RE: SOTW: Lada Niva Cossack

[Colonial]

kambites said:

These things are everywhere around where my in-laws live in Bulgaria. They seem pretty indestructible as long as you're willing to weld in the occasional new bit of structure.

That is the beauty of them to me. Simple things.

[X5TUU]

awesome... used to greenlane in one and was my second car after i rolled my SJ haha

and new then even come in pickup and ambulance format...
http://www.lada-auto.ru/cgi-bin/models_special.pl

[300bhp/ton]

thewheelman said:

No, there was nothing wrong mechanically with it, & the driver knew what he was doing. The Lada was/is just the inferior car.

ok, if that's your view. But could you explain to me how the drive train differed and why it was less affective on a flat grass field?

[y2blade]

300bhp/ton said:

thewheelman said:

No, there was nothing wrong mechanically with it, & the driver knew what he was doing. The Lada was/is just the inferior car.

ok, if that's your view. But could you explain to me how the drive train differed and why it was less affective on a flat grass field?

step away from the troll he will drag you under his bridge

[MadDog1962]

I rode in one of these in 1991 in Australia (when it was only about 18 months old). It made a Suzuki SJ 410 feel like a Rolls-Royce. I have never in my life been in a car with a less refined driveline. The gears all wailed like banshees. I would leave it well alone. If it was 100 quid with a few months MoT then I guess you could use it as a paddock basher and then toss it, but at this price it's simply not worthy.

BAD Shed!! Must try harder.

[thewheelman]

300bhp/ton said:

thewheelman said:

No, there was nothing wrong mechanically with it, & the driver knew what he was doing. The Lada was/is just the inferior car.

ok, if that's your view. But could you explain to me how the drive train differed and why it was less affective on a flat grass field?

Not my view, it's a fact. There were no mechanical faults, it was just unable to get places that the old defender would ease through. Land Rover have been making some of the worlds best off roaders for years, maybe compare the Niva to the Fiat Panda 4x4, it's in the same league, but both inferior to a Land Rover Defender. Argue all you like, but take a look how many countries use the Defender, & Land Cruisers, then see how many use the Lada. Just because you like them, doesn't mean they're great at what they do.

[thewheelman]

y2blade said:

300bhp/ton said:

thewheelman said:

No, there was nothing wrong mechanically with it, & the driver knew what he was doing. The Lada was/is just the inferior car.

ok, if that's your view. But could you explain to me how the drive train differed and why it was less affective on a flat grass field?

step away from the troll he will drag you under his bridge

Ah, name calling from the troll himself. Funny how you moan about pretty much every car on every thread, yet call names when someone doesn't like a Lada that you like. Get a life, your post count suggests you should get a job.

[kotafey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZws_ckFGno

Has anyone watched this? Same hill, same day, different cars with different results. Seems relevant.

Cheers

K

[thewheelman]

MadDog1962 said:

I rode in one of these in 1991 in Australia (when it was only about 18 months old). It made a Suzuki SJ 410 feel like a Rolls-Royce. I have never in my life been in a car with a less refined driveline. The gears all wailed like banshees. I would leave it well alone. If it was 100 quid with a few months MoT then I guess you could use it as a paddock basher and then toss it, but at this price it's simply not worthy.

BAD Shed!! Must try harder.

I agree with you. Careful, as the trolls don't like it if you have your own opinion.

[soad]

kotafey said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZws_ckFGno

Has anyone watched this? Same hill, same day, different cars with different results. Seems relevant.

Cheers

K

I have now. A lot of sliding backwards

[drgoatboy]

kotafey said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZws_ckFGno

Has anyone watched this? Same hill, same day, different cars with different results. Seems relevant.

Cheers

K

But there wasn't a defender on that clip

I liked these and went to look at one as a first car.
After being promised it was in perfect condition I drove 45 minutes to see it only to find it had been put on its roof at some point and was exceedingly rusty.
I was actually still tempted but head ruled over heart on that occasion. (probably thankfully)

Still like they way they look though

[Kevin VRs]

kotafey said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZws_ckFGno

Has anyone watched this? Same hill, same day, different cars with different results. Seems relevant.

Cheers

K

Excellent example of how much difference tyres make. The Niva was on its standard size winter/off-road tyres, most of the failures had wider wheels and tyres, too wide for the conditions.

