The Volga Siber midsize sedan is based on the licensed front-wheel drive platform Chrysler JR41, Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus of the second generation. The design was developed by the British studio UltraMotive, while the goal was to make the most of the existing American developments and to give the Russian version the features of classic GAZ cars. Externally, Volga Siber differs from American donor cars in bumpers, design of a radiator grille and lighting equipment.

Adaptation to Russian conditions was carried out. The first prototypes were assembled in 2007, a test batch was released in March 2008, and the official launch of the conveyor took place in July 2008. The model was planned to be produced with 2.0 and 2.4 liter engines. There were plans to install a 2.7-liter V6. However, only 2.4-liter modifications with a four-speed automatic transmission went into mass production.

The buyers of the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bsedan were offered the Comfort and Lux \u200b\u200bconfigurations. The first includes 15-inch steel rims with hubcaps, power steering and an adjustable steering column, heated electric mirrors, factory-tinted glass, fabric seat upholstery. There are illuminated cosmetic mirrors, power driver's seat adjustment, mechanical lumbar support for the driver's seat, power windows, central locking with remote control, air conditioning. The rear seat of the car is folding (60/40). The standard audio system includes an AM / FM radio, an electric antenna, a CD-player, an amplifier and six speakers. More expensive equipment offered fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels (including spare wheel), headlights with washer, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, leather seats and steering wheel buttons for audio control.

The basic modification of the Volga Siber was the performance in the Comfort configuration with a 2.4-liter (2429 cc) four-cylinder engine with a DOHC valve mechanism (143 hp, 210 Nm) and a 4-band automatic transmission. The sedan accelerated to a top speed of 185 km / h, and it took 13.4 seconds to accelerate from standstill to 100 km / h. Since the beginning of April 2010, the Volga Siber version has appeared with a 2.4-liter engine and a five-speed manual gearbox NV-T350 manufactured by New Venture Gear. According to the manufacturer, this modification was created taking into account the wishes of potential buyers. To work with a manual transmission, the sedan's engine was modified - in particular, the torque at low revs was increased. Despite the fact that the main engine was a 2.4-liter "four", sometimes you can find on sale a variant of the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bwith a 2.0-liter unit of 141 hp, these cars were equipped with a manual transmission.

The Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bsedan is distinguished by fully independent wheel suspensions: MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear. The car is adapted for operation in Russian conditions: the suspension stiffness and ground clearance are increased, handling is improved, fasteners are used only with metric, not inch, threads. When adapting the suspension, the diameter of the spring bar had to be slightly increased - it became thicker by 1.5 mm, while the ground clearance increased by 20 mm and reached 155 mm. Among other things, the front stabilizer has an increased cross-section, reinforced ball bearings are installed in the levers. The lower edge of the bumper is raised. Body dimensions: length 4858 mm, width 1792 mm, height 1409 mm. Wheelbase 2743 mm. This front-wheel drive vehicle has a turning radius of 5.6 m. The luggage compartment is 453 liters.

The following safety equipment is included in the standard equipment of the Volga Siber sedan. These are anti-lock braking system, traction control system, driver and front passenger airbags, child seat mountings. The car also has a rear-view mirror with auto-dimming, headlight range control. The car showed a satisfactory result in the "Auto Review" frontal crash test, carried out according to the EuroNCAP method in 2008.

The main advantages of the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bsedan were good driving characteristics, interesting appearance and higher reliability compared to previous models of the car plant. However, many potential buyers were frightened off by the price and the fact that not the most famous model was chosen as a donor for the new Volzhanka. While the much more popular Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Primera, etc. have been introduced to the market. As a result, the demand for the car turned out to be low and the manufacturer even had to suspend the conveyor. Today, pre-owned Volga Sibers look quite interesting considering the ratio between price and equipment. Consumables and the most demanded parts are relatively affordable, which cannot be said about more specific original parts and expensive body hardware.

The production of this car was launched back in 2008 and lasted only a couple of years. Already in 2010, serial production was closed. Why? Probably due to low consumer demand for this car, but more on that later. Indeed, on the roads it is not so common, and little is known about such a "beast". Let's take a look at the main consumer reviews in this article. "Volga Cyber" nevertheless earned the attention of a separate category of the population and still remains popular.

Back to the Future

Cyber \u200b\u200bcannot be called an exclusively domestic car. The fact is that the equipment of the American Chrysler plant was bought by representatives of GAZ. Moreover, the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bis a complete copy of such cars as the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus. Key changes only affected the front and rear bumpers, as well as the optics, which were slightly redesigned and improved. To adapt to Russian roads, the engineers of the Gorky Automobile Plant had to increase the stiffness of the suspension, as well as make the handling more precise. We also reworked all fasteners that received metric threads. Working with an inch was extremely uncomfortable, and the factory took this into account.

