1997 Lada Niva Bushman review from Australia and New Zealand
"The best S.U.V. in the world at the price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front upper and lower ball joints showed wear and needed replacing.
Outer rubber boots on front wheels split and replaced.
Taillight bulbs checked as some were not working.
Steering was a little bit loose and was easily corrected by adjusting the relevant nut as indicated in the manual.
Soundproofing the transmission tunnel, inside, eliminates noise.
General comments?
The Niva is, without doubt, the most honest and reliable four wheel drive vehicle in the small to medium class.
It will literally go anywhere, where others will bog down and fail.
Reliability is an outstanding feature of this Russian car. The strength and ruggedness it displays, is truly remarkable. The thickness of the metal body panels is almost twice that of any other car. The suspension is robust and designed for longevity.
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| 1997 - Niva 21213 1.7 carburetor Good cheap 4x4 for bad roads |
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| Little 4x4 with a soul |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.7 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 35000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 60000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Lada Niva 1.6 Litre Petrol. |
| Date of Entry | 28th July, 2005 |