Sounds like you need to search for that literary classic by Dick O'Kane--"How to Repair your Foreign Car." My favorite chapter is entitled [sic]: Why, when England rules the waves, will her cars not go through a puddle." It appears that nothing has changed.

re: The Lada. When they came into the US, they were known as Fiat [that's Fix It Again, Tony] 128's. I recall one time, when I was working in the shop, trying to change the oil. There was not enough clearance to get the drain plug out without removing [or at least unfastening] the radiator.