Just have a look at the comments. Everybody wants one of these. This review alone is one of the best ad for this little beast. Have a look, Renault: Johnny just sold millions worth of Nivas for you. Just export them.
Because it's a no BS car. Auto makers can't be bothered to make something reasonably priced, easy and cheap to service anymore. Everything is screens, and software bugs on wheels.
@@terrificspokesman7416 Nothing cheerful about it, trust me, I had one for a couple of years. Albeit older (2008). But as it seems not much has changed since, even under the French management. Simplicity is fine but it's just unreliable, uncomfortable and overall poorly manufactured vehicle.
@@sc1338 the meaning is that the cooler offroader you have, the longer it'll drive before it will inevitably get stuck, so you'll have to walk longer to the nearest village for a tractor that will rescue your fancy offroader
I owned a Lada Niva in Africa and it would go where a Landrover failed. Cheap, basic and very Russian, it was easy to maintain and reliable. Great vehicle.
I had one dont buy !!! You would spend more time fixing it than driving it!! Its an old Italian design, re-imagined by the soviets , with modern russian quality control(read none) under french management. Pro tip, buy it for a friend. Let him fix it all the time and just ask him to ride it once in a while.
Surely it can't be any worse than Land Rover!?? If there's a hierarchy for reliability in the car world, then Land Rover would be a the very bottom with Yugo and Lada.
@@bert454 in north america, every single charts, uk cars are at the bottom, sadly we dont have ladas anymore since its the land of superficiality in canada and usa
If desired, this machine could easily cope with this ditch. The driver just got cold feet))) You in Europe with excellent roads need Niva more for fun, we in Russia, where there are not always roads in difficult-to-pass places, Niva is a vital necessity. In good and skillful hands, the machine is a workhorse. Greetings from Russia, Bashkortostan
Used to work on these at the Lada import centre in Bridlington in the 80’s. Turned the standard model into the Cossack version, updated the transfer box mountings, added sunroof and alloys. A very capable off-road vehicle. Took one to a 4x4 competition and ended up pulling a land rover out of a ditch that had got stuck. Very underrated. I had a yellow one with black stripes, looked like a wasp.
If you were involved with Lada you might be able to help with a story I have in my head. I seem to remember that some constabulary that needed 4X4 vehicles bought a bunch of these. The coppers driving took umbrage at getting Ladas and conspired to break them. Their opinions changed on discovering that they couldn't break them.
From what I can remember Wiltshire Constabulary rings a bell but it was 30+ years ago. Supplied as a standard vehicle and police would have modified them I believe. We did do a metallic pink Convertible that was presented to mikhail gorbachev’s wife in the late 80’s.
@@andystork7872 Thanks, that was rumbling through my head. So you presented a convertible to Raisa Gorbachev(a) UK RHD spec, or you up optioned a Russian Niva?
@@COIcultist. It was if I remember a RHD version. I didn’t present it personally it was kicking around the workshops for a while while it got converted and sprayed up. Presume it was shipped back to Russia.
@peregrinestudio Be worth a Bob or two now. What year is it? I worked on them all 1988/9 then moved into the vehicle rolling road test facility. Loved doing the conversion from standard to Cossack. If it has the 5 spoke white Delta alloy it’s a later 1989 model.
Don't know why, but a car that doesn't speak back to you, with no lane assist, front assist, and other kinds of "assists", seems very appealing in this modern times. It's just you 100% controlling a machine
Хочу обратить внимание на неточность автора. Все кнопки, блоки управления и сиденья не от Рено. Всё русское, от других Лад. Управление фарами от Лада Гранта, кнопки от Лада 2110 и Лада Приора. Блок стеклоподъемников от Датсуна, который был Лада Гранта. Я работаю на заводе, где собирают эти электрокомпоненты.
It's incredible how looks can fool you this lada has abs (anti lock brakes), esc,(electronic stability contro)l, ebd (electronic brake distribution) , bas (brake assist system). Lane departure warning only triggers when you go out of lane and front assist if you don't stop and you are about to hit a car or person in front so if emergency systems always trigger in your normal driving then you have serious problems and your drivers license is questionable (i not saying you personally im using "you" word as an example). In every car you have complete control even if systems sense that you do some stuff on purpose it won't react unless you are about to hit something it will save in last second and you can turn of everything.
That's a common sentiment until people actually try one. Cars used to suck. They still suck but it's because of production quality, not because of the software.
@@AnttiBrax no, cars did not suck, it's definitely modern cars that suck. But if you prefer to cede control over your mobility to the rich overlods, fine by me, as long as you realize your vehicle can be shut down remotely, you slave cattle.
@@weedmastersr & @antti Brax Analog cars suck in certain situations where the modern cars offer certain drivers a desired level of convenience that never used to be feasible within their budget. Modern cars suck in certain situations where the driver feels the drawbacks inherent in the compromises engineers have had to make in the name of the convenience that are absent in analog cars. Both are awesome but it all comes down to what you prioritize.
@@weedmastersr You know that the fuel injection and engine management that lets you start your car in pretty much any weather with a single crank is made possible by software? There's more to this subject than just your ridiculous conspiracy theories.
@@AnttiBrax I agree totally. Modern cars are superb. Even the ones that aren't Skoda. I have a new PHEV Golf as a daily driver, but i also have an old gasoline Mercedes w108 280S that i use. It is in mint condition, but hell, it is not a good car at all as modern standards. It is a nice car, but not a good one. Everything is repairable though, easily. and diagnosing a fault is very easy. And you have to do maintenance a lot. many times a year, not weekly though. People have forgotten that most cars needed extensive service like valve adjusting, carb rebuild etc. yearly. A blown head gasket was very common and many carried spare one in the boot, that could last only months. Many times even complete teardown and rebuild to engine and gearbox every 100000km was normal back then. Only these luxury cars lasted over 200000km unopened. People just don't want to remember this shit :D
I live in the French Alps and the Niva is incredibly popular with the ski instructors. I asked one why. His response. "Because i must get to work. If I do not work I do not get paid." He also said the heater was great.
"This is a brand new car." I don't know why that made me smile so hard that my face hurt. I'm driving the new 5008 atm and I'd cry for something as simple as the Niva. I'm bloody sick of driving a smartphone.
Lada's cars are worst thing you can buy for yourself. Quality of their cars are very low, despite their "simplicity". Specifically about the Lada Niva - there is absolutely no margin of safety in any part of these cars. Some parts of the drivetrain may not be able to withstand this "super-powerful" 80 horsepower engine, which is ridiculous. Simplicity is good for such classic, reliable cars such as Mitsubishi Pajero/Pajero Sport/L200, Toyota Land Cruiser/Hilux, and others (maybe some american classic trucks). Russian cars is using 60s technologies, low-wage labor and bad materials. The only more or less reliable part in their cars - are engines, and its only achieved by using cast-iron engine block, thats all. No other benefits. Lada concern is just about making money with minimal changes in design (main purpose - save money, dont build new production lines and dont buy new machine tools). Many manufacturers have come to this today, using a common platform for their cars, but lada is doing this since 80s-90s. As for the price - the average wage in Russia barely reaches $ 500/month, that's all you need to know. My advice is not to buy such items. If you want something simple and reliable - look for brand new Land Cruiser 70s
@@unity2155 you have wrote so much stuff but there;'s one problem: you didn't bring any arguments against it. You just say "do not buy Niva, buy Land Cruiser". That is kinda dumb. And so you know: Niva is a good car.
@@theonehappyorc1235 что тебе нужно объяснять? Как легко сворачиваются редукторы и полуоси из сыромятины под мотором аж 80 лошадиных сил при использовании "внедорожника" по назначению?
I really did not expect to read the words “Lada Niva” in any sentence today, let alone 2021 review….I’m looking forward to this Jonny. Thank you as always for your hard work and quality content!
@@benholroyd5221 You sure that isn't when it starts? Surely it can't be a true Niva if it hasn't been taken swimming, or swamp-scuba-diving as some on TH-cam show, just like it isn't a true Lada Riva if it hasn't stared in a dashcam clip. People send off vessels by smashing a bottle of champagne on it, Ladas are sent off by being driven into something :)
You my man are the legend with thinking outside the box and presenting this car. This is very much car for me, no stupid electronics following my every move and sending data somewhere, can fix it by my self, and left hand drive so can easily drive it across Europe to see my Mum (after the restrictions that is). Great channel. Best wishes from York, UK.
I bought one at the beginnig of the year and I totally love it! It's soooo basic but that's actually the main charm of the car! I haven't owned such a reliable working car in a really long time... We use it for a really hard terrain and work on the farm but also for long road trips and it's super great! Yeah, not very comfortable, but I don't really mind it haha... If you are considering one, definitely go for it!
I love Niva. I bought one for £50 from a local farmer and ran it for 2 years. It was just epic fun. If ever I was to buy another brand new car this would be it. I’ll take a lift kit too please!
@@paulsz6194 I preferred the old style side opening rear door of the original too. Especially with the spare mounted on it like my old car. I still prefer this over the Jimny though.
@@Retrobeemer £50 is an absolute bargain, pay that much for a good night out at a restaurant for two. I know the engines are bullet proof so long as you change the oil & filter regularly. What sort of mileage did you get out of it?
Ladas are great i culd follow forest trucks TAM 150 (look up the internet its masive ) and only thing that failed is cardio rubber so it vibrates shit load rn and i am kinda layz to change it other things are working fine
Land Rover only cares how much they can charge for. So, throw as much garbage as you can in the car, so that you can claim "luxury", so that you can jack up the price.
@@cornishhh Ford is trying to do that with the Bronco, they had some good success over the last year. Now to wait a couple more years until all the Bronco's start having issues and another company will pick up where Ford left off. And the cycle continues.
I don't care how rugged it looks, I don't give a shit. I just don't want the bastard to break down, period. I don't want to have to fix it every weekend. So for me, the trucks to have are a Toyota Land Cruiser or Hilux or Nissan Patrol.
I started offroading many years ago in the Suzuki Samurai, then Jimny, and now Nissan Patrol. Always had a soft spot for the Lada Niva. Never had one, but I would consider one as the modern 4x4 are overcomplicated techno junk. I think manufacturers are missing a trick - there are still owners who want simple to maintain yourself cars. Great video. Liked!
@glenn oc No offence, but have you seen the prices Defenders fetch nowadays? Way overpriced IMO. Pajero's can be had for reasonable money yes. I've got a 2002 Patrol at the minute - it's easy to work on and tough as old boots. Plenty of choice with the older cars, but my point was the new stuff is mostly fragile overcomplicated garbage...
Love it! Wanted one of these years ago when I was a teenager, just think it’s a step into a simpler time, great windup windows where you don’t have to fight the control to just open it a little.
I had one of these as a work car back in the day. We towed Range Rovers out of the muddy gateway at a couple of events I worked at. Most amusing except to the R Rover owners club
Thanks Jonny - for a great review of the Niva - the thinking man’s G-Wagen. An thanks for showing the honesty of your unexpected ‘dip’ in that pool. Brilliant and so endearing to you and the Niva.
@@neillgatley8770 Could be a weight issue, these petrol 4x4 depend on being lightweight, with a little engine and not much in the way of luxuries. If you want some range, battery weight might be an issue? I'd love to be proven wrong though :)
@@ike1660 the kerb weight of a range rover is close to 2 tonnes. I am sure the new hummer is not light. While lightness can be an advantage, it has not stopped a lot of 4x4 manufacturers from making a heavily piston car. For me, the simplicity of an electric drive train is attractive. I am disappointed that it then get married to a complicated car. The lada manual door handles, windows and basic interior is something to be emulated by more modern cars.
@@neillgatley8770 I agree about the whole simple electric car thing. I'd love one (I'm a current base model Defender driver complete with wind up windows). However, I think the pointing out that Range Rovers are heavy is kind of the opposite of the original point. The Niva and similar vehicles are great off road, nimble, etc. because they're light. It is difficult to make an EV as light because of the weight of the batteries. You'd be taking out a 50kg engine and replacing it with 300kg of batteries. Or something.
The fact that they're still being made puts a smile on my face. Automakers take note: *THIS* is how you get longevity, by keeping things simple! Also, Jonny gets brownie points for rocking a Detroit Red Wings shirt! Greetings BTW, I'm from Michigan.
Like a lot of people I have laughed at LADA cars over the years. But After watching Garage54 and there attempts to kill all kinds of LADA's and failing every time. I now have a new appreciation for them. After watching Johnny do this review I'd buy one off him if he was the salesman.
I've owned a 93 Niva 1.600cc carburated model, for 3 years between 2011-2014, used it in stock condition, for fun & off-road trips and some serious ones. Had no issues at all, it had never let me down. I had to sell it due to life-changing decisions. Then I got another one, in 2018. I went for a 2011 1.700cc injection model, with the idea of buying a younger, fresher Niva and use it as both a daily car and fun car. I was planning to have more fun by upgrading it. Tuned the Ecu, gone for bigger tires, upgraded the suspension with new coils and shock absorbers, changed the final gear ratio, went for locked rear diff, installed comfy seats, upgraded the sound insulation etc. When I was at the verge of installing A/C, I ended up selling it.. My conclusions were, 1) I Don't know if the newer ones are crappier, but the more complicated, is the worse for these kinds of simple design machines. Modifications (except the suspension upgrade) didn't pay off for me, they didn't upgrade the car even half as much as they cost, compared to the car's cost. The performance/price ratio of the stock car was so high, that by any modifications I just decreased it... 2) It's a cult design, but don't be too optimistic (like me) to think It would be cool to use it as a daily car. It's just out of date, and it hits you back sooner or later. Thinking of it as an ATV with a closed cabin, would lead to more accurate decisions. 3) This car is very capable and great fun in stock and simple condition.. I just wish, I didn't have to sell the simpler and more reliable carburated version... All in all, I don't regret any of the two. I had good times with both, I recommend it to anyone who is thinking of buying one, but just make sure to manage your expectations well before buying.
I have a 2005 Niva which I had in Greece and brought back to the UK with me. It's the "apocalypse survival" model 🤣. It's not everyone's idea of a classic but it is to me 😍 Thank you for reviewing this awesome little 4x4.
Johnny this is why we love you! The only motor journalist with his own style, featuring car content that is actually interesting, not like all the rest copy-cats so called journalists, who do the same stuff over and over, boring the viewer to death. Thanks
I had a 94 base model for ten years . Cracking lil 4x4 . Bullet proof reliable & if it does go wrong nothing that cant be fixed with an adjustable & a screw driver. Took the back seats out once & got an FS1E in the back . Used to show motors 10 times the price up off road . Only got rid of it because the bird at the time didnt like it ( hand painted olive green with a hammer & sickle on each door). Kicking myself now ... Only draw back it needs more oomph & dont even think about towing.
ULEZ was also a character slur back in the day. Great review Johny, Love the way you take it completely seriously, unlike most other motoring journalists would.
Fun fact: some 40 Nivas were used during the construction of the channel tunnel. Also interesting, swapping the engine of the Niva was quite a popular sport in the balkans (maybe all of eastern europe?) in the 90s. Most Nivas ended with a N/A diesel of a Fiat, VW or Peugeot flavour, but some guys went a different way - and found that the brilliant Fiat twin cam fits in rather easily. Those are almost infinitely tunable, and theoretically, you could fit the 8v turbo from early 'grales or themas. Altough I don't belive Nivas dirivetrain could cope
The problem is that the transmission and axles of the Niva are taken from Lada cars, which made it cheaper. That is why the Niva was the world's 1st car with permanent all-wheel drive and a load-bearing body - so there is less load on the transmission. Niva needs a more powerful engine, but the transmission will not stand it.
@@СергейТютюма well it depends what you take as transmission. the gearbox itself is fine, though the cardan shafts itself can break, but there are many upgrades (and apparently it is not as much as deal on the later ones). the engine itself can be tuned either atmospherically or by a turbo, for instance they fit TD04 turbocharger to the engine and make usable power. those engines when fully built, can withstand powers, that many subaru or honda owners can be proud of. but for normal driving, i would say 140-150 hp (with that td04 turbo) is a very good amount for general use. using more than 200 hp is almost dangerous 😂🤣
I wouldn't mind having one, 4 years ago I saw one in display. It looked great , had the city pack which included leather seats, seat heating and fully colored plastic bumpers.
I owned a second hand one back in 1988 - and loved it. I remember parking off-road, leg cocked and couldn't close the tailgate until leg was un-cocked. This is the bane of a monocoque off-roader. On-road rythmic vibration at 60mph due to the horrendous angle of the short prop from the transfer box, and a rough as nuts Fiat 1600. But I loved it. In the meantime I've had a 4.0 Jeep Wrangler and now drive a 1989 L.R. 90. I'd have another Niva - no problem. Thanks for the review.
Johnny you are one of the rear real enthusiast I love watching , you did the Niva justice and drive it in it's intended environment . My uncle use to be a teacher who volunteered to teach in the most remote villages and his car of choice was a Niva , Nothing else could get him in and out of those remote off-road locations for 10 years .
It's a great cheap car This is a great car and it makes people happy The design is iconic If the 2023 model doesn't do well, there is always an option Go with this version I can't wait to buy one after i pass my drivers licence
You won't regret it. I've pulled out many stuck-in-mud high priced 4x4's with mine! This car works like a watch, it lasts and always gets the job done easily.
You know that'll still be going strong for years when every Q5 or equivalent has died a premature death with a chocolate engine failure or dual clutch gearbox gremlin. Top episode and enjoyed that. 👍😁
You should try UAZ 469 (military spec from 1980s, with higher clearance). Simple, light, powerful - and will get you anywhere. Would be interesting to put it side by side with Defender 90 on a terrain tougher than this.
God I wish we could get these in the US. We literally have no cool affordable off roaders. The Jimny would destroy wrangler sales especially that 4 door. Jeep would finally have to lower the ridiculous price on the wrangler.
There is someone importing used Russian cars to America , somewhere near Seattle , has a few containers there with Moskvich , Lada and Volga cars in them th-cam.com/video/JSQy7y5OJss/w-d-xo.html . Link to a video about a guy from New Zealand who bought a Niva from the place and drove it back to Florida . The other option is to come to Ukraine and buy one , then get it shipped back to America , you can find a reasonable one for $2500
@@MrTarmonbarry and that guy discovered a hole in a gas tank on his niva if you watch those videos. thats ridiculous, for the money they ask they dont even bother to check what they are selling. hope he asked for compensation for a gas chamber he had to experience.
@@Timsturbs Yes i watched it to the end and saw the petrol tank problem , nice easy fix though. If he had spent just a little more time investigating he would have found the problem on the way back . The price ??, well that thing had been shipped from probably Russia , Ukraine or somewhere in that area so that would not have been cheap . Quick search says shipping ''starts'' at $1100 but you know its never going to be anywhere near that . To the sellers credit that Niva was in amazing condition for its age so that was probably reflected in the price . I would guess he probably contacted the seller and they worked something out but he seemed pretty laid back and might have just let it go
@@MrTarmonbarry "problem" xD petrol spilling all over the car is a life endangering disaster. and its condition seems decent because it got "preselling preparation" as they call it, meaning its a quickly welded - painted body with parts slapped from a dozen donor cars somewhere in post soviet garage co-op. its not your "customer is always right" western type of business, its "customer is always a goof" post soviet type of business. record all conversations with them, force them to make clear statements about car condition, call for consumers right protection, insist on your rights, dont be shy, they wont as they usually have barely any morale at all.
@@Timsturbs Hmmmm, do i detect an anti soviet and anti ex soviet attitude ?? So where did you get all this insider information about the build ETC ?? I'm curious
I’m in Australia and had one of these in the 90’s - while low ratio was not really that low it was a nifty car all the same …… I like how the original look is pretty much retained even all the way down to the nasty steering column.
They came here c1990 with the Samara and Niki. I remember people surprised how well they were off road but the see air had them rusted within a couple of short years!
Holy smokes that's a great little thing! Totally best car review, this takes me back to the 80s and how simple some cars were back then. Just what I want in these modern uncertain times. Simple, cheap, reliable. I'm sold
2 LADA NIVAS OWNER HERE. Lada Niva runs in our blood here in Greece. It's an absolute beast and at least until 10 years ago you could see a lot of them in the streets. As a hunter, my father and I had 2 nivas. Very hard to drive cars, very bad clutch, very bad quality interior, a lot of electrical errors, bad breaks, terrible cabin noise, max speed 130kmh and 0-100 (0-62) in 19 seconds and the electric windows wouldn't close all the way up. BUT... Servicing was cheap, it has low gears, it's a BEAST offroad, it isn't prone to rolling in the corners like the jimny and it's cheap. My take: if you don't live in a rural area and you are not into outdoors activities, don't buy one. Happy to help anyone who wants to buy one. Ps: if you buy one, buy with manual windows
There's a certain satisfaction in driving a vehicle with off-road capabilities that is invaluable to a lot of people. I've got a property in the bush over here in Canada. Even though, in this pandemic, I don't go there as often as I'd like, it gives me great satisfaction that I could go there almost any time without too much of a problem. I haven't needed my off-road capabilities in 2 years now but I'm still glad they're there. Dreams sometimes count more than just economics. Good luck hunting.
@@edbruder9975 I agree with you. Except for Lada I only have Italian cars, driving satisfaction over high maintenance costs! It just gets too annoying sometimes. You go the mechanic, he calibrates the brakes and after one week they are off again... It needs some refinement which is partially done as I see in the video. A new engine maybe! (It has the same since the 80s)
Perfect little rig for the Boundary Waters Canoe area for camping. Bet it would get on and off a frozen lake easily. Just need roof racks for the camping gear and the ice auger and pop up. I would love this rig as the perfect companion for my crusty/rusty old Suburban Z71.
not really, you guys (in average) are nationalistic "patriots". You buy inferior jeeps any time of the day, no matter how much better a nissan / toyota / mitzubishi / landrover defender-discovery offroader may be at the same price class. In an unbiased(!!! does not exist in the us) comparision. You also confuse long (bad for going over crests) heavy (bad for all sorts of off-road reasons) pickup trucks with beeing off-road vehicles, for no added gain except the ability to spit down on the roofs of smaller cars. (just look at what australians use, and they do know their offroad business like no other) Maybe its all import tax related? but i think that would be a too easy explanation: A niva has no chance in the u.s. after all its "russian" ... it would only have less of a chance if it was chinese.
@@zoolkhan lol! Imagine calling Americans dumb because they supposedly can’t off-road! Yeah, there are the wannabe off-roaders with their shiny monster trucks but there is also plenty of serious off-roading in the US. Nothing wrong with being patriotic by the way. America is great!! I’ve seen other parts of the world including some of the first world countries. Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than the USA.
Gotta love the air intake high up in the hood, perfect for taking these through the water assuming the rest of the breathers are high up too. This car really is the last of the old breed of dedicated, workhorse, rugged cars. Yes it has extra features now but the original soul and intent remains. I own an old VW Iltis and there are so many features that one can see carrying between these two cars from a similar generation of off-roader.
Friends had one in the late 80s, early 90s. We used to always pop the rear coils spring out of their top bracket, easy to push back into place. Like the Suzies, light and almost go anywhere off road. Our Suzie was originally 3 cylinder, when it died we replaced it with a Corolla 1.8L 4 cylinder. It burnt rubber on all fours. Great memories. Didn't know they still make these.
I fell in love with this car when I saw it on Top Gear. James and Jeremy were driving around Russia in all kinds of Commie cars, and the last one they drove was the Niva, bashing it through a field and into mud holes and Jeremy said that he actually loved that little car. But for some reason I love it so much that I named my own daughter after a Russian car that I'm kinda scared to import into the US because I might be put on some kind of watch list or something. I don't know why I want this plucky little car so bad but I just do.
@@nickknee3515 I went to Russia for ten years on a "capitalist" Cherokee XJ.And no one tried to put me on any lists. I think it's time for Russia to bring democracy to the world, and not vice versa. I'm laughing out of kindness. It turns out that you gave your daughter a unique name twice. The first is the car model. The second meaning of the word "niva" means a wide field sown with wheat to the horizon. It turned out to be a beautiful name. Привет из Москвы!
In the early 1980's I worked in Nigeria, West Africa. An associate owned a Niva and at Christmas holidays would drive the Niva across the Sahara to North Africa take a ferry across the Med to home in Italy, holiday with family, sell the Niva for a profit, fly back to Nigeria, buy another Niva, and repeat the exercise next Christmas. The Niva was great for him!
Johnny: "Would I own one...." Lada Importer: "You are buying that one you tried to drown!!" Great review Johnny. I becoming to like simple cars.... Dacia Spring EV? Not for sale in UK I know... but they are in France... I live in France!!
Brilliant! Love the Niva. I had a neighbour in Sweden who had one in the 1980s, a red one and it looked so cool. Also remember a Swedish car magazine tested this in 1980 with a Gbwagen, the old style Toyota Land cruiser and two other 4x4s and the Niva was easily comparable with all of them. 👍 Thank you for the video.
