Real Road Test: Lada Riva Estate! VAZ 2104

Yes, I've finally managed to blag a drive in a Lada Riva, better known as the VAZ 2105 (saloon), 2104 (estate) or 2107 (larger engine) in its home market of Russia. The Lada Riva is an evolution of the Fiat 124, built under licence by Lada, but fitting with its own engine. The Communism is strong in this one.

[Prokifiev]

My Dad had a few Ladas over the years...but the one that we loved was the Riva 1500. I think is was a de-luxe model as the grill was square, there were head lamp wipers, headrests on both front and (I think) rear seats and a big arm rest in-between in the back seats. He used to say his Lada had "Rolls-Royce" features. Thanks for this, all the best and RIP my old man.

[Turnbull]

I like the way you treat all cars as individuals with there own character and not just how they drive

[vikingraiders]

It's really strange, but somehow, I find this car more endearing and interesting than, a Million Pound Supercar, reviewed by a chinless wonder living off daddy's money.

[megachungus]

My Great Grandad had one of these, same colour but it was the saloon one.

Used to go bombing around the town with it to the shops.
Ran as sweet as a nut.

Anyways, he died when I was about 12.
And when he passed the car got offered to everyone who could drive in the family.
For free too.

And not one person wanted it.
Was such a damn shame.

A free car, and everyone passed on it as it was a Lada.

Being 12, for reasons I wasn't allowed the car, which was also a shame.

The car got sold for like £200, and the rest is history.

Good memories though, it was his pride and joy that car.
He kept it for years, pristine in his garage.

Brings back memories.

[Eunos]

Back when I was a kid Ladas were actually a pretty common sight on the road in my area..How times have changed..It may not be the most stylish of vehicles but there is still something quite charming about it :)

[mikes]

My dad had a bright orange 1.3 gl with a brown vinyl roof back in the 80's that we called Garfield! It was our first newish car and we loved it. The main dealers were brilliant for the day and would come and collect your car and leave a replacement at every service!

[stevenwatson]

I have a great memory of a Lada Riva when a friends dad picked us up whilst walking home from school freezing cold in a blizzard in the mid 1980s.It was a hero car from that moment on, and oh the it was awesome.I never took the mick out of it again!! most welcome sight seeing a Lada Riva warmed up in a blizzard with a driver shouting "get in".

[davidjames]

It's a very effective, functional car which is what it was made to be. In the 1970s the Lada was relatively decent, in the 80s it was old-fashioned and, by the 90s, it was ancient compared to what else was available.

[mmaxeator]

My uncle had this. It had a front headlamp wipers ! Undestroyable. If they made an updated version with AC I would buy it. It so simple. Step in, drive, step out. Repeat.

[keithfletcher]

My mum had a 1986 D Reg estate in deep blue ... it was just shite ... but in a way that you like shite ... hard, gnarly, everything just scratched you or bit you when you went near it ... gearbox was errr positive ... it bit back .... seats were just like an Ikea pillow ... and that door slam & door handles ... just terrible ... random switch location, massive pedal travel ... HUGE wheel and massively keep fit steering - almost impossible to park without (literally) assistance, and had absolutely no positive direction on the road. It sat well next to my Dads Skoda Estelle ... hot gravel for breakfast ... etc. And had a weird shunt when you changed gear like the engine was mounted on balloons with a prop shaft made of liquorice ... its bringing back some weird memories ... there were tears when that tractor went (lie) ...

[skodakatie]

Lada along with Škoda are my two favourite car brands of all time, when I passed my driving test in the early 90’s, this was my dream car, and despite pleas from my dad, it was the only car I wanted, so after visiting a local Lada dealership my parents bought a brand new one for me, it only cost £3995 on the road, half the cost of a Ford Fiesta at that time, I excitedly took delivery of it on 2/1/1993, and can still remember the registration number, K374 FWE, it came with an awesome toolkit and was exactly the same colour as this one, but a 1.5E saloon, l loved that car so much and was very proud of it, this video really is a trip down memory lane for me, the sounds of the ultra reliable engine, the practical interior, and all of the little idiosyncrasies of this oh so cute car, take me right back to being a 17 year old girl in the early 90’s proudly driving around in my first car, and my dream car!!!.

[alexanderguesthistorical]

My Dad had one of those in the 80's. In cream. The estate version, lust like the video. My Dad, stepmom brother and two stepbrothers all used to go on holiday to Pontins every year. Six of us all crammed into that thing! Plus luggage on the roof rack. Dad made me a "dickie" seat to sit in the boot, facing backwards. Then he found out the Riva's crash test results. I didn't have that seat for long.. Always remember sitting in it on the hard shoulder of some motorway somewhere looking back down the motorway at my Dad running in and out of the traffic picking up the clothes that had flown out of the luggage when they fell off the roof rack! Soon as he had any money whatsoever he got a Fiesta. Memories....

[Darwinion]

My first car was a Lada 1200ES, "V" reg with the round headlamps. Also had a sky blue Riva saloon later on. Neither car let me down and I didn't really look after them if I'm honest. Very good workhorses for basic transport. Hate it when snobs lambast them just because they were cheap.

[rosscog]

This is the best. 18 minutes devoted to a Lada Riva. This is why I subscribe to the channel. Brilliant stuff

[danentwisle]

Reminds me of early 1990s Hull. 90% of the taxis were white Rivas. Add a beaded seat cover, a cracking 2-way radio and the smell of Brut for that authentic trip up Beverly Rd experience.

Headlight wipers always seemed such a decadent capitalist luxury on a communist car.

[arthurfarrow]

When my Mini failed its first MOT, in about 1980, due to its rotten floor, perforce, i bought a Lada. At the time, Lada offered a £500 trade-in on any car with a current MOT. The advent of the Lada into my life was one of the few occasions when i appreciated having taken Russian O level, as the instruments, and the handbook, were in that language. I was amused to see that the anti freeze water to glycol ration went down to -40 degrees centigrade. The car encouraged a relaxed driving style, as the neither the gearbox or the engine responded well to being hurried: the Lada was a majestic battleship rather than a nimble destroyer. The engine was simple on which to work, and the there was plenty of space to reach everything under the bonnet. The comprehensive tool kit was the size of a bath mat, and i still have most of the tools, as they are of good quality. As you experienced, the heater was ferocious. You could have driven around in your underpants in the depth of winter. There was space for a second battery, i assume, for low temperatures. The huge Voskhod battery started the engine instantly. The steering was a little imprecise, like a Fifties or a sixties car. I think the steering might have been worm and roller.

[rydermike]

Had a friend who had all kinds of cars from Mk2 Jags to Capris and Saabs. He bought a Lada from almost new and loved it! Good review thanks Ian.

[NytZor]

I love my 2105. Started it in -20c after sitting for a week now, purred like a kitten from the first rpm. Mine has no play in the steering, and the brakes are even. Lovely little car!

[theelectrichobo]

A simple but honest car...thank you for the awesome review comrade!

[mrjockt]

My dad owned one of these, he tried to teach me to drive in it but I absolutely hated driving it, I was so glad when he traded it in for a Vauxhall Cavalier.