Here's a tribute to the little-celebrated Lada. I actually love these cars, which surprises my Russian friends because Ladas really are terrible cars as far as the whole getting-you-to-where-you-need-to-go-in-a-reliable-and-decently-fast-manner thing goes. Most Ladas have engines rated for less than 100 horsepower, and a lot of them don't have power steering or air conditioning. Also, emissions control is definitely not a big concern; there is a very distinct unburned-fuel smell that accompanies the impressive site of a Lada driving by. Even more reassuring is the lingering smell of gasoline that often is present in the passenger compartment. Many Ladas don't have fuel-injected engines, and so the driver manually operates the carburetor choke, which results is lots of very smoky starts in Russian winter weather.

Despite all these shortcomings (and that's really just a partial list), Ladas have a special place in my heart. I would buy one and import it to the US if I could afford it and the laws regarding car importation weren't so impossibly complex (a Lada would never pass US customs safety inspection anyway). I am a real fan of the totally gaudy and overdone customization jobs that guys do to their Ladas here in Russia. All kinds of alloy wheels, stadium-worthy sound systems, low-rider packages, window tint, exhaust systems, and neon-light packages can be found on Ladas cruising the streets of Vladimir (by cruising, I mean dodging potholes at breakneck speed). It is a distinctly Russian version of the sport-compact-car movement. Here are some pictures of pimped-out Ladas: