RE: 400-mile Lada Niva for sale
Discussion
Had one in the 90s, very basic but endearing. The original ones had interior plastics like a margarine container, seats that would collapse without warning (mind, the Fiat ones from the 70s they were based on did the same). A wilfully erratic, undamped fuel gauge and paint that may as well be rollered on.
On road it was slow and had an unreal amount of play in the steering and Soviet meets Italian wiring. The original Soviet tyres were 'interesting' but once replaced with Michelin X M&S, it wasn't too bad. 5th gear meant you could tow a boat down the M4 without ear plugs. None of this fuel injection or diesel stuff - good old 1600 petrol by Ivan.
It was bought to go on a farm/stables and to tow & do agricultural stuff when the wife had horses. It excelled at this. It was absolutely excellent off road and in snow, numerous time I had to tow out my friend's Light weight L/R. Excellent full time 4x4 drive with lots of levers and mechanical links. Backed up with the most impressive toolkit I've seen - tyre pump anyone? Enough to probably field strip it.
regretted selling it - replaced by diesel Series III, wasn't a patch on the Niva and rusted even more efficiently. Good value for £2k, this price however is mad. Nostalgia and simplicity is one thing - financial lunacy another!
On road it was slow and had an unreal amount of play in the steering and Soviet meets Italian wiring. The original Soviet tyres were 'interesting' but once replaced with Michelin X M&S, it wasn't too bad. 5th gear meant you could tow a boat down the M4 without ear plugs. None of this fuel injection or diesel stuff - good old 1600 petrol by Ivan.
It was bought to go on a farm/stables and to tow & do agricultural stuff when the wife had horses. It excelled at this. It was absolutely excellent off road and in snow, numerous time I had to tow out my friend's Light weight L/R. Excellent full time 4x4 drive with lots of levers and mechanical links. Backed up with the most impressive toolkit I've seen - tyre pump anyone? Enough to probably field strip it.
regretted selling it - replaced by diesel Series III, wasn't a patch on the Niva and rusted even more efficiently. Good value for £2k, this price however is mad. Nostalgia and simplicity is one thing - financial lunacy another!
biggbn said:
V8 FOU said:
Mmm a lot of hate. As is usual for PH.
I sold one a couple of years ago and people were fighting over it.
These later ones are really good - jeez, it even has aircon!
They are brilliant to drive and about the best thing off road. As the saying goes, don't knock it until you've tried it.
These are seriously well respected, tough cars. I really like them.I sold one a couple of years ago and people were fighting over it.
These later ones are really good - jeez, it even has aircon!
They are brilliant to drive and about the best thing off road. As the saying goes, don't knock it until you've tried it.
Matt80M said:
I cannot imagine a single scenario where this is the vehicle I would choose to be in.
I canI got my Astra stuck during a rally and we walked up the road to the local farmer. He had the choice of his Landy or the Niva.
He chose the Niva because we were 'really stuck' and it was 'more capable'.
Pulled us out a treat.
Arrived late just in time for the prizes and I remember it was the real Stig (Blomqvist) handing them out.
Shame we were last.
Edited by Gary C on Thursday 11th August 03:41
These were s
t 30 years ago. It's done less than 400 miles because the owner has driven it and decided enough is enough.
'Rugged dependability' isn't the phrase I'd use for their exceptionally variable build quality. Sure, some were reliable, but a lot weren't.
At £25k this is just hilarious. No.
t 30 years ago. It's done less than 400 miles because the owner has driven it and decided enough is enough. 'Rugged dependability' isn't the phrase I'd use for their exceptionally variable build quality. Sure, some were reliable, but a lot weren't.
At £25k this is just hilarious. No.
Nothing remotely cool about anything with Russian association at the moment...
To each their own, but I can't see any reason why anyone would spend £25k on this. Either you want a proper 4x4 e.g LR or Landcruiser or whatever, a luxury one like a 4.4tdi Range Rover, or a dinky one like a Dacia or Jimmny.
This is expensive, dangerous and not very good, except for perhaps driving across tundra which is unlikely in Surrey.
To each their own, but I can't see any reason why anyone would spend £25k on this. Either you want a proper 4x4 e.g LR or Landcruiser or whatever, a luxury one like a 4.4tdi Range Rover, or a dinky one like a Dacia or Jimmny.
This is expensive, dangerous and not very good, except for perhaps driving across tundra which is unlikely in Surrey.
Robertb said:
To each their own, but I can't see any reason why anyone would spend £25k on this. Either you want a proper 4x4 e.g LR or Landcruiser or whatever, a luxury one like a 4.4tdi Range Rover, or a dinky one like a Dacia or Jimmny.
Or if you planned on using it mainly off road and utility was the main concern, a Polaris Ranger Crew would be a far more useful tool than this.Warren Obhead said:
An old mate picked one up around 15 years ago for £400 quid.