For what it is worth I have owned (and off-roaded) the following:

3 x Mk1 Range Rover (petrol)
CJ7
2003 Jeep Cherokee
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Toyota Hilux
Lada Niva 1.7i
(not including Octavia 4x4, Octavia Scout, Audi A6 quattro)

Plus driven off-road:
New Range Rover Sport
Defenders (20-30 different 88,90,110)
Bedford MK/MJ 4 tonne
Leyland Daf 4 tonne
Mk2 Range Rover
Scammell 6x6 25 tonne wrecker

Of the cars I owned the only one I kept for over a year is the Lada Niva. Never got stuck, went places the previous Hilux could only dream of. Solidly built (you should see the panel thickness) so cheap it did not matter if a few scrapes and dings occurred. Only mechanical issue is clutches are a bit short-lived.

Would I have one again for off-roading?

You bet, probably best value for money, I think you can get a new one for around £10-11K

[anonymous-user]

thewheelman said:

MadDog1962 said:

I rode in one of these in 1991 in Australia (when it was only about 18 months old). It made a Suzuki SJ 410 feel like a Rolls-Royce. I have never in my life been in a car with a less refined driveline. The gears all wailed like banshees. I would leave it well alone. If it was 100 quid with a few months MoT then I guess you could use it as a paddock basher and then toss it, but at this price it's simply not worthy.

BAD Shed!! Must try harder.

I agree with you. Careful, as the trolls don't like it if you have your own opinion.

Nobody has ever said the ride is carpet-like, the build quality is anything other than dodgy etc. The discussion is over their off-road capability, with various people giving reasoned examples of why they like/don't like them. I've had one in the family, for example, and then used it for work for many years and it never got stuck, in places LR's would not be taken.

You appear to be doing the equivalent of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvAKmTokEWA

ETA I run a year-old Hilux for work, drive it off-road every day. I would put money on the Niva to beat the Hilux on where it can/can't go.

[300bhp/ton]

thewheelman said:

Not my view, it's a fact. There were no mechanical faults, it was just unable to get places that the old defender would ease through. Land Rover have been making some of the worlds best off roaders for years, maybe compare the Niva to the Fiat Panda 4x4, it's in the same league, but both inferior to a Land Rover Defender. Argue all you like, but take a look how many countries use the Defender, & Land Cruisers, then see how many use the Lada. Just because you like them, doesn't mean they're great at what they do.

I asked you a technical question, not an opinion But as you failed to answer I think it shows more of the truth. Thanks.

BTW - don't think I'm anti LR, I've currently got 1 1/2 Land Rover's and have owned several. My Uncle has 5, 4 of which are 90's.

And as good as the Panda is (which is very good), it's a league apart in terms of real off road capability.

[thomablue]

SpeedEight said:

thewheelman said:

SpeedEight said:

It sold on eBay on the 2nd - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lada-Niva-Cossack-Spares...

Only 3 days old ad on here, maybe winning bidder changed his mind.

......or it was a box of turds.....

I was trying to be diplomatic

Or he's selling on quickly ?
Ebay was in Shrewsbury and Pistonhead sale is in Beds
looks like he's taxed and tested it though.

[Volvo360]

Mate of mine from rural North Wales now lives in Moscow. He's a serious hunter and goes out in the winter to the forests to hunt arctic hare and fox. Obviously, he needs a serious off-roader to do this. He has chosen to buy a brand new Niva instead of a second hand Land Cruiser/other Jap 4x4.

It goes everywhere, never fails.

Superb vehicle for the money.

[Denorth]

Remember those. There were many in SU (for those who doesn't know, it was Soviet Union ) They are still in production, but have been improved (as much as possible). There are plenty of them on the roads.
Those from the 80's and first half on 90s are strange. They are quite good off-road cars (not the best). possibly it is due to being lighter than many others. And one point - they don't have frame and normal engine that time was 1.6 petrol. Something like 76horsepower. not a strong point. at all. Their gearboxes were awefully noisy. Interior... well. ther was interior. nothing else. (but way better comparing to UAZ469 - other Russian off-roader).