Why, in fact, did the Americans sell the equipment to GAZ? The point is that neither Stratus nor Sebring received due attention in the United States and were sold very sluggishly. In general, these were cars for the poor. They were often used by police or taxis. But you can't say that cars are bad. Not at all, they have a number of strengths, which we will definitely talk about, but now we go further.

Sales start in Russia

At the end of March 2008, the first batch of Volga Siber was launched. They were supplied to large corporate customers such as banks, government agencies, law enforcement agencies, etc. But retail sales started in October. As for the localization, as noted above, the front and rear bumpers, as well as the optics and rear-view mirrors, have been redesigned from the outer parts. There were also minor changes in the cabin. In particular, the dashboard was no longer miles, but kilometers, as it should be. In general, they tried to change it, which turned out very well. Also, minor improvements were made to the interior of the cabin.

The main spare parts (Volga Cyber), for example, cold-rolled steel for the body, were imported from the USA. This also applies to many parts of the suspension and engine systems. Own production of components was planned only in case of high sales and better quality of domestic parts in comparison with those brought from America.

Expectations were not met

If you look at consumer reviews. Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bis a very good car, both externally and technically. But sales in Russia have definitely not gone. In 2008, the plant planned to produce about 10,000 cars, in 2009 already 45,000, and then 65,000. But in fact, in 2008, 1717 models were assembled, of which no more than 430 were sold. Already in 2009, the first information appeared on the closure of production due to unprofitability. The data were confirmed by the management. In the first 6 months of 2009, only 445 vehicles were manufactured, after which serial production was suspended.

But soon there was a state order for 500 cars for the police and the Ministry of Emergencies. In addition, Volga Siber was sold, which was located in dealerships in different cities. By the end of 2009, only 2,151 models were produced. In 2010, about 5,000 more copies were released, after which on October 31, due to insufficient demand and unprofitable production, the release was stopped. During the work, about 9,000 models were sold. All this, of course, is good, but the reviews do not allow this car to be called unprofitable. "Volga Cyber", according to the owners, is much better than many modern cars. Is this really so, we will now see.

Vehicle appearance and dimensions

Before us is a mid-size sedan, which is most often referred to as the D-class. The body length is 4.85 meters, which is quite a lot. The overhangs are long, which is more a disadvantage than an advantage. Due to the large dimensions and overhangs, as well as the lack of parking sensors, for the first time, many cling to everything that is possible. This is facilitated by the clearance, which is only 140 mm. Usually it is increased for Russian roads, but here the developers decided to leave everything as it is. That is why it is recommended to put gearbox and engine protection immediately after purchase.

As for the optics, everything is very budgetary and without unnecessary frills. Halogen front and rear lights, no diodes or anything else. True, there are foglights that remove a dark spot near the car when driving in high beam. Special attention should be paid to the fact that the hood smoothly goes into the windshield. Because of this, the torpedo in the cabin is simply huge, and numerous consumer reviews speak about this. "Volga Cyber" looks very aggressive, so there is a slight hint of sport, which is especially important when paired with a 2.7 liter engine.

Simply American

The Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bcar has a very impressive size. This has the most direct effect on the amount of space in the cabin. It's more than enough. Even 3 adults sitting on the back couch can feel pretty good. As for the driver and front passenger, they were even more fortunate. Electrically adjustable seats for tilt and reach allows you to choose the most comfortable position. In addition, despite the low cost of the car, the seats have lateral support. This is often not the case on more expensive models.

As for the dashboard, everything is simple, but convenient at the same time. The center console is the simplest. There is a control unit for air conditioning and a stove, and a little lower is a radio and a CD changer. The plastic of the upper part of the torpedo is soft enough, this also applies to the door cards. Basically, there are no complaints about the salon. Yes, it is not the same as in modern cars, there is not much electronics, but it is spacious, and you feel very comfortable and confident while driving. Nevertheless, it has everything you need, namely:

• illumination of mirrors on visors;
• electrical dimming of the rear-view mirror;
• powered mirrors;
• electrically adjustable driver's seat;
• air conditioning;
• audio system;
• ABS, ESP;
• on-board computer and diagnostics from a key.

Considering that the price tag for this car is not so big, this is more than sufficient equipment. But this is not all that the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bcan offer us. The engine is another distinctive feature of this car.