Not to worry Johnny, I bought one of the Niva 1.7i models back in 1996 and it was awesome on Snow and Ice where top of the line RR's failed, There are 2 very impressive features the Niva has that never get listed 1) these Cars have the best Heater ever made and 2) the 1996 model came with a 4.0L washer Bottle that had 2 powerful washer motors, One was connected up and if it failed all you had to do was unplug one and plug in the other and swap the hoses over Job Done, I averaged 33 to 38 mpg in mine and the Cossack version came with 5 spoke alloys and the standard version I had came with 8 spoke steel wheels, Back in 1996 the Base model cost £7999.00 and the Cossack was around £9999.00 the Defender was over 16/20K at the time, Thanks Johnny for the video and I hope that Info helps.
@@TheLateBrakeShow always wanted my dad to get one of these he had two Rivas one after the other... people used take the piss at school they was more embarrassing than Skoda's in the early 90s. I even covered my school books in pictures of old Rally Versions
This is the best car review I have ever watched ! The narrator did a real world review, where a new owner would get themselves into trouble. He is awesome because he accepted responsibility for the outcome. Adventurer Quote of the Year: 'This situation is not ideal' Well done man, well done. You are awesome. Keep your chin up, and keep the Niva's chin out of deceptively deep mud holes.
I want one now !! great video, always loved this car, Got a Niva in 1987, definitely agricultural, had a fantastic heater and adjustable radiator blind, brought it direct from the factory with a comprehensive spares kit as well as tool kit and drove it home to the UK from the USSR. Great experience.
As a 16 year old boy in the late 80s I was in centre of Australia in palm valley , sore a land cruiser and a Nissan patrol both get stuck in a rocky deep creek, then this little lada came along and went straight across. I wanted one, although I have owned cruisers and patrols since, i never got the lada, I hope they get these in oz , because this might just be my chance 😎
"brand new classic car" - good description. Also good comparison with Jimny, that actually has less comfort back and boot space.. Both have somewhat ageless design..
The only difference is that Suzuki is known for its reliability, and Niva is known for having to fix it half a time you own it. Very little Russians are buying this car if they can afford used Japanese one.
One of the first jobs I had after leaving school in 1984 was to work as a rust proofer in a garage, I used to spray the wax into all the box sections as you pointed out
Excellent in pulling together the brilliant analogy of the smell being similar to the storeroom of a diving club, then diving right in yourself. Real commitment to a bit.
I owned one for 3 years in Kazakhstan which can be minus 40 in winter and plus 40 in summer - mine had no A/C and I can attest to the fact that Johnny hit the nail absolutely in the head with that description 😂
Had one back in the late 90s loved it fantastic off-road and good on fuel, sold it to a guy who sent it back to Russia where I bet it's still going Today, well done Lada.
I bought my 20 year old weekend car for exactly this reason.... Back to basics motoring. My newish daily has no gearstick, no handbrake, auto brakes (if you forget to), parks itself, puts it's own wipers and lights on.... Aargghhh!!! Need I go on? Long live the Niva! Or actually buy a classic
Niva's are very underrated. Have owned 3 of them in the past and would happily have another one. One of mine, I fitted with 6.50x16 Firestone SAT tyres which gave it over 11 inches ground clearance under the rear diff. Damn thing was almost unstoppable. Always thought it would be good to take out the standard motor and put in a 2 litre twin cam out of a Fiat 132.
@@ipejasinovic As far as I could work out, the block for the Lada 1600 and the block for the Fiat 2000cc are the same exterior dimensions. Pretty sure the 2000cc fiat motor will bolt straight up to the Lada transmission, although probably have to fabricate new engine mounts.
@@unpluggedkiwi1063 Very similar, only one engine mount must be moved and also oil can must be reworked. But only so far, I've found some Alfa engines from that era, around 500€, but w/o carbs.
@@unpluggedkiwi1063 I owned one of those 20 years ago. Fiat 2l twin cam, factory conversion. Went like a scalded cat; you should have seen the looks on the faces of the sneering Torana drivers when I burned them off at the lights!
I love how he says: "although it was a communist design, it was quite advanced for the time"... it's BECAUSE it's was a Communist design that it was advanced, those people worshiped science.
@@kaisersoymilk6912 and were amazed of microwave stoves in 1990s, yeah. The first thing which happened in 1990s, when USSR was over - people (who had any money) tried to get used cars from abroad and foreign electronics. Only science Soviets have done was related to weapons and military stuff. An this is what killed USSR actually.
@@archi-mendel Well, the Lada was also used by the military, so let say it belongs to that category. However, the USSR also produced a lot of theoretical physicist (many of whom won the nobel prize), not bad for a country that was feudal before the revolution. But you're right about the fact that they spent too much for the military. P.S. I'm from western Europe and the first time I saw a microwave oven was around 2010.
@@kaisersoymilk6912 I was getting my phd degree in Russian Academy of Science. The huge issue is that we're great in theoretical science, but we just cannot convert studies into working product. That's why a lot of researches are sold in a form of grants to other countries like Germany, Finland, etc.
Great content as always, Jonny! This car was officially sold in Brazil from early to mid 90s, and I always thought they were so cool when I was a kid. Really wish Lada would sell them again here before its production ends.
I watchd many times your test on the white Niva you did many year ago, it was the only one Videos about a normal man and his approach to the car. Now I found you, again on Niva that give to the man of the street, information about Niva. Maybe, after your video, I'll buy new one. you're the first one talk about differces between the entry level version and the luxury one (you told about glasses different, never read a line about it in Italy, Good job!). Now I'm going to tell to my Lady we will travel on Niva. I'll give you the feedback. Marco from Tuscany (y)
@@JohnBaxendale oh yes the lada car company will probably make some special editions for the S&M seasons catalogue .The Bad Dragon and the Black Mamba editions and for water sport Fans a yellow golden shower edition complete with drain plugs/ butt plugs on the floor and seats ..Russians have questionable tastes and few limits to what they will try to sell.
![[#2024MAMA] ROSÉ (로제), Bruno Mars - APT. | Mnet 241122 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dgGqD28J6aQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Just have a look at the comments. Everybody wants one of these. This review alone is one of the best ad for this little beast.
Have a look, Renault: Johnny just sold millions worth of Nivas for you. Just export them.
Because it's a no BS car. Auto makers can't be bothered to make something reasonably priced, easy and cheap to service anymore. Everything is screens, and software bugs on wheels.
Everyone saying they're getting one, but in reality very few will. It was and still is an awful car.
@@Horizon301. most people would buy a Skoda. But I wouldn't. They are just boring and drab cars and don't have character
@@terrificspokesman7416 Nothing cheerful about it, trust me, I had one for a couple of years. Albeit older (2008). But as it seems not much has changed since, even under the French management. Simplicity is fine but it's just unreliable, uncomfortable and overall poorly manufactured vehicle.
@@Horizon301. Skoda is offering off road vehicle? Think twice.
in Russia, we have a proverb:
The cooler offroader you have, the longer you'll have to walk back on foot to get a tractor
I don’t understand
@@sc1338 the meaning is that the cooler offroader you have, the longer it'll drive before it will inevitably get stuck, so you'll have to walk longer to the nearest village for a tractor that will rescue your fancy offroader
@@sc1338 Конечно не поймёшь, ты же не русский)))
Ну вы и загнули. Идите им теперь объясните наш юмор ) это как " :- дорогая чай хочешь ? : -да нет наверное"
@@cuteanimegirl2922 in Australia we call it "all the gear and no idea"
I owned a Lada Niva in Africa and it would go where a Landrover failed. Cheap, basic and very Russian, it was easy to maintain and reliable. Great vehicle.
It looks so very communist Russia! Bland, boring & basic. But... I'd still take one over ANY Land Rover every time!
I had one dont buy !!! You would spend more time fixing it than driving it!! Its an old Italian design, re-imagined by the soviets , with modern russian quality control(read none) under french management. Pro tip, buy it for a friend. Let him fix it all the time and just ask him to ride it once in a while.
Surely it can't be any worse than Land Rover!??
If there's a hierarchy for reliability in the car world, then Land Rover would be a the very bottom with Yugo and Lada.
