written by Doug Smoke on 19/08/2004
Good Points
Tough, Cheap, Beats LandRovers
Bad Points
Russian Electrics, If it loses oil pressure, you need a new engine - Only £50 though!
General Comments
I love this Lada Niva 4x4. I cooked my first engine on the way home from picking it up, bought another for £50 sterling, beats my dads Landrover 3.5 V8 in a straight tug of war in a plowed field. Mind you, I was wearing goodyear Wranglers, & he had the wheels & tyres off a disco. Traction beats power.
Gearbox slow, but solid. Low ratio is like tractor. Claims to have a fith gear, but I can't find it. Buy one for next to nothing, take it to off road hill climbs, & laugh at folks in TD5 defenders.