Comments: 1-15, 16-26
Low reliability. At 10000 milles needs a major engine overhaul: rings failure due to poor quality materials lead to a dense blue smoke and oil burning. Brake fluids leaks at 15000 milles. Low quality electic system: Alt indicator flashes since day 1. Needs to change alternator - AC Del-co adapted, but then the chain adjustment was impossible. Points needs to be replaced every 5000 milles to keep motor running. Carburetor calibrators made of plastic - gone at 25.000 milles.
Poor interior materials: Door and glass handles broken at 2000 milles. Very hot inside. Fuel gauge working intermitent. Hood open handle doesn't work when hot outside (80 F). Motor fumes goes in the cabin. Cooland leaks at 25000 milles
Not easy to repair or maintain. Needs a lot of tools.
Bad investment. Although it is cheap, will need to spend a lot of money to keep it in driving conditions. Not reliable as 4x4. Underpowered.
Better get a second hand Jeep CJ5, CJ7, wrangler or Toyota.
Interesting review. A lot of negative comments- yet, after nearly 15 years, you still own it. Must be something you like about it. Curiously, my Niva has not experienced the multitude of problems you have listed. Many of your gripes are easily fixed, using a bit of common sense. For example, re- "hood open handle doesn`t work when hot outside" - all you do is adjust the length of the cable- just shorten it a bit (at the bonnet end). Alternatively, loosen the two nuts on the bracket, and move it a little bit towards the cable side. Takes a couple of minutes. Re- "very hot inside" - check the warm air intake lever on the dash - probably loose or disconnected. Easy to fix yourself. Re- "motor fumes goes into cabin"- read some other reviews and comments- will indicate that you should check the expansion tank- which may have a leak in it. Also check all clamps on fuel and breather pipes, for tightness. "Door and glass handles broken at 2000mls"? Mine haven`t broken. Perhaps, in your case, they are getting a "heavy handed" work out. "Not reliable as 4X4"? The Niva`s 4X4 abilities are legendary! I just find it strange how you did not make one positive comment about your Niva. If it was giving you SO MANY problems when you bought 15 years ago, why didn`t you just sell it, in the first year?
"Low reliability"? Interesting then, that (to quote from Wikipedia), "Transmanche-Link - the consortium of companies that constructed the Channel Tunnel (under the sea) between England and France, used a fleet of forty-five (45) Lada Nivas to aid in the enormous project." I`m sure they did their homework, with regard to evaluating reliability, before selecting the Niva for such a mammoth task - in preference to ALL other makes of 4X4 vehicles!
Well then, why aren`t YOU driving a second hand Jeep CJ5, CJ7, Wrangler or Toyota? Fifteen years is a long time to be "suffering" with a vehicle that you don`t appear to be happy with. Most Niva owners are more than satisfied with their choice - as many reviews on this site demonstrate.
I believe this owner has a common problem in the Venezuelan People (BTW, I´m a Venezuelan too!) : they talk very badly about things they would like to be as they want, but do not move one single finger for change their situation. Same about our internal politics: some people hate our president because he´s not White skinned, or a harvard graduated civilian, or some other reason they only know;but don´t do anything that involves some efforts. This is the kind of people we have as opposite parties. (smile).And this is the kind of people who does much damage to our image in foreign countries. Don´t pay attention to his review, I know there are a lots of Niva Owners who are reasonably happy with their choice, and by the way, Lada boys are bringing back their cars again after 10 years of interference from other car makers in Venezuela, they finally won again their place in the market! I will be buying one next year. Regards from Caracas, Venezuela!.Come here to visit, is a nice place and not that bad at all!.
Thanks for your comments re- the different type of people in your country. Same probably applies to most other countries. There will always be some narrow-minded, apathetic individuals who lack vision and common sense. They generally complain a lot, but don`t actually do anything to help themselves, or others. Incidentally, your country has a good President, who has the dignity and pride not to cower and grovel to so-called "Super Powers". Hope to visit Venezuela one day. Have heard that the scenery is beautiful, and that the people are generally warm-hearted and sincere. Regards!
I want see you when your venezuelan president involve you in cuba policy. If you like it, go to cuba.
I like NIVA, it`s a good car, I think that it`s the better car.
I think most of these comments are missing the point the original reviewer has, this guy bought his Niva NEW, that's for FULL RETAIL PRICE, and he's had problems since day one, and it doesn't sound like he's a home mechanic. Almost all of the good experiences with Niva's come from people paying $200, $400, maybe $600 to buy the whole truck, and these people know about all the repairs and maintenance needed, and enjoy it. Same reason for the tunnel building company mentioned in a comment, they know these little 4x4's are 75% cheaper than buying another brand, and they have their own mechanics to do all the work. Like the title of his review, "Better get a second hand 4x4", only he'd have been a lot better off with a second hand Niva.
I don't know why this guy kept his Niva for 15 years, but he only put on 80,000 km's, that's not much. His Niva could be a planter in his garden or a lawn ornament for the past 8 years, who knows.
If you think they are crap, unreliable and all this crap, then don't OWN ONE. Lada Niva's are very good quality and I like how you say you need a lot of tools to work on this car, because anyone smart would realise you can do nearly anything on these cars with the tool kit provided.
I also want to mention how the tools are NOT made in china, they are made to last, from RUSSIA, so if you can't manage one, don't own one for 15 years.
The comment on the 22nd Dec. implies that the company that constructed the tunnel under the ocean between England and France, commissioned second-hand or "used" Nivas in this huge project. The fact is that the forty five (45) Lada Nivas that were employed in this venture, were all BRAND NEW, and each vehicle accumulated way over 75,000kms. by the time the tunnel was completed, in 1993. The Nivas performed very reliably, and were later sold to local Lada dealers for re-sale. Many of them are still on the roads to-day, and going as well as ever.
Thank you for the imformation on lada I am also going to purchase one soon, but the problem is it is brand new 2006 but this is 2008 anyway I like how the jeep is built it really looks like a jeep ps, no I do not want a vitara...
First of all I been looking for a 4'4 that can take a beating and upon my research I find that the lada jeep fits the bill a lot of people say do not buy one, but let me tell you something I know people who bought a b.m.w. and they have nothing, but problems with it so for me it is on to lada the price is right for the 4'4 jeep all I can say is you will never know unless you try it oh yea one other thing what jeep does not need maintance when I get my lada jeep I will tell you more about it.
Good luck, with your jeep.
Um, apparently people use the term "jeep" as a catch-all to refer to any small 4x4 utility vehicle. I suppose this is a tribute to the "real" Jeep brand, or the original Jeep made famous by Bantam for the U.S. Army.
Hey I'm back to tell you I got my lada jeep and so far so good I don't know why people put them down. I still am learning about the motors ability and all the gadgets inside of it, but I talked to a lada mech. and he said a lot of people don't know how to shift them and when they have a problem they blame lada I think that saying goes with any jeep. alright enough of putting them down the price is right for a 4x4 and the other day me and my wife went to test it out on some ruff terrain and the only thing bad about it was it got dirty from all the mud we went through. well that I can live with remember if you want a 4x4 cheap lada is the way to go also it is the only jeep that has not changed its appearance for 20 years thank you lada keep up the good work.
In fact, the external appearance has not changed much in 30 years! The first Nivas rolled out of the giant Russian Avtovaz plant in Toglietti, in late 1977. The remarkable all-independent coil suspension was far advanced compared to the stiff rear leaf springs that were being used on other small 4X4`s at the time. The Niva was dubbed "The little Range Rover". High praise indeed.