Advice wanted.Lada v Landrover

Hi all.
Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.
What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
Will cover 10km daily
Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
Spares avalibility
Off road playing.
Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't expect
a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
Just wondered how the Lada compared.

nigel.cooper wrote:

> Hi all.
> Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and
> budget restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or
> err..Lada Niva. What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
> Will cover 10km daily
> Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
> Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
> Spares avalibility
> Off road playing.
> Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't
> expect a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
> Just wondered how the Lada compared.

The Lada will be a bit (or lot) more car like in terms of confort than
a Series Landy - and they are surprisingly capable off-road. Spares
are becoming harder to get though now they are no longer imported.

A Series Land-Rover will be a lot more rugged, a little thirstier on
fuel (but not much in it) - a little less well mannered on the road.

Drive them both if you can before you decide. Personally I'd go for
the Landy every time, but what suits me might not suit you!

--
Simes

Russians always build there stuff to a wide tolerance to cope with the harsh
conditions they have. Lada may have weird reputation but they run perfectly
well in Russia in sh.t conditions so must have something going for them.
Just like Russian weapons, designed with only the important bits having care
in them; eg AK 47/ 74 etc, rattle like hell but shoot forever in whatever
you put them including under mud for a year or so . Pick em up , kick the
bolt open and off you go. Now an SA 80 , ........ no wonder no one else uses
them out of choice.

Watch for the spares problem !!


"nigel.cooper" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all.
> Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
> restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.
> What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
> Will cover 10km daily
> Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
> Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
> Spares avalibility
> Off road playing.
> Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't
expect
> a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
> Just wondered how the Lada compared.
>
>

I'd go with that - Ladas are pretty rugged - it'll take hard work, and so
will the Landy. You didn't say what your budget was though.

Have you thought of buying at auction? www.brightwells.com have loads of
4x4s at very good prices, particularly Discovery. I saw some 3dr 200Tdi
Discos go there for under £2k last week that were in tidy condition with
100k miles or so. They tow 3.5t and are solidly built.

There are some UK Eastern European car groups that could help you out with
spares - I'll try and get details from my mate Adam.

Tim Adlam

In article <[email protected]>, nigel.cooper wrote:
> Hi all.
> Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
> restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.
> What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
> Will cover 10km daily
> Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
> Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
> Spares avalibility
> Off road playing.
> Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't expect
> a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
> Just wondered how the Lada compared.
>
>

I ran a Niva for three years before getting my 110 in November last year.

If you go for one get the later 1.7 injection engine which is much more
refined than the carbed 1.6. Check out www.lada.co.uk for loads of helpfull
advice from fellow Niva owners (if the site is still up). It is run by
a guy called Alan Bird who imports and sells Lada spares, he is also very
helpfull with advice by 'phone.

If Alan is still selling spares and I've no reason to suspect he isn't, then
don't believe anyone who tells you spares are hard to come by. I managed
to get everything I needed easily and cheaply. Don't know if they still do
but Scorpion racing used to sell Niva spares too, but they didn't do the
importing but bought them from someone else, if you get my drift.

Good fun car which introduced me to laning and off roading. I loved it to
bits but I wouldn't swap the 110 for another Niva.


--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

On Sun, 01 Aug 2004 15:08:50 GMT, "nigel.cooper"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
>restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.

Fiat Panda 4x4 - I'd not like to have to challenge one of these off
road - and I have some serious off road vehicles. On road it gives
comfort, if you have no kids, luggage or long legs

Martyn

--
I love deadlines, especially the WHOOSHING noise
they make as they pass. Douglas Adams 1952-2001

Martyn's big little website http://www.101fc.net

"Mother" <"@ {mother} @"@101fc.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
snip
>
> Fiat Panda 4x4 - I'd not like to have to challenge one of these off
> road - and I have some serious off road vehicles. On road it gives
> comfort, if you have no kids, luggage or long legs
>
> Martyn
>
> --
> I love deadlines, especially the WHOOSHING noise
> they make as they pass. Douglas Adams 1952-2001
>
> Martyn's big little website http://www.101fc.net
Could be a option if I ever see one for sale, though I am 6ft tall and may
have a bulky pay load.
Thought about a Sportrack, but apparently it can't make up it's mind wether
to be a offroader or a roadcar.Other option might be to throw a lot of money
at LFO (S2A,V8,big tyres ect...), just don't have time buget or space at the
moment.

nigel.cooper wrote:

> Hi all.
> Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and
> budget restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or
> err..Lada Niva. What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
> Will cover 10km daily
> Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
> Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
> Spares avalibility
> Off road playing.
> Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't
> expect a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
> Just wondered how the Lada compared.

The Lada will be a bit (or lot) more car like in terms of confort than
a Series Landy - and they are surprisingly capable off-road. Spares
are becoming harder to get though now they are no longer imported.

A Series Land-Rover will be a lot more rugged, a little thirstier on
fuel (but not much in it) - a little less well mannered on the road.

Drive them both if you can before you decide. Personally I'd go for
the Landy every time, but what suits me might not suit you!

--
Simes

Russians always build there stuff to a wide tolerance to cope with the harsh
conditions they have. Lada may have weird reputation but they run perfectly
well in Russia in sh.t conditions so must have something going for them.
Just like Russian weapons, designed with only the important bits having care
in them; eg AK 47/ 74 etc, rattle like hell but shoot forever in whatever
you put them including under mud for a year or so . Pick em up , kick the
bolt open and off you go. Now an SA 80 , ........ no wonder no one else uses
them out of choice.

Watch for the spares problem !!


"nigel.cooper" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all.
> Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
> restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.
> What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
> Will cover 10km daily
> Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
> Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
> Spares avalibility
> Off road playing.
> Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't
expect
> a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
> Just wondered how the Lada compared.
>
>

I'd go with that - Ladas are pretty rugged - it'll take hard work, and so
will the Landy. You didn't say what your budget was though.

Have you thought of buying at auction? www.brightwells.com have loads of
4x4s at very good prices, particularly Discovery. I saw some 3dr 200Tdi
Discos go there for under £2k last week that were in tidy condition with
100k miles or so. They tow 3.5t and are solidly built.

There are some UK Eastern European car groups that could help you out with
spares - I'll try and get details from my mate Adam.

Tim Adlam

In article <[email protected]>, nigel.cooper wrote:
> Hi all.
> Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
> restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.
> What I need at the moment is a vehicel that -
> Will cover 10km daily
> Will cover 150 - 200 km twice weekly, 10-50km in offroad conditions.
> Carry bulky (not heavy) loads.
> Spares avalibility
> Off road playing.
> Have had landies in the past and thought they were great,I just don't expect
> a "good un" given the budget I'm on at the moment.
> Just wondered how the Lada compared.
>
>

I ran a Niva for three years before getting my 110 in November last year.

If you go for one get the later 1.7 injection engine which is much more
refined than the carbed 1.6. Check out www.lada.co.uk for loads of helpfull
advice from fellow Niva owners (if the site is still up). It is run by
a guy called Alan Bird who imports and sells Lada spares, he is also very
helpfull with advice by 'phone.

If Alan is still selling spares and I've no reason to suspect he isn't, then
don't believe anyone who tells you spares are hard to come by. I managed
to get everything I needed easily and cheaply. Don't know if they still do
but Scorpion racing used to sell Niva spares too, but they didn't do the
importing but bought them from someone else, if you get my drift.

Good fun car which introduced me to laning and off roading. I loved it to
bits but I wouldn't swap the 110 for another Niva.


--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

On Sun, 01 Aug 2004 15:08:50 GMT, "nigel.cooper"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Looking for a "new" car, current needs are for a 4x4 utility and budget
>restraints give me the choice of a SWB S2/3 Landrover or err..Lada Niva.

Fiat Panda 4x4 - I'd not like to have to challenge one of these off
road - and I have some serious off road vehicles. On road it gives
comfort, if you have no kids, luggage or long legs

Martyn

--
I love deadlines, especially the WHOOSHING noise
they make as they pass. Douglas Adams 1952-2001

Martyn's big little website http://www.101fc.net

"Mother" <"@ {mother} @"@101fc.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
snip
>
> Fiat Panda 4x4 - I'd not like to have to challenge one of these off
> road - and I have some serious off road vehicles. On road it gives
> comfort, if you have no kids, luggage or long legs
>
> Martyn
>
> --
> I love deadlines, especially the WHOOSHING noise
> they make as they pass. Douglas Adams 1952-2001
>
> Martyn's big little website http://www.101fc.net
Could be a option if I ever see one for sale, though I am 6ft tall and may
have a bulky pay load.
Thought about a Sportrack, but apparently it can't make up it's mind wether
to be a offroader or a roadcar.Other option might be to throw a lot of money
at LFO (S2A,V8,big tyres ect...), just don't have time buget or space at the
moment.