In August, the editorial fleet marked another milestone for its veteran vehicle, the Largus. No car in the fleet surpasses it in age. After a decade of service, the old timer remains surprisingly robust, largely because its workload has eased over time. In the first five years, the car took part in the marathon “60 hours” Driving and long-distance events, quickly racking up mileage to around 100,000 kilometers.
It then shifted to transport duties, delivering car parts for investigative work and occasional business trips. This change cut the annual mileage roughly in half. This pattern isn’t unique to this vehicle; some owners drive more, others less. While the average Largus mileage hovers around 15,000 kilometers per year, as is typical, maintenance regimes usually assume at least that amount or a yearly service.
What does the owner love?
The veteran car has plenty to commend it. Foremost is its reliability, even after minor repairs. The car has never failed to start or run when needed. Throughout tests that stressed its electronics, including attempts to start with batteries of varying health, a screwdriver battery, and even a welding machine, the Largus performed reliably and did not fail. Even attempts to drive without a generator and without a battery did not disable it.
Replacing the tie rod end is a routine job performed in a garden workshop. The Renault K4M engine, with 16 valves and 102 horsepower, is a strong point of the early Largus. It requires minimal maintenance: spark plugs, oil, filters, and a belt service every 120,000 kilometers along with rollers and a coolant pump. The engine burns very little oil, shows no leaks, and maintains good power without valve adjustments—a nearly ideal engine for its era. It is a pity that these engines stopped being produced after autumn 2017.
What concerns the owner?
Fuel consumption remains a notable concern, primarily due to urban driving and frequent warm-ups, which are longer in winter. Several additional factors also contribute. The thermostat has been replaced twice. Observations and engine temperature readings from a Multitronics device suggest irregular thermostat performance. In winter, the engine fails to warm up properly, with the on-board computer showing around 81°C, while in summer temperatures swing between 83°C and 99°C, with a powerful electric fan not always able to curb these rises. Such fluctuations increase fuel usage, especially in winter when heating is underperforming. A thermostat with a factory opening temperature of 89°C is planned to be installed.
Another source of excessive fuel use appeared during seasonal tire changes. Front brake pads wear out quickly as the guides push them out during disassembly, causing pads to rub against the discs and accelerate wear, which in turn raises fuel consumption.
With new pads, the owner improved clearance by lightly modifying the pad protrusions, grinding them by about half a millimeter so they could move more freely within the guides. This allowed dirt and oxide residues to clear more easily and reduced low-velocity rolling resistance. After this adjustment, the car began to roll smoothly on gentle inclines, an improvement particularly beneficial for cars with lower annual mileage. No warning sounds or bumps occurred after the modification.
What is broken, and are spare parts available?
During inspection, a play was found in the ball pin of the left tie rod end. The timing alignment had previously seen a worn tip on the starboard side. Parts were purchased and replaced in a yard, but discovery of a torn anther in the steering mechanism raised concerns about dirt ingress into the rail when driving. The old tip was reinstalled temporarily, and a second anther cracked. A repair or replacement plan followed. The trunk and rack-and-pinion steering are serious concerns when damaged, and reducing driving speed in such cases helps preserve the remaining components.
The diameter of anthers at the mounting location differed by about 10 mm from the required spec. Parts display often showed 42 mm, while the mechanism and older anthers required 50–52 mm. The author, drawing on four decades of repair experience, notes that such a mismatch is unusual and troublesome. Attempts to source matching dust covers proved difficult, with many shops offering only 42 mm parts. A quick online check revealed that this is a common issue among Largus owners, with varied and inconsistent part compatibility. Some solutions involve creative substitutions or temporary fixes until proper parts are found. The author recommends careful measurement and, if needed, grinding or adapting universal dust boots to fit.
These inspections suggested a pragmatic approach: grind the mounting block by a half millimeter when necessary, and consider universal dust boots with multiple landing diameters, trimming to fit if required. The rubber of these boots tends to be thin, so careful handling is essential. If the boot proves unreliable, moving to alternative parts, such as those from other models, may be warranted. In any case, the goal is to preserve steering alignment and ensure safe operation while awaiting more suitable components.
What improvements were pursued and did they work?
All upgrades to the car, including the Multitronics, daytime running lights, and the hour meter, functioned as intended. The air conditioning system, refilled just over a year ago, continues to perform well. This resilience leaves the editors feeling optimistic about the Largus as it enters its second decade.
Lada Largus, 1.6 (102 hp), M5
- Manufacturer — AVTOVAZ
- Year of issue — 2012
- In operation — since August 2012
- Mileage at time of report — 143,500 km
Operating and maintenance costs (13,000–143,500 km)
- Maintenance costs 50,220
- Of which for petrol (AI-95, average consumption 11.07 l/100 km) 38,875
- Engine oil 5 L 6,210
- Oil filter 355
- Air filter 450
- Cabin filter 390
- Tie rod end 630
- Steering rack covers, 2 pcs. 1,600
- Lid clamps, 2 pcs. 520
- Front brake pads 1,190
- General Expenses 647,824
- Cost per km 4.96 USD
* Excluding transport tax, OSAGO, and Casco policies.
Interested readers can pose questions about the Largus operation in the Park ZR section, and the editors will respond
- A full outage report from Largus editors is available here
- Driving can also be viewed on YouTube