@@dukenukem8381 yup but its better than any uk car still
@@bert454 in north america, every single charts, uk cars are at the bottom, sadly we dont have ladas anymore since its the land of superficiality in canada and usa
If desired, this machine could easily cope with this ditch. The driver just got cold feet))) You in Europe with excellent roads need Niva more for fun, we in Russia, where there are not always roads in difficult-to-pass places, Niva is a vital necessity. In good and skillful hands, the machine is a workhorse. Greetings from Russia, Bashkortostan
You are lucky to have rough roads, paved roads are not that great and it makes it too modern.
@@coolboy5428 what? How is someone lucky to not be modern and have crappy roads
@@slimdunkin117 Play on the edge of a bridge and fall
@@coolboy5428 What a moronic comment.
@@paulparoma kk, drink oil
Used to work on these at the Lada import centre in Bridlington in the 80’s. Turned the standard model into the Cossack version, updated the transfer box mountings, added sunroof and alloys. A very capable off-road vehicle. Took one to a 4x4 competition and ended up pulling a land rover out of a ditch that had got stuck. Very underrated. I had a yellow one with black stripes, looked like a wasp.
If you were involved with Lada you might be able to help with a story I have in my head.
I seem to remember that some constabulary that needed 4X4 vehicles bought a bunch of these. The coppers driving took umbrage at getting Ladas and conspired to break them. Their opinions changed on discovering that they couldn't break them.
From what I can remember Wiltshire Constabulary rings a bell but it was 30+ years ago. Supplied as a standard vehicle and police would have modified them I believe. We did do a metallic pink Convertible that was presented to mikhail gorbachev’s wife in the late 80’s.
@@andystork7872 Thanks, that was rumbling through my head.
So you presented a convertible to Raisa Gorbachev(a) UK RHD spec, or you up optioned a Russian Niva?
@@COIcultist. It was if I remember a RHD version. I didn’t present it personally it was kicking around the workshops for a while while it got converted and sprayed up. Presume it was shipped back to Russia.
@peregrinestudio Be worth a Bob or two now. What year is it? I worked on them all 1988/9 then moved into the vehicle rolling road test facility. Loved doing the conversion from standard to Cossack. If it has the 5 spoke white Delta alloy it’s a later 1989 model.
Don't know why, but a car that doesn't speak back to you, with no lane assist, front assist, and other kinds of "assists", seems very appealing in this modern times. It's just you 100% controlling a machine
Хочу обратить внимание на неточность автора. Все кнопки, блоки управления и сиденья не от Рено. Всё русское, от других Лад. Управление фарами от Лада Гранта, кнопки от Лада 2110 и Лада Приора. Блок стеклоподъемников от Датсуна, который был Лада Гранта. Я работаю на заводе, где собирают эти электрокомпоненты.
It's incredible how looks can fool you this lada has abs (anti lock brakes), esc,(electronic stability contro)l, ebd (electronic brake distribution) , bas (brake assist system).
Lane departure warning only triggers when you go out of lane and front assist if you don't stop and you are about to hit a car or person in front so if emergency systems always trigger in your normal driving then you have serious problems and your drivers license is questionable (i not saying you personally im using "you" word as an example). In every car you have complete control even if systems sense that you do some stuff on purpose it won't react unless you are about to hit something it will save in last second and you can turn of everything.
Word utilitarianism attracts. That's it
First time with lane assist and I goddamn nearly hit a pedestrian I swerved away from only for the car to turn me back into it ffs
Johnny is my favourite car reviewer by a mile…no faffing about trying to be funny or clever…well done Johnny 👍
You forgot to mention that it’s a first crossover in the world. And it’s definitely the best soviet car.
Best?.. One of the best, because there are Moscvich 2141 and Buhanka.
@@user-leshiy99rus Ты сделал несколько ошибок в числе "412"
Yes , and what about Chaika ?
Moskvitch definitely was a better car just because it’s a car not a junkbox )
@@dalakop69 fuck .that.uglist car ever...mokshit
23:50 Johnny finds out exactly why the boot release is on the inside 😜
😂😂hahah true
Hahahahah, very good observation, bravo 👏👏👏
I thought the exact same thing! 😂😂
Very true. Enough room in that boot for a self inflating dingy😂
And diff loc low range reverse doesn’t work why?
I'm starting to be attracted to vehicles with less software control that tells you how to drive.
That's a common sentiment until people actually try one. Cars used to suck.
They still suck but it's because of production quality, not because of the software.
@@AnttiBrax no, cars did not suck, it's definitely modern cars that suck. But if you prefer to cede control over your mobility to the rich overlods, fine by me, as long as you realize your vehicle can be shut down remotely, you slave cattle.
@@weedmastersr & @antti Brax
Analog cars suck in certain situations where the modern cars offer certain drivers a desired level of convenience that never used to be feasible within their budget.
Modern cars suck in certain situations where the driver feels the drawbacks inherent in the compromises engineers have had to make in the name of the convenience that are absent in analog cars.
Both are awesome but it all comes down to what you prioritize.
@@weedmastersr You know that the fuel injection and engine management that lets you start your car in pretty much any weather with a single crank is made possible by software? There's more to this subject than just your ridiculous conspiracy theories.
@@AnttiBrax I agree totally. Modern cars are superb. Even the ones that aren't Skoda. I have a new PHEV Golf as a daily driver, but i also have an old gasoline Mercedes w108 280S that i use. It is in mint condition, but hell, it is not a good car at all as modern standards.
It is a nice car, but not a good one. Everything is repairable though, easily. and diagnosing a fault is very easy. And you have to do maintenance a lot. many times a year, not weekly though.
People have forgotten that most cars needed extensive service like valve adjusting, carb rebuild etc. yearly. A blown head gasket was very common and many carried spare one in the boot, that could last only months. Many times even complete teardown and rebuild to engine and gearbox every 100000km was normal back then. Only these luxury cars lasted over 200000km unopened.
People just don't want to remember this shit :D
I live in the French Alps and the Niva is incredibly popular with the ski instructors. I asked one why. His response. "Because i must get to work. If I do not work I do not get paid." He also said the heater was great.
The Niva is truly one of the last "old fashioned" cars you can buy. What a thoroughly great little beast
70 series land cruiser enters conversation.
@@wizzylizzy69 Price
No other motoring show has such diversity, well done Jonny
"This is a brand new car."
I don't know why that made me smile so hard that my face hurt. I'm driving the new 5008 atm and I'd cry for something as simple as the Niva. I'm bloody sick of driving a smartphone.
just do it
Lada's cars are worst thing you can buy for yourself. Quality of their cars are very low, despite their "simplicity". Specifically about the Lada Niva - there is absolutely no margin of safety in any part of these cars. Some parts of the drivetrain may not be able to withstand this "super-powerful" 80 horsepower engine, which is ridiculous. Simplicity is good for such classic, reliable cars such as Mitsubishi Pajero/Pajero Sport/L200, Toyota Land Cruiser/Hilux, and others (maybe some american classic trucks). Russian cars is using 60s technologies, low-wage labor and bad materials. The only more or less reliable part in their cars - are engines, and its only achieved by using cast-iron engine block, thats all. No other benefits. Lada concern is just about making money with minimal changes in design (main purpose - save money, dont build new production lines and dont buy new machine tools). Many manufacturers have come to this today, using a common platform for their cars, but lada is doing this since 80s-90s. As for the price - the average wage in Russia barely reaches $ 500/month, that's all you need to know. My advice is not to buy such items. If you want something simple and reliable - look for brand new Land Cruiser 70s
@@unity2155 ill just ignore your criticism and buy a Lada 2107 and modify it into a sleeper
@@unity2155 you have wrote so much stuff but there;'s one problem: you didn't bring any arguments against it. You just say "do not buy Niva, buy Land Cruiser". That is kinda dumb. And so you know: Niva is a good car.
@@theonehappyorc1235 что тебе нужно объяснять? Как легко сворачиваются редукторы и полуоси из сыромятины под мотором аж 80 лошадиных сил при использовании "внедорожника" по назначению?
I really did not expect to read the words “Lada Niva” in any sentence today, let alone 2021 review….I’m looking forward to this Jonny. Thank you as always for your hard work and quality content!
I call that and raise you with "low emission".
Thank God I did see the words 2021 Lada Niva
"Just treat it like a brand new classic car" says than man who's just driven it into a massive water filled ditch! Great stuff👍
To be fair a massive water filled ditch isn't an inaccurate description of most classic car gatherings I've been to.
Like a Morris Marina.
Oh, wait... wrong tv show...
And mentioned the 2 year warranty whilst standing Infront of a car where the warranty was void.
