The Lada Niva seems like a slightly uncomfortable but tough little 4x4.
Though I cannot say as I havent driven one. All I know for sure is that they are dead cheap. So...

Any experiences with the Lada Niva?
How reliable are they for overlanding?
Pros and cons?
Ways to improve it?
Links to relevant websites?

All inputs will be appreciated. Thanks!

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RTW 2005-2007
www.eriksaue.com

They are:
though, simple to fix and maintain, capable but not as good in load carrying as others, thearsty.

Spares are an issue except for europe/ eastern europe and ex soviet countries.

Beware of abused cars. Being cheap they are often trashed about and not maintained very well.

Rob

I heard somewhere that it is the worst car in "crash-test".
While I don't remember the source of this info, I wouldn't be surprise if it were true.

A mate of mine used to have one, quite numble really, no mega-axle travel to speak of (compared to a 90) but not bad.

lots of bushes though, IIRC the independant front setup was a bit complicated.

i recall that the engine is a straight swap with a Fiat twin cam?

the standard Lada engine used to suffer from the carb freezing up on cold days. i remember being on the M4 with a flask of hot water thawing it out!

heater was mega though! designed for cold Russian winters!!

My friends one used to have 6.50x16 firestone SAT's, they fitted the arches easily. with a slight lift i reckon you'd fit 7.00's ot maybe 7.50's

Hi Erik,

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 Nivass up on the website the next week.

Best regards
Bernd

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www.afritracks.net

Hello,

I´ve owned a Lada Niva 1600 for some years and went several times to Morocco with it. I upgraded the suspension : OME springs front and rear +5cm (higher ground clearance and able to charge the car more without getting into troubles), Monroe reinforced shock dempers. The only thing that I had to change is a silentblock of the Monroe shock demper (so it wasn´t even a piece of Niva). For the rest try to keep eveything standard !!! simple and "unbreakable" (due to overdimensioning).
Problems : very small motor, lack of power to do dune riding or very sandy sections and it is a spartan interior without airco, server direction, etc etc... but the sense of adventure is the greater !!!
Nowadays I own a Toyota LC KZJ90 VX (I´ve got a family now but I do miss the old rough days with my Lada. PS in Egypt I drove around in a Mitshubishi Pajero and have seen I don´t know how many Lada´s over there, a real paradise for the Lada lover.

YouTube - MARRUECOS 2006 ERG CHEBBI
YouTube - Niva du sable II

Cheers

well I had a Lada Niva in 1989 and survived a roll over on the German Autoban... didn't see a standstill at the end of a traffic jam and had to brake hard avoiding a crash and begun to circle around regarding the short axle stand, rolled over and landed upside down on the roof in to the ditch...

now this little solid Lada Niva only suffered a dent in the roof and lost the windscreen... after the recovery vehicle turned here back on to it's wheels about two hours later, I was able to drive all the way home for about 200km without any trouble on it's own steam... the Niva was OK, I was OK...
Compare to another roll over in a Range Rover a year later which was a totally write off, I would buy a Lada Niva 4x4 any time again.... tough and under estimated little bastard.

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The trouble is that he was talking in philosophy, but they were listening in gibberish.

Here here!
I'm gutted i don't own mine any more, but i will get another sometime

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http://capetocapeblog.wordpress.com/

hello everyone, seems like sue best lad a forum so far.

Im thinking of buying one as getting a landi or cruiser cuts quite a big chunk out of my budget. Id rather spend the money on traveling as y don't mind braking down (as I have had only good experiences so far, lets hope they stay like this)

Well the thing is, I'm planing to travel central asia maybe even to mongolia, and i think getting spares in ex soviet countries should not be too hard, also i don't mind traveling slow and low un luggage. But a little increase from the 400kg wouldn't bee bad. (i think i have nearly put this much on my bike before)

does anyone have experience in this?
the diesel seems to be the best choice.. what do you guys think?

Hello mate .
I had a lada niva 2004.It had 10.000 km.
I bought it because i tought it wase a good little car.
But everthing on it broke, like radiator,suspension,stabilisador,
driveshaft ....and a lot more.And i was not even driving off road ,or trassing the car like a mad man.
No i just drove dirt roads.
Before i had the car i really liked the idea of having a small cheap car that
can do anny thing ...but now i know better.

Saludos

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They're selling Nivas in the UK again?

How have they satisfied the NCAP and emissions regs (which were the reasons Ladas got pulled from sale in the EU in the first place)?

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

Its true they are back..
Euro 5 engine too.
MEET THE LADA NIVA

Gaz

Niva is tough little vehicle, only minus is small fueltank.
And btw Vitara might be too complicated and less easy to find spareparts there (former soviet)...

yes i think the lada will be ok for eastern europe. Im thinking about the 1,9 diesel… for the small tank y can carry a few jerry cans, 2x 20litres will do the job i guess,central asia is not too bad i hope, only mongolia could be a problem.

Im interested in increasing the payload a bit. 400kg is quickly reached, especially with a roof tent.. what do you guys think!

We had a Niva Cossack for about 16 years , the Mk1 , have driven a Mk2 (1.7 engine, and deeper tailgate) and the drivetrain seemed a bit better (vibration wise) . From a practical point of view , it would be easy enough to increase payload , by fitting heavier duty rear coil springs . The problem would be that legally you would be overloaded anywhere in the EU , how big a factor this would be in Russia , cant advise on that . The diesel engine used is a 1.9 peugeot/citroen unit , good engine , need to change cam belt regularly , because if it goes , usually breaks cam , and caps, and means new cylinder head assy !! The biggest pain with them is usually wiring problems . The seats are a bit uncomfortable , but the ride is excellent . HTSH

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Current : 2007 Mowag Bucher Duro 6x6 Motorhome , 2006 Sedici 4x4, 2007 Range Rover supercharged