Test drive UAZ 469/3151 1973-2003 SUV
You will answer for the "goat"!
Old SUV in a new wayThe test drive of the domestic car, arranged by the manufacturer for journalists - is the case in Russia, to put it mildly, unusual. It just so happened that the products of car factories diverged without special advertising and PR tricks. However, the 21st century is in the yard, something is changing. Therefore, having received an invitation to try out a new version of the commander’s SUV, the journalists abandoned all the affairs and went to Ulyanovsk.
Was it worth it to drag in a thousand miles to look at the car, which has been driving along the roads for ten years now? It was this question that I wanted to ask representatives of UAZ when looking at the goal of our journey. Indeed, the novelty presented as UAZ-315195, at first glance, was no different from a well-known UAZ with a metal roof. Minor changes like plastic overlays on the bumper and the radiator grille - do not count.
However, a short technical presentation, as befits a preceding test, put all points over I. It turns out that the factory workers and were not going to surprise journalists by the exterior of the restyled goat (radical changes in appearance are scheduled for 2003), all the zest - deep inside. The SUV received a new engine and a transmission, the springs instead of leaf springs in the front suspension, the interior has changed dramatically. In principle, some of this has already been found on numerous small-scale modifications of the basic UAZ-31514, and yet the list of changes looked impressive.
The chief designer of the UAZ, Sergei Gaysin, who represented his brainchild, carefully listed all the innovations that distinguished the 195th from his predecessor, but the writing brothers looked impatiently over his shoulder at the car prepared for the test. Enough of the press release to quote. Let's go!, - clearly read in the eyes of colleagues.
So what are you
While the organizers were lists of crews, I decided to get to know the car better. He began, as usual, from the motor. Under the hood, by the way, kept in the open position not familiar support, but, in foreign, gas racks, the ZMZ 409 engine was discovered. Judging by the technical characteristics (see table), this is the work of the Zavolzhsky motor plant, although it does not claim world leadership, But in comparison with the basic power unit, it is a huge step forward: after all, an injector 16-valve.
The acquaintance continued in the cabin. Of course, it is too early to compare the comfort and quality of the interior decoration with Range Rover, however, Defender, which the Ulyanovites, as it turned out, have been listed with their almost the main competitor, an updated SUV, I would say, surpassed it. In any case, there was no trace of chaste asuzkes. Previously naked, the front panel was dressed in plastic. Devices, as before scattered along the panel, are mounted in it at an angle and turned to the driver. There was even a kind of central console with a place under the radio and a huge square alarm clock. Expressive design of the front panel, by the way, borrowed from the UAZ-3159 BARS model, gives an abundance of control lamps that duplicate (apparently, for ribing reliability) the indications of arrow devices. The three -spoke steering wheel with a giant diameter of the rim thanks to the hydraulic mission can be rotated with one finger. True, running ahead, I note that on the go, this softness provides the driver with a bear’s service: we practically do not drive the car.
Leaves the best and ergonomics of other controls. The pedal node is still not convenient, and a tricky exacerbated lever of gearboxes with enormous moves and the useless selectivity of a person unusual simply confuses. The fact that, sticking the third and fifth gears, you constantly touched with knuckles of your fingers for the central console, I am not even saying.
A few words, rather warm, deserve seats. Not recaro, of course, but the presence of velor upholstery, at least minimal adjustments and head restraints (including behind) - a big plus. By the way, according to representatives of the plant, the rear seat can be folded in parts, releasing an additional place for baggage. True, it was not possible to check this bold statement. Having managed the cost of incredible efforts with back fixers, I was forced to surrender in the face of an insoluble problem: the seat belts were categorically refused to climb into the gap between the metal frame and the pillow, not allowing to throw back the instructions, the seats forward. Clear business: pre -production samples, bypass technology, the guys in the experimental production were in a hurry
Well, not like a goat
In general, in comparison with the predecessor, the inner world of an updated car turned out to be incomparably richer. It remained to check how the machine claiming the title of urban SUV behaves on the asphalt. There was no doubt about the off-road doubts, because no sacrificial attempts on the frame structure on unreasonable bridges (by the way, if desired, the 159th can be ordered with gearboxes, military bridges) and a handout with a demult-pile was not informed. The designers had the task, without applying for the legendary UAZ cross -country ability, to adapt the condo SUV to maximally as possible to move on public roads, moreover, with low blood (in the sense of money). So the spring suspension of the front wheels was born, thanks to which the car practically lost its signature image, almost ceasing to goat. Devoted fans of the Ulyanovsk brand will accuse me of lies, but, believe me, even at speeds approaching the maximum 130 km/h, you can communicate in the cabin without resorting to the help of a negotiation device. Of course, the conversation is still in elevated colors, but now only tires with an off-road pattern and disgusting aerodynamics of a square body are guilty of this. The hero of the revolution in the field of acoustic comfort is a hand -to -shock gearbox (by the way, you can now control the distribution with the help of one lever). The silence in the cabin added an improved double -circuit sealing of the doorways, additional sound insulation of the motor compartment and the fifth stage in the gearbox.
However, the driver of the 195th will not often have to use the fifth speed. In fact, it works only after 100 km/h and only on a flat road: more or less steep rise makes it take to a step below. In other words, in the city the advantages of a five -speed checkpoint come down to zero. In general, the choice of a basic power unit for an updated UAZ seemed to be not the most successful: despite the increased engine power, the car became some kind of sluggish. It is noteworthy that the usual 514th with a turbodiesel and the same box of production of the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant left much warmer impressions. A comparative lack of power with more than compensated by elasticity.
On off -road, namely, where the asphalt ends and it is worth transferring to these cars, a low -speed diesel, it is preferable to it by God. In the dynamic city stream, there is nothing to do with such controllability and brakes. True, with the advent of ventilated discs on the front axle, it became not an example to stop the goat. At least, you can predict the direction in which the car will move after pressing the pedal. If earlier the SUV reacted to the calls to moderate the ardor like a norious horse (that is, with throws from side to side), now the need to frantically twist the steering wheel, trying to return to the previous trajectory, fortunately, does not arise. This circumstance is all the more that the controllability of the 159th is still far from perfect. Excellent cope with his duties in parking mode (evil hiss and the desire to strangle the engine - does not count), in motion the hydraulic wrap completely deprives the driver of feedback with the road. What is the sensitivity in the near -Stolium zone or reactive effort - you don’t even remember such subtle matters at the wheel of the Ulyanovsk all -terrain vehicle - to keep the car on the course.
Cheap and angry
But to toss huge off -road wheels, stuck in impassable dirt, and just go around the bourgeon pits, transporting a wagon grown into the market, grown with their own hands, with the help of such a steering wheel, is a pleasure. Yes, it is better to avoid sharp maneuvers on the highway: the rear -wheel drive (the front bridge is recommended to be connected only to the off -road), the rolling body and nasty controllability significantly increase the risk of falling into a difficult to correctly skid. At high speeds, the car is noisy and forces to steal. All this is the true truth. However, the traditional civilian consumer of Ulyanovsk cars does not fit into the image of a dashing racer. The villagers and residents of provincial towns see in the car, first of all, a workhorse. Their ideal is a simple, maintainable and, most importantly, cheap car that can carry the cargo and move not only on asphalt. Without a doubt, the UAZ-315195 fully complies with all the declared criteria (only the injector engine confuses, which you can’t fix it on the knee). In addition, unlike its predecessor, the new SUV offers the consumer at least some, albeit minimal by modern standards, comfort. Finally, this car has practically no competitors. At least in the primary market. Niva performs in another weight, and having got the prefix Chevrolet, and in a different price category. It is inconvenient to remember foreign SUVs.
So there is no doubt in the favorable market prospects of 195. Especially if the UAZ management keeps a promise and manages when the SUV is launched into the series (this should happen in early 2003) to radically improve the quality of components and, of course, assembly, while maintaining the declared vacation price of $ 4,500.
UAZ is turning
Read more about the stages of modernization and implementation of UAZ-315195, in serial production, as well as about further plans for the plant for updating the lineup, is told by the chief designer of JSC UAZ Sergey Gaysin:
- Today, the plant is actively preparing for the serial production of the 195th model. This year we plan to fully work out the inlet and release system with the installation of an antitoxic system (neutralizer) on the 409th engine with a microprocessor control system. In addition, they must transfer technological lines to new bridges such as spaiser and bring at the first stage their production to 20 thousand per year. Thus, from January 2003, serial production of a car with a new engine and bridges will begin.
In parallel, work will undergo work on the introduction of a new five -speed gearbox (now the plant is actively looking for suppliers, the capacities will also be involved in the factory, which is about 5 thousand gearboxes). Changes in the design of the body - double doors and shifts will appear on serial machines in the first half of next year, and a new handout in the second half of the year.
- Will other engines, for example, diesel ones will be installed on the 195th?
- If we are talking about a model with an index of 195, then the engine is one - ZMZ 409. Other modifications, in principle, can be equipped with various engines, but they will be indicated differently. As for diesel engines, now several options are being worked out. In addition to the domestic model UMZ-514, which was equipped with one of the test cars, it can be, for example, Polish Andoria engines. By the way, according to the information received the other day from the Dmitrovsky training ground, these motors were certified according to Euro-2 standards. The domestic diesel corresponds to them. This year, cars with diesel engines will be sold only for export, but in the next we plan to bring them to the domestic market.
- What are the prospects for the development of the commander, is it planned to replace its family with 3160 or more new models?
- With the introduction of the Euro-2 standard in Russia since 2004, the entire car market will shift into higher price segments, and according to our forecasts, the demand for the traditional model range will decline. It will give way to new models, in particular to the 3160 family. Therefore, the priority task is to translation of bypass technologies for the production of sixties, and today they account for approximately 50% of the details, in the main ones. This will be done before the end of the year and, of course, the quality of the cars will increase significantly. By 2005, we plan to increase the production volumes of the 60s and 62 (long-term version of the UAZ-3160) models up to 45-50 thousand per year. Naturally, we will adjust production plans taking into account the actions of competitors, in particular, Chevrolet-Niva.
If we talk about a fundamentally new car, then it will replace existing models somewhere in 2007-2008. Now layout work is underway, the manufacture of a landing layout. In parallel, marketing studies are designed to determine the preferences of consumers and clarify the model that the emphasis should be made on. Motorists will be able to get acquainted with some promising UAZ developments in August at the Moscow Motor show.
Andrey Tsybulsky