Engines and Ethics: Is It Still OK To Enjoy Driving a LADA? (1985 Lada 1200S)

CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!
www.carvertical.com/gb/landin...
Today, I ask an actually serious question - in a slightly silly car. This a 1985 Lada 1200S - and I quite like it. But am I wrong to?
#Lada #USSR #sovietcar
Want to see your car on the channel? Email me on [e-mail]
Not had enough? Check out JAYEMM & FRIENDS! My new channel
/ jayemmandfriends
**********OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS**********
Dodo Juice - Award Winning Detailing Products
Get 10% off Dodo Juice's British Made Detailing Products with code: JAYEMM10
Shop at www.dodojuice.net
RoadStr is the platform for connecting car enthusiasts where you can discover and post car events, join a car group, find and drive the best roads with built in route planner and navigation. Your Automotive lifestyle, all in one place
www.roadstr.io/
Charles & Dean - The Funding Specialists
www.charlesanddean.com/jayemm...
FIRE SAFETY STICK
The World's Lightest and Most Compact Fire Extinguisher
firesafetystick.com/
***********************************************************************************
Equipment Used:
Panasonic S1H Camera
amzn.to/3WXREcV
Panasonic S5
amzn.to/3R9C2BJ
Sennheiser AVX-ME2 Audio Kit
amzn.to/3kMUVOJ
Insta360 Action Cameras - GET A FREE ACCESSORY
www.insta360.com/sal/one_rs?i...

[@JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

[@johnshaw8481]

James , I live in Ukraine now , and my 1st car in the UK was a lada 1600 , fab car. A car is a car and a Lada is easy to self maintain and is cheap motoring . There are thousands being driven here now exactly for that reason

[@julianevans9548]

You're right about mockery, James. As a culture, we've been mocking the nazis for decades and decades, and it has had an excellent effect: as much as I'm not a fan of UK politics, we have less of a problem with fascism than many of our neighbours.

[@drefnor99]

I am from estonia. I have a lada myself. I had it for 16 years. I started driving it when i was 13. I lived in a middle of a thick forrest and school buses couldn’t get to my home. I drove it daily to a school bus stop. also my friends lived a far away from me so it was only way i could get to them. People still remember fondly at this car in my country. Now and then when i go to a drive i get warm and freindly waives from people even after all the horrible things that russia has done. Meny people grow up in these cars. Once a guy told me that he fondly remembers when he was a child the bouncy ride and the noise of the engine would make him sleep. Good memories can’t be ruined by current events.

[@antskuusik4611]

My first car was a lada 21013, really fun car, miss it a lot but now that i am older i do own multible soviet era automobiles. But not any ladas sadly! Man these are fun to drive and easy to work on!

[@FreshHesh]

It feels so refreshing to see a review on anything different than a supercar, although this Lada may as well be considered a supercar in its own terms!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

I review lots of different cars all the time! People just click on the supercar stuff...

[@andrewellis5092]

I clicked on this video as it was different, but get your point on click bait. We do sometimes have a weakness for shiny things! 😂

[@TimSlee1]

@@JayEmmOnCars It's true that most people want to watch videos about cool stuff that's way out of their price-range. They're lying if they say otherwise.

[@Pepe_Le_Peugeot]

James, you’re absolutely at your best doing quirky and niche cars. Really enjoyed this video

[@jamesonslow]

Hear! Hear!

[@anastassiosperakis2869]

this car was neither quirky nor nichy. MILLIONS were sold, and they were very similar to the FIATS they were based upon, all of which were mass market cars. Get a dictionary and learn to use language PRECISELY.

[@jamesonslow]

@@anastassiosperakis2869 But did you enjoy JayEmm's video?