Motor choice - 2.0, 2.4 or 2.7?

It was originally planned to offer the buyer a choice of three powertrains. This is a 2.0-liter internal combustion engine with a capacity of 141 horsepower paired with a manual transmission. The most powerful engine is V6 2.7 with 203 hp. with., which would allow its owner to fully feel the power of American power units.

But the realities turned out to be somewhat different, and the developers had to abandon the serial production of cars with 2.0 and 2.7 engines. Only the "Chrysler" 2.4 liter engine with 152 horsepower remained. But to achieve the Euro-4 environmental standards, the engine was "strangled" and the horsepower dropped to 143. Initially, the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bGAZ plant was produced only with an automatic transmission 41TE of a torque converter type, which is also considered a completely American design. But in the future, the consumer began to offer a 5-speed mechanics.

Reviews about her are mixed. The box is very thoughtful and not very popular, and it is difficult to call it reliable. The 2.7 engine makes the car more responsive, but such a power unit has its drawbacks. Firstly, the timing chain type is expensive and makes a lot of noise when stretched. Secondly, the oil must be changed as often as possible, since oil starvation for 2.7 is not uncommon. Most often it fails because of this.

Are there any problems with the repair?

American cars are not in great demand on the Russian market. This is due to the high cost of spare parts that must be ordered from the USA. But nowadays this has gotten a bit easier. In large cities there are special online stores that allow buying original spare parts and their counterparts for American cars and Volga Cyber. The Volga itself is not cheap to maintain. The car's suspension provides maximum ride comfort, but is highly complex. For example, the subframe must be removed to replace the rear upper ball joints. For one side at many service stations they ask from one thousand rubles. In such a scenario, spare parts are cheaper than work.

There are usually no problems with the engine. This is an extremely reliable American motor with a huge resource. With proper care, it takes about 200-300 thousand kilometers to overhaul. The automatic transmission is also very reliable and proven. Its repair is often limited to replacing the solenoid block and oil with a filter. Some suspension parts and body parts are manufactured at the GAZ plant, so their price tag is more than acceptable. Considering that the original runs for quite a long time, you can spend money once.

American dimension

It's no secret that spacious, powerful cars are highly valued in the United States. Spacious "Sebring" and "Stratus" can be called, but powerful - with a tension. The inline 4-cylinder engine performs quite well. But the Volga Cyber, the technical characteristics of which we have reviewed, is more suitable for moderate driving. A sharp start is definitely not for this car. But in full measure, the whole essence of the car is manifested when driving on the highway. Dynamics even after 140 km / h is not lost, and the car continues to accelerate. As for aerodynamics, due to the "lick" of the front of the car and low ground clearance at speed, the car sticks to the road and keeps very confidently.

This is what it is - "Volga Cyber". The technical characteristics of the car cannot be called outstanding, but even today it is a worthy competitor to expensive Asian and European cars. Of course, in some moments "Volga" lags behind, and in others, on the contrary, is in the lead. Take spare parts, for example. "Volga Cyber" in this regard is not more expensive than "Hyundai Solaris" or "Kia Rio". But sometimes the inflated prices for the work of masters in car services are surprising. All in all, this is a good car. Let's take a look at what consumers are saying about this car.

Volga Cyber \u200b\u200b2.4: advantages

Many motorists really love this car. It is worth noting that the quality of its assembly was also affected by the fact that most of the spare parts are American. The resource of their work is much more than domestic or Chinese parts. That is why many consider the Volga to be a very reliable vehicle. The car body also deserves attention. It is galvanized and made from cold rolled steel. You can't call it "foil". The high strength and safety of the driver and passenger is clearly visible in crash tests. The distance between the front bumper and the driver is often life-saving. In addition, there are 4 airbags (front and side curtains).

Well, and most of all attention goes to the chassis. High ride comfort and excellent suspension performance on small potholes. As a result, small irregularities are not felt at all. When the suspension is in good condition, the car perfectly enters corners with minimal roll. If stabilizers or shock absorbers fail, then driving performance deteriorates significantly. Therefore, it is advisable to repair the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bas soon as possible in order to regain the former confidence on the road. Well, now let's go ahead and consider the main disadvantages of this car. There are also enough of them here, although many are used to not paying attention to them.

Cons to be aware of

First of all, I would like to note that the low ground clearance, only 140 mm, does not allow driving on bumpy roads. In addition, the car does not have the most reliable and strong suspension. A large number of ball joints that must be constantly monitored can become a big nuisance on the road. Often the original parts are of very high quality and run for a long time, which cannot be said about substitutes for the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bcar. Tuning of this car is practically irrelevant, since there is almost no body kit. Another drawback is poor sound insulation. Sometimes it seems that there is none at all. The noise from under the wheel arches is especially audible. But this design flaw can be easily eliminated on your own. Tackling the entire vehicle can significantly improve the acoustic comfort and sound quality of the music system.

