Renault Arkana was sent for sale, and the author of the following review was given a "Moskvich 3" to replace it for work trips. There was no way to drive the car from Krasnodar to Moscow, so it was sent by car carrier. Delivery cost 28,010 rubles, including insurance and all risks, including any damage and unforeseen situations.
The first acquaintance with "Moskvich 3" was encouraging: the body shines, the interior is clean, it even looks fresher than in Arkana. At the same time, the odometer shows 128 thousand kilometers, which is a lot by the standards of a budget crossover.
But already on the second day, the euphoria dissipated: somewhere in the area of the central deflectors, an annoying rattle settled, which appeared and disappeared whenever it pleased. Arkana with a mileage of over 230 thousand was even quieter. The multimedia screen also lived its own life: it either lights up, then goes out, then flickers, and this does not depend on shaking - even when standing still, the display could simply turn off. The sensor reacts, but only if you "hit" the desired area blindly.
The wipers had to be replaced - a Bosch set cost 3045 rubles. At 129,500 kilometers, the car was sent for maintenance to the dealer, and here the whole specificity of the official service was revealed. The car is registered to a legal entity, so the bill was issued even before visiting the technical center. Any additional work, such as diagnostics of multimedia, requires separate prepayment.
It is impossible to ask to "look along the way" - the service format is strictly regulated. As a result, the screen continued to flicker, because there was simply no time to go again. The maintenance itself, which included only replacing oil and filters, cost 13,160 rubles, while the air and cabin filters are changed every other time, saving literally on pennies, which is funny in the conditions of metropolitan dust.
During operation up to 136,500 kilometers, only one bright plus stood out - the panoramic sunroof. It makes the interior bright and noticeably changes the mood on the trip. But there are many more disadvantages. The main disappointment is the suspension. Stiff, meticulous, it transmits even small bumps into the cabin. Medium-sized potholes, manholes and rails are hard on the car: you have to slow down almost to zero, otherwise shaking is guaranteed. The principle of "I'll drive faster - I'll feel less" simply doesn't work here.
The power unit also leaves a mixed impression. The variator is thoughtful, suitable only for a very calm style. Sport mode slightly enlivens the reactions, but the feeling of heaviness during acceleration remains. In heavy traffic, the car seems sluggish and does not inspire confidence when overtaking. The brakes are also just as "cottony", without clear feedback.
Communication via Bluetooth raises questions: the microphone seems to be hidden in the backwoods, interlocutors hear only a scream. The audio system is one of the weakest, equalizer settings do not save the situation. Against this background, the lack of winter heating looks especially strange: neither the seats, nor the steering wheel, nor the windshield are heated. Only front-wheel drive - and you get a car exclusively for the warm season, almost like a summer convertible in the format of a crossover.
Everything is also ambiguous with practicality. A child seat takes up a lot of space, you can't fold the backs of the rear row with it, so the author had to buy luggage arcs and a bicycle mount - the bicycle simply does not fit in the cabin. The arcs were inexpensive, but the frame mount itself already cost 17 thousand rubles. The trunk is simply evaluated: if the stroller fits, the goal is achieved.
In just six months, the author drove about 8000 kilometers on the "Moskvich 3". There were no breakdowns, but there were no bright moments either. According to him, this is a car that simply performs the function of moving, without emotions, pleasure and a corporate character. And if it were not for the excessively shaky suspension, the impressions could be softer, but it is it that makes every trip tiring and crosses out even the rare advantages of the model.