Test Drive UAZ 469 1972 - HB SUV
For the "goat" answer!
Old SUV on a new wayThe test drive of the domestic car, suitable for journalists, is a matter of us, in Russia, to put it mildly, unusual. It so happened that the products of the auto plants were diverged and without special advertising and Piarovsky tricks. However, the XXI century in the yard, something changes. Therefore, having received an invitation to try out the new version of the commander SUV, journalists threw all things and went to Ulyanovsk.
Was it worth dragging for a thousand miles to look at the car, which for years for ten years on the roads? It was this question that wanted to ask representatives of the UAZ when looking at the purpose of our journey. Indeed, the novelty, represented as UAZ-315195, at first glance, did not differ from the well-known UAZ with a metal roof. Minor changes like plastic linings on the bumper and the radiator grille - not counting.
However, a short technical presentation, as it should be preceded by testing, put all the points over I. It turns out that the factory workers were not intended to surprise journalists with an exterior of a restyled goat (radical changes in appearance are scheduled for 2003), all the raisins are deep inside. The SUV received a new engine and transmission, springs instead of leaf springs in the front suspension, the interior has changed radically. In principle, something has already been encountered on numerous small-scale modifications of basic UAZ-31514, and yet the list of changes looked impressive.
The main designer of UAZ Sergey Gaysin represented his brainchild diligently listed all the innovations that distinguish the 195th from the predecessor, but the writing brachia was already impatiently glanced through his shoulder to the car prepared to the test. Enough press release Quote. Let's go!, - clearly read in the eyes of colleagues.
So what are you
While the organizers constituted lists of crews, I decided to get acquainted with the car closer. Began, as usual, with a motor. Under the hood, by the way, a non-familiar backup, but, foreign, gas racks, was revealed by the engine ZMZ 409. Judging by the technical characteristics (see table), this is the work of the Savolzhsky Motor Plant although it does not claim world leadership, But compared to the basic power unit, it is a huge step forward: after all, an injection 16-valve.
Acquaintance continued in the cabin. Of course, the comfort and quality of the interior decoration to compare the 195th with Range Rover is too early, however, Defender, who Ulyanovtsy, as it turned out, is almost the main competitor, an updated SUV, I would say, surpassed. In any case, there is no trace from the chaste asksua. First naked, the front panel dressed in plastic. The devices, as before, scattered around the panel are mounted in an angle and addressed to the driver. Even a certain semblance of the central console with a place for a radio tape recorder and a huge square alarm clock appeared. The expressiveness of the design of the front panel, by the way, borrowed from the UAZ-3159 Bars model, gives the abundance of control lamps, duplicating (apparently for worst reliability) the readings of the arrowheads. The three-spoke steering wheel with a giant rim diameter due to the hydraulic driver can be rotated with one finger. True, closing ahead, I note that this softness has been on the go to the driver of a bear service: the car is practically not managed.
Leaves much to be desired and ergonomics of other controls. The pedal node is still not comfortable, and the cunning gear lever with huge moves and the nice selectiveness of a person is unusual simply puts in a dead end. The fact that, the body's third and fifth transfer, constantly touched the knuckles of the fingers for the central console, I really do not speak.
A few words, rather warm, deserve the seats. Not Recaro, of course, but the presence of velor upholstery, at least minimal adjustments and head restraints (including behind the rear) - a big plus. By the way, according to the representatives of the plant, the rear seat can be folded in parts, freeing the additional place for baggage. True, it was not possible to check this bold statement. Having coped with the price of incredible efforts with the backs' locks, I was forced to capitulate in the face of an insoluble problem: the locks of seat belts categorically refused to break into the gap between the metal frame and the pillow, without letting it throw back, as the instruction required, the seat forward. Clear business: pre-production samples, bypass technology, guys in the experimental production rushing
Well, not such a goat
In general, compared with the predecessor, the inner world of the renewed car was incomparably richer. It remained to check how the car is behaving, applying to the title of city SUV, on asphalt. For the off-road doubt there was no doubt, because no sacred attempts on the frame construction on the continuous bridges (by the way, at will, 159th can also be ordered with gear, military bridges) and the transfer box with a demultiplier was not reported to us. In front of the designers there was a task, not adapted to the legendary UAZ passivity, as much as possible to adapt a condense SUV to move along the roads of general use, and, with low blood (in the sense - money). So the spring suspension of the front wheels appeared on the light of God, thanks to which the car was practically lost his branded image, almost having shut off. The devotees 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 still goes on elevated colors, but now this is just tires with off-road pattern and disgusting aerodynamics of the square body. The hero of the revolution in the field of acoustic comfort is a dispensing box with dosases of gears (by the way, you can now manage the distribution with a single lever). Silence in the cabin added an improved double-circuit sealing of door openings, additional noise insulation of the engine compartment and the fifth stage in the gearbox.