It was stuck in reverse, but it didnt stop us taking it to some local muddy bits and showing up some landies. As they're struggling to get up the a hill we piss up it backwards.
Brilliant little thing until it set on fire.
"Brilliant little thing until it set on fire" made me spit my drink out It was stuck in reverse, but it didnt stop us taking it to some local muddy bits and showing up some landies. As they're struggling to get up the a hill we piss up it backwards.
Brilliant little thing until it set on fire.
. Imagine paying for that, then driving it out of the dealership and going "Oh fk, what have I done, I have spunked 25 large on a turdy old budget Russian off roader"
Buying this is like ordering a Green Tea and wishing you had got a normal one, or a Coffee, manfully swig it down and pretend its delicious, drive round trying to convince yourself this is great fun, then quietly get rid and take what would be a pretty heroic loss if you paid anywhere near asking price.
A mate bought one new, remember having a lift in it, was pretty noisy and bouncy, he didn't keep it long. Ok a certain rugged look, its very shiny and not many about but 25 grand ? Can get an M4, a really nice Land Rover (also hard work in the main, but will at least retain most of the money invested), a lovely Cayman, any number of hot hatches etc etc.
What next, a Mahindra Jeep for 30 grand ? the last Proton for 40 ?
k, what have I done, I have spunked 25 large on a turdy old budget Russian off roader" Buying this is like ordering a Green Tea and wishing you had got a normal one, or a Coffee, manfully swig it down and pretend its delicious, drive round trying to convince yourself this is great fun, then quietly get rid and take what would be a pretty heroic loss if you paid anywhere near asking price.
A mate bought one new, remember having a lift in it, was pretty noisy and bouncy, he didn't keep it long. Ok a certain rugged look, its very shiny and not many about but 25 grand ? Can get an M4, a really nice Land Rover (also hard work in the main, but will at least retain most of the money invested), a lovely Cayman, any number of hot hatches etc etc.
What next, a Mahindra Jeep for 30 grand ? the last Proton for 40 ?
These start at under the equivalent of 11k in Russia and that price has close to doubled over the last few years. Despite being in production for decades, it has undergone virtually no product development, even to bother fixing basic faults. The 1.7 litre engine has probably one of the worst power outputs per litre of any car currently in production. The cooling system is inadequate but the electrical system is worse. The build quality is unpredictable at best and most cars more than 5 years old are already displaying significant rust. The interior is basic but even that doesn't stop the proliferation of poorly fitting parts. The reason they go on for years is that parts are relatively cheap and people can fix them at home, not because they are reliable or well built. So why are they still built you may wonder? Because in Russia and other former Soviet countries, the roads are so bad that you need high ground clearance, 4-wheel drive with low range gears and something cheap that you don't mind damaging. No other car offers these qualities so that is why the Niva survives, despite its obvious flaws.
If I was in the market for something like this (I'm not), I'd buy this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
Matt80M said:
If I was in the market for something like this (I'm not), I'd buy this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
I love the Panda 4x4 in all its iterations, but surely an original panda 4x4 would be the Niva competitor? I think a lot of the posts are being hugely unfair and display a fair bit of ignorance by the way; not yours I hasten to add. These were not 'terrible when new', they were well respected, had a great reputation for toughness and ability and were quite advanced for their time, unibody,independent suspension, civilised on road in comparison to similarly capable contemporary 4x4s. Yes, it's old, wheezy and overpriced now, but these were proper kit in their dayhttps://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
biggbn said:
Matt80M said:
If I was in the market for something like this (I'm not), I'd buy this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
I love the Panda 4x4 in all its iterations, but surely an original panda 4x4 would be the Niva competitor? I think a lot of the posts are being hugely unfair and display a fair bit of ignorance by the way; not yours I hasten to add. These were not 'terrible when new', they were well respected, had a great reputation for toughness and ability and were quite advanced for their time, unibody,independent suspension, civilised on road in comparison to similarly capable contemporary 4x4s. Yes, it's old, wheezy and overpriced now, but these were proper kit in their dayhttps://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/fia...
Matt80M said:
biggbn said:
Matt80M said:
If I was in the market for something like this (I'm not), I'd buy this...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
I love the Panda 4x4 in all its iterations, but surely an original panda 4x4 would be the Niva competitor? I think a lot of the posts are being hugely unfair and display a fair bit of ignorance by the way; not yours I hasten to add. These were not 'terrible when new', they were well respected, had a great reputation for toughness and ability and were quite advanced for their time, unibody,independent suspension, civilised on road in comparison to similarly capable contemporary 4x4s. Yes, it's old, wheezy and overpriced now, but these were proper kit in their dayhttps://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13335943
...leaving £13,650 for coke and hookers.
https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/fia...
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