What is more common on the roads in Russia? Small, boxy Russian cars, imported vehicles...?
Imported vehicles are most common (in big cities, at least). Most common imports are Ford Focus (they are assembled in RF, the sedan version is also widely used by the cops), Renault Logan (the Russian-assembled Dacia Logan, I've passed my driving test on this car), Daewoo Nexia (had my first test on this), VW Polo Sedan (assembled in RF, too, and I used to drive one, too), Hyundai Accent (again, assembled in Taganrog and I have driven one), Chevy Lacetti, etc.
Small SUVs and crossovers are very popular, too - Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, Nissan Juke (loads of them, since they just were launched), Range Rover Evoque (very many of them, too), Audi Q3, Kia Sportage, Great Wall Hover, Renault Duster (aka Dacia Duster), etc.
The eastern regions of RF (Primoprye, Altai, Siberia) have a lot of right-hand drive JDM cars (Toyota Mark II, Chaser, Cresta, Aristo, Nissan Laurel, Gloria, Cedric, Skyline, etc are very common there).
The local cars are common, too. Most of them are the old Lada 2105/07 (aka
Lada Riva in the UK), the relatives of the ancient Fiat 124. Fortunately, this POS is out of production since 2012.
The mid-size cars -
GAZ Volga - are still seen on the streets pretty often (the 3110 models mostly - produced in 1998 to 2009 but still based on the Soviet classic - the 24 platform of 1970).
And this is the Soviet classic I really want to have as my first personal car - the GAZ 24 Volga (1970-1992). Sometimes I see them on the streets, but rarely these days.
or piles of sheet metal and assorted scrap that resemble a rickshaw-motorcycle hybrid?
No, I never see this. At least in the city where I live.
However, some Ladas are so trashed that they're not much different from just piles of sheet metal.
)
I think I saw it on TV already...