I was very surprised when I saw one in the Falklands 3 years ago. We had an off-road fun (50 soemthing cars) and it went down in first 10 minutes. Have to say, it was in a poor condition.

Speaking of towing abilities: I had a breakdown in my Volvo 740 on a normal road and mate towed me for some time using his Niva with new 1.7 engine it struggled going up to the hills.

And please, don't forget a speacial feature - Killer-Spare-Wheel! it is lying down flat under the bonnet in front of a driver. Transfers any impact of the accident inside the cabin nicely

[thewheelman]

300bhp/ton said:

thewheelman said:

Not my view, it's a fact. There were no mechanical faults, it was just unable to get places that the old defender would ease through. Land Rover have been making some of the worlds best off roaders for years, maybe compare the Niva to the Fiat Panda 4x4, it's in the same league, but both inferior to a Land Rover Defender. Argue all you like, but take a look how many countries use the Defender, & Land Cruisers, then see how many use the Lada. Just because you like them, doesn't mean they're great at what they do.

I asked you a technical question, not an opinion But as you failed to answer I think it shows more of the truth. Thanks.

BTW - don't think I'm anti LR, I've currently got 1 1/2 Land Rover's and have owned several. My Uncle has 5, 4 of which are 90's.

And as good as the Panda is (which is very good), it's a league apart in terms of real off road capability.

I'd say the Panda is more of an even match for the Niva than you think. As for the technical answer, there wasn't a technical answer to give. The defender was/is just a superior off roader. Go around the world in hard to reach places & ask why they use LR & Toyota & not a Lada, when they finish laughing, they just tell you the Lada wouldn't cope anywhere near as well.

Also, how do own one & a half LRs?

[sootyrumble]

thewheelman said:

300bhp/ton said:

thewheelman said:

No, there was nothing wrong mechanically with it, & the driver knew what he was doing. The Lada was/is just the inferior car.

ok, if that's your view. But could you explain to me how the drive train differed and why it was less affective on a flat grass field?

Not my view, it's a fact. There were no mechanical faults, it was just unable to get places that the old defender would ease through. Land Rover have been making some of the worlds best off roaders for years, maybe compare the Niva to the Fiat Panda 4x4, it's in the same league, but both inferior to a Land Rover Defender. Argue all you like, but take a look how many countries use the Defender, & Land Cruisers, then see how many use the Lada. Just because you like them, doesn't mean they're great at what they do.

I think your being a bit LR are the best no matter what, the Niva is a fantastic 4x4 my dad had one at the same time as an LR (LR for hauling heavy loads) but the Niva aced it of road due to being so much lighter. How long you have been making something has little to do with their abilities next you will say the Bowler Wildcat is crap because its only been built for a couple of years (I know its based very very loosely on a Range Rover).
Out of them all i would love a Uni Mog :-D

[thewheelman]

sootyrumble said:

thewheelman said:

300bhp/ton said:

thewheelman said:

No, there was nothing wrong mechanically with it, & the driver knew what he was doing. The Lada was/is just the inferior car.

ok, if that's your view. But could you explain to me how the drive train differed and why it was less affective on a flat grass field?

Not my view, it's a fact. There were no mechanical faults, it was just unable to get places that the old defender would ease through. Land Rover have been making some of the worlds best off roaders for years, maybe compare the Niva to the Fiat Panda 4x4, it's in the same league, but both inferior to a Land Rover Defender. Argue all you like, but take a look how many countries use the Defender, & Land Cruisers, then see how many use the Lada. Just because you like them, doesn't mean they're great at what they do.

I think your being a bit LR are the best no matter what, the Niva is a fantastic 4x4 my dad had one at the same time as an LR (LR for hauling heavy loads) but the Niva aced it of road due to being so much lighter. How long you have been making something has little to do with their abilities next you will say the Bowler Wildcat is crap because its only been built for a couple of years (I know its based very very loosely on a Range Rover).
Out of them all i would love a Uni Mog :-D

Don't get me wrong the LR has its flaws, personally if i was after a tough 4x4, i'd probably go for an old Land Cruiser. My only experiences with the Defender & a Niva, were from off roading on private land many years ago. The Niva was a pig compared to the LR, it just didn't feel as good, & lacked torque for steep climbs. Now i'm off to see what the hell a Uni Mog is......