Unresponsive sellers...

"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2)
03/16/2018 at 21:23 • Filed to: Lada Niva

Are conspiring to block my attempts to buy an ultra-clean, low-miles Lada Niva from Spain. If I spoke Spanish I’d call the phone number... I do have a friend who speaks Spanish, maybe I can ask her to call on my behalf...

No response either to the ad reply button in autoscout24, or the dealer email address :/

If it weren’t the cleanest looking one around I would have given up already.

DISCUSSION (19)

Dogapult > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/16/2018 at 21:29

I’ve been there. It gets your feathers ruffled because there’s nothing you can do.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/16/2018 at 21:53

Do you really want a Lada?

kanadanmajava1 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/16/2018 at 22:05

I bought a car from Spain in the last year. I did need some help from Spanish friends to help to call the seller as I don’t understand anything more than some car parts in Spanish. After several calls I decided to go for it. I went there alone to pick up the car and luckily the seller (and his friend) did speak enough English that we could sort out everything.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
03/16/2018 at 22:08

Why not! :D

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
03/16/2018 at 22:25

What better mud-season beater?

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/16/2018 at 22:28

I feel like a stock Lada is not good ebough, LS swap or something.

Jonee > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/16/2018 at 22:47

I went through the same thing when I bought my Citroën in France. European sellers are dubious of non-European/local buyers.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/17/2018 at 06:05

As a former owner of both a Lada Niva and a Suzuki Sierra (you know them as Samurai) I can answer that question...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
03/17/2018 at 06:09

The Niva is one of those rare cars that can not be practically improved via an engine swap. Australians tried it with a Nissan V6 and the results were both spectacular and short lived. An LS in a Niva would be like putting a depleted uranium casing on an underpowered torpedo...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
03/17/2018 at 08:41

So, what’s the answer? Or is the mention of the Suzuki implication of superior mud-beaterdom? Part of my desire is to have a weird/unique mud beater, rather than just another old 4x4, the Niva satisfies that desire much better than a Samurai would.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/17/2018 at 18:34

No doubt that Niva beats Samurai in the oddness stakes. It also beats it in the comfort stakes too as Niva is an excellent distance tourer. That’s what made the thing so special especially to me.

But in terms of dealing with spring mud and difficult conditions in general... Samurai. Primarily because of lightness and simplicity. Plus the capacity to upgrade.

The Niva is all it can be, straight out of the box. Get too ambitious with drivelines punishment and the rubber donut between the gearbox and transfer case will let go. Modify it and something else will let go. Mine had taller springs and OME shocks in it and it required much welding repair over time to make it reliable. Vibrations over time also ended the seat bases and the window winders. They were annoying to repair. Twenty years later, in the present day, even more so...(I’d still take one on though!).

Samurai is sensible compared to Niva but still not an entirely sensible option. In your situation...that might be enough. Especially if you can find a soft top with 90s graphics!!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
03/17/2018 at 20:30

I could get a Samurai in the US, but they are commanding collector prices these days. ‘80s models are going for >$5000, and the only soft top for sale in the country at the moment is $7000. Also, comfort is a valid reason to go Niva, as I live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive at least 20 miles to get anywhere worth going. I may be able to buy a Samurai cheaper in Europe and import it, but if I’m gonna go through that trouble something we never got here is what I’m gonna go for. Also, I just really want a Niva ;)

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/18/2018 at 06:13

Ha! I support your madness because the Lada’s were cool cars but be careful what you wish for. If you fancy some JDM hilarity instead then hit up Flavien Vidal on here.

If it is any inspiration...I swapped my Niva and a Land Rover Series 3 cab chassis (with a 3 litre Rover engine) for a LR Series 3 Stage 1 utility with a 4.4 litre stroked V8. The Stage 1's were special because they had a Classic Range Rover constant 4x4 driveline. But the Series leaf springs, drum brakes and utter lack of power steering...!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
03/18/2018 at 10:39

Man, that Stage 1 must be entertaining :-) Drove an old V8 4x4 Chevy without power steering once, it was quite the workout. I had originally thought that I might replace the FieSTa with a new 4x4 truck and then pick up a Cappuccino (or maybe a Mira TrXX) from Flavian as my fun car, but the fact is our old truck (2003 Toyota Tacoma) needs replacement far sooner than the FiST, so that’s what should go away and become a new(er) truck while we hang onto the FieSTa as a fun/practical road trip car... That still leaves me with the need for a vehicle that can leave the driveway during mud season. Kei trucks are cute and fun and all, but a Niva is a far more practical all around vehicle for our needs, and I have no desire for something high-strung like a JDM Patrol turbo, or right-hand-drive-but-boring like a non-turbo Patrol, or a Toyota HiAce or CityAce. (yes JDM Toyota truck fanbois, I just called the HiAce boring. Because it is.) Which brings us back to my continuing rationalization stream for a Niva ;-) (I thought about Fiat Panda 4x4s too, but they are far too expensive, having reached collectable/cult status in recent years...)

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/18/2018 at 19:00

What about a Haflinger or Pinzgauer?

Then again they ain’t cheap....

The nearest thing I can think of in the US to a Lada is one of those AMC hatchback things...are they out of the question?

If you do get the Lada...make sure it has or you fit the skinny wheels and tyre combination you see in some images. Fat tyres and underpowered engine are not a good combination in mud, trust me!

I sold the Stage 1 after a couple of years when I realised that it would probably kill me...and bought a Defender 200TDi 110 panel Van. I sold that way back in 2002 and picked up what I have still - VW T4 Transporter 2.5 l TDI Syncro Double Cab chassis.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
03/18/2018 at 23:38

A good AMC Eagle 4x4 hatchback is hard to find these days, they’ve mostly succumbed to rust, or are expensive... I’ve never been much for military vehicles, except for the Volvo Sugga, which is even more expensive than a Pinzgauer or Haflinger. Also those two are both surprisingly common around here, I think there’s a Pinzgauer for sale right now on the local craigslist, (yup, less than 40 miles from me https://plattsburgh.craigslist.org/bfs/d/pinzgauer-718/6532671866.html ) and Haflingers are as small as a kei truck, and again, not half as uncommon around here as you would think...

I have read up on the tire width issue (supposed to be an issue with the steering on the Niva as well...)... the biggest problem I foresee is getting tires in that size in this country.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/19/2018 at 01:11

I just searched one of the big Oz sites for Niva’s. I got four. Three of which are very clean and all (@ AU$10,000 to 15,000) crack pipe!! By way of example...

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Lada-Niva-1985/SSE-AD-5098921/?Cr=2

Kinja'd!!!

But then there’s this...

Kinja'd!!!

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Lada-Niva-1993/SSE-AD-4759915/?Cr=3

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
03/19/2018 at 08:13

Oh man, that pickup (would you call it a ute?) is awesome! I haven’t seen a single one of those for sale in my searches of European sites... No, I did see one for sale in Russia, but it was like a 2007; too new, and also lacking those totally rad graphics ;-) I wonder how bad the rust at the base of the windshield is...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/19/2018 at 09:11

It’ll need a bit of welding but the big problem would be getting the windscreen out without breaking it. Same getting it back in. Typically anything with a screen older than 10 years is quoted for a replacement screen as they just get brittle. Same problem with my VW.

Niva’s rust the same way everytime...and they are built like 44 gallon drums. So welding is relatively straightforward...