@@benholroyd5221 You sure that isn't when it starts? Surely it can't be a true Niva if it hasn't been taken swimming, or swamp-scuba-diving as some on TH-cam show, just like it isn't a true Lada Riva if it hasn't stared in a dashcam clip. People send off vessels by smashing a bottle of champagne on it, Ladas are sent off by being driven into something :)
@@markwright3161 I believe that's dealt with in the factory, by Boris after his liquid lunch.
I owned one in GER for 4 years now, and every day i start that engine, cant stop smiling 😊
You can't buy a Jimny any more due to emissions but you can still buy an AMG G Wagon 😂
You can in Australia, but there’s no stock in the country.
You can buy the Jimny as a van, without the rear sets, because commercial vehicles aren't subject to such strict regulations.
@@tonydoggett7627 actually, i just picked one up, but there was a 6 month wait :(
How does that work.
@@jamesbonomy42 stupid emissions laws in the UK, I'm not entirely sure!
You my man are the legend with thinking outside the box and presenting this car. This is very much car for me, no stupid electronics following my every move and sending data somewhere, can fix it by my self, and left hand drive so can easily drive it across Europe to see my Mum (after the restrictions that is). Great channel. Best wishes from York, UK.
I bought one at the beginnig of the year and I totally love it! It's soooo basic but that's actually the main charm of the car! I haven't owned such a reliable working car in a really long time... We use it for a really hard terrain and work on the farm but also for long road trips and it's super great! Yeah, not very comfortable, but I don't really mind it haha... If you are considering one, definitely go for it!
I love Niva. I bought one for £50 from a local farmer and ran it for 2 years. It was just epic fun. If ever I was to buy another brand new car this would be it. I’ll take a lift kit too please!
Funny how it doesn’t come with a the option of factory fitted tow bar.
@@paulsz6194 I preferred the old style side opening rear door of the original too. Especially with the spare mounted on it like my old car. I still prefer this over the Jimny though.
@@Retrobeemer £50 is an absolute bargain, pay that much for a good night out at a restaurant for two. I know the engines are bullet proof so long as you change the oil & filter regularly. What sort of mileage did you get out of it?
Ladas are great i culd follow forest trucks TAM 150 (look up the internet its masive ) and only thing that failed is cardio rubber so it vibrates shit load rn and i am kinda layz to change it other things are working fine
In the entire history of car reviews THIS is the best car review EVER! Period.
It is Johnny
I second that, I was just about to type the same 👍
Don't do drugs kids.
@Murdo Campbell, best car ever made Lada Niva.
Эх, родной вой раздатки слышен даже на видео. Некоторые вещи не стареют 😅
Hello from Russia.
Прям с языка сорвал))
Hell from Russia))) Ниву можно узнать не глядя на нее по вою раздатки и по вечно работающему вентилятору))
У джимми тоже воет раздатка
@@СтепанФилипас точно раздатка, не у тебя в голове воет?
Если от Шеви Нивы поставить, то не будет выть, там зуб другой.
“People loved a simple rugged car”… if only Land Rover hadn’t forgot…
the problem is the old mangement is not there anymore, all vehicles are suvs now, and not 2a or series 3 style
Land Rover only cares how much they can charge for. So, throw as much garbage as you can in the car, so that you can claim "luxury", so that you can jack up the price.
If any major manufacturer made a simple rugged car I suspect they'd absolutely clean up.
@@cornishhh Ford is trying to do that with the Bronco, they had some good success over the last year. Now to wait a couple more years until all the Bronco's start having issues and another company will pick up where Ford left off. And the cycle continues.
I don't care how rugged it looks, I don't give a shit. I just don't want the bastard to break down, period. I don't want to have to fix it every weekend. So for me, the trucks to have are a Toyota Land Cruiser or Hilux or Nissan Patrol.
I started offroading many years ago in the Suzuki Samurai, then Jimny, and now Nissan Patrol. Always had a soft spot for the Lada Niva. Never had one, but I would consider one as the modern 4x4 are overcomplicated techno junk. I think manufacturers are missing a trick - there are still owners who want simple to maintain yourself cars. Great video. Liked!
You want simple get a SWB defender or a Mitsubishi Pajero SWB from the early 90s. They are basic tough and simple 4wds.
@glenn oc No offence, but have you seen the prices Defenders fetch nowadays? Way overpriced IMO. Pajero's can be had for reasonable money yes. I've got a 2002 Patrol at the minute - it's easy to work on and tough as old boots. Plenty of choice with the older cars, but my point was the new stuff is mostly fragile overcomplicated garbage...
@@GdaySport some new 4wds are still quite simple still, the Jeep wrangler, the land cruiser comes to mind.
@@glennoc8585 Land Cruiser 40 000 and Niva 7000 Euro :)
@@glennoc8585 Dont like to disappoint you but those in a stock configuration ain't a match for the lada niva in a rough terrain
Love it! Wanted one of these years ago when I was a teenager, just think it’s a step into a simpler time, great windup windows where you don’t have to fight the control to just open it a little.
I had one of these as a work car back in the day. We towed Range Rovers out of the muddy gateway at a couple of events I worked at. Most amusing except to the R Rover owners club
Normally a thorough dose of WD40 would cure RR issues when wading.
me thinks you are spewing bull shit.
Thanks Jonny - for a great review of the Niva - the thinking man’s G-Wagen. An thanks for showing the honesty of your unexpected ‘dip’ in that pool. Brilliant and so endearing to you and the Niva.
Great video. You have to love a utilitarian car. An EV on the same principle would also be mega.
@@neillgatley8770 Could be a weight issue, these petrol 4x4 depend on being lightweight, with a little engine and not much in the way of luxuries.
If you want some range, battery weight might be an issue? I'd love to be proven wrong though :)
@@ike1660 the kerb weight of a range rover is close to 2 tonnes. I am sure the new hummer is not light. While lightness can be an advantage, it has not stopped a lot of 4x4 manufacturers from making a heavily piston car. For me, the simplicity of an electric drive train is attractive. I am disappointed that it then get married to a complicated car. The lada manual door handles, windows and basic interior is something to be emulated by more modern cars.
@@neillgatley8770 I agree about the whole simple electric car thing. I'd love one (I'm a current base model Defender driver complete with wind up windows).
However, I think the pointing out that Range Rovers are heavy is kind of the opposite of the original point. The Niva and similar vehicles are great off road, nimble, etc. because they're light. It is difficult to make an EV as light because of the weight of the batteries. You'd be taking out a 50kg engine and replacing it with 300kg of batteries. Or something.
Check out the MW Motors Spartan - it's a UAZ Hunter (469) converted to EV. UAZ are still making the Hunter new in IC as well.
I love how it's design hasn't changed since it first hit production.
There are a video comparison between 1978 niva and 2017 niva made by auto review th-cam.com/video/PQwFKz6TseY/w-d-xo.html
You can't improve perfect. lol
Why fix something that isn't broken?
The fact that they're still being made puts a smile on my face. Automakers take note: *THIS* is how you get longevity, by keeping things simple! Also, Jonny gets brownie points for rocking a Detroit Red Wings shirt! Greetings BTW, I'm from Michigan.
Red wings rock!
Had a Niva in the late 90s I loved it! Was soo much fun, had an original manual and for certain jobs it said to go to your local blacksmith 😅
I was featured in a 4x4 magazine in the 90s in my Niva keeping up with my Landrover owning friends 😁
My father hd it in 80. That was shit as hell.
One of the best looking, never outdated, all-capable old style 4x4's you can buy.
For sale: Lada Niva demo, low mileage. Engine only flooded once
One careful lady owner...
Never Been OFF ROAD
Owner had a shorter right leg, so never raved to max 😃
@@M0LHA and several not so!!!.
The last bit is actually the best advert for this car :)
I love it. The simplicity, the character, the looks, the ruggedness, just love it!
Like a lot of people I have laughed at LADA cars over the years. But After watching Garage54 and there attempts to kill all kinds of LADA's and failing every time. I now have a new appreciation for them. After watching Johnny do this review I'd buy one off him if he was the salesman.
What is missing in most of today's auto landscape is a simple and tough, low to no luxury, vehicle.
Yes.
Like the VW the The Thing , remember those ?
I've owned a 93 Niva 1.600cc carburated model, for 3 years between 2011-2014, used it in stock condition, for fun & off-road trips and some serious ones. Had no issues at all, it had never let me down. I had to sell it due to life-changing decisions.
Then I got another one, in 2018. I went for a 2011 1.700cc injection model, with the idea of buying a younger, fresher Niva and use it as both a daily car and fun car. I was planning to have more fun by upgrading it. Tuned the Ecu, gone for bigger tires, upgraded the suspension with new coils and shock absorbers, changed the final gear ratio, went for locked rear diff, installed comfy seats, upgraded the sound insulation etc.
When I was at the verge of installing A/C, I ended up selling it..
My conclusions were,
1) I Don't know if the newer ones are crappier, but the more complicated, is the worse for these kinds of simple design machines. Modifications (except the suspension upgrade) didn't pay off for me, they didn't upgrade the car even half as much as they cost, compared to the car's cost. The performance/price ratio of the stock car was so high, that by any modifications I just decreased it...
2) It's a cult design, but don't be too optimistic (like me) to think It would be cool to use it as a daily car. It's just out of date, and it hits you back sooner or later. Thinking of it as an ATV with a closed cabin, would lead to more accurate decisions.
3) This car is very capable and great fun in stock and simple condition..
I just wish, I didn't have to sell the simpler and more reliable carburated version...
All in all, I don't regret any of the two. I had good times with both, I recommend it to anyone who is thinking of buying one, but just make sure to manage your expectations well before buying.
You should make your own chenel dude ,very informative comment ,you express your self like professional journalist...that awesome dude
I have a 2005 Niva which I had in Greece and brought back to the UK with me. It's the "apocalypse survival" model 🤣. It's not everyone's idea of a classic but it is to me 😍 Thank you for reviewing this awesome little 4x4.
Johnny this is why we love you! The only motor journalist with his own style, featuring car content that is actually interesting, not like all the rest copy-cats so called journalists, who do the same stuff over and over, boring the viewer to death. Thanks
I remember my buddy's still having the crank start in the front of the engine. Amazingly tough vehicle. Wish they were still in Canada.
They should keep the crank as a usable item
My buddy had one with the crank. It was awesome.
I just watched a Lada review from start to finish,
and enjoyed it.
I had a 94 base model for ten years . Cracking lil 4x4 . Bullet proof reliable & if it does go wrong nothing that cant be fixed with an adjustable & a screw driver. Took the back seats out once & got an FS1E in the back . Used to show motors 10 times the price up off road . Only got rid of it because the bird at the time didnt like it ( hand painted olive green with a hammer & sickle on each door). Kicking myself now ... Only draw back it needs more oomph & dont even think about towing.
As a kid, used to laugh at them, now, I wouldn't actually mind one.
It's a death trap, bro.
@@basshead. You sure? Idk I'm gonna get one it has so much personality and that 70s style that I adore!
@@sakku1040 passive and active safety features are from 70s also :) but still it has abs and side airbag (only one)
Just thinking the same thing!
When You drive one since one hour all charm will dissapear faster than charm of woman when you discovered that is transvestite 😆
ULEZ was also a character slur back in the day.
Great review Johny, Love the way you take it completely seriously, unlike most other motoring journalists would.
Fun fact: some 40 Nivas were used during the construction of the channel tunnel. Also interesting, swapping the engine of the Niva was quite a popular sport in the balkans (maybe all of eastern europe?) in the 90s. Most Nivas ended with a N/A diesel of a Fiat, VW or Peugeot flavour, but some guys went a different way - and found that the brilliant Fiat twin cam fits in rather easily. Those are almost infinitely tunable, and theoretically, you could fit the 8v turbo from early 'grales or themas. Altough I don't belive Nivas dirivetrain could cope
I owned a Mirafiori Twin Cam powered Niva in the 90s.
Fun in the forest 😊
The problem is that the transmission and axles of the Niva are taken from Lada cars, which made it cheaper. That is why the Niva was the world's 1st car with permanent all-wheel drive and a load-bearing body - so there is less load on the transmission. Niva needs a more powerful engine, but the transmission will not stand it.
Is a video on TH-cam, of a Greek mechanic fitting a Mercedes’ engine on a Niva.
@@СергейТютюма well it depends what you take as transmission. the gearbox itself is fine, though the cardan shafts itself can break, but there are many upgrades (and apparently it is not as much as deal on the later ones). the engine itself can be tuned either atmospherically or by a turbo, for instance they fit TD04 turbocharger to the engine and make usable power. those engines when fully built, can withstand powers, that many subaru or honda owners can be proud of. but for normal driving, i would say 140-150 hp (with that td04 turbo) is a very good amount for general use. using more than 200 hp is almost dangerous 😂🤣
Merch idea: black outline image of you climbing out the back on T-Shirt. 'This isn't ideal'. You're welcome.
I would buy that.
Me too.
I endorse this suggestion :-)
Merch shop?
I would buy this
Always liked these - they got much of this right at the time with the engineering and it still looks better than most 4x4s
I wouldn't mind having one, 4 years ago I saw one in display. It looked great , had the city pack which included leather seats, seat heating and fully colored plastic bumpers.
I owned a second hand one back in 1988 - and loved it. I remember parking off-road, leg cocked and couldn't close the tailgate until leg was un-cocked. This is the bane of a monocoque off-roader. On-road rythmic vibration at 60mph due to the horrendous angle of the short prop from the transfer box, and a rough as nuts Fiat 1600. But I loved it. In the meantime I've had a 4.0 Jeep Wrangler and now drive a 1989 L.R. 90.
I'd have another Niva - no problem. Thanks for the review.
One of the most entertaining reviews I've watched in ages. Brilliant stuff!
Niva is so sick and I so wanted it when I was 10! I had Jimny, Merc Gwagen and Jepp Cherokee since, but I still want this thing.
Johnny you are one of the rear real enthusiast I love watching , you did the Niva justice and drive it in it's intended environment . My uncle use to be a teacher who volunteered to teach in the most remote villages and his car of choice was a Niva , Nothing else could get him in and out of those remote off-road locations for 10 years .
My uncle had five Lada s loved them all. He’s a old boy now but still driving wait till I show him this. His Skoda will be up for sale next week 😃
I wouldent show him .He will spend all your inheritance buying a new fully loaded one .just saying .
It's a great cheap car
This is a great car and it makes people happy
The design is iconic
If the 2023 model doesn't do well, there is always an option
Go with this version
I can't wait to buy one after i pass my drivers licence
I've never had any car lust until this. I love the Niva.... I want one.
You won't regret it. I've pulled out many stuck-in-mud high priced 4x4's with mine! This car works like a watch, it lasts and always gets the job done easily.
You know that'll still be going strong for years when every Q5 or equivalent has died a premature death with a chocolate engine failure or dual clutch gearbox gremlin. Top episode and enjoyed that. 👍😁
It's the first time I read about "chocolate" engine failure. Don't ruin chocolate for me please!
@@curbowman don't put chocolate in your engine 😜
You should try UAZ 469 (military spec from 1980s, with higher clearance). Simple, light, powerful - and will get you anywhere. Would be interesting to put it side by side with Defender 90 on a terrain tougher than this.
God I wish we could get these in the US. We literally have no cool affordable off roaders. The Jimny would destroy wrangler sales especially that 4 door. Jeep would finally have to lower the ridiculous price on the wrangler.
There is someone importing used Russian cars to America , somewhere near Seattle , has a few containers there with Moskvich , Lada and Volga cars in them
th-cam.com/video/JSQy7y5OJss/w-d-xo.html . Link to a video about a guy from New Zealand who bought a Niva from the place and drove it back to Florida .
The other option is to come to Ukraine and buy one , then get it shipped back to America , you can find a reasonable one for $2500
@@MrTarmonbarry and that guy discovered a hole in a gas tank on his niva if you watch those videos. thats ridiculous, for the money they ask they dont even bother to check what they are selling. hope he asked for compensation for a gas chamber he had to experience.
@@Timsturbs Yes i watched it to the end and saw the petrol tank problem , nice easy fix though. If he had spent just a little more time investigating he would have found the problem on the way back
. The price ??, well that thing had been shipped from probably Russia , Ukraine or somewhere in that area so that would not have been cheap . Quick search says shipping ''starts'' at $1100 but you know its never going to be anywhere near that .
To the sellers credit that Niva was in amazing condition for its age so that was probably reflected in the price .
