Lõbusat lugemist, ehk britid Nivast

[Landy]

Buying Used – Lada Niva

If speed and refinement are important considerations for you when buying a car, then our advice is to stop reading now! If however, you appreciate value for money, off-road ability and individuality, then we reckon that we may just have the perfect car for you.
Publication Date: 14 June 2002 Page 1/4
Author: Will Shiers


Eastern European cars have always been a bit of a joke in Blighty, and for good reason too. Let's face it, the Skoda Estelle was as attractive as a bulldog licking piss off a nettle, the Lada Riva was only slightly more appealing than contracting an STD and most people would prefer to watch every episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine' back to back than do a two minute stint behind the wheel of an FSO! As for sex appeal, forget about it. Take to the streets in one of the above and members of the opposite sex are likely to fall about laughing. The only good thing to be said about these eastern block jalopies is that the majority have disappeared from our roads, either scrapped, banger raced or sent back to Russia in disgrace - and good riddance too.
There is however one exception to the rule - the Lada Niva. While the badge on the front ensured that it was tarred with the same brush, those who have owned them know better. While this robust little Russian has its faults, these are more than outweighed by its merits. For this reason the car has developed something of a cult following, with numerous owners' clubs devoted to keeping them on the road. It's the same story on the Internet too, could this be the only Russian with more web space than Anna Kournikova?


WHAT WAS ON OFFER?

Unlike many of the fashion accessory SUVs of recent times, the Niva isn't a thing of beauty. Like the Land Rover, Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes G-Wagen, it was built for military use, so an attractive exterior was pretty low on the designer's agenda. A quarter of a century after its conception, the Niva, to put it bluntly, is just plain ugly. Even the Cossack version, which looks slightly more 'lifestyle', will fail to impress your friends at the golf course.

Although most are 3 door estates, various other body styles exist. Niva pickups are commonplace on the home market, and Lada attempted to find UK buyers for its cabriolet version in the 1980s. All use a monocoque body construction.

The Niva's utilitarian heritage shines through when you open the door; the interior really is a sadomasochist's dream! The vinyl seats, plastic window winders, and rubber floor mats represent everything that was bad about the 1970s. To give you some idea of how torturous these cars are, just listen to this list of luxury items that a mid '80s sales brochure draws your attention to: "Reclining front seats, glove compartment, heated rear window and rear luggage area." The same brochure then goes on to quote none other than the Hartlepool Mail, whose motoring correspondent says: "The Lada does however have some features which are not offered as standard on many western cars, which should be." We assume they're referring to the laminated windscreen, headlamp wash/wipe and courtesy light under the bonnet. Things improved ever so slightly towards the end of the vehicle's life, with top trim models from the mid '90s getting velour trim and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

While the interior harps back to the dark ages, the mechanical set-up was surprisingly modern. Okay, so we’re not talking ignition management systems, hill descent control or any other computerised gizmos, but independent front suspension and all-round coil springs are features that some manufacturers have only recently introduced. It used a full time 4-wheel drive system with a low range selection. The original 1.6 litre, 85bhp petrol engine was a little basic, and rather underpowered too. Later a 1690cc fuel injected lump would join the line-up, adding a little top end performance.

HOW DID IT EVOLVE?
The first notable changes occurred in 1988, by way of a new interior for the top trim Cossack models. Don't get too excited though, we aren't talking air con or electric windows. Five years later it was time for another small makeover. This time Cossacks received flared wheel arches and the drivers of all models were treated to better wind, road and engine sound insulation. In 1997 the much-needed 1.7i came to the UK. Cossacks got a few more goodies, namely alloy wheels and central locking; and the basic model picked up the 'Hussar' nametag. Small exterior modifications included a one-piece tailgate that now opened to bumper level.

In 1998, Lada withdrew from the UK market. Most of the final Nivas were registered on 'P' plates, but roughly 40 vehicles got the 'R' prefix. There are a few reasons why the company decided to pull the plug on its UK operation, the first one being reliability problems. In 1992, in order to meet more stringent emission controls, the company fitted a new type of carburettor to its vehicles. Unfortunately it wasn't set properly, and caused the engine to stall. Lada dealers didn't know the correct setting and it would take 3 years before the problem was finally ironed out. In this time a lot of damage was done to the marque's reputation and a number of previously loyal customers looked elsewhere for their next car.

Another significant reason for dwindling UK sales was the demise of the 'Lada Trap'. This is the term used to describe the way in which Lada dealers offered more for a part exchange than any other car company. For instance, while a Lada dealer would give something in the region of Ŗ1,000 for a 4 year old Riva, the Ford garage next door wouldn't give anything more than Ŗ300. Consequently the owner was trapped, financially blackmailed into purchasing another Lada. Now cast your mind back to the mid 1990s when people were making a lot of money out of shipping Ladas back to Russia. All of a sudden clapped-out old heaps were worth big money and the Ford dealer was able to offer the same price as the Lada dealer. The result was that long-time Lada owners were able to buy Fiestas and Escorts instead.

The final nail in the coffin was reputed to be a dispute between the factory and the UK importers.

Although Lada's disappeared from Britain's roads, don't let this fool you into thinking that the marque has disappeared altogether. European and domestic sales remain healthy, and a Lada rolls off the Russian production line every 21 seconds. The Niva is still going strong too, and although there's a new model out, the old one still continues to sell. Askew Rigg of Penrith imports brand new left hookers into the UK at the bargain price of Ŗ5,500. There is even a Peugeot diesel option, but at Ŗ9,500, British sales are unlikely to amount to much. The fact that the car continues to be built after more than 25 years speaks volumes for the strengths of the original design.

LIVING WITH A NIVA
The Lada Niva is to cars what the Sinclair ZX Spectrum is to computers! In other words, twenty years ago it was okay, and now it's bordering on being a museum piece. This is most strikingly clear with the interior, which has a distinct lack of creature comforts. Cheap vinyl seats and manual window winders are features that should have disappeared with the ark. The interior isn't particularly comfortable either, and we aren't just talking about scalding yourself on the vinyl in hot weather. The seats lack support, and trying to find your ideal driving position is difficult due to a lack of movement. The owner of the car we photographed has actually raised the seat to give a reasonably comfortable position.

One good point we have to mention is the superb heating system. You should never be cold in a Lada, and the Niva is no exception. It's built to cope with Siberia's sub-zero temperatures, and easily copes with our comparatively mild winter. It's a practical vehicle too, with a good sized rear cargo area. The low tailgate lip on later cars makes loading and unloading a doddle. Internal stowage could do with being better, as there really aren't many places for oddment stowage. Having said that, one place that does have a lot of space is the under-bonnet area. There's enough room to fit another engine under here, or at least a bigger one anyway? Instead, they chose to use the extra space to store the spare tyre.

The 1.6 litre lump is a bit on the under-powered side. It crawls up to 60 mph in 20 seconds and continues to a top speed of just 82mph. The fuel injected 1.7 litre engine is a little better, but even that only manages 86mph and shaves just 2 seconds off the 0-60mph time. As you may expect, neither are particularly good at towing, running out of puff on even the slightest incline. However, on the positive side, both will give fuel consumption somewhere in the low 30s.

Another drawback to Niva ownership is the noise. The car was designed in the 70's and although improvements have been made over the years, wind, road and engine noise make long journeys tiresome.

The gearbox is a bit on the clumsy side. Although it doesn't take long to master the change, your first stint behind the wheel will be very much hit and miss. The clutch and steering are both on the heavy side, and attempting a 3-point turn will leave you with bulging biceps to rival Popeye's.

Back in the 1970s the Niva's on-road ride was surprisingly good, putting many of its rivals to shame. However, as time went on the competition improved and the Niva stayed the same. In other words, now it's beginning to show its age. The best way to describe the car's ride characteristics is 'harsh'.


OFF ROAD

So far we haven't been particularly kind to the Niva, but then we haven't told you about its off-road ability.

Imagine two sportscars parked next to each other, one costs Ŗ500 and the other costs Ŗ50,000 - no prizes for guessing which one travels the fastest. It's the same story with luxury saloons, it goes without saying that you'll get a lot less creature comforts in a Ŗ500 car than you will in one that costs one hundred times as much. Strangely the same rule does not necessarily apply to the off-road market sector. It seems that a car's market value has very little to do with its actual off-road ability - the Niva being a prime example. Despite being about the cheapest off-roader that money can buy, it's arguably the best it can buy too. This car will run rings around both the Mercedes M-Class and BMW X5, in fact, Range Rover drivers aren't safe either. Many a Niva driver has gained immense satisfaction from pulling one of Solihull's finest out of the mud.

The secret behind the car's off-road success is quite simply the fact that it was built to cope with Russian roads. Add into the equation short over-hangs, a high/low transfer case and a diff lock and you have unbeatable 'mud-plugging' abilities. It has an impressive ground clearance of 9.25", it will wade through 20" of water and can tackle 1 in 1.6 gradients. To put it simply, if Russia ever puts a man on the moon, you know fully well he'll be driving a Niva-based moon-buggy. Incidentally, the car's suspension is about as perfect as you can get, so don't try changing it. According to Alan from Lada specialists Lada UK Ltd, one sure way to ruin a Niva's off-road ability is to lift the suspension.

WHAT GOES WRONG?

While we have criticised the car for its basic functionality, this simplicity of design is in actual fact one of the Niva's best features. Unlike with many of its modern rivals, just about any amateur mechanic can work on it, without the need of a degree in computing. Having said that, the Niva is an incredibly reliable machine, so unless you are very unlucky you won't be washing grease off your hands too often. To increase your chances of buying a good one, check out the following potential problem areas.

Firstly, the engines are nothing short of brilliant. Okay, so they may be a bit underpowered, but this is more than made up for by their reliability. Although we would advise you to check for blue smoke on start-up (an indication of damaged rings), this is unusual. Make all the other usual under-bonnet checks too, looking for bulging hoses, oil leaks and water in the oil.

Transmissions are normally very solid, but there is a simple test you can carry out to ensure that you aren't buying somebody else's problems. If you can hear a suspicious rumbling noise that stops when you depress the clutch, then you know the gearbox is on the way out. Having said that, a replacement box won't actually break the bank. Lada UK Ltd sells new units for Ŗ375 while used replacements are just Ŗ120. Alan estimates that they take three to four hours to fit. The transfer box and diff are normally both bullet-proof. In 16 years of dealing with Ladas, Alan has sold just two transfer boxes and one diff, both to cars that he didn't know the history of. It's the same story with the suspension. Despite seeing some badly abused Niva's, Alan has never actually seen a broken spring.

Front wheel bearings can be problematic, often requiring replacement at 20,000 - 40,000 miles. If and when you have them replaced, make sure that the repairer doesn't over-tighten them. Non-Lada experts tend to put them on too tightly, resulting in failure in less than 1,000 miles. Off-road abuse can cause front discs to warp, so you will want to feel for telltale vibrations through the brake pedal and steering wheel. Front brake calibers are prone to sticking, quite simply because they are too big and strong. Finally, watch out for the ball-joint rubbers, they tend to perish with age.

Moving inside, this is where the problems start. Like we have already said, the interior is shoddily made, and automotive leprosy is commonplace. Bits of trim, window winders and the end of the cigar lighter are likely to drop off in your hands. The seats break all too easily. Lean back in the driver's seat and see if it twists to one side; we bet it does! The cars' electrics are pretty dire too, suffering from bad earthing. We only hope Russia's nuclear arsenal doesn't use Lada's wiring!

Rust can be a headache, in fact make that a migraine! Particular problem areas are around the wheel arches, sills, under any plastic trim, behind headlights, in the spare tyre well and around the sunroof (where fitted). Crawl under the car too, ideally armed with a prodding implement and a magnet. Although a few parts are becoming difficult to source (such as door mirrors), the majority are still easy to obtain through owners' clubs, specialist suppliers and scrap yards. Don't forget to try your local dealer too. Although new Ladas haven't been available for a few years now, Britain still has 101 main dealers.


THE COMPETITON

SUZUKI SJ

This must surely be the Niva's most serious rival, combining superb off-road ability with low running costs and rock-bottom asking prices. Available as both hard and soft tops, these Japs are a lot of fun to drive in the mud, but not a lot of fun out of it. Prices start at a few hundred quid and you'll only pay a couple of grand for a nicely modified off-roader. Parts are readily accessible and there are countless owners' clubs waiting to give any advice you should need. The Niva is a more proficient all-rounder but the SJ has the better image.


DAIHATSU FOURTRAK

This is an altogether better machine than both the Lada and Suzuki, but it's reflected in the price. Whereas a decent Niva won't set you back more than Ŗ1,500, a similarly aged Daihatsu will fetch four times that price.

It offers a choice of two supremely reliable diesel engines and although utilitarian, offers levels of comfort that Niva owners can only dream about. If you have Ŗ5k burning a hole in your pocket this would make a great little off-roader, if not, stick with the Niva.


LAND ROVER SERIES III

Another excellent off-roader, but like the Fourtrack, it's a bit on the pricey side. Its ability to tackle anything Mother Nature can put in its path makes the Land Rover the preferred choice of farmers the length and breadth of Britain, and this demand is reflected in the price. You can pick up a late 70s example for a 'grand', but you can expect some pricey garage bills. Watch out for structural rot too. An excellent all-rounder, but doesn't offer the same superb value for money as the Lada.


DACIA DUSTER

I wouldn't touch this with yours! This heap is perhaps the worst 4x4 ever to grace our roads. Romania sent us these terrible machines for 12 years, the last ones landing on these shores in the mid 90s. They were appalling on the tarmac and even worse off it. The puny 1.4 litre petrol and 1.6 litre diesel engines are better suited to lawn mowers and hair dryers. Not even in the same league as the Niva so please don't be tempted by the price, however cheap.


ASIA ROCSTA

This Jeep Wrangler imitation is a very poor copy, with cheap build quality, lacklustre performance and terrible on-road ability. In fact, the Niva feels like a sportscar compared with this monster. However, rather like the Lada, the Asia is a surprisingly able machine in the mud and is more than capable of making Land Rover owners blush. It's more fun than the Niva, but not as comfortable or as reliable. Only worth considering as a second or maybe even third car!


MAHINDRA

Slow, badly put together, embarrassingly bad on-road but not too bad off it. This Indian-built Jeep look-alike is only worth considering if it's very, very cheap.


VERDICT

Yes, we're all guilty of laughing at Lada jokes, but having read this, maybe a few people will be laughing on the other sides of their faces. We're talking about the people who spend tens of thousands of pounds to buy something for a bit of occasional off-road fun. How do these people feel knowing that for a fraction of that price they could have bought something much better?

The 'P' registered car pictured here was purchased two months ago for just Ŗ1,500. It had 22,000 genuine miles on the clock and had never ventured off-road before. Its new owner plans to have some serious mud-plugging fun this summer. If you plan to follow his lead, you'd better start searching now. Nivas are few and far between and you may struggle to find one. The situation is likely to get worse too as more and more people discover one of the industry's best-kept secrets.


PRICES

The following Nivas have all been advertised in recent months:

1996(P) Lada Niva Ŗ2,100


1996(P) Lada Niva Hussar Ŗ1,995


1995(M) Lada Niva Cossack Ŗ1,695


1994(L) Lada Niva Cossack Ŗ675


1994(L) Lada Niva Cossack Ŗ550



THANKS

Many thanks to Alan from Lada UK Ltd

Not only does Alan sell cars and parts but his website discussions page is a must for any Lada owners.

www.lada.co.uk

email: alan@lada.co.uk

Tel: 01768 779794