However, to use the fifth speed to the driver of the 195th will not have often. In fact, it works only after 100 km / h and only on a flat road: a little cool climb causes the stage below. In other words, in the city the advantages of the five-speed gearbox are reduced to zero. In general, the choice of the basic power unit for the updated UAZ, it seems that it was not the most successful: despite the increased power of the engine, the car became some sluggish. It is noteworthy that the usual 514th with Turbodiesel and the same box of production of the Arzamas machine-building plant left much more warm impressions. A comparative disadvantage of power with more than compensated by elasticity.
On off-road, namely where asphalt ends and it is worth transplancing on these cars, a low-robous diesel engine, she is preferable. In the dynamic urban stream, there is nothing to do with such manageability and brakes. True, with the advent of ventilated discs on the front axle, the goat has become not an example easier. At the very least, you can predict the direction in which the car moves after clicking on the pedal. If earlier the SUV responded to calls to temper the dust like a knitted horse (that is, throwing from side to side), now the need to feverly twist the steering wheel, trying to return to the previous trajectory, fortunately, does not occur. I am glad this circumstance is the stronger that the manageability of the 159th is still far from perfection. Greatly coping with its duties in parking mode (evil hissing and the desire to strangle the engine - not counting), in motion the hydraulicel is completely deprived of the feedback driver with the road. What is there sensitivity in the okolonulous zone or reactive force - about such thin matters at the wheel of the Ulyanovsky all-terrain, do not even remember - to keep the car in the course.
Cheap and angry
But it turns around the huge off-road wheels, bonding in impassive dirt, and simply rush around the boueks, transporting a shawn to the market, grown with their own hands, with the help of such a steering wheel - one pleasure. Yes, it is better to avoid sharp maneuvers on the highway: rear-wheel drive (front axle is recommended to connect only on off-road), the tank body and bad handling significantly increase the risk of breaking into a difficult-corrected drift. At high speeds, the car is noise and forces to grub. All this is the truth. However, the traditional civil consumer of Ulyanovsk Machines does not fit into the image of the Lich Rider. The villagers and residents of the provincial towns see in the car, first of all, the workhorse. Their ideal is simple, maintainable and, most importantly, a cheap car capable of carrying the cargo and move not only on asphalt. Without a doubt, the UAZ-315195 fully complies with all the declared criteria (it is confused only the injection engine, which is not redeemed on the knee). In addition, in contrast to the predecessor, the new SUV offers to the consumer at least some kind of minimal on modern standards, comfort. Finally, this car has almost no competitors. At least on the primary market. Niva acts in another weight, and getting the Cevrolet console and in another price category. About foreign SUVs and remember inconvenient.
So in favorable market prospects of the 195th, you can not doubt. Especially if the UAZ management holds the promise and will manage when the SUV is launched into a series (this should happen in early 2003) to raise the quality of components and, of course, the assembly, while maintaining the declared selling price of $ 4500.
UAZ turns
Learn more about the stages of modernization and implementation of the UAZ-315195, in mass production, as well as on the further plans for the plant for updating the model range, the chief designer of JSC UAZ Sergey Gaysin says:
- Today the plant is actively preparing for the serial production of the 195th model. This year we plan to fully work out the inlet-release system with the installation of the antitoxic system (neutralizer) on the 409th engine with the microprocessor control system. In addition, we must translate technological lines to new spype bridges and bring their production at the first stage to 20 thousand per year. Thus, since January 2003, serial production of a car with a new engine and bridges will begin.
In parallel, work will be going on the introduction of a new five-speed gearbox (now the plant is actively looking for suppliers, power will be involved and on the factory itself, and this is about 5 thousand gearboxes). Changes in body design - double door seal and sliding glasses will appear on mass machines in the first half of next year, and a new handout box - in the second half of the year.
- Will it be installed on the 195th other engines, for example, diesel?
- If we are talking about the model with an index 195, then the motor is one - ZMZ 409. Other modifications, in principle, can be completed with various motors, but they will be different. As for diesel engines, several options are being worked out. In addition to the domestic model of UMW-514, which was equipped with one of the test cars, it can be, for example, Polish Andoria engines. By the way, according to information received the other day with Dmitrovsky landfill, these motors managed to certify Euro-2 standards. Corresponds to them and domestic diesel. This year, cars with diesel engines will be sold only for export, but already in the following we plan to bring them to the domestic market.
- What are the prospects for the development of the commander series, is it planned to be replaced by a family of 3160 or newer models?
- With the introduction of the Euro-2 standard in Russia since 2004, all the car market will shift into higher price segments, and according to our forecasts, the demand for the traditional lineup will go to the decline. It will give way to new models, in particular the family of 3160. Therefore, the first priority is the transfer of co-operating technologies for the production of six seconds, and today they account for about 50% of the details. This will be done before the end of the year and, of course, the quality of the car will increase significantly. By 2005, we plan an increase in the volume of production of the 60s and 62s (long-base version of 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 the existing models somewhere in 2007-2008. Layout works are already underway, the manufacture of landing layout. In parallel, marketing studies are designed to determine the preferences of consumers and clarify the model to be focused on. To get acquainted with some promising developments by UAZ, car enthusiasts can already in August at the Moscow Motor Show.
Andrei Tsybulsky
