ZAZ-1103 "Slavuta" - a machine on which many begin to get acquainted with the automotive world. Someone, having tasted the charm of owning a personal car, is transplanted to a more comfortable model, while someone does not rush to say goodbye to “Slavuta”. Today we will analyze in detail all the remarkable features of this car and its technical characteristics.
History reference
The “Slavuta-1103” car in a practical liftback body became the third front-wheel drive car in the family of the Zaporizhzhya Automobile Plant. The first model was a Tavria hatchback. She gained real popularity in Ukraine and continued to be produced for 20 years. The second representative of the family was the Dana station wagon. He could not repeat the success of his predecessor, and 4 years after the release of the first instance, production was stopped. Then came the "Slavuta", which was produced until 2011. It is considered to date the best option of the three listed.
Appearance
The appearance of the car is not very beautiful, so let's talk about its practicality. The first copies of the model were covered with simple acrylic paint. And somewhere in 2004, “Slavutu” began to be painted with metallic. Of course, the second option is more preferable. Thanks to the two-layer coating, such paint will protect the car longer from corrosion for longer, which cannot be said about acrylic. Nevertheless, it is better to cover the machine with an additional anti-corrosion layer. According to reviews, without this manipulation, the body will soon begin to rust.
Lighting technology of the ZAZ-1103 "Slavuta" model also cannot please with special wear resistance. After a few years, the headlight lens becomes cloudy and the quality of the light drops sharply. It is recommended to lubricate the door hinges during the operation of the car periodically, otherwise they will begin to creak aggressively. The fan motor, which is located near the windshield under the hood, is not equipped with a filter, so leaves fall into it, creating an unpleasant noise when the fan is on. Another disadvantage of the car is that its battery is installed in the engine compartment rather low. In this regard, it is subject to contact with moisture, which leads to the oxidation of the terminals.
The trunk of the Slavuty is increased by 50 liters compared to the Tavria. Due to the low boot threshold, it is quite functional.
Interior decoration
The salon also fully complies with the class and price of the car. There is frankly little space here, especially in the back row. Even passengers of medium height will be uncomfortable here. Plastic quickly creaks. And given that there are no new “Slavs” in the modern market, it will be extremely difficult to find a car without a creak. The machine is available in two versions: Standard and Lux. The expensive version of the instrument panel has more pointers, and on the center console there is a niche for the radio.
Engine: ZAZ-1103 "Slavuta"
The car is equipped with the same engines as the Tavria. On the version of the first years of production, carbureted engines with a volume of 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 l 3 were installed. Since 2003, only the last two engines have been left in production and equipped with a distributed injection system. The resource of the 1.1-liter engine reached only 90 thousand km. The remaining units served up to 150 thousand km.
Each type of power system for the ZAZ-1103 Slavuta car has its own drawbacks. On cars with a carburetor, the fuel pump may fail in the summer heat. If you let it cool down a bit, everything will fall into place. For versions with distributed fuel injection, the weak point is the idle speed control. It needs to be cleaned periodically. The fuel pump may fail if there is little fuel in the tank. He is also very noisy. These three problems were inherited by the following ZAZ models. Owners of cars with inexpensive HBO are recommended to drive gasoline at least 300 km out of a thousand. Otherwise, nozzles, a pump and other elements begin to coke, as a result of which the fuel system may become unusable.
The valve cover gasket in all engines often loses tightness. Timing on all motors does not go more than 60 thousand km, like a tension pulley. At the same run it is recommended to change the alternator belt. And every 10 thousand, you need to adjust the thermal clearances of the valves.
Transmission
All ZAZ-1103 Slavuta models are equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox. In general, the transmission of this model has established itself well. In terms of resource, it surpasses motors. The same gearbox applies to the Daewoo Sens. He, like Slavuta, has problems with first and second gears. The backstage oil seal often lets oil pass through, but large losses, according to reviews, have not been noticed. It is advisable to change gear oil every 50 thousand kilometers. The clutch has a mechanical drive. His cable often breaks, so it is advisable to carry a spare.
Brake system
The machine is equipped with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The front brakes are an original ZAZ design with a closed disc. Time has shown that the mechanism is not entirely successful. Disks are often deformed and fail at the third ten thousand run. The main brake cylinder is also not reliable - after 40 thousand km it loses its tightness. The parking brake cable stretches quite quickly. It is advisable to check the brake hoses for cracks every three years.
Steering and suspension
The rack and pinion steering withstands no more than 60 thousand km. It makes itself felt by the backlash that appears due to wear of the rack / pinion pair. The steering tips have approximately the same service life. This unit is inexpensive, so it’s easier to replace it than to repair it. The chassis of the ZAZ-1103 Slavuta car, the technical characteristics of which we are discussing today, is quite tough, but energy-intensive. An independent MacPherson strut stands in front, and a half-independent beam at the rear. Due to the lack of anti-roll bar in sharp bends, the car heels noticeably.
Among the weak points of the suspension, rear hub bearings and ball bearings can be distinguished. On our beautiful roads they serve no more than 40 thousand kilometers. As for the front bearings, they go a little longer. And the front silent blocks and rear gum are generally considered long-livers, because they serve up to 150 thousand km.
On the road
Seeing the angular “Slavuta” with its ascetic interior, you can forget about aesthetics. A car is a means of transportation, not a luxury. Surely this phrase was invented at one of the domestic automobile plants. Sitting behind the wheel, you have to forget about another concept - “ergonomics”. The driver's seat is not convenient, and due to the small side mirrors, the review leaves much to be desired.
Turning the motor key, you can be pleasantly surprised at how quickly it wound up. And in the cold it will be no worse. The dynamics of acceleration for a small car is also very good. By the way, the Slavuta accelerates better than the Sens, because they have similar motors, but a significant difference in mass. Only now, having accelerated to “Slavut” to 80 km / h, you might think that the speedometer already shows all 120: the motor roars, and the interior reminds of the car belonging to the budget class. In "Sens" the situation is somewhat nicer, because Koreans had a hand in its creation. However, it makes no sense to talk about some driver characteristics and a comfortable ride, given the cost of the ZAZ-1103 Slavuta model.
The fuel consumption of the car is very moderate: from 7 to 10 liters per 100 kilometers in the city, and 5-7 liters on the highway.
Price of independence
The ZAZ “Slavuta” car, like other cars manufactured in the CIS, suffers from poor quality components, which leads to frequent breakdowns. The low price of the car partly compensates for this problem. However, if you replace failed parts with imported analogues, you can increase its reliability.
“Slavuta” is a cheap unpretentious car that is suitable for those who are just mastering driving skills, or for those who cannot yet afford a more expensive car, but do not want to get attached to public transport. Depending on the year of manufacture and condition, a car can cost in the secondary market from 1.5 to 3.5 thousand dollars.
ZAZ-1103 "Slavuta": reviews
Based on the feedback from the owners, we note the main advantages and disadvantages of the car. So, the strengths of “Slavuta”:
- Availability of parts and service.
- High maintainability.
- Large trunk and low loading threshold.
- Durable silent blocks and gearbox.
Weaknesses:
- Turbid optics.
- Close salon.
- Squeaking plastic in the cabin.
- The small resource of the 1.1-liter engine, steering gear and other less significant parts.
- Failure of the fuel pump, idle sensor, carburetor and ignition coil.
- Deformation of brake discs.
- The fragility of the rear wheel bearings and ball bearings.
Alternative
An alternative to “Slavute” is the popular VAZ “seven”. This is a long-lived car, because it has been produced for 28 years. Despite the fact that the design of the model has long been outdated, due to its simplicity, the machine is reliable and durable. That is why so many drivers at one time chose it. Well, the price, of course, plays a role here. Today, the "seven" in the secondary market costs from $ 800 to $ 3,000. It all depends on the year of manufacture and condition.
Compared with the ZAZ-1103 Slavuta car, the photo of which looks more advantageous, the Seven has a more spacious interior, greater carrying capacity and, most importantly, a smoother ride. However, the practicality of the latest model of the “classic” is slightly inferior to the “Slavuta”. She does not have the opportunity to fold the rear seatbacks, and the loading threshold of the trunk is much higher. "Seven" is equipped with three gasoline engines. The first has a volume of 1.3 liters and develops 69 liters. With., the second and third are the same in volume - 1.5 liters, but different in power: 71 and 74 horsepower.
Conclusion
Today we met a car that many drivers recall when they remember youth: the first insecure independent trips, the first annoying breakdowns and a joyful victory over them. For those who want to learn how to repair a car, ZAZ-1103 Slavuta is perfect. The manual gives a wide idea of the device and repair of the model. It is believed that after this car a person can easily drive any car.