It should be said that the battery is also inconveniently located. Volga Cyber, Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring are designed in such a way that the battery is installed under the front fender. To remove the battery, turn the wheel to the extreme right position, remove the wheel arch liner and only then dismantle the battery. Not very convenient, especially if something happens in winter. But you can also "light a cigarette" from under the hood. There are negative and positive terminals. As you can see, the design is not without drawbacks, but there are no significant drawbacks here.

Let's sum up

Many drivers leave their positive and negative reviews. The Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bcan be easily repaired by hand. This is its advantage. At the same time, it has an impressive size. The Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bis almost five meters long. Of course, this is spaciousness and comfort in the cabin, but a car is not suitable for a metropolis and parking in a limited space. But everything comes with experience, so you should not focus on this special attention.

There is one more disadvantage that has not been discussed in this article. It consists in the fact that the steering rack is mounted on a stretcher. This led to the fact that at idle, vibrations are transmitted to the steering wheel. This, together with torn engine mountings, causes discomfort and discomfort. There is one more detail worth paying attention to. Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bdoesn't like overheating very much. The motor head is made of aluminum and is afraid of high temperatures. When boiling, metal may lead. In this case, you will have to do major repairs. About 70% of engines fail precisely because of overheating. The remaining 30% are due to untimely engine oil change and improper maintenance.

The main problem with this car is the chassis. The rest of the items are all right. Cyber \u200b\u200bis currently available for purchase in good condition. But you need to look. Remember that a mileage of 100-200 thousand kilometers for this engine is not the limit. It has two maintenance sizes and runs up to 800,000 kilometers. Today, for about 250-300 thousand rubles, you can buy a Volga Cyber \u200b\u200b2008-2010 with a mileage of about 100,000 kilometers. More important is how the car was maintained. In particular, you should pay attention to the condition of the chassis and the engine as a whole.

The Volga car was produced by the Gorky Automobile Plant for a very long time, over several decades. The designers did not rack their brains too much over the modernization of the car, and perhaps that is why a radical change of the model was needed for something more perfect that meets modern requirements.

The appearance and design of the Volga Cyber

So in 2006, Gorky residents decided to continue their traditional cooperation with American car manufacturers and decided to update the conveyor line of passenger cars. The new Volga was based on the Chrysler Sebring, which was produced from 2000 to 2006.

In 2006, all the documentation and the necessary equipment for the production of a new passenger car were transferred to the company, for the first time the car was presented in Moscow at the Interauto exhibition, which was held in 2007 from August 29 to September 4. The new model was named GAZ Cyber, and there is some consonance with Sebring.

Volga Siber - side view

Many associate the name Siber with Siberia, but to be precise, this word is not translated from English. Siberia in English - Siberia, the creators of the car slightly reduced the word.

It was originally planned to produce the Volga Siber with three types of engines - 2.0L, 2.4L and 2.7L. The two-liter engine was supposed to be equipped with a manual transmission, and the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder internal combustion engine and the 2.7-liter six were going to be equipped with an automatic transmission.

But for a number of reasons, it only went into mass production, the citizens of Nizhny Novgorod decided to abandon other options. Much is mentioned in sources of information about the presence of a two-liter engine on, but in reality such a configuration is practically not found. Perhaps such "Volgas" served state officials and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The interior and dashboard of the Volga Cyber

The new GAZ Volga Siber model could be called a Russian car with a very big stretch - there was practically nothing Russian in it. Only bumpers, optics, a radiator grill, a slightly different interior were original. Many at that time joked and said that the main difference between Cyber \u200b\u200band Serbing was the GAZ badge on the radiator grille of the car.

The first copies of the Volga Cyber \u200b\u200brolled off the assembly line in the summer of 2008 - the vehicles were ordered by government agencies, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sberbank of Russia.

The cars went into retail sale only towards the middle of autumn. The machines were equipped with an automatic 4-speed transmission with electronic control - no other transmission options were envisaged at that time. Only by April 2010 the Siber began to be equipped with a manual gearbox - it was a five-speed gearbox of the NV-T350 model.

NV-T350 gearbox

The plans of the car plant were not that grandiose, but in 2009 it was supposed to produce 45 thousand units of the new brand. The plans were not destined to come true, the project was clearly a failure. There were several reasons at once - the outbreak of the crisis, which peaked at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, low demand for a car, relatively high cost and price.

