Friendly reminder.

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 01/13/2018 at 01:22 • Filed to: COMMIE CARS

2

18

That from the early eighties until 1997, you could buy a brand new Lada in Canada.

If a Lada was too dull for you, for a while you could also get a rear-engined Skoda. Straight out of the fifties.

And if you were a bit weird, you could have a Dacia. Also in ute form.

And then, if you were a bit boring, you could have a Yugo, which was a thing the Americans could have as well.

Of course, Hyundai came about in the mid-eighties, and come the nineties had messed up everything for the former Eastern Bloc. It really doesn’t help that some of the cars Lada was sending to Canada were absolutely appallingly put together, such as the Signet (Canadian-market name for the Riva)‘s Samara-based replacement, the Sagona.

I’ve never seen one. There’s probably a reason why.

These days, if you want a cheap bare bones car in Canada, your choice is between the Mexican-Japanese Nissan Micra, the Korean Chevrolet Spark, and the godawful Thai Mitsubishi Mirage. And soon, I’m pretty sure we’ll have Chinese manufacturers like Chery and FAW selling cheap and scary Communist runabouts. Just like old times.

pip bip - choose Corrour > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 01:33

1

Gib the Samara!

For Sweden > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 01:35

5

That’s because 1991 didn’t reach Canada until 1997.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 01:36

1

Lada had plant close to the Volvo plant in Halifax way back.

not for canada - australian in disguise > For Sweden 01/13/2018 at 01:36

1

This is also true.

not for canada - australian in disguise > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/13/2018 at 01:38

1

I’m betting there are close to none in driveable condition left in Canada. Road salts and -40 degree winters are not good for a car’s well being. Especially when it’s a car made out of Soviet aluminium foil, chewing gum, and well wishes.

fintail > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 01:56

3

I remember when I think the main Lada dealer in Vancouver/lower mainland was in New Westminster. I haven’t seen a Lada other than a Niva on Canadian soil in ages, since maybe the late 90s. I remember seeing a Samara for sale in Vancouver in 1999 - this was like a 6 year old car, and they wanted $500 for it - that says a lot. Never saw a Sagona. I also remember seeing a red Signet wagon on Hwy 99 just south of Vancouver way back in the day, I just about fell over - even in probably 1996, that was a rare bird.

I think I may have seen one Skoda, never saw a Dacia. Early Hyundai (Pony Stellar) were quite plentiful until around 2000, then all vanished overnight.

Chariotoflove > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 03:10

2

My wife’s room mate had a Yugo in just the color pictured. Twas every bit the unreliable crap can people say.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 05:54

1

Ladanada...or why I recall the 80s fondly.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/13/2018 at 05:55

0

Can I drive my Niva over it?

pip bip - choose Corrour > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 01/13/2018 at 06:21

0

no!

someassemblyrequired > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 07:48

1

There was still a Lada building in Toronto when I was there in December:

Ash78, voting early and often > Chariotoflove 01/13/2018 at 08:41

2

I remember those well. I was like “Grandma, aren’t you from Yugoslavia?” and she reminded me “Those are Serbian cars, I’m Croatian.”

She laughed them off as Soviet puppet products. And the cars, too.

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 08:50

1

I don’t think I’ve ever seen any one of these brands on the streets.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 09:08

1

I remember a local tractor and agricultural dealership used to sell Ladas in my home town. They didn’t sell them for long. The dad of a kid down the street had one, but I don’t ever remember seeing it run.

gmctavish needs more space > fintail 01/13/2018 at 12:25

1

There’s a guy on a local forum who had two Skodas for quite a while, but he’s sold both of them. One of them even wound up on bring a trailer at some point

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-skoda-120-gls/

fintail > gmctavish needs more space 01/13/2018 at 12:45

1

Wow, someone stole that. Well bought.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/13/2018 at 12:59

1

I worked with someone who had a Lada Samara.

He put over 200,000km on it. Though near the end, he had so many things rewires (courtesy of his Mechanic) that he was able to remove the original engine computer/electronic ignition box. The car was somehow able to run with all the extra wiring that surrounded it that was added to it to by pass one thing or another to “make it work” over the years.

It was replaced a 1st Gen Kia Rio sedan.

Chariotoflove > Ash78, voting early and often 01/14/2018 at 23:44

0

Lol! I like your Grandma.