With the onset of a market economy, domestic motorists got the opportunity to at least slightly influence domestic manufacturers. For example, the owners of the popular "Niva" most of all were not satisfied with its too cramped interior, in which rear seat passengers were squeezed between the wheel arches of a narrow double seat. An elongated platform based on aggregates " fields"Created for a promising mini-van (now known as" Nadezhda "). It turned out that the “aggregate carriers”, which were a regular model, but with a half-meter insert in the cabin, were already in demand on the market. As a result, in the early 90s, OPP "" began small-scale production of elongated versions VAZ-2129 and 2130 , named " Cedar"(respectively with narrow and wide rear seats), based on a three-door " fields» VAZ-21213. An increase in the wheelbase by 500 mm (up to 2700 mm) had such a positive effect on the transformation of a compact SUV into a mid-size one that they decided to develop this direction. As a result, since December 1994, the AVTOVAZ OPP began production of a body unified in terms of power elements with " Cedar» five-door VAZ-2131. Another pair of side doors were made proportional with wide front doors, which dramatically improved the process of boarding and disembarking from the passenger compartment. fields". The layout of the cabin provided for two types of rear seat: a wide triple from the "eight" and a narrow double from " fields”, which allowed in the first case to move the rear seat back by 125 mm, and in the second - by all 500 mm. This is how two versions of the "31st" turned out. fields": one ( 21310 ) with a huge trunk with a capacity of 380-710 liters, another ( 21312 ) - with a spacious interior and the usual "Nivovsky" trunk. Long "Niva" then it was the most spacious domestic serial SUV. Its ride is better, thanks to a larger wheelbase, although patency is still affected due to the larger ramp angle. In addition, the 31st, which has become heavier by two centners, began to roll more in corners, not to mention increased fuel consumption and worse dynamics, because the engine remained the same. Like the original "21st" "Niva", "31st" is offered in a standard version with velor and artificial leather trim. Therefore, many people order a model with a variety of tuning packages, including a variety of plastic body kit, “kenguryatniki”, metallic paint and other “jeeper” attributes, which, however, successfully enlivens its exterior. More and more copies are equipped, of course, with useful power steering and air conditioning.
In addition to “factory tuning”, numerous tuning companies “practice” on the “31st” model, offering their own original versions of its appearance. More functional developments include small-scale versions made by Motorika (Lada-Tul) with a rear overhang extended by 300 mm and a high plastic roof, which made it possible to increase the luggage compartment capacity to 1940 liters with the rear seats folded down. This subfamily includes a four-door ambulance VAZ-2131-05(SP) and "civilian" versions - three-door 2129-02 (release by special order) and the usual "five-door" 2131-02. Such a " Niva» can no longer be called compact. These versions are rare on the market.
Technically from three-door "Niva" all versions of the "five-door" differ only in an elongated cardan shaft with an intermediate support. The basic modification of the VAZ-2131-41 is equipped with a 1.7-liter engine " 21214-10 ", a VAZ-2131-21- 1.8-liter engines "2130" (carburetor) and "2130-20" (injection). Previously, the most common version was 2131-00 with a carburetor "21213". For export in 1999-2002. supplied version VAZ-21315 with French diesel Peugeot XUD7. There were instances equipped with a domestic VAZ-341 diesel engine manufactured by the Barnaul plant.
In just 10 years of production, about 60 thousand five-door Nivs were produced.
A heavier body and increased payload have a corresponding effect on the standard transmission and chassis of the car, so when buying a used long Niva, it must be checked more carefully than a short one. The bodies of the long Nivs are strong enough, but the welds, especially of early releases, are often affected by corrosion, since the paint was not applied to them according to the VAZ factory technology. If traces of active operation on rough terrain or use as a tractor are visible on the SUV, then it is better to refuse the purchase.
Possible problems
Engine:
- Failures of the crane and the heater itself (after 45 thousand km). Leaks in the radiator.
- Defects in the fuel system (the smell of gasoline in the cabin). Weak fastening of the cylinder head of the 1.7 liter engine.
Transmission:
- Depreciation of clutch discs (20-30 thousand km) and 3rd gear clutch.
- Runout of the cardan shaft, wear of the crosses and bearings of the drive shafts (after 50 thousand km).
- Noise: wear of gears of the main gear, transmission (starting from 5 thousand km). The noise of the "razdatka" due to a misalignment of the drive shaft from the main gearbox.
- Unreliable CV joint from "Oka" in the "razdatki" drive.
- Wear of gearbox bearings and 3rd gear clutch (45-50 thousand km).
Chassis:
- "Heavy" steering without hydraulic booster. Parking brake stuck.
- Hub bearing failure due to overtightening during installation. Weak front axle articulated drives. Short-lived lower ball joints.
- Oil leakage through the rear axle gearbox oil seal. Corrosion of regular rims.
- Low mileage of VLI brand tires on elongated Niva. Increased noise from "all-terrain" tires VLI-5.
- Insufficient grip on off-road and on icy road tires VLI-10.
Body:
- Cramped back seat from Niva (mod. VAZ-2129). Broken passenger seat.
- Cracks and breaks in the frame (only on the pickup truck "Bizon" FVK-2302).
- Weak fastenings of the fuel wires in the propeller shaft tunnel on the body (models produced before 1996). Corrosion of the body (especially in the area of \u200b\u200bthe insert on the roof of station wagons).
- Fragile muffler mount. Corrosion along the seam of the wing and front end. Unreliable headlight cleaners.
- Snow enters the heater air intake. Unsuccessful design of the frame of the front seats. Deflection of internal lateral plastic panels.
- The mechanism for reclining the front seats does not work well.
- Inconvenient location in the cabin of the trunk lock handle on the mod. 2129 and its weak design on the 2131.
- Headlight lenses with halogen lamps crack when doused with water. Damage to low-lying rear lights when loading or maneuvering. Corrosion of headlight reflectors.
- Low efficiency of regular wiper blades. Unreliable fastenings of the rear shelf.
In 1992-1995 The Togliatti company FVK produced utilitarian semi-frame pickups Bizon FVK-2302 with a payload capacity of 500 kg and a cab, which was the front part of the body (up to the middle pillars) of the Niva. "Bizonov" did quite a bit, then the company went bankrupt.
The baton was taken over by the now well-known company VAZinterService, which since 1997 has been producing semi-frame 2-5-seat pickups of the VIS-2346 family with a payload capacity of 300-500 kg in small batches. The rear suspension is made of spring. Three versions are known: 2346 - with a single double cab; 23461 - with a five-seat double cab and 23464 - with an extended double cab (out of production in 2003). Accordingly, they differ in the length of the cabin. In 2003, model 2348 was introduced, unified in terms of chassis with model 2346, and using the front part of the VAZ-2115 body as a cab.
On the base elongated "Niva" VAZ-2131 Since 1999, the Tolyatinsky company Lada-Tul has also been producing an elegant pickup VAZ-2329 with 5-seater cabin. Technically, the pickup truck is completely identical to the "31st" station wagon. Semi-supporting body and reinforced rear suspension springs allow you to carry up to 300 kg of cargo.
Country of Origin: Russia
Manufacturer: OOP JSC "AVTOVAZ" (Tolyatti)
Body: carrier
body type: hatchback
Number of doors: 5
Number of places: 5
Type of drive: permanent four-wheel drive with range, engine ahead longitudinally
Suspension design: front independent on transverse levers, rear dependent spring on trailing arms with Panhard rod
Overall dimensions, mm VAZ-2131: 4220x1680x1640
Overall dimensions, mm VAZ-2131-02: 4520x1680x1940
Wheelbase, mm: 2700
Clearance, mm: 220
The volume of the luggage compartment, l VAZ-2131: 283/ 629
The volume of the luggage compartment, l VAZ-2131-20: 380/ 710
Curb weight, kg: from 1350 to 1390
Transmission: mechanical, 5-speed.
Tires: 185/75R16
Timeline of production
1995 - Start of production of VAZ-2131
1997 - VAZ-2131-21
1997 - VAZ-21315 (by order and for export)
2000 - VAZ-2131-02 (small series)
2001 - VAZ-2131-22 (small series)
Modification VAZ-2131-01
Working volume, l: 1690
Power, hp: 76
Maximum torque, N m: 123
Maximum speed, km/h: 130
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s: 21.0
Fuel consumption 90 km / h / HZ, l: 8.7 / 11.2
Modification of VAZ-2131-21
Engine type/number of valves*: BK/ 4R/ 8
Working volume, l: 1770
Power, hp: 82
Maximum torque, N m: 134
Maximum speed, km/h: 140
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s: 19.9
Fuel consumption 90 km / h / HZ, l: 8.9 / 11.5
Modification VAZ-2131-02
Engine type/number of valves*: BK/ 4R/ 8
Working volume, l: 1690
Power, hp: 81
Maximum torque, N m: 130
Maximum speed, km/h: 138
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s: 20.1
Fuel consumption 90 km / h / HZ, l: 7.9 / 10.4
Modification of VAZ-2131-22
Engine type/number of valves*: BK/ 4R/ 8
Working volume, l: 1770
Power, hp: 91
Maximum torque, N m: 140
Maximum speed, km/h: 142
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s: 19.0
Fuel consumption 90 km / h / HZ, l: 8.1 / 11.0
Modification VAZ-21315 (Peugeot XUD 9SD)
Engine type/number of valves*: DT/ 4R/ 8
Working volume, l: 1905
Power, hp: 75
Maximum torque, N m: 135
Maximum speed, km/h: 132
Acceleration to 100 km / h, s: 22.0
Fuel consumption 90 km / h / HZ, l: 7.6 / 9.8
* BV - gasoline, injection; BVT - gasoline, injection, turbocharging; BK - gasoline, carburetor; D - diesel; DNV - diesel with direct injection; DT - diesel, turbocharged; DNVT - direct injection diesel, turbocharged; RPD - Wankel rotary piston engine.