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Wheels for Volga Cyber

The project was short-lived, and by the end of 2010 it was completely closed. For all the time, GAZ has produced only about 9,000 Volga Cyber \u200b\u200bvehicles. Subsequently, the conveyor was reequipped for the assembly of Skoda and Volkswagen; GAZ never produced its own passenger cars. But to be honest, Volga Siber can hardly be called its own model either. Although Cyber \u200b\u200bfound a lot of fans, which can be seen by going to the Volgovodov forums.

The main differences between Volga Siber and Chrysler Sebring

It looks like a Chrysler Sebring car

Although the Gorky Automobile Plant has created a kind of new model, its differences from "Serbing" are minimal. Perhaps we should start with the external differences:

• Rear lights - on the "Volga" they are with ledges down in the middle, on the "Cyber" straight from the bottom;
• Headlights - Cyber \u200b\u200blook more stylish;
• Side mirrors - for GAZ Volga Siber they are larger and more convenient;
• Front bumper and radiator grill, "Volga" looks more modern;
• The rear bumper on the Cyber \u200b\u200bis larger and has no reflectors.

Volga Siber has more ground clearance - for Russian roads the American suspension is too low. The Siber saloon is more comfortable - it has seats with a frame from a Ford Fusion car. The rear sofa has an armrest in the middle and head restraints for passengers on the sides.

Rear passenger seats with head restraints

These elements are absent on "Serbing". In addition, the Volga's cabin is more spacious, and tall passengers will be more comfortable in it than in a purely American car. There are also differences in the "Volga":

• White dials on the instrument cluster;
• The ability to shift gears in the automatic transmission using manual control;
• Larger luggage compartment;
• Stiffer suspension that feels more confident on rough Russian roads.

Specifications

The Gorky Automobile Plant established a three-year guarantee on Cyber \u200b\u200bor 100,000 km mileage. The car turned out to be quite reliable, there were not so many warranty cases. The ground clearance is still too small for the Volga (140 mm), but for the American Chrysler it is even less - only 110 mm. There is no need to talk about impassable roads - Siber and Sebring cars are designed for flat roads with asphalt surfaces. The main technical characteristics of the Chrysler Volga are as follows:

• Air conditioning system;
• Anti-lock braking system ABS;
• Traction control ASR;
• Hydraulic power steering;
• Electric heated mirrors (electrically folding);
• CD-receiver with speakers;
• Audio amplifier;
• Central locking on all doors;
• Steering column with height adjustment;
• Electric seat adjustment (six positions).

On all Cyber \u200b\u200btrim levels, the body is galvanized and has increased resistance to corrosion. Two airbags are mounted in the instrument panel and in the steering wheel - for the driver and for the front passenger. The sun visors are fitted with tinted mirrors to prevent the sun's glare. A spare wheel is not a stowaway, as in the Chrysler Serbing configuration, but a full-size wheel.

Salon volga cyber complete set Chrysler Serbing

It should be noted that this is all in the basic package, which is not bad for a Russian-made car. The equipment "Lux" contains additional options:

• Genuine leather seats;
• Instrument panel with lacquered wood inserts;
• Heated driver's seat and front passenger's seat;
• Alloy wheels and tires with a radius of R16 (standard R15);
• front fog lights;
• increased number of seat adjustments (in ten directions).

The Volga Siber car was produced in total in 4 body colors:

• the black;
• silver;
• golden;
• dark blue.

The premiere of the Volga Siber sedan took place at the Interauto show in Moscow in 2007. The car was presented under the name GAZ Siber. The car was developed on the front-wheel drive base of the Chrysler JR41, which was used in the Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring. The design of the car was developed by the British studio UltraMotive. The designers were given the task to use American developments to create a car with the classic features of Russian cars. The GAZ Volga Siber differs from American models on the same platform by a radiator grille, bumpers and headlights. To adapt to Russian roads, the ground clearance was increased and the suspension stiffness was increased. Serial production of the model began in the summer of 2008. At the same time, supplies of GAZ Volga Siber to large corporate customers began. The car appeared on the free sale only in the fall. Initially, it was planned to equip the car with engines of 2 and 2.4 liters. But only cars with 2.4-liter engines were put into mass production. The first cars were equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. In April 2010, Volga Siber received a five-speed manual transmission.

Specifications GAZ Volga Siber

sedan

Medium car

• width 1 792mm
• length 4 858mm
• height 1 409mm
• clearance 140mm
• seats 5