[@allansr100]

I really like these “niche” videos, more that the expensive exotica . Please keep up the great work 👍

[@user-sy1ed9ex5m]

As a bulgarian, I laughed when I saw the bulgarian medical supplies and fire extinguisher. Just to clear some things - the original cars of this model were called "Zhiguli", and later were renamed to just Lada. Also, they weren't exactly the people's car, as they were a step above the Moskvich, and two steps above Trabant and Zaporozhets. They were seen as the sport-ish saloon in that time, as our nations were limited to buy only the forementioned cars (or a Volga, if they were could afford it). In their original state, they are quite a piece of crap, but after some mods using Fiat parts (engine and gearbox from a 131 for example), they can be quite fun.

[@Fester_]

"....quite a piece of crap ". There seems to be a problem with your English my Bulgarian friend, don't you mean " Genius " rather than crap ??

[@user-sy1ed9ex5m]

@@Fester_ And what exactly is genius in that piece of crap? Running a single carb and a points ignition in the 80s? Or the lack of any basic options, like electric windows? They rust like hell, doesn't handle well, not fast even for the 60s, not good looking. Have I forgotten something?

[@silverburn55]

When you think Fiat parts are an "upgrade", it must really have been a piece of crap.

[@user-sy1ed9ex5m]

@@silverburn55 The Fiat TwinCam is actually a great engine. In fact, cars with it have 11 Group 4/ B/ A championships won , more than any other engine. The gearbox on the other hand is just ok.

[@capobilotti]

In my country, they were some 30-40% more expensive than Skoda. Doesn't sound that much ... but at that time for regular fella, it was many years of saving money. Anyway, LADA was very crude car ... for a good reason. It was by far the best FIAT ever made.

[@JohnJoannou-xq5rq]

Nothing wrong in enjoying a Lada. It#s not the world's best or worst, but if it makes you smile, then enjoy to your hearts delight. Me, I've always liked the Lada Niva. Do a Lada Niva next! Anyways, great video as always!

[@anastassiosperakis2869]

unlike you and many others posting here, I KNOW these POS worthless vehicles, as my father foolishly bought one and drove it for 15 years. There was NO Fun, only SHAME driving this POS.

[@Emppu_T.]

@@anastassiosperakis2869 he drove it for how long?

[@JamesThomas-kx5sj]

15 years is a long time. The car served its purpose what more do you want?

[@aidarsays]

Hi Jay, Russian here, we call it Lada in Russia too, the Lada badges and names are all on the cars too. Thanks for the video, it warms my heart to see little Russian work horse on your channel. Entire country owes its functioning to such Ladas - simple and reliable, generations leaned on these cars and we really appreciate them over here 🎉

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks for watching, that's cool to know

[@Speedgovernor]

Also Zhiguli. Beloved car in Finland as well

[@rogerhudson9732]

Not a šiguli ?

[@aidarsays]

@@rogerhudson9732 we call it zhiguli and Lada. Both are popular. However if you asked what the manufacturer name was, people wouldn’t say Zhiguli, they’d say Lada

[@timboharty7325]

I worked at a Lada dealership in Kent , back in the early 80s they were bulletproof and loved by Margate taxi drivers

[@davidarter6271]

The thing with these cars is not political, that’s not the cars fault. The bottom line is that it is a car from an era where simplicity and practicality were paramount. True, cars of today are far safer, BUT, cars of this era have something modern cars lack: Soul. Good review James, thankyou.

[@vincentl.9469]

these cars never had 'soul' it was a dreadful take on the FIAT 124 ..the only redeeming feature; it was cheap ! 😔

[@deadmansfire]

I mean, the Lada is that way because of politics - no competition, produced for too long, as cheap as it can be and offering close to none of the luxuries at the time. Also if by Soul you mean unreliable ,you are correct

[@meganoobbg3387]

Funny thing is owners of Lada's in Canada and Britain were cancelled - refused to fill gas in gastations, because of the USSR's war in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Too bad we don't see people dropping their Ford's and Chevy's every time America starts the 3 or 5 wars it does every single decade :D

[@cvldblvvded4071]

