This car is a strange mixture of typically Russian solutions and design as well as borrowings from "Western" patterns. Some external details remain in dissonance with the "transit" body line. It will be difficult to find a second car with such a profusely chrome-plated radiator air intake. The same applies to handles and locks. The former are cassette type and designed in accordance with all canons of aesthetics and ergonomics, while separately placed door locks irresistibly evoke associations with the Volga. The door lock mechanism is covered by a hinged "flap", the hinge is equipped with a relatively strong spring. This solution is an excellent protection against dust that is deadly for the delicate mechanism, it probably works well in winter as well, keeping water out. At the same time, however, a horse with a row ago, who puts the key into the lock with one hand.
One enters the cabin in a manner typical for this type of vehicle – low threshold and wide opening door. The driver's seat is definitely large and soft, fans of French cars will be satisfied, Amateurs of German cars, accustomed to hard seats, may feel a bit uncomfortable. The lack of seat height adjustment will disturb both. I definitely prefer to sit higher in this type of car. Overall, the driving position is close to this, what Lublin offers. Pedals suspended on the front wall, wide apart and comfortable to use even with heavy work boots, though left, "unemployed" most of the time, the leg after removing from the "clutch" has little space. The fault for this lies with the deeply penetrating wheel arch, which is also a disadvantage of many other delivery vehicles.
I want to put the key in the ignition… and I hold it in my right hand out of habit. It turns out, that Sobol has an ignition switch on the left side of the steering column and its operation takes some getting used to. By the way, I state, that two different keys are used for the door and the ignition switch. In the most serious, in my opinion, Sobola competition, Lublin noticed the related difficulties and from the series 3 one universal key is already used. If the manufacturer of this van introduced a remotely controlled central locking system, he would have avoided all the hassle of the somewhat archaic and insecure locks in use today.
From the outside, the Sobol body has a nice line and does not differ in style from that, what others offer, inside it is boring and without idea. The instrument panel of the vehicle is made of bright, good quality plastic, has a very simple form and even a lot of functional storage compartments, however, it is completely devoid of homogeneity and character. Irritates the slider inaccurate control of the interior heating, the strange mixture of switches is astonishing, some are based on Transit, others as if they came from military equipment from a long-gone era. It was interesting to observe a few people unfamiliar with the car, who wanted to find a light switch. The job was difficult and a bit funny, for something was sought, what the constructors put in a visible place and "at hand", but they gave it a form that did not reveal its destiny. To, which on the surface appeared to be a rod that controls the carburetor starter ("suction") located on the center console, was just that wanted switch.
Time for a ride. A modern gas turbocharged diesel engine was installed in the car 560 (manufactured according to the M14 Steyr technical documentation) of a capacity 2134 cm3, which develops maximum power 70 kW at 3800 rpm and maximum torque 200 Nm at 2300 rpm. The fuel is injected directly into the combustion chambers of the pistons by electronically controlled unit injectors. A short ride on the Sobol did not allow the engine to be tested in all its capabilities, but it made it possible to form an idea of its good efficiency and suitability for the propulsion of this car. Detriment, that too much noise gets inside the cabin due to poor soundproofing. Standing next to the vehicle with the engine running, its high noisiness is not felt.
The drive torque from the engine is transferred to the rear wheels via a five-speed gearbox, with a classic gear ratio. Operating the long gear lever and selecting the desired gear is not a problem or requires a lot of effort. However, attention should be paid to the operation of the clutch. It begins to "pick up" after a slight upward movement of the fully depressed pedal, a is included completely already in 1/4 his jump. The car's suspension is an independent system of wishbones and coil springs at the front, and a rigid drive axle on leaf springs at the rear. In version 2217 the focus was on driving comfort. The suspension has a "soft" characteristic, thanks to which overcoming unevenness does not cause bouncing even when the car is not loaded. However, the damping of the shock absorbers is too low – after the suspension elements are forced to deflect by the transverse hump, the body sways unpleasantly. Even though everything is fine, you get an impression, that the shock absorbers have lost their properties.
Already at the outset, the car fares worse when assessing the interior, which, despite the fairly good quality of plastics, gives the impression of high randomness. The suspension also needs some refinement. GAS 2717 Sobol is a car that requires careful driver care. Raised in Żuki, In Nysach and Tarpanach, the user quickly detects all that require periodic tightening, lubrication and sealing of the connection, will find a way for hard-working cables and strings. These "caresses" will allow you to use a decent and valuable delivery vehicle for little money.
GAZ Sobol, available in a variant with all-wheel drive, is a tasty treat among typical delivery vans. This version of the vehicle is intended for these users (energy services, foresters, vets, farmers etc.), who no matter what the weather (rain, snow, frost) they carry loads on sandy and clay country roads, forest or mountain. In such conditions, the benefits of four-wheel drive push the noticed disadvantages of this car to the background.
GAS 2217 Sobol