VAZ-2104 is the second station wagon belonging to the classic Zhiguli family. An unpretentious, and most importantly, quite roomy car, was to the taste of many Soviet motorists, especially those who, for one reason or another, often had to transport bulky goods. However, in the USSR they often did not pay attention to the type of body - the main thing was to get the coveted car. However, even taking into account this circumstance, the “four” should still be singled out among all the products of the Soviet automobile industry.
A bit of history
The release of this model was started by the Volga Automobile Plant in 1984. Practice has shown that the designers managed to create a fairly good car with a decent amount of luggage space. This, in particular, is evidenced by the fact that the "four" rolled off the assembly line until 2012. After the collapse of the USSR, VAZ was assembled in:
- Russia - VAZ (Tolyatti), RosLada (Syzran), IzhAvto (Izhevsk);
- Ukraine - KrASZ (Kremenchug), LuAZ (Lutsk), AntoRus (Kherson);
- Egypt - Suzuki Egypt.
In April 1985, the "four" completely ousted the first VAZ car with a station wagon 2102 from the assembly line.
At the same time, she received several original rear parts from her predecessor.
At the heart of the "four" is the VAZ-2105 sedan. In those days, one of the main tasks of the designer when creating a new 
model was the need to combine the maximum consumer effect with minimal production costs. Comfort here is a relative concept. For example, a windshield wiper and an electrically heated rear window appeared on the stock VAZ-2104 only in 1994. In addition, in order to attract new customers, later modifications of the four were equipped with a 5-speed gearbox. The changes also affected the interior of the car - in particular, on the VAZ-2104 they began to install anatomical front seats from the "seven", which was considered a more prestigious car than the "five".
Of particular note is the diesel modification of the "four". Its release was launched in 1999, in Togliatti. A diesel engine of domestic production with a volume of 1.52 liters was installed on the car. This power unit was produced by the Barnaultransmash enterprise. However, the acquisition of a diesel "four" was inappropriate from an economic point of view. The cost of this modification was higher compared to gasoline counterparts with less power. Accordingly, the diesel "four" was not widely used - the car was produced in small batches, and in 2004 they decided to completely stop the experiment, curtailing production.
One of the undoubted advantages of the VAZ-2104 was a decent trunk volume
One of the main parameters for cars with a station wagon is their capacity and carrying capacity. "Four" here is no exception to the general rules. Many car enthusiasts were willing to settle for minimal comfort and essentially spartan conditions in order to be able to carry as much cargo as possible.
Let's look at specific numbers. All modifications of the "four" luggage compartment volume is 375 liters. However, everyone probably knows that this figure can be increased by folding the rear seats. A few simple movements, and the volume of the luggage compartment is already 1,340 liters. In other words, you can put some bulky cargo there without any problems. At the same time, the back of the rear seat, unlike foreign cars, folds completely. This is not always very convenient, but VAZ engineers considered this option to be more appropriate from an economic point of view. It turns out that the convenience of car owners was sacrificed for lower production costs - quite a typical approach for the Soviet car industry.
Already in the 90s, the VAZ-2104 was already obsolete, clearly losing in many respects to its foreign counterparts. However, at the same time, the Quartet continued to roll off the assembly line, until 2012. Everything is explained simply. The "four" attracted buyers with its two obvious trump cards - a low price and unpretentiousness. These factors, combined with a decent volume of the luggage compartment, made it possible to find new buyers - primarily in the outback. Most of the problems are completely eliminated with their own hands - there would be the necessary spare parts. Well, the repair itself, in comparison with many other models, especially foreign cars, is inexpensive. This, in principle, is the reason for the popularity of the VAZ-2104. This model clearly cannot be attributed to the "bestsellers of the auto industry", but it occupied its niche in the market quite confidently.