@@meganoobbg3387 What wars do u mean, I wonder? After terrorist attack on 9/11 it's obvious America would respond to this by attacking terrorist groups of the east like Talibans that cut the womens' heads off because of the hair length. At least America has a better economy and living conditions. And funny how you're being a hypocrite, because russia has started 3 war conflicts in 2 decades: in 2008 the South Ossetia has been occupied from Georgia, in 2014: she invaded the East Ukraine: Luhansk and partly Donetsk: Ukrainian territory. And in 2022 - they pretty much f_cked up - and doomed themselves for isolation like the North Korea. So where's better to live? America with strong economy and living conditions or russia: where you're getting 100 bucks for living in a month and having a dictator for more than 2 decades with no changes and prospects for any future? Oh, sorry, a rhetorical question.

[@meganoobbg3387]

@@cvldblvvded4071 The 3-rd reich had good living conditions compared to the USSR - i guess by your logic the 3-rd reich was preferable? lol Cope and seethe american - the 9/11 attack was done by saudi and UAE citizens, so why did America attack Afghanistan and Iraq? Osama was in Pakistan btw - the US puppet Pakistan that assisted in the invasion in Afghan? How many wars america did last 25 years? = 6, and no sanctions.

[@Griffssx]

We had one, my grandpa bought it brand new back in 1985 Lada 1200S With blue metallic paint and black leather. It was super reliable, and believe it or not it was a pretty quick for what it was. We unfortunately had to sell it, the car had only 64 000 Kilometers on the clock. Everytime I see one, I always remember those days...

[@peterdrexler4039]

My Grandad had one from new. It was a base model in white (non-S). He did 21000 kms in 30 years. It was always parked outside regardless of the season, and had no rust. For this reason alone it became valuable by the late 90s early 2000s and consequently was stolen, just before I got my license and he could hand it down to me. I still feel said about it, I wanted that car so much. We are in 2001, so much more modern cars were available at the time, yet I still lusted after a 30 year old soviet crap. I guess that makes me a petrolhead... 🤷‍♂️

[@fasthracing]

Black leather? Are you sure?

[@6ettinold]

Black vinyl. My mum's Skoda Estelle had vinyl seats too.

[@Griffssx]

@@fasthracing Absolutely!

[@ibana8449]

I owned a very potent Lada Niva, When I took it for its first off road trial, a few of the old hands laughed at it. They weren't laughing at the end of the day. One of the stages had a 2ft high rock step to negotiate, the only 2 cars that got up it were a G-Wagen on difflocks and my Niva. I could tell so many tales of pissing off 4x4 owners. When I sold it the buyers arrived in a heavily modified V8 Wrangler Jeep. They asked me what the mpg was like, and I pointed at their V8 Jeep and said "The same as that". They laughed and subsequently bought it. A few weeks later I got an email thanking me for selling them the Niva as they loved it, and also my honesty regarding the fuel consumption. If you get an opportunity to drive one off road, please do have a go.

[@James-ld2jc]

You are overthinking things, but it's good to see a genuinely terrifying car on the channel. I have only driven one once. This car was the same colour and brought it all back to me...

[@planestrainsdogsncars4336]

I agree with ''terrifying''...it would fail miserably in a Euro crash test, minus 5 stars.

[@drstrangelove4998]

Well said, I had to drive a friend’s one, once 😂

[@tommeiner9983]

@@planestrainsdogsncars4336 Just like all old cars, what's your point?

[@AntoniusTyas]

Bagged Lada with actual air suspension. Now that's something I have never seen. Or expected to see. Also, please do more fun cheap old stuffs like this, sometimes it's quite a bit of a laugh sometimes very insightful.

[@salvino6699]

the original fiat 124 won the 1967 European Car of the Year award.

[@igordewit7357]

My parents both drove one,when i was a kid...Didnt really get it back in those days,but from the money they saved by driving Lada"s they gave me and my sister a chilhood full of holidays and foreign adventures. So..Thanks, mom&dad!🙄miss u both😿

[@Kref3]

The Lada certainly was NOT the peoples car in the eastern block. You mentioned the e.g. the Trabant. The Trabant was one of the people‘s cars of the east. So was the Polski Fiat 126. A Lada was considered a really good and expensive car in most Eastern block countries.

