Hi ;

I used to travel with motorcycle 'til now but my girl friend wants to join and i dont want to ride 2up. Having her at the back seat, makes me feel uneasy.

So we decided to do it with a vehicle.

Our goal is to reach Capetown... Turkey-Syria-Jordan-Sudan etc... I traveled to Jordan couple of years ago, so i now whats its like till Akabe... but for the rest of the route i am totally ignorant.

So...I am trying to find the right the right vehicle for Africa...

I thought of Lada Niva .. its cheap (here), mechanic, its ground clearance is good, tough... high consumption can be overlooked cause of cheap fuel prices, definetly unconfortable...

I really would like get your opions ..

thanks,

Hi,

there are a couple of Lada Niva threads inthe forum. It is worth to use the search.

I just copy my statement out of one Lada thread


Any experiences with the Lada Niva?
Well my Lada trip is not the latest one (Africa Overland attempt 1991 ended being evacuated by the Belgian army out of former Zaire)

How reliable are they for overlanding?
It is not the most reliable car on earth, but shouldn’t be worse than an old Landy and its mainly simple technique used. Disadvantage is the low payload. You have to travel like a biker or the overloading causes massive problems with the suspension and trailing links. Spare parts are hardly available.

Pros and cons?
It is cheap but you have to find one with low mileage and minimum corrosion (Corrosion is a big problem!). Low payload, restricted space and at least at the petrol engines high fuel consumption (alternatively the rare Peugeot diesel engines tend to crack the gearbox). Except the former USSR allied countries the Niva is at least in Africa not very common and it is even hard to get spares in Europe. Very good off road ability.

Ways to improve it?
There are OME springs available, this should improve the worst disadvantage. Reinforcing the rear trailing links might be worth a thought.

Hopefully we get some pics of our Nivas up on the website the next week.

Best regards
Bernd

Also think about that fuel is not cheap at all and depending on the route you choose the necessary 4x4 challenge is limited to only 2 or 3 legs. But as a biker you probably can travel just with your bike luggage, than a Niva is not too bad. Alternatively a Patrol or a Trooper are also not as expensive and offer more space.

Have fun
Bernd

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www.afritracks.net

Hi,
I am very biased, i had an amazing trip to Mali in a 20yr old Niva, i'd do it again tomorrow for sure.
I've got to agree with everything Bernd says though, i reckon that covers it very well.
This is our old girl
Flickr Photo Download: IMG_2 (563)
Good luck, what ever you decide

Sam

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http://capetocapeblog.wordpress.com/

If you can't afford a Toyota Landcruiser take a look at the Hilux. I've been banging around Africa for a few years in my 4runner (UK badged Hilux Surf).

Even one of CS friends bangs around the Sahara with his - great for two pax with plenty of loadspace.

See the links in my sig for more info.

Go well,

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Enzo

You can also go for an old Mercedes, a T modell for example. You don't need 4wd in a lot of cases. Of course, 4wd would be much easier, but making things a bit more difficult is often lots of fun.

I can help you out if you plan to use a 2wd, as I did West Africa in an old W123.

Good luck on your decision making!


Jurgen

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http://300td.org - The weblog of a W123 on veggie oil

Toyota!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!