incomes, try to exchange ours for a more recent one if possible.

Moreover, even if the new car will cost much more to operate. But sometimes it doesn't make sense. Especially if your old car is still in more or less normal condition technical condition. For example, do you know how much more profitable it is to have an old car today than a new or more recent one? You might be surprised, but it turns out there are many reasons why owning an older car is better.

1) You worry less about your old car

The older the car, the less we usually worry about it. As a result, we get more satisfaction from driving, since we are not once again nervous about our car, as is usually the case with a new or fresh car, for which we usually need to pay a lot of money.

Having bought a cheap car, we will most likely spend a small amount and will not be too upset if the old car is damaged. Accordingly, we will worry less. Believe me, having bought an old car, you will even stop worrying about curbs, bollards, stones on the road, reagents, etc. This makes the process of driving a car unforgettable.

2) You will park your car in the parking lot wherever you have to

Do you like public parking nearby? shopping centers, hypermarkets or near home? If you are the owner of a new or old car, then the parking process probably irritates you, since you have to constantly look for a good place for parking.

After all, if there are places, every owner tries not to park the car anywhere to avoid damage. That's why we try to park cars where there are the fewest cars around.

With an old car you will not have problems with parking. You can throw your car anywhere without fear of damaging it. For example, right at the entrance to a shopping center, where parking is usually very tight. And if someone scratches your car a little when opening the door, you will most likely be less upset than if this happened to a new expensive car.

3) Buying a cheap old car will save you money on something else.

If you are limited in money and your salary leaves much to be desired, of course, take a loan. After all, by buying a car on credit, you are selling your future. Don't forget this.

And if you don't expect your income to increase in the near future, your loan payments could be hitting you hard. family budget. Remember that the monthly payment, as a rule, does not change throughout the loan term. Unfortunately, prices in stores may change significantly during this same period due to inflation. In this case, you may simply not have enough money for your daily needs.

Therefore, in this case, buying an old car is more rational, since you will then have extra money that you can spend on something else.

4) Old cars practically do not depreciate in value

We all know that a car is not an investment and that over time all cars lose market value. That is, they depreciate. New cars depreciate especially quickly. So buying a new car is a money pit into which you bury your hard-earned money.

Having bought old car that has already lost value, you are unlikely to lose money by selling it in the future. Chances are you'll sell your old car for about the same amount of money in the future.

5) You can practice car repairs

Of course, an old car is a great opportunity to learn self-repair car. After all, it is the old car that is more suitable than ever for the role of a guinea pig. Moreover, due to the wear and tear of many components of the old car, you can learn how to maintain and repair many important systems and car components that will bother you from time to time due to their natural wear and tear.

Unfortunately, newer and newer cars have become very high-tech, making the process of repairing them very difficult. As a rule, in order to service new cars, you need to undergo special training. With an old car, you can learn a lot on your own.

Moreover, you can even learn how to fix engine problems, which are very simple in old cars compared to modern ones.

6) You will save on maintenance and repairs

Having bought an old car in more or less normal condition, you can also save a lot of money by buying spare parts for disassembly. You will also be able to purchase without fear original spare parts. You are unlikely to want to install non-original spare parts on a new car.

You'll be surprised at how cheap many older cars are, and shocked at how expensive many components are on new cars. Including, as we have already said, most old cars are very simple in design and the cost of repairing them in auto repair shops will be significantly less compared to new cars, which require more standard hours for repair and maintenance.

7) You will save on fuel

Yes, we know that many older cars are not as fuel efficient as their modern counterparts. But, unfortunately, more modern cars, as a rule, require refueling with expensive premium fuel.

I decided to speak out on this matter because many of my readers and viewers ask me to do so. The question is really not unambiguous and it usually arises before a person who is replacing a used, usually an old car (which has been “worn out” and sold) and now there is a HUGE choice - what to buy a used (but foreign car) or a new (but our domestic one, as a rule) VAZ ? We need to approach it from several points of view, we will look at all of them today, there will be a video and a vote below, so read and watch...

Let me start by saying that recently the situation with Russian automobile industry Slowly but surely it is changing, and I think for the better. It started with BU Andersen, when he began to improve the quality of the brand. Moreover, no one even thought about abandoning the old models, I’m talking about PRIORA, KALINA, GRANTA, LADA 4X4, they just decided to “tighten them up” a little, which I think was “almost done.” But also new VESTA, X-RAY, LARGUS, LADA URBAN were developed next to these models.

However, there is a strong stereotype in Russian minds that everything that VAZ produces is bad, and even the slightest foreign car will be not just better, but MUCH BETTER! BUT is this really true in modern realities, because we will take a new Lada, but a used one from a foreigner.

About the price level and age

There are now a whole cartload of “Foreign Guests”, starting from DATSUN (as I consider the “finished” GRANT), ending with top-end BMW, MERCEDES, AUDI. Therefore, we will classify them into two large subspecies, these are inexpensive maximum configurations up to 1 million rubles and expensive ones - over this amount (I’m talking about new cars now)

Moreover, we will choose a used option, which means it should not exceed 500,000, this is really the price of a modern, well-equipped AVTOVAZ.

I would also like to talk about the age limit, after all, 5 years is the maximum figure, as I believe, if younger is better, because, let’s say, many Koreans have a guarantee of 5 years and 150,000 mileage

Inexpensive used foreign car

This is the most practical deal, if you have 400 - 500,000 rubles, then you can take an almost new one - LOGAN, SANDERO, SOLARIS, RIO, ALMERA, POLO. Or a slightly older FOCUS (second generation), MAZDA3, CRUZ, ASTRA, LANCER, COROLLA, etc. (there are really a lot of them).

That is, these are cars not of “ALPHA” brands (such as BMW, AUDI, MERSEDES). This is class "B-C", they will not have complex turbines, diesel engines, robotic boxes gears and other nonsense. Usually these are ordinary “aspirated” engines with volumes of 1.2 - 1.6 (rarely 1.8 - 2.0).

AS I THINK, if you take a used foreign car, then it is from this group. It is here, if it is not a “killed barn” (with a mileage of 250,000 km), that you can drive happily ever after

And such cars as, say, LOGAN, SANDERO, DASTER, the first generations generally go on some kind of “mad” runs, without any serious investments (only “consumables”). Koreans, such as Solaris and RIO, are also very reliable and provide any kind of comfort and have the biggest guarantee of all in our country.

If you take larger cars, LANCER, COROLLA, ASTRA, CRUZ, MAZDA3 - take them first-hand, and you definitely need to watch and test them power units, transmissions, twisted runs, “beating”, etc. If they sell you a “killed” car, you will invest your hard-earned money into it, a lot and at an EXPENSIVE rate.

REMEMBER - repair of foreign cars, especially class “C” (and higher) costs two and maybe three times more than our domestic cars

Of course, at a relatively low price, 400 - 500,000 rubles, you can find a good copy, with low mileage, winter tires and so on. Moreover, the quality of the interior, design, execution technical units will be really great. BUT THERE ARE FEW MACHINES SUCH! And when buying, you should take a knowledgeable person with you.

You also need to be mentally prepared to invest money in repairs. Still, the used option is a roulette.

Expensive used foreign car

My opinion here is unequivocal - I DO NOT ADVISE YOU TO TAKE THIS. FOR 400 - 500,000 rubles, it will already be a shaggy year (age approximately 6 - 8 years). These are exactly the ALPHA BRANDS that I wrote about above - AUDI, MERCEDES, BMW, if we take the Japanese CAMRY, ACCORDS and so on.

Of course, there is a brand, comfort, and prestige (even if it’s an old car, but still). And again, this is not a LADA.

However, this option is almost 100% likely to make money (less often with the Japanese). Of course, perhaps you will be lucky and you will take some MERS that is 8 years old with a mileage of 30,000 km. BUT such randomness tends to zero.

How does this happen in practice? A young guy who passed his license a couple of years ago and more or less learned to drive (and they are the ones who buy such cars) buys himself, say, a MERS W203 for 400,000 rubles (let’s say, 2006). The mileage, as he was told, is 150,000 kilometers (yeah, in 11 years!) And he’s all so smart laughing at the neighbors who bought themselves a VESTA, X-RAY and other miracles of our technology.

But his joy will not last long, because this car is already 11 years old and in any case something will happen to it. And repairs, even with non-original spare parts, often cost a lot of money; the turbine alone will cost from 100,000 rubles, if you take the originals. But here all the comfort and beauty + prestige will fall below the plinth, and such a wonderful guy will be all cool, riding a minibus (paying a loan for this barn and saving money for repairs).

And the neighbors who bought new cars, but of a lower class, will drive and be happy.

Pros of the purchase :

Kudos
Design
Quality
Reliability
Comfort
Equipment

Minuses :

Expensive repairs (especially if these are prestigious brands)
Turbines, robots and other delights, it’s trivial that there may not be specialists in your city
Big taxes
"Eats" a lot of fuel
Breaks often
Many years

In these points I have collected both inexpensive and expensive options. Actually this is so

New, but domestic VAZ

I repeat once again - I am not defending anyone! I had a lot myself domestic cars this particular brand, “I drank a lot with them” - BUT THIS HAPPENED BEFORE.

Let's think about how the situation with AVTOVAZ is now (I don't pretend to be a super analyst, this is just my opinion)

Now the controlling stake belongs to the RENAULT-NISSAN corporation. The government has stopped pumping in billions (70 - 80) every year, I don’t understand why! Of course there is support, but it is much less.

The new administration dispersed a bunch of “brackers” and “parasites”, not all of them (many were still whining), but still. They made it clear: if you want to work, make high-quality “components” and we will work with you. The downside was that they started purchasing a lot of spare parts abroad, but now the situation is changing in the opposite direction (fortunately, sanctions are helping).

Prices have gone up, but the cars have also become better quality. Otherwise, if they are crap, no one will buy it. The brands we know, KALINA, PRIOR, GRANTS, have been upgraded and modernly equipped. Now they also have air conditioners (climate controls), heating (and windshield), navigation (with large monitors), and so on and so forth. Of course, the interior trim remained from budget materials, but now they don’t rattle or rattle.

If you take X-RAY, LARGUS, then these are generally really VERY reliable cars. They are based on the “B0” platform on which the same SANDERO, LOGAN, DUSTER, TERRANO are built. THIS IS A VERY STRONG AND SIMPLE PLATFORM. I wanted it for a long time and without any obvious jambs.

VESTA is our development brought to perfection. In reality, it can compete with such cars as SOLARIS, RIO, POLO, ALMERA, AVEO, etc. in her class she is not very bad.

Again, our own developments appear, this is a robot, a 1.8-liter engine. If there are no critical problems with the engine, then about the robot... (there will be a separate article).

Well and again new car, no one has ridden it before you! The warranty is 3 years (or 100,000 km), now it really works. YES, and people are different now, they know their rights more, and as soon as they do, they go straight to court! In general, the “picture” is changing, it’s POSSIBLE to buy a VAZ now! Especially if this is a new generation of cars.

Again, all of our “national tuners” tune 80% of our cars, from “classics” to PRIORs. It seems to me that only our cars can be upgraded so inexpensively.

Well, spare parts, they are everywhere. You can find anything, and the prices are reasonable. I remember seeing the guy’s face when he found out how much it costs to repair a DSG, he said that for this money you can buy a PRIOR and don’t worry!

Positive aspects of the new AVTOVAZ :

Cheap repairs
Now they are becoming more reliable
No one went before you, no one killed you
GUARANTEE
Acceptable price
EQUIPMENT, there is everything that is in modern cars
State support, preferential loans and programs
Not a difficult repair
Just for inexpensive tuning

Negative points :

This budget cars(not even class "C")
The quality of interior finishing and plastics (although in X-RAI and VESTA it is more or less so)
Not prestigious (this stereotype still lives in us)
They break. This also happens (especially cars of the first generations)
They are on par with foreign cars. YES now the price tag is rising

Overall this is a very practical purchase. If you need a car to travel (for work, in a taxi, to the dacha, with children - LARGUS can be seven-seater) then this is your choice. These are not cars for showing off, they are “hard workers”.

What car to buy when you have decent money new car? In the circle of acquaintances of every motorist there will definitely be an adherent of the option of purchasing an old foreign car. His arguments will be something like this: “My neighbor drives an ancient Toyota (Mercedes, etc.), it’s already 20 years old, but it doesn’t break down, he only changes the oils and filters. They knew how to do it then! An eternal machine, and its engine is a millionaire! Also look for a foreign car that is 15 years old or even more, the main thing is that it is vigorous and in well-groomed condition.”.

Well, let's consider this option. The benefits are obvious.

Pros of buying an old foreign car

— Firstly, car manufacturers in those years really still tried to make cars reliable.
— Secondly, compared to modern cars, the device vehicle simple, well known to mechanics, information is available on how to repair, what the car has pros and cons, etc. Although there are not without exceptions, this is especially true fuel systems early generations.
— Thirdly, spare parts are still produced for old mass-produced models, including many non-original ones, to suit every taste and budget. You can also easily buy non-new parts at auto wrecking yards.
- And, fourthly, such cars are of little interest to car thieves.

Now let's talk about the cons

However, this option also has serious disadvantages. Perhaps the most obvious is that, due to prohibitive customs duties associated with and very high rates on cars older than five years, importing old used cars into Russia from other countries has become almost impossible.

Previously imported foreign cars have been running on our roads for at least ten years. Over the years, the equipment has become very worn out due to climatic, road and other Russian realities. Most of the cars for sale on the Internet that look “excellent” and claim the proud title of “grandfather’s garage version” are, in fact, well-disguised, very “tired” examples that have undergone restoration repairs and pre-sale preparation. The main goal of sellers of such cars is to mask all defects of the vehicle and traces of its use with minimal investments.

The case when the car is really in excellent condition original condition, may turn out to be “slightly” criminal. Perhaps his identification numbers have been changed. Or it was imported from abroad in an unofficial way “under documents”. It’s definitely not worth getting involved with the purchase of such a car, since the traffic police examination easily detects tampering with identification numbers.

Thus, there is an extremely limited number of “aged” foreign cars on the market that are in decent, well-maintained condition, which gives hope for their trouble-free operation. But if the previous owners sell them, it is mainly through friends. And the chances of buying them online or at a car dealership are close to zero.

It should also be taken into account that a car over twenty years old has practically zero environmental class. And in our government every now and then ideas arise on how to push such cars off the roads or, at least, force their owners to pay huge taxes. Better yet, transfer them to new machines, produced in abundance at Russian screwdriver factories. These include restrictions on entry into the center of large cities for old cars, and the introduction of differentiated transport tax. These are still just projects, but with the active support of the automaker lobby and a deficit budget, these ideas will sooner or later be implemented.

A person who is far from repairing his car on his own or spending time studying (even theoretically) its structure, or shelling out money for repairs and replacement of components and parts, should not get involved with foreign cars at a “venerable age.” Especially if there are large annual runs coming up.
Most of these machines have more than 70% wear. This means that almost everyone is at risk. Unoriginal, however, too, since most of their quality is not comparable to the original.
The task of a conscientious repairman is to predict the service life of a particular part (assembly) so that the car does not “get stuck” on the road and a more serious emergency situation does not occur. And it makes sense to change only what is necessary for the coming year or season, or 10 thousand kilometers. Otherwise, operating such a car will be too expensive; it is more profitable to take out a loan and buy a new car.

What then should you buy?

Therefore, rather than buying an old foreign car, it is better to buy a used, but well-maintained car from a domestic manufacturer that still has sufficient service life - we mean VAZ. Or take a used budget (not Chinese) foreign car, albeit in a much cheaper configuration, but with a “fresh” year of manufacture and low mileage.

And in conclusion, let us recall the famous statement of Henry Ford: “The best car is new”.

P.S. Although exploitation new car requires significant financial expenses. We wrote about this, for example, and plan to raise this topic in the future.

Alexey Poltavsky, Autoclub78

There are many opinions regarding the potential age of a car. Some believe that a car should last three decades, and this is at least, while others believe that the service life of a modern car is 7 years. Focusing on the Soviet “Kopeykas” and “Sixes” that have survived to this day, we have the right to expect excellent service from all other cars. But in reality it doesn't work out that way. It turns out that after 10 years the car begins to age very quickly, everything that can crumble falls apart. And this problem does not depend on how long the machine is used. It’s just that a certain age comes and there comes a time when it’s not advisable to operate a car, much less buy it at secondary market. We can roughly say that for modern technology this age is 10 years.

This means that today a car manufactured before 2007 can be considered a more or less profitable purchase. This important point, which should not be forgotten. Most likely, there will be a certain temptation to pay the same money, but buy a car of a much higher class. For example, if you are planning to buy Ford Fiesta 2010 model, then you may find that for the same money it is available Volkswagen Passat 5th generation. Of course, this is a tempting offer, but a Passat that is 16 years old is definitely not a good idea anymore. However, it all depends on many factors, and in two years you can kill a car beyond recognition. Today we will look at the TOP 5 reasons why you should not buy a car that was produced more than 10 years ago. Considering these factors can save you from making an unwise investment when purchasing a vehicle.

Body problems are inevitable for such cars

Modern transport can be a very attractive solution for every buyer. But if your car has serious problems with the body, you will not get any pleasure from using it. These problems can be solved quite simply. With the help of a normal car selection, you can avoid troubles. After 10 years of operation, the following troubles occur:

ubiquitous rust bugs appear, chips and scratches become more accentuated, rust faster and require constant attention from the car owner;
the paint peels off more easily and becomes unusable, the car can fade, the paintwork comes off in some places when washing the car, there are problems that require painting;
the body itself hard to reach places begins to rust, even if you carry out regular anti-corrosion treatment, the metal is already losing its important properties;
There are also certain problems with welding, parts often begin to fall off during spot welding, and there are problems with the integrity of the car body in general.

Such troubles obviously will not bring anything good motorist. You will have to constantly visit the service station and carry out repair work. It is better to use this money to buy fresher and quality car. This way you can eliminate problems with the body and get the necessary operating properties of the vehicle without troubles and unexpected situations.

The chassis is falling apart - constant repairs

Another problem to consider in this case is crumbling chassis. Given enough high cost spare parts and a very unpleasant price tag for work at a service station, there is a real problem of repairs that will result in a large sum. There is a list of problems that should be considered when buying a car older than 10 years:

within a year, half of the chassis will have to be replaced; our roads increase the need for car repairs, taking into account the quality of vehicle operation;
there are certain problems with constant unnecessary sounds in the suspension, which are difficult to localize and neutralize, so it makes sense to think about purchasing;
you will be a regular visitor to the service station, so you will have to come to terms with this fact, and you should prepare quite a lot of money for repairs in advance, since the car is already tired;
It is impossible to find parts for some old cars, so you have to buy spare parts at scrap yards, through advertisements and other unpleasant methods.

Over ten years, not only silent blocks and various other components that do not cost a lot of money break in a car. Struts, supports, ball joints, CV joints and other parts of the chassis fail, which are very difficult and expensive to replace. And the decent parts themselves are quite expensive and are unlikely to be a pleasant expense for the owner of such a car.

Travel comfort decreases, consumption increases

Over time, engine parts wear out and certain gaps appear between the piston and the engine housing. This means that very soon you will have to do major renovation. For many cars, major repairs are impossible because the engine cannot be repaired. In this case, you will have to replace the power unit. It is also worth considering the following problems:

the operating comfort of the car decreases due to play in the suspension elements, gearbox, engine and other parts, this important factor reducing the ease of use of the car;
the car gradually begins to consume more and more fuel, a worn-out engine increases consumption by up to plus 50 percent, and this is a fairly common fact;
The gearbox may fail automatic type at any time, repair of automatic transmissions will cost from $700 for an automatic transmission to at least 2-3 thousand for a CVT or robot;
worn-out interior, which also greatly affects the comfort of movement, while the wear of interior parts continues and accelerates when using the car after purchase.

It must be admitted that driving a car that is already ten years old is not as pleasant as driving a brand new vehicle of even a less interesting class. So a smart buyer will choose the most recent of possible cars. This is the optimal solution that will become important advantage for each buyer, will allow you to operate the equipment without problems and obtain the necessary conditions of use.

Old plastic around the driver is problem number one

And if with chassis You can put up with it and overcome fuel consumption with various repairs and actions, but no one will change interior elements for the sake of an aesthetic effect. To do this, you need to perform quite a lot of steps and spend too much money. Therefore, you will be driving a car for a long time with unpleasant appearance interior The main problems are:

old plastic parts look pretty bad, they are worn, faded and have various other problems that are too expensive to fix;
leather trim or fabric elements turn out to be far from the most beautiful after ten years of use; they are scratched, torn or completely lost color;
the steering wheel also rarely survives in normal condition to this age, and it is with this element that the driver has the greatest contact during a trip;
The problem of worn-out seats also manifests itself; it is less comfortable to sit in them, they do not spring well, and adjustment parts that are important for comfort may be broken.

For these reasons, driving in a ten-year-old car is not very pleasant. There are a number of factors that can have a certain impact on the quality of the trip. And among them are worn leather and plastic elements car interior. This important feature your car, which will always irritate you with its details and problems. At the same time, it will be difficult to do anything.

Low residual value and constant price decline

After passing the age barrier of seven years, the car begins to actively lose value. By the age of ten, this activity intensifies significantly and further increases every year. Interestingly, in most cases, losses amount to up to half the cost of transport over a couple of years. Therefore, buying a ten-year-old car is unprofitable; it will lead to the following unpleasant consequences:

a significant increase in financial losses not only due to constant repairs, but also due to a decrease in the value of the car, which causes even greater losses in money;
in two years you can lose full price cars - one half for repairs, and the other half for loss of value due to aging of the car and deterioration of condition;
even at the time of purchase, you are unlikely to be able to sell the car for the same money, unless you have found a very good offer at a fairly reasonable price;
the machine may well end up with hidden problems, and in this case you will have to seriously deal with troubles or reduce the cost when selling.

For many buyers, when purchasing a car, its future cost does not play any role. But remember that for the vast majority the only chance to purchase good car- This is an exchange on the car market. Therefore, the residual value of the car is very important. When buying a car, you need to assume how much the car will lose over several years of operation. We invite you to look at the process of choosing a car that is already 10 years old, but it comes from a very cool family:

Let's sum it up

There are a number of factors that can actually ruin your car purchase. Among these factors, it is worth highlighting the decrease in the value of the car after purchase, disintegration of the chassis, problems with paint coating and other troubles The more subtleties of this kind you acquire along with the machine, the less pleasure it will be during operation. Therefore, it is always worth taking such points into account, taking into account all the factors that may upset the driver while traveling by car. However, it is still not possible to foresee all factors.

It may well happen that you buy a two-year-old car, and its actual condition will be worse than that of a ten-year-old applicant. This is possible in different situations, including those described above. Often, too active use of cars leads to the fact that transport turns out to be the most unpleasant to use. This leads to various troubles, such as early overhaul of the engine and gearbox, repair work on the body, tired metal and welding. So it is important to determine the actual mileage and intensity of use. What factors are most important to you when buying a used car?

An old foreign car or a relatively “fresh” domestic car? This already “hackneyed” question is constantly “raised” on countless automotive forums and other resources on the World Wide Web; it is a popular topic of conversation among ordinary car enthusiasts and is especially of concern to people who have relatively little money to buy a car. As a rule, the average person who asks himself such a question has an amount of no more than two hundred thousand rubles. And in our country, unfortunately, there are an order of magnitude more of them than those who choose new cars at car dealerships.

Often, the person who has limited quantity funds to buy a car and asking for advice whether he should buy an old foreign car is faced with a complete misunderstanding, and “advisers” recommend buying a domestic car, arguing that the “astronomical prices” for spare parts and their unavailability for old foreign cars, the age of the car, and difficulties with repairs as well as numerous stories of their friends/relatives/acquaintances who suffered with an old car, and vice versa, the cheapness of spare parts, simplicity of design and the highest maintainability of domestic cars. Let's try to figure out what kind of car you can buy when you have no more than 200 thousand rubles in your pocket, and also consider the main “myths” regarding old foreign cars. And let’s look at this using the example of the legendary German cars of the early 90s - Volkswagen Passat B3\B4 and Audi-80 (or as it is also called by the “people” - Audi-“Barrel”), which are still traveling around in huge quantities. Russian roads in the Western part of the country, and the prices for which are automotive market now they start from only 60-70 thousand rubles. It is worth noting that for residents of the Eastern part of Russia, such a question is not even raised - the market for cheap cars for little money there is completely “monopolized” by old Japanese cars.

Let’s compare the above old “Germans” and any of domestic cars mobiles aged 5-10 years. First of all, it is worth noting that any modern domestic cars(except, perhaps, the new Lada Vesta) are positioned as the cheapest means of transportation, which frankly do not “shine” with any comfort, and the build quality of which has become, as they say, a byword in all languages, but the prices for which imply the absence of any -or “claims” to the quality of the car. The owners of domestic cars themselves often call them with the contemptuous nickname “TAZ”, and main reason Their use is called only by the low cost of purchase and operation.

The old “Germans” at one time became one of those cars that for Russian people brought a special semantic meaning to the word “foreign car”, meaning not only a foreign-made car, but also the highest comfort, reliability, level and quality. These cars are very comfortable - the interior, although very ascetic by modern standards, has a huge space and many “options” that would be the envy of many modern middle-class cars. So, for the Passat B3 and the Audi-Bochka, there is practically a “standard package” - power steering, electrically adjustable mirrors, all-round power windows and an electric sunroof with two positions. The suspension, despite its maximum simplicity (“MacPherson strut at the front, beam at the rear”) is incredibly powerful and energy-intensive, making it easy to absorb bumps even on the most “killed” ones. Russian roads and in this regard they can even give a head start to many middle-class foreign cars. The engines are very torquey, have good torque and provide these cars with very good dynamics within the limits of its volumes and power. Although the design does not have any frills and is completely “utilitarian”, it looks quite good, even in this day and age. But how do these machines “feel” when they are average age has already exceeded 25 (!) years. Let's consider various aspects of the operation of these cars in comparison with much “younger” VAZs.

