Test drive GAZ 31105 2004-2008 sedan
Velvet revolution
Volga 2003 - unfamiliar car This is almost not the Volga! Of course, in such a statement one of the authors (that younger) was present by the share of emotionality. But having traveled yesterday at the well -known editorial Gaz 3110 from Moscow to Nizhny and swaying today on the Volga, outwardly different from our color, it was difficult not to notice the difference ...
On the way to the factory landfill at a speed of 80, he squeezed the clutch and, without visible efforts, switched to second gear. We were already told about the modernized box, but to hear one thing ... Indeed, when switching from the fifth or fourth to the second (the most unloved regime) reception, which experienced Volgari honed to perfection, delayed the lever in neutrals, gasped, stuck, - stuck, - - stuck, - No longer required.
The ease of switching, without a grinding of the five -a -way, which was characteristic of the Volgovskiy five -speed, the gearbox began to resemble Zhigulevskaya. The difference with the current unit is especially striking in the frost, until the transmission has warmed up. In addition to the new double synchronizers of the first and second transmission, reinforced switch plugs appeared, other primary, secondary and intermediate shafts. The switching mechanism has been finalized. The unit is interchangeable with the previous one and will appear on the Volga already in this half -year.
Nevertheless, the most important thing is not a gearbox. The updated car, if not a revolution, is a comparable evolutionary leap with it. GAZ 3110 finally parted with a seafood character, for which he earned the nickname of the barge.
With sharp accelerations and braking, the car now does not lift the stern and does not peck with his nose. This is especially noticeable in comparison with the usual, serial (for now!) Machine. The Volga became clearer, without delay to respond to the turn of the steering wheel. In quick turns, the car is less fucked. You feel more confident, and getting the car out of the skid is now much easier. In addition, the car became more comfortable - the driver stopped feeling small road irregularities on the steering wheel, and the smoothness of the course improved. The feeling of driving on a modernized Volga, as if a familiar car lost weight - dropped a couple of hundred kilograms and ... pushed - with understanding belongs to the small mistakes of the driver and helps to fix them.
The design, which has not changed radically since 1956, finally becomes the property of history. The front suspension lost the main parts distinguishing the Volga - the wrapper and threaded bushings. The new suspension is similar to the sable - massive levers (upper - stamped, lower - forged), silent blocks (precisely thanks to them road irregularities
less transmitted to the steering wheel) and powerful ball supports. The reptile stabilizer has become noticeably thicker - 20 mm against the previous 16.5. Tsapfa, hubs, brakes and shock absorbers remained the same. The back suspension has not changed so radically - I received a stabilizer and silent blocks at the front ends of the springs. The latter saved the car from a characteristic Volgovsky feature: the rear bridge has ceased to live a separate life. This is clearly visible at a sharp start. By car with the previous suspension, the rear wheel, polishing dry asphalt, walks in a wheel niche with a shand. There is no this unpleasant effect on the modernized Volga.
Cars with new pendants will begin to leave the assembly line in the second half of the year. In the collection, the front suspension is interchangeable with the previous one (spare parts for it will be released for a long time). The new one can be installed on the waves with 15-inch wheels, starting from a part of the machines of the model 31029, leaving the rear suspension without changes. Her alteration requires accurate welding.
The modified gearboxes and suspensions are only the first, albeit very significant steps on the way of modernization GAZ 3110. In accordance with the requirements of Euro II, from this year part of the machines (not only the Volga, but also the Gazelle and Soboli) will be equipped with gas outstanding neutralizers. The fuel pump will move to the tank, and under the hood they will placed the capture of gasoline vapor - adsorber. On all Volga, a shift filter of the ventilation system of the salon will appear. In the first half of the year, GAZ 3110 will receive other headlights and rear lights interchangeable with the current headlights. A more modern appearance is not the main thing. They promise that the new headlights will delight drivers with the best characteristics of illumination and the distribution of the beam. Part of the cars from this year will be equipped with a central lock.
Later they plan to put new hands and door locks, convenient illuminated buttons in the cabin. Designers and designers work on a changed combination of devices.
The next stage of modernization will begin with the model 3102. By order, these machines will be equipped with an automatic gearbox of ZF, adapted to the Volga, and since 2004, Bosch Abs Brakes will enter the basic configuration of zero. Later this system will appear on GAZ 3110. So, very soon the Volgari with experience will colorfully describe to newly -made owners how to subside the suspension. We foresee the doubts of skeptics: the Volga has an eternal front, and ball supports are unreliable. However, as experience shows, including ours, the eternity of the Shkvornivan suspension (as, however, any node) is nothing more than a legend. The new Volga with an old index became more convenient, obedient and ultimately -
safer. It is important that from the instructions for operating and the service book, it is obviously that the requirement will disappear - to pierce the press -kids every 5 thousand km. Now, only bearings of the hubs are required to replace the lubricant - every 60 thousand. New items, of course, with proper quality in serial production and parallel to the healing of other Volgov diseases, are able to extend the life of the GAZ 3110. They promise that the first stage of modernization (a modified gearbox and new suspensions) will practically not affect the price of the car.
We will definitely return to the Volga tests: in the spring, when the roads of the landfill are dry, we will evaluate the controllability with the help of devices. In the meantime ...
This is no longer a barge! - With such an assessment of the car, both authors willingly agreed.
Text / Sergey Kanunnikov, Anatoly Karpenkov
Photo / George Sadkov
Source: The magazine "Driving"