[@bingoberra18]

Well depends on the country. You see Trabants and Wartburgs in East Germany but not really any in Russia, there you see Ladas and Moskvich more. In Ukraine you see some ZAZ, and in Poland the 126 is more common.

[@kobbetop]

Compared to a Trabant, the Lada was a good car. We had Ladas in Finland also but it was never really popular since people could afford a lot nicer cars. But there was a market for these cheap and simple cars for years. Now Dacia has taken that market over here.

[@bingoberra18]

@@kobbetop In Finland the Lada and also Moskvich sold quiet well relative to other western countries because during the cold war there was a tension between soviet and finland both from the ww2 but also previous historical ties. So there was a lot of "forced" exchange of goods during the 60s and 70s and a lot of "russian" soviet cars ended up in Finland. I think the other car brands from soviet union did not sell quiet as much in Finland.

[@007Neoplan]

I love this channel due to the way you review cars and how well spoken you are. It makes me relaxed and happy. When you review VW or Porsche you don't mention politics nor their historical connotation with certain mustache man. Keep it unpolitical.

[@richardgg2889]

For me, these cars really remind of the Soviet regime, which was in my country before I was born. But when I see them on a street in a really good condition, kept well maintained by the 80 year old driver and his wife going shopping, it makes me very much happy :-) Nothing better than keeping an old car in a superb condition and keeping the family heritage.

[@Emira_75]

Why would current politics, have *anything* to do with your experience of a car built 35 years ago, or even now?

[@ibana8449]

Fifth gear was an addon to the original 4 speed box. It suffered with oil starvation. Trick was to over fill the gearbox to help it out

[@austinmerrett3530]

You didn’t overthink it James. You were being you, which I think is a considerate man. Loved the phrase petrol heads and muggles, and thank you for, yet again, educating me, making me smile and removing me from the world for 20 minutes or so. 🙏

[@irabel01]

I think Green Peace would appreciate the longevity over disposal of several generations

[@DimitarStanev]

Your take on cars and the way you approach certain topics when doing these reviews, is so unique. This is my favourite car review channel.

[@mantarayal]

I never thought anyone could be so small-minded as to either dislike a car because of whence it came, or the driver of said car, or both. But I do tend to overestimate my fellow man. Or woman. We owned Renaults in NZ when the French nuked Mururoa Atoll. Never happened to us, but we heard French cars got keyed. Thinking back I learned to drive in a Renault 10, then ripped around in Mum's 11, then after my biking days were over bought two Simcas (please find one!!) because our neighbour had a rally version (kid you not) and then two Renault 12s - such great cars!! Il duce never stopped me buying a Moto Guzzi and Japanese atrocities in WWII never stopped my love for their cars, and car scene, now. They're just cars, and we watch because we love car shows. Drive what you want. Just drive safe!!

[@markevans4088]

Thanks, very entertaining and you are right to feature this and enjoy the Lada, it's a part of our automotive history in the UK too, my dad had one. Your video also reminded me also of my mum's old Fiat 128 that I learnt to drive in, very similar characteristics!

[@rickyprice7586]

This brings back memories cause in the late 80s i had a ferrari 308 gt4 which at the time was the dogs bollocks but it sometimes in the cold didn't want to start and my mates dad had a green riva that was hand painted and believe me you could see the brush marks and the odd bristle in the odd place. It was this riva that always jump started my gt4. After so long we stopped laughing at it lol. Hope you liked my memories

[@lulzyboy]

Hey Jay, I offered you my Estonian Lada 2110 last year over email if you remember. The reasons you gave are all perfectly valid reasons to enjoy a car. I had similar thoughts to you when the war started, I didn't drive it for a few weeks, but I started to think that it's a car, not a person. It represents freedom of movement, of people, of goods. It's like your first car, it can be absolutely terrible and hated by everyone, but loved by you for what it does. If you'd still like to try my 2110, I'll drive it back to the UK early next year for you :) Great vid mate!

[@rthomasbox]

Need more odd ball cars on the channel, very amusing!

[@RogerNewsham]

Had the FS0 version known affectionately as the Polski FIAT - It had a hand throttle that pulled the accelerator pedal down and held the speed constant 😂

[@AlejjSi]

The FSO had the body of the newer Fiat 125, but mechanics of the pre-124 Fiat 1300/1500.

[@brendanhaley3668]

Love the videos where ypu delve into those forgptten or underappriciate era cars. As a child whos childhood was the later Ciold War I love seeing inside a vehicle that was only seen on film.... please keep up the videos on such vehicle!

[@TheLaXandro]

These things are a blessing for amateur racing and tuning in general in former USSR countries. A lot of cars of that vintage and even many newer ones have long left realm of cheap beaters and entered the collector market, but Ladas can still be had for reasonably low prices, and they have know-how base and aftermarket on par with many JDM heroes so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

[@str_outta_bogda]

My family owned 2106 from 1996 untill 2007. Your video gives me a portion of good memories from childhood. Nowadays, these cars are popular for winter drift in Siberia region. There are even winter drift leagues. You don't need much power to drift on snow :)

[@irabel01]

Car makes me smile now and made me smile back in the day…

[@mrcrabass3669]

I drive a 1985 Volvo 740 D24T ,and the best part is people talking to me ,I had one of those,and thumbs up,GREAT fun ,the video

[@davidallen513]

I remember a local taxi company in our town in the mid eighties having one of these. It iwould invariably breakdown mid journey and end up with the passengers pushing it along the road.

[@captgutter]

If we held a grudge against every car or manufacturer who had roots in a questionable regime, our roads would be either empty, boring or just bloated with soulless, PC boxes that were no fun to drive. This was a great watch. Keep bringing us the weird and quirky mixed in with the fast and fabulous.

[@vincetillman8292]

Don't feel guilty, just embrace,life brings many things, in this case,it brings a simple smile, keep it up Jay

[@jeremyhartley6939]

I drove a Lada Riva from Cambridge to Greece and back in 1990. We called him Reg after his number plate. My gf’s parents were proper lefties academics and bought Reg to support the soviet economy. He was though my first real car and I loved him to death. Driving through France on the way out Reg started running rough. We pulled into a French garage and, using my grade c o’ level French, I explained the problem to le mechanic. He produced a screw driver, asked me to turn the engine on and lent into the bay to adjust a single screw on the carburettor. Hey presto Reg was fit once again. I wasn’t even charged. Merci monsieur. Still miss Reg to this day.

[@bentullett6068]

That is a lovely example of a Lada (never thought i would say that). I like the subtle modifications this has.

[@jpkeyes]

Fabulous deviation from the norm Mr. JayEmm. My brother owned a Lada 1500 (nee VAZ-2103) here in Canada with the quad headlights. He bought the car new at a time when people still had great suspicions about the Soviet Union. But, Canada being so polite, he never had eggs tossed at his car or had his wing keyed. It was hit twice. Both times by drunk drivers. But the 12 gauge steel held up like a fallen vodka swilling party member on his way to an undeserved promotion. It was a fun car. Slow. Hard to shift. But a plucky people carrier. As you noted, it did come with a crank that you could manually turn over the block like a Model T! My family will miss this car for the memories it brought us. Especially when he installed an amazing Blaupunkt stereo. He would be at a traffic stop along side a Trans Am or Monte Carlo playing AC/DC, and my brother would blow them away playing Haircut 100. Ah, the eighties. So much fun.

[@arjenwennekes]

You are definitely overthinking😅 It is just a nice Classic to enjoy! Nice Video again👍🏻

[@regularguy3665]

My uncle had a couple of Lada. He swore they weee solid as a rock if looked after. Used to pull a caravan with them too.

[@aaronalp2639]

I know this was released a while ago but so cool to see a lada on bags!

[@cjoel2379]

My first car was a Lada. Twas beige, with no radio, luckily for me it had the optional steering wheel. Halcyon days…

[@getawayhs2856]

As a teenager I had the use of a family "pool car" Riva 1500 Estate, and it was excellent, very comfortable & did everything you would expect of a load carrier. A handsome car too I think. This little saloon is a very pretty car, I like it a lot.

[@fr4nn4]

A significant car in automotive history and hence worthy of an enjoyable review like this one! 👍

[@Pandamasque]

The synchros in the stock 4-speed were perfectly fine.

[@CaptiveAlien1]

My parent's first car. These are incredibly popular amongst tuners and 'entry' level (almost always the only level) racing car in Bulgaria where I am from. Great to see it get some attention. When we had it as young once my father hit 60mph and in one of the bends the wheel trim overtook us!

[@MUV4TRUK4]

My Dads car radio business, did very well in the 90's thanks to Lada. So they are ok by me

[@WetPig]

I'm from Bulgaria. I'm 24 and in some of my baby photos you can see a parking lots full of Lada's, Trabants.... I remember there being more of them when I was a kid. There is still 1-2 left on the parking blocks around my apartment.

[@scottbuchele4814]

Stop overthinking it Jay. Just enjoy the ride. I know I would be having a joyous time if I were at the wheel of a Lada. Especially a later Riva.

[@oscarzt1652]

that exhaust sounds fantastic

[@EVguru]

I used to have a Riva 1300 estate back in the mid 90's. Several times I used it to ferry Fiat parts from Hertfordshire to Avanti Motorsport in Somerset in an afternoon. It would cruise down the Motorway quite happily at 70+mph and was pretty comfortable, if rather noisy. An underbonnet light and adjustable headlight aim, were features normally only found on pretty high end vehicles and they didn't usually come with a Brass pump in the well equipped tool kit.

[@jasono4330]

Another great video

[@charleigh195]

Well done jay you hit the nail on the head ole bean.

[@hughrobinson9978]

Any car that one can enjoy driving is OK by me! This Lada seems to be pretty jolly. Loved this just as much as your reviews of more exotic vehicles. Funny that you mentioned VWs - I love driving my old Karmann Ghia, which, unlike the Lada, handles motorways surprisingly well. Being rear engined, it gets relatively more refined the faster you go. Also carries shopping, bikes, etc. and as the paint is 50 odd years old, I don't need to worry about parking dings. There is freedom in having somethig cheap that I can fix and modify easily and cheaply and doesen't get the negative reactions that expensive vehicles often do. It is also quirky and charming - utterly different to a "normal" vehicle, just like this Lada. So, no, don't feel guilty!

[@jonathanbignall1198]

I had my first experience behind the wheel in a very similar Lada from about the same time period. I remember similar oddities with the instrument readings and incredibly heavy steering at low speeds. I wouldn't want to do long trips in one hut for local buzzing about they could be quite entertaining; best not to have a crash though!

[@Treviscoe]

James; the last video I watched of yours was of you driving a Jaguar XJ220, so quite a contrast! Glad that you enjoyed it, but the poor braking would worry me as that is quite dangerous and it doesn't look like there's an easy fix for it.

[@n0w3lly90]

I'll bet it's a lot of fun actually! Raw, basic driving with no computers to interfere 😊

[@paulanderson7059]

Good for you Jay you keep it up brings back memories of being skint and buying a Lada estate for £30 and running it around till it died 18 months later you’ve done nothing wrong e overthinking it m8

[@GaMeON159753456]

Yes it is. I do. I will keep doing it.

[@camilstoenescu]

If you get the chance I hope you review a 1980s Dacia 1310 (based on Renault 12) the most popular car in Romania back in the day.

[@planestrainsdogsncars4336]

I owned a Renault 12 , sadly NOT their best effort ..built down to a price . French Morris Marina comes to mind. Dacia I can't comment on, but i suspect even worse.