I would guess he probably contacted the seller and they worked something out but he seemed pretty laid back and might have just let it go
@@MrTarmonbarry "problem" xD petrol spilling all over the car is a life endangering disaster.
and its condition seems decent because it got "preselling preparation" as they call it, meaning its a quickly welded - painted body with parts slapped from a dozen donor cars somewhere in post soviet garage co-op.
its not your "customer is always right" western type of business, its "customer is always a goof" post soviet type of business.
record all conversations with them, force them to make clear statements about car condition, call for consumers right protection, insist on your rights, dont be shy, they wont as they usually have barely any morale at all.
@@Timsturbs Hmmmm, do i detect an anti soviet and anti ex soviet attitude ?? So where did you get all this insider information about the build ETC ?? I'm curious
I’m in Australia and had one of these in the 90’s - while low ratio was not really that low it was a nifty car all the same …… I like how the original look is pretty much retained even all the way down to the nasty steering column.
They came here c1990 with the Samara and Niki. I remember people surprised how well they were off road but the see air had them rusted within a couple of short years!
Orange coloured ones were popular in Australia but they were not common. Suzuki sierras and SWB Pajero were the popular small 4wd in Oz
Holy smokes that's a great little thing! Totally best car review, this takes me back to the 80s and how simple some cars were back then. Just what I want in these modern uncertain times. Simple, cheap, reliable. I'm sold
2 LADA NIVAS OWNER HERE. Lada Niva runs in our blood here in Greece. It's an absolute beast and at least until 10 years ago you could see a lot of them in the streets. As a hunter, my father and I had 2 nivas. Very hard to drive cars, very bad clutch, very bad quality interior, a lot of electrical errors, bad breaks, terrible cabin noise, max speed 130kmh and 0-100 (0-62) in 19 seconds and the electric windows wouldn't close all the way up. BUT... Servicing was cheap, it has low gears, it's a BEAST offroad, it isn't prone to rolling in the corners like the jimny and it's cheap. My take: if you don't live in a rural area and you are not into outdoors activities, don't buy one.
Happy to help anyone who wants to buy one.
Ps: if you buy one, buy with manual windows
There's a certain satisfaction in driving a vehicle with off-road capabilities that is invaluable to a lot of people. I've got a property in the bush over here in Canada. Even though, in this pandemic, I don't go there as often as I'd like, it gives me great satisfaction that I could go there almost any time without too much of a problem. I haven't needed my off-road capabilities in 2 years now but I'm still glad they're there. Dreams sometimes count more than just economics. Good luck hunting.
@@edbruder9975 I agree with you. Except for Lada I only have Italian cars, driving satisfaction over high maintenance costs! It just gets too annoying sometimes. You go the mechanic, he calibrates the brakes and after one week they are off again... It needs some refinement which is partially done as I see in the video. A new engine maybe! (It has the same since the 80s)
If vehicles of this class were available in the US, 500 thousand would be sold in year one.
Unfortunately, that'll NEVER happen (again). The US is so "safe" now, that even MENTIONING the word "fun" will land you in the gulag!
Perfect little rig for the Boundary Waters Canoe area for camping. Bet it would get on and off a frozen lake easily. Just need roof racks for the camping gear and the ice auger and pop up. I would love this rig as the perfect companion for my crusty/rusty old Suburban Z71.
You can buy a 2006 and onwards model in Russia and register it in Canada
not really, you guys (in average) are nationalistic "patriots".
You buy inferior jeeps any time of the day, no matter how much better a nissan / toyota / mitzubishi / landrover defender-discovery offroader may be at the same price class.
In an unbiased(!!! does not exist in the us) comparision.
You also confuse long (bad for going over crests) heavy (bad for all sorts of off-road reasons) pickup trucks with beeing off-road vehicles, for no added gain except the ability to spit down on the roofs of smaller cars.
(just look at what australians use, and they do know their offroad business like no other)
Maybe its all import tax related? but i think that would be a too easy explanation:
A niva has no chance in the u.s. after all its "russian" ... it would only have less of a chance if it was chinese.
@@zoolkhan lol! Imagine calling Americans dumb because they supposedly can’t off-road! Yeah, there are the wannabe off-roaders with their shiny monster trucks but there is also plenty of serious off-roading in the US. Nothing wrong with being patriotic by the way. America is great!! I’ve seen other parts of the world including some of the first world countries. Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than the USA.
Gotta love the air intake high up in the hood, perfect for taking these through the water assuming the rest of the breathers are high up too. This car really is the last of the old breed of dedicated, workhorse, rugged cars. Yes it has extra features now but the original soul and intent remains.
I own an old VW Iltis and there are so many features that one can see carrying between these two cars from a similar generation of off-roader.
Friends had one in the late 80s, early 90s. We used to always pop the rear coils spring out of their top bracket, easy to push back into place. Like the Suzies, light and almost go anywhere off road. Our Suzie was originally 3 cylinder, when it died we replaced it with a Corolla 1.8L 4 cylinder. It burnt rubber on all fours. Great memories. Didn't know they still make these.
I fell in love with this car when I saw it on Top Gear. James and Jeremy were driving around Russia in all kinds of Commie cars, and the last one they drove was the Niva, bashing it through a field and into mud holes and Jeremy said that he actually loved that little car.
But for some reason I love it so much that I named my own daughter after a Russian car that I'm kinda scared to import into the US because I might be put on some kind of watch list or something. I don't know why I want this plucky little car so bad but I just do.
Actually, Lada is a Russian (Slavic) female name.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_(given_name)
@@romanalexandrovich9785 If I have another girl I'll be sure to name her Lada.
@@nickknee3515 I went to Russia for ten years on a "capitalist" Cherokee XJ.And no one tried to put me on any lists. I think it's time for Russia to bring democracy to the world, and not vice versa. I'm laughing out of kindness. It turns out that you gave your daughter a unique name twice. The first is the car model. The second meaning of the word "niva" means a wide field sown with wheat to the horizon. It turned out to be a beautiful name. Привет из Москвы!
In the early 1980's I worked in Nigeria, West Africa. An associate owned a Niva and at Christmas holidays would drive the Niva across the Sahara to North Africa take a ferry across the Med to home in Italy, holiday with family, sell the Niva for a profit, fly back to Nigeria, buy another Niva, and repeat the exercise next Christmas. The Niva was great for him!
Johnny: "Would I own one...."
Lada Importer: "You are buying that one you tried to drown!!"
Great review Johnny. I becoming to like simple cars.... Dacia Spring EV? Not for sale in UK I know... but they are in France... I live in France!!
We used to see these Niva’s years ago all over the Alpes parked next to Panda 4x4’s!
I'd love one of these. So simple and no frills. Would be great for taking my dogs out to the countryside. Unfortunately, no one sells them in Canada!
makes me all warm and fuzzy knowing the Niva is back from the afterlife
It never went anywhere
Brilliant! Love the Niva. I had a neighbour in Sweden who had one in the 1980s, a red one and it looked so cool. Also remember a Swedish car magazine tested this in 1980 with a Gbwagen, the old style Toyota Land cruiser and two other 4x4s and the Niva was easily comparable with all of them. 👍
Thank you for the video.
Not to worry Johnny, I bought one of the Niva 1.7i models back in 1996 and it was awesome on Snow and Ice where top of the line RR's failed, There are 2 very impressive features the Niva has that never get listed 1) these Cars have the best Heater ever made and 2) the 1996 model came with a 4.0L washer Bottle that had 2 powerful washer motors, One was connected up and if it failed all you had to do was unplug one and plug in the other and swap the hoses over Job Done, I averaged 33 to 38 mpg in mine and the Cossack version came with 5 spoke alloys and the standard version I had came with 8 spoke steel wheels, Back in 1996 the Base model cost £7999.00 and the Cossack was around £9999.00 the Defender was over 16/20K at the time, Thanks Johnny for the video and I hope that Info helps.
My favourite thing about the Lada Niva is the way it always looks really surprised.
Me too!
@@TheLateBrakeShow It is good to show suprise and not to expect the NKVD. At least you must pretend the look of innocence!
@@TheLateBrakeShow always wanted my dad to get one of these he had two Rivas one after the other... people used take the piss at school they was more embarrassing than Skoda's in the early 90s. I even covered my school books in pictures of old Rally Versions
@@TheLateBrakeShow 😳
Absolutely and unequivocally the best TH-cam video ever made. Amazing work Jonny Smith.
This is the best car review I have ever watched ! The narrator did a real world review, where a new owner would get themselves into trouble. He is awesome because he accepted responsibility for the outcome. Adventurer Quote of the Year: 'This situation is not ideal' Well done man, well done. You are awesome. Keep your chin up, