Taking a Lada Niva home?
 

Hi, I'm a biker but I've recently been thinking of doing my 'Big Trip' to the 'stans in my Lada Niva instead of on two wheels.

The original idea was to 'do' the Balkans, Romania, cross into Asia Minor through Istanbul (a city break for Mrs S) then circumnavigate the Black Sea and head up to St Petersburg (another city break for Mrs S) via The Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States and on into Finland, to the Nordcapp, then back down Scandinavia, Denmark, and so on back home in the Pyrenees.

But between the problems in Ukraine, the good news about Iran and the change of vehicle I've wondered about circumnavigating the Caspian Sea instead and after the 'stans heading right across Russia via the Lada factory at Tolyatti on the Volga river.

I'm in no kind of hurry, this will probably have to wait unti after I 'retire' - ha ha, chance would be a fine thing in 2018-ish.

So, any views, advice, etc.

Regs

Simon

Oops, forgot to subscribe to my own thread :oops2:

If you are familiar with the vehicle, and how to fix it, and it is in good repair, then it is a perfect choice for travel in the Former USSR (and Mongolia) as they are ubiquitous. It will be easy to fix, spare parts are widely available (though may be poor quality), you will blend in more, and locals will give you props for using 'their' car.

I've just finished a couple of weeks touring Ukraine. was as far East as Sumy and Poltava, no problems at all

Thanks guys,

Actually I've just bought it - a '93 in immaculate restored condition* and only 64,000 Kms on the clock.

I'll be using it quite extensively on trails exploring the wilder corners of Spain so by the time I plan o do the trip I should be well acquainted with maintenance, etc.

Regs

Simon
* I was only looking for a sound example within my budget ...

Off topic, but a good friend of mine here in the UK used to have one of the original Lada's, it was a cracking laning tool.. with a set of 6.50 SAT's on it, would often p!ss all over my defender 90 I had at the time.

Buena suerte! :thumbup1:

Nope, not off topic at all! :) As you say, a cracking tool!

I did a three day 1,000 km shake down with it last month - runs like a dream on those bumpy Spanish back roads and you basically never get stuck anywhere - until you get your credit card bill for the fuel!

Here's the Niva posing in front if a suitable 'Soviet' looking background:

https://thespanishbiker.files.wordpr...0/imgp3352.jpg

Meanwhile I'm spending next July and part of August 'mapping' the Los Monegros 'desert' region in central Spain using the Niva and a small motorbike.

https://thespanishbiker.files.wordpr...1/pa270030.jpg

Thos little stumpy things are the last trees you'll see for a long way!

Regs

Simon

Great pictures.

You might like the video too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzQ_0gXl46E


The Los Monegros has some really challenging conditions - and scenery if you like deserts that is! - as the surface turns into a fine sludge after the - rare- rainfall and the - frequent - Cierzo wind is unstoppable!

Cheers

Simon