Reliability. It is this indicator that interests almost every person who buys a used car. Surely, every motorist has at least once heard from someone a story about a man who bought an old foreign car, which constantly broke down and “sucked” a huge amount of money out of him. However, if you carefully look and analyze such stories, it turns out that we are talking about an old premium foreign car, usually a BMW or Mercedes, an outright “exotic car” or simply a car purchased at a very low cost. In addition, such stories are in most cases retold using the “broken phone” method. Most “ordinary” foreign cars of the 80s and 90s, such as Volkswagens, Audis or Japanese Toyotas, have absolutely nothing in common with premium foreign cars, which, despite all their reliability, were usually used completely mercilessly , and their “youth” in Russia occurred in the “dashing 90s” and by people who had absolutely no funds for their proper maintenance, and who physically have a very large number of parts and a rather complex design and a priori require a large amount of money for maintenance. But old “premium class” cars are a topic for a separate article.

The first thing that catches your eye when looking at old foreign cars is the condition of the body. In most cases, if the car has not been in a serious accident, it is preserved very well. Foreign cars of the 90s are distinguished by thick, high-quality metal, highest quality painting, and “Audi” is completely galvanized. Volkswagens, contrary to popular belief among their owners, were not galvanized (only some body parts were galvanized), but were covered with high-quality primers in several layers and painted with extremely high quality. An average VAZ over 5 years old is difficult to find without at least small traces of rust on various elements of the body, and defects in the body of an average domestic car cannot be compared with old foreign cars, if any, despite the gigantic difference in age.

Volkswagen and Audi engines are true masterpieces of engine engineering. As a rule, the vast majority of Volkswagens and Audi Barrels currently offered on the market have 90-horsepower 1.8-liter power units, and are equipped with mono-injection - a central electronic fuel injection system. These engines have a very simple design and a huge service life - with adequate operation and timely maintenance, these engines are quite capable of reaching 500 thousand kilometers without major repairs! Therefore, having bought a “German” with a current average mileage of 300-400 thousand kilometers, you don’t have to worry about the engine at all. The suspension on these cars is also “indestructible”. Very massive levers and shock absorbers, as well as the highest quality of parts, provide the suspensions of these cars with the ability to travel completely astronomical by modern standards before repair. So, for example, a Passat or Audi 80 with a mileage of over 300,000 kilometers and still having its original suspension is not at all uncommon. And with a fairly high probability, having bought such a car, you will be the first to change shock absorbers or any other suspension elements. And not only pendants. Note that the suspension of VAZs usually requires repair at the turn of 70-80 thousand kilometers, and replacing shock absorbers twice at 100 thousand kilometers is by no means uncommon.

The biggest headache can be caused by a single injection. If problems arise with it, it is quite difficult to find a specialist who will properly repair and adjust it. However, in terms of spare parts there are no difficulties with it - now you can buy all its elements for reasonable money. For example, a mono-spray nozzle will cost about 6 thousand rubles. In addition, it’s not difficult to find a well-functioning single injection at a “dismantling shop” for an average of 5 thousand rubles and forget about this problem, or set it up, even if not perfectly, yourself, since it’s not at all difficult to understand its structure. For comparison, for any domestic car a set of injectors will cost a comparable amount - one injector costs about 1.5 thousand rubles, but for a “classic” injector you need, as you know, 4 of them. It is also worth noting that single injection is not at all picky about fuel quality, etc. its nozzle has a very large diameter, it is almost impossible to “contaminate” it. If old german car has an engine with a K\KE-Jetronik fuel injection system, then if possible you should refrain from purchasing it unless you are very confident good condition car. Otherwise, there is a risk of facing extremely serious problems and spending very significant funds, for which the owner of a car in the maximum budget category is often completely unprepared. K\KE-Ketronic is a very complex mechanical (!) fuel injection system and its main enemy is time, which leads to natural wear of mechanical parts. If serious problems arise, you will most likely have to figure it out yourself, because... Finding a specialist with even minimal knowledge of such injection systems is almost impossible, especially in small cities, not to mention rural areas. This probably exhausts the most serious problems that owners of old foreign cars may encounter. To eliminate the risk of such problems, you should prefer a car with an engine with injection system nutrition. For example, the most best option old "Passat" - with a 2-liter 8-valve engine 2E, developing a power of 115 Horse power. Such an engine has an extremely reliable injector, problems with which (if any arise) can be resolved in any garage with the inscription “Auto electrician. Chip tuning. Cleaning the injectors”, and in addition, this engine is optimal in terms of reliability, service life and accelerating dynamics, and even has lower fuel consumption compared to 90-horsepower power units.

In general, it is worth noting that foreign cars of the 1980s - 90s are, without exaggeration, representatives of the “golden age” of the automotive industry. They have the highest reliability, simplicity and thoughtfulness of design and excellent build quality. And it was they who made the reputation of the world's leading automakers, which they still enjoy today. And the “ideology” by which such machines were created was radically different from the modern one. Back then in Europe it was not the norm to have an average of 2-3 cars per family and change them every 3 years. On the contrary, buying a car was quite an expensive pleasure, and it was bought, if not “for life,” then at least for a very long period. Of course, these cars will require repairs, but the owner of a 25-year-old old foreign car will face the same problems as the owner of a 5-10 VAZ. Therefore, we will consider one of the most important parameters for the owner of used cars - maintainability and cost of spare parts.

Perhaps the main argument of owners of domestic cars is their incredible simplicity, maintainability, as well as the availability of spare parts and their extremely low price. However, the simplicity of domestic cars (if you don’t take into account the “classics”), in comparison with old foreign cars, is perhaps the most common misconception. To begin with, it is worth recalling that the famous “Lada-Samara” is structurally a car from the mid-80s, and at the time of its appearance, it could only compete with its foreign peers, for example, “Passats” and “Audi-80” of the second generation , and even then, to put it mildly, not very successfully (note that these cars are still found on Russian roads, but it is simply impossible to imagine a domestic car of those times, with the exception of very rare cases, surviving to this day). All other “modern” VAZs are essentially just variations of these cars, differing in body and interior trim. Most of the components and assemblies, as well as their location, on modern VAZs are not much different from the “nine”. And most importantly, structurally they are by no means the simplest. So, in order to properly see many of the units, it is necessary to at least dismantle the housing air filter, and the units themselves are often inconveniently located. For example, it is best to get to the starter or generator at domestic cars it is possible only from below, and to get to them “from above” you need to bend over and twist the bolts almost “by touch” (at the same time, in order to unscrew the last bolt of the generator you often have to resort to various tricks). In the foreign cars under consideration, the location of all units is thought out to the smallest detail, everything is in plain sight and the structure of the car is intuitive even for a “newbie,” and access to most components and assemblies is extremely simple and convenient. This may seem strange, but structurally old, non-premium foreign cars are much simpler than VAZs. And the notorious “Uncle Vasya” in the garage, who can “sort out the Nine” with eyes closed”, will also easily and at the same time “cope” with a “Passat” or “Audi-Bochka” faster. And just like VAZs, these cars can be easily repaired in “field” conditions, even better. All legends about repairs “on the knee” are more true in relation to old foreign cars. In car services, prices for repairs of old foreign cars are practically no different from VAZ ones.

And the most main myth Regarding old foreign cars, this is the “huge” cost of spare parts (especially in comparison with domestic cars) and their inaccessibility. This statement was relevant only for the 90s and the beginning of the 2000s, when in the average city there were only a few stores with spare parts even for domestic cars, and to order spare parts for foreign cars one had to make incredible efforts and really pay a huge amount of money. But more than 15 years have passed since those times, and now a store with the inscription “Spare parts for foreign cars” can be found on almost every corner. Moreover, modern market There is an oversupply of spare parts for foreign cars. Yes, spare parts usually need to be ordered and waited, and the average delivery time is 2-3 days. Problems could only be spare parts for frankly “exotic” cars, say some “AlfaRomeo-164”. However, as a rule, old foreign cars are prone to sudden breakdowns an order of magnitude less than domestic cars, and such a period in most cases is not something critical, especially considering that in most cases repairs are planned in advance. There are simply a huge number of spare parts for old foreign cars, from dozens different manufacturers, for every taste and budget. Prices for spare parts are more than cheap. Some prices for spare parts can really be steep, especially small things (for example, hood and trunk locks). However, for such a case, there are many car dismantling yards, including “euro” ones, where they dismantle cars from Europe, which, for natural reasons, have a much lower degree of wear and tear (in many European countries, you can no longer drive old cars due to the extreme strict environmental standards, it is impossible to bring them to Russia, because customs clearance costs enormous money, many times greater than the cost of the car, but they can be brought and disassembled for spare parts). If you repair a car only with “originals” and the highest quality analogues, then the cost of spare parts will occupy an “intermediate” position between VAZ spare parts and spare parts for frankly budget modern foreign cars, like Logan or Accent. If you repair a car with Chinese and simply the cheapest spare parts, then the cost will be completely less than for many VAZ spare parts. By the way, about spare parts for VAZs. The opinion that they are completely “penny” is not entirely true. Spare parts cost “kopecks” only for a VAZ “Classic” or if we are talking about openly counterfeit spare parts (which in the “Spare parts for VAZ” stores are called by the interesting word “cooperative”). Good original spare parts do not cost a penny at all, and it is for them that prices first rise during the economic crisis. In addition, many owners of domestic cars often prefer to pay more in case of repairs and buy high-quality foreign spare parts, so as not to remember the problems that have arisen. And there are simply a lot of imported spare parts installed on the assembly line on domestic cars. For example, on all domestic cars, starting with the G8, injectors and lambda probes are produced by the Bocsh and Siemens concerns, and on modern Kalinas and Grants, almost half of the spare parts are foreign-made. Even timing belts and those from Gates!

The main advantage of domestic cars is not even cheapness, but the availability of spare parts. It’s often closer to the VAZ Spare Parts store than to a school or clinic. However, you should choose spare parts especially carefully and preferably only in trusted stores, because The number of counterfeit spare parts on the shelves reaches alarming levels. And stories about how you managed to buy a genuine spare part only the third time, or how a completely rebuilt suspension had to be changed after six months, unfortunately can be heard too often. If you install a high-quality spare part on an old foreign car, then next time it will not be you who will replace it.

Let's consider the average prices for some spare parts for Volkswagen Passat B3\B4 and Audi 80, and only for original spare parts and high-quality analogues. Timing belt – 300-500 rubles, power steering and generator belts – 200-250 rubles, temperature sensor – 700-1700 rubles (original), thermostat – 600-1000 rubles, front suspension arm (Lemferder) – 2.5 thousand rubles, ball joint – 400-500 rubles, wheel bearing – 1000 rubles, shock absorbers – 2.5-4 thousand rubles, steering rod (Lemferder\TRW) – 2-2.5 thousand rubles, external CV joints – 1300-2000 rubles, clutch assembly – 5-6 thousand rubles. If you end up undergoing a major engine overhaul, this procedure, together with the work and the purchase of the highest quality spare parts (for example, original Kolbencshmidt pistons), will cost about 40 thousand rubles. As you can see, prices are by no means “astronomical” and truly “penny” compared to modern cars middle class.

What are the disadvantages of old foreign cars? Their main enemy is time. Regardless of the mileage, many parts are already subject to natural wear and tear (for example, various electrical contacts often become worn out). However, if such a machine managed to reach ours in good condition, most of the components and assemblies, as a rule, still have a significant “margin of safety”, or they have already been replaced. And it’s clear that a car that is a quarter of a century old cannot be in completely perfect condition.

And if among owners of domestic cars there are legends about the “penny” cost of maintenance and the incredible ease of repair, then old foreign cars are also subject to numerous myths, the main one of which is their total “indestructibility” and ultra-reliability, which allows them to be used with virtually no investment. Yes, 5-10 years ago this was quite realistic, but now, when most of the “auto legends” of the 90s celebrated their 25th anniversary, this is already far from the truth. All cars tend to break down sooner or later, and their parts wear out, and the old “Germans” and “Japanese” are no exception. But if the majority modern cars and almost all domestically produced cars begin to require various investments after 5 years of operation, then the old “auto legends” - at the turn of 20 years. And, perhaps, this is where the legendary reliability lies. After all, it is difficult to imagine any modern car that will also be cutting through the streets 20 years after leaving the assembly line.

But we must be aware that any car purchased in the lower price segment will one way or another require investment, and finding a car at a low price that does not cause trouble is, to put it mildly, not a trivial task. Replacing some suspension parts, eliminating minor faults in the electrical or cooling system - all these problems are quite typical even for “not very used” cars. In order not to encounter such problems and not to know anything about the car except the location of the gas tank flap and the washer fluid reservoir and to open the hood only to fill it, you need to buy a new car from the showroom. But alas, such a desire does not always coincide with financial capabilities.

In general, the options for cars that can be purchased on the secondary market, in a budget of up to 200 thousand rubles, can be divided into 3 large groups - domestic cars, 5-10 year old budget foreign cars, and foreign cars of the 90s. Finding a “fresh” budget foreign car, like a Renault Logan, Nissan Almeria or Hyundai Accent in good condition for up to 200 thousand rubles is problematic, and in a budget of less than 150 thousand rubles they are hardly worth considering - you will get most cases, there are a huge number of problems, and it will be necessary to repair “everything at once.”

Prices for domestic cars on the secondary market depend on the model. So, a “nine” in really good condition can be bought for 70-80 thousand, but for a “Kalina” in a similar condition you will need to pay at least 150 thousand. At the same time, one way or another, they will require certain investments and no one will guarantee that if you buy, say, a Kalina in good condition, you will not “arrive” for suspension repairs in a few months. Yes, the choice of domestic cars on the secondary market is simply gigantic and in a short time you can look through many options, finding for the available amount a suitable car in good or at least acceptable condition. This machine is perfect for a beginner.

Foreign cars of the 90s, despite their venerable age and the fact that they can often turn out to be older than the owner himself, for little money are a very worthy option, but their choice must be approached more carefully. On the one hand, a huge number of such machines are largely “killed”, due to age and often an incredibly rich “biography”, on the other hand, a truly astronomical number of such machines were produced, and it’s difficult to find not just a “living” copy, but one in excellent condition not a difficult task at all. Prices for old “Germans” start at 60-80 thousand, but for this money you can find a copy in acceptable condition. For 120-150 thousand, you can easily find an old German in truly excellent condition, which is either well preserved, or, more likely, to which the previous owner gave a “second life”, where all the parts that could have broken have already been replaced. For an amount close to 200 thousand rubles, you can buy an old foreign car of a higher class in excellent condition, for example an Audi 100C4. “Volkswagens” or Audi “Barrels” of those years for that amount can be bought in almost perfect condition, as close as possible to the original. And an old foreign car, purchased for an amount of 120-150 thousand rubles, will make it possible to fully realize the dream of most car enthusiasts - to get a reliable one that requires only planned Maintenance car for little money. If we put aside fears about the fact that the car is more than 20 years old (it is worth noting that the average car owner often “projects” breakdowns of a 5-year-old VAZ or a modern budget foreign car onto the 20-year-old age of the car, which is fundamentally wrong in this case), and carefully approach the choice of such a car, it will leave nothing in your life except pleasant emotions.

Of course, it is a personal matter for everyone which car to buy, especially if the available amount of money is quite small, and everyone has their own selection criteria. But if you have a desire to buy an old foreign car, then cast aside all doubts, carefully approach the choice of car and you will not regret it. For the price of a “killed” Kalina or Priora you can get very good car who will not let you down on the way, will not bother you minor problems. A car in which you will not just drive, but drive comfortably, in cozy salon, with a large number of “options” (which many new middle-class cars often cannot boast of), which is easy to maintain, and the prices for spare parts and repairs, if necessary, will in most cases be cheaper than repairing a “budget foreign car” " And someday, after many years, you will talk with nostalgia about what an old car you had, which, despite its age, served you faithfully.

Pavel Rumyantsev