Any one here owned a Lada Niva?

[s_zigmond]

For some strange reason I have become slightly obsessed with the idea of owning one.

So has anyone had one and what were your thoughts?

 

[legrandefromage]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-LADA-NIVA-RH ... 500wt_1156

 

[biggs682]

i served my apprenticeship repairing Ladas , the niva was a good little tool , just keep the timing chain tensioned and tappets adjusted , easy to work on and should be well cheap by now

 

[gibbleking]

i owned a riva once...got condemmed after they found a crack that went 3 qurters of the way round the middle big enough to stik ya fist in ...explained the odd noises i heard..very comfey car....just a rusty crap heap death trap to drive...

 

[m-trax]

The parents had one when I was growing up (F reg), quite a capable 4x4 for the size if you plan on off-roading.

Commuting I would say no, it is very rough n ready and isn't exactly speedy.

 

[MCsanandreas]

friend of mine had a lada.not the Niva one of the older Fiat based ones. it would not die and belive me we tried hard to kill it.
but as a basic runaround theres not much wrong with 'em.

 

[gibbleking]

my brakes cost 25 quid fr and rr total...i thought he was joking at first...exhaust was held on with 6mm stranded earth cable...benefit of being a sparkie ...car sounded like a spitfire only a lot slower...

 

[stedlocks]

I didn't think anyone would admit to owning one of them :0)

 

[gibbleking]

i also rode a ukranian moterbike...they have a personality all of their own....

 

[Ivo]

You could allways ask the Lotus guys to give it a thorough work-over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWSvvxZUDHY