Conference terri::cars_uk

    Surely they are fine cars for towing ?
    
    How does the new 1500 estate fare with its 5 speed box ?
    At least Ladas have been environmentally friendly (ie. run on unleaded)
    for longer than most other makes.
    
    Do they make a good second hand buy ? Surely depreciation is so
    quick over the first 2 years that they must become cheap buys, with
    low mileage clocked up .
    
    Timbo

    
    I went with a mate to look at cars (for him and his goody goody
    teacher-you know the type wife) and we happened upon a Lada
    garage.....the salesman even said, "look mate, don't even think about a
    second hand one of these things, we only take them back because we have
    to keep up appearances, most of them go to the market".
    
    Still, could be worse - might be a Yugo...............! 

The Lada Niva on the other hand is quite a good vehicle ... a civilian version
of a Soviet military vehicle ("Jeepski" :-) it is ruggedly built, reliable,
and offers better ground clearance than its Japanese price competitors (Suzuki
Samurai SJ413) ...

I wouldn't mind owning one - though perhaps as a second car.

/. Ian .\

 	I drove a Lada 4wd, can't remember the exact model, when I was in
	the North Sahara. The company had a variety of vehicles, including a
	Range Rover, the camp bosses !, Chevrolet crew wagons , Puegot pick
	-ups and the Lada's.

	Apart from the Range Rover, the Lada's seemed to be the most reliable,
	the Chevvies suffering a lot from burnt out clutches for some reason.

	Gordon

    I too like jokes of LadaSkodaYugoVolgaetc.
    
    BUT: Remember that when a tavaritsh in Russia buys a new Lada he must
    wait for its delivery for 15-20 years and pays his ten-year-salary for
    it. Lada is no joke to him.
    
    - Jyri -

    It's also worth remembering that BMWs are Germany's Skodas.....
    
    

    
    Funny, I thought Skoda = Porsche...
    
    Mark

    No....
    
    
    
    
    
    
    ..............that's only the Coupe !!

 I thought that skoda was Volkswagen, or haven't VW bought it yet ?

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Yes, VW have bought Skoda...because the Favorit is such a good car for
    the money!...Like the SEAT Ibiza....and....WARTBURG!
    
    

    
    	How do you make a Skoda look good?
    
    
    				Park it in the Lada importers carpark.
    
    
    				Malcolm.

    
    What?
    
    Mark

    Has anyone ever seen a high-mileage Lada Riva?
    If so, how many miles had it done on the original engine?
    
    In this month's Car Buyer magazine, they recommend the LADA estate as a
    good budget buy!
    
    If the UK taxable benefit criteria change to capital value of the car
    to start with (which is the fairest way), then the cheaper imports will
    make even greater inroads!
    
    Tim

    Sorry Tim, only non-serious comments are allowed in this topic :-)
    
    Roy

    
    The highest mileage Lada I've ever seen is 1,300 miles. This
    mileage wasn't genuine however as the owner was trying to
    sell the car and actually clocked UP the mileage from about 
    650 miles.
    
    JN.

    A bit of info on a 'project' a friend of mine is working on :-
    
    He has a Lada Niva which he has been using off-road at any opportunity.
    (these are fairly capable 4WD things, in case you don't know of them)
    
    Of course, he sooner or later decided that it could to with a bit
    more power (he's only human, after all).  The usual mod for this
    vehicle is to fit a 2-litre (tool eater ?) Fiat twin-cam.
    
    Not for this owner, he got hold of a Ford V6 (3-litre) engine and
    gearbox instead.  Certainly an improvement in torque, if not in name
    (personally, I would rather drive a Lada than most Fords !)...
    
    I should point out that the vehicle had already been fitted with
    some larger SAT (chunky) tyres that involved removing the rubber
    arch extensions, cutting away the metal panel around the arch, then
    re-fitting the rubber extensions in a higher position then befoe.
    
    So, the front panel area was removed, with the intention of fixing this
    back as a 'removable panel' when finished.  The Lada engine, gearbox
    and transfer box were removed, as was the transmission tunnel panelwork.
    
    The Ford V6 was installed with it's gearbox with surprisingly few
    problems.  Miraculously, the intermediate shaft from the gearbox
    to the transfer box also fitted correctly - the U/J fittings were
    the same on the Ford prop-shaft fitting and the Lada transfer box.
    
    Next problem to be tackled on this conversion was that the transfer
    box was now positioned about 2 inches too far to the rear.  After a
    bit of puzzling and investigation, it seemed that custom prop-shafts
    would be needed.  Until a further check was made, comparing the front
    and rear propshafts.  They differed in length by the right amount, so
    simply swapping the two shafts over gave [what appears to be] the right
    positioning for the transfer box, prop-shafts and axles !
    
    Besides the problems of re-fitting a front end and transmission tunnel
    to the vehicle (basic problems, really), only electrics, fuel and
    cooling need to be sorted out now.  If I think about it, I'll add an
    updated to this story when it is all finished.
    
    In the mean time, just consider the off-road potential of this beast !
    
    Apparently, the front axle is the weak point, so problems can be
    expected with that when it gets used in earnest.  Other than that ?
    
    J.R.

    
    Since no one has been in here for a while.
    
    I have the more powerful 1500 riva and quite fancy tuning it up
    to about 130 hp....any suggestions.
    
    It is daytona yellow with a black roof and wolfrace alloys.
    My mates think it pretty good but then again they have reliants.
    
    Baz.

    Re -1


    Baz...   I also own one of these fine pieces of engineering, If your 
             looking for 130+ Bhp why not do what I did and drop a 3.5 V8
             rover engine in it with a Jag back axle..... It sure gives those 
             nasty chaps in there XR3i's that laugh at us Lada men a bit of 
             a race Ill tell you. 

      
             P.S  Do you have the "Fur-Fabric" interior in yours...??
    
    
                              

    Can the frame take the extra power and performance ?
    
    Paul

             Re -1


    The front/Rear and skirts on the XRGTSRi body kit causes that much
    vacuum that the floor starts to sag in the middle.....!!!
    The rest of the body is re-enforced with Good Quality Catty. car plan
    i think...!!!
    
    
        Horrice. 

    
    Recent update.
    
    Got a 1800 twincam from a Fiat 132es. it was good for 110 and will fit
    straight in no problem so with some mods to the brakes and suspension 
    I should have quite a surprising car.
    
    Baz.

    Baz...
    
    
    Do you know when the Bo'ness Lada owners club is having its
    next race meeting as I would love to take my "Beast" out for a
    few laps (And I might take the car out aswell)... fnarr fnarr
                         
    
    Horrace.

    Re -2


    Baz... How's the Lada Coming on....???    Ive just sprayed mine 
    with good old Jip-fast in a cheeky beige  sort of colour with
    a cream roof..!!!  I had to take the V8 out as my 135/13 remoulds 
    were only lasting about 10 min's. 
    
    
    Horrace.