Myth 1. Different conveyor belt, special metal
This is perhaps the most common myth. Special assembly of export vehicles would significantly increase manufacturing and logistics costs. And even selling Zhiguli for foreign exchange would not offset these additional costs.
Therefore, cars for export were assembled at the same sites as for the domestic market. And the steel for the manufacture of body parts of “our” and “foreign” Zhiguli, of course, was also the same.
And there is no doubt that re-export cars don’t rust that quickly. Only the reason was not in a special assembly, but in an additional anti-corrosion treatment. And it was already performed by the local dealer.
Myth 2. Strange components
Many people think that gaskets, candles, pads and many other parts are imported. Therefore, export cars proved to be more reliable.
This is also a legend. The cars were completed in the same way. Although foreign parts (for example, lighting equipment) were mounted on the Zhiguli, they were also installed on cars for the domestic market.
But when the car arrived at the European dealer, it could already be “improved” – for example, by installing other candles or high-voltage wires.
And even go for more expensive adjustments. In Canada, by the way, even three-speed automatics were installed on the Zhiguli.
So initially there were no technical differences between “our” and “not our” Frets. And reliability was largely determined by the time of production of the car. Zhiguli from the USSR was definitely better and firmer.
All the differences between European cars boil down to information boards in foreign languages.
Myth 3. Richer equipment
This is also a myth, although half. After all, most of the options were already there. Foreign catalogs of additional equipment include a radio, a wide variety of alloy wheels, trims and decals.
Note the roof rails. They were installed on almost all German “fours”. And they became available to our car owners much later – on the station wagon VAZ-2111.
All this (well, almost!) Was inaccessible to Soviet buyers.
Deviations in the finish of export models can be factory-related. Sometimes the floor on the export VAZ-2104 and 2105 was covered with carpet – as on the luxury model VAZ-2107. Domestic “fives” and “fours”, as basic models, relied on a rubber floor.
Also, some cars were equipped with seats with velor upholstery instead of traditional leatherette.
The original steering wheel or cassette player – all this was installed by a foreign dealer.