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

I Once Drove a FIAT 124, even taking it on a Road Trip from Tucson to Denver and Back. It Was Fun; You Had To Laugh!!! Brilliant Video. And Greenpeace doesn’t Like ANYTHING!!!

[@robincook3367]

Back in 1987, a mate had a very early one of these. I remember a very scary drive in the fog one December, with six of us crammed into it.

[@jirihorsky9600]

I personally am more of a Trabant person, but one should never miss out on a good Lada when given an opportunity either. I just like that sporty feeling Trabant provides, being made out of “composite” and all.

[@planestrainsdogsncars4336]

Ummm sarcasm?😂🙂

[@jirihorsky9600]

@@planestrainsdogsncars4336 I would never

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@planestrainsdogsncars4336 Since Trabants were actually raced with some success, no.

[@rupertorgan7749]

This brings back memories of my ex-father-in-law's Lada 1500 estate that he bought from new in the 1980s. Compared with the Fiat Uno I was driving at the time, it was a real challenge to drive - heavy steering and brakes, clutch and gearchange that needed concentration to get working smoothly. It got written-off in a front end accident, when the wings buckled and slid over the front doors, preventing them from opening, which could have been scary if both occupants had needed to exit the car quickly.

[@wilfamos7314]

Probably your best video ever! 🙂 More left field motors and less performance stuff please.

[@coreylong2353]

Hey James, as a Long term veiwer whose been watching you since before you hit 100,000 subs i think im currently nearing the end of completing a degree in History & have spent a good period of my time in said degree studying the history of the USSR & the cold war era. i can say with experience that this video, and even if I'm being completely honest the original video, are actually doing no harm. i cannot speak for those involved in the war in Ukrain but every other conflict in history has sparked some form of satire as satire and laughter brings us together. also, yes the creators of most "Peoples cars" (yes including ford) are bad people, it doesn't mean the people in the facotrys, the engineers, the mechanics and designers are bad people and it doesn't mean they don't deserve to have their work showcased and the machines they built enjoyed. it would be unfair to not share the story of these amazing machines and the people who own them. once again the ford model T wont offend anyone to spite Henry fords past, why should the lada or Beatle be any different. Regarding the original video, don't feel bad. In the future if you make something like that just provide a disclaimer that it may be offensive and isn't intended to be taken seriously. Dont stop adding the humor to the odd video all together even if you do opt to water it down a bit.

[@GT380man]

+1 on all you said.

[@davidjames2910]

Lada 1200 was the fastest car on the roads when I lived in Budapest in the 1990s - especially the warmed up ones with lowered suspension!

[@pk-dn5sj]

I've bought 1989 Škoda Favorit from my best ftiend Grandad...always so much fun driving around Czech in it🥳💪

[@andrewpreston4127]

To be honest, I never ached for one of these. I did though, long ago, receive a lift in a Fiat 124 Special T. An absolute rocket..., the rust too. There was a time when I thought the coolest car to own would be a Lada NIva. Still do, a bit.

[@paulkirby5479]

I love the looks of the early round headlight ladas, mainly because it reminds me of dads 67 fiat 124 he bought. Dad kept it for a while , but even in the 70s parts where getting hard to find, and rust was rearing its head. I'm keeping the fiat badge alive as l have driven nothing but for the last 20 years.

[@de_fatherland6467]

7:05 yes this is definitely the the case here in Estonia, see quite a few of them in every rally that takes place.

[@carlosbonilla1637]

James, keep doing what you are doing. Love your car reviews.. a bit humorous, to the point and unfiltered.

[@deadmansfire]

Fun fact - Steve Davies won a Lada for scoring the first televised maximum (147) at the 1982 Classic Snooker tournament

[@robinforrest7680]

No one questions anyone driving around in a VW Beetle, and we all know who that car was designed for don’t we…

[@lffit]

My French father in law bought one years ago, because his car kept getting broken in to, so he bought one displayed in a big commercial centre, we used it when in France on holiday from Australia, We had a few problems with it, it leaked petrol onto road, we wondered why it smelled, and the doors were hard to close and it had only speed wipers, a pain in the rain lol But it got us once through a nasty snow storm one winter on its large Russian Tyres, my kids called it 'Our Russian Mercedes'.

[@sjchundreddays]

Yes, you are overthinking it😊

[@vazhanatroshvili7523]

it was my dream car back in 1982 :)

[@6ettinold]

We had a lad who drove around our local town in a pink Lada in the 80's with a 2l Fiat twin cam under the bonnet. I was in awe of him & bis car. Everyone else our age had Golf GTi's & R5 turbo's. At the same time, my mum had a 1978 Skoda Estelle and I thought it was fantastic. The fact it was utterly reliable was a bonus for a £300 rotter. That and the Lada had far more character than anything everyone drove.

[@karacop78]

The car I learned to drive with back in the '90s. It was a '77 4 speed, but with 1.6 l Fiat engine. Great times...

[@jasongerrard8940]

What's with the trellis on the rest windows, does the owner grow ivy or roses.

[@15DEAN1995]

This car sounds better than a lot of modern cars lol

[@vrsmartin2981]

That was hilarious 😂 Exhaust sounds like most blokes first thing in the morning though....

[@christophecamus3295]

Great little car❤❤❤

[@Hvitserk67]

A nice video. Cars like the Lada 1200 were quite popular also in relatively rich countries before they became really rich from the mid-80s to the present day. In countries that do not have their own car production, such as Norway and Denmark, cars must of course be imported and this has a relatively strong impact on the trade balance with foreign countries. Cars are therefore heavily taxed and this in turn creates incentives to buy really cheap cars. Car brands such as Lada, GAZ, Skoda and Moskvitch were relatively in demand in Norway and Denmark right up until approx. mid 80s and many still remember these cars as part of their childhood. However, I am not so lucky, but we had a Fiat 127 and a Renault 4 in the family and I have fond memories of these.

[@darrenwilson8042]

The soundtrack of my early adulthood. Every mini-cab was a Lada 1200 - Reason? Cost £2999 OTR and Lada gave them a 100k miles 3 year warranty ( I suspect the mileage was more applicable than the years as it was a mini cab. People used to say they lost ALL their money but hey you could only lose £k which you lost on an escort of fwd Cavalier taxi in less than 6 months

[@badgersalesman5595]

3 to 4 THOUSAND POUNDS 😮😮. I paid £60 for mine in the early 90s and it was Mint !

[@pereldh5741]

The Dante Giacosa design is brilliant simplicity

[@memberman]

Keep doing what you are doing Jay. Don't let people take the fun out of your videos.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

No you should not be ashamed Great under appreciated car Loved the Riva

[@WetPig]

The car still has the original insurance and yearly check-up stickers from Bulgaria on the lower left corner of the front glass.

[@leedorey1490]

A car you can dismantle with two screwdrivers and an adjustable wrench. I had a mate who loved these things.

[@jamesonslow]

Readdressing some of your older reviews is a great idea, particularly if the example driven has a different story. (Hint - Peugeot 307 😉).

[@Fester_]

It looks and drives like no new Lada we ever had on the street.

[@GT380man]

Dear JayEmm, I definitely like that you don’t cover current events. Unless directly related to cars. That’s my job as a former senior pharmaceutical company research executive. It’s absolutely not fun. I come here to get away from it all for a few minutes at a time. I’m grateful that your channel, an oasis of normality in a dessert of awfulness, exists. Thank you, JayEmm. You’re a good man. Best wishes Mike

[@garychilds1130]

Even got tube type tyres to so don't forget to fit the tube

[@fatfreddyscoat7564]

These are fantastic, charismatic cars built to last (unlike most today)

[@jasono4330]

When I was in Africa I got in a lada texi and after we had a small bump we released it had no breaks

[@richardwigley4942]

My dad had cream or yellow tint. He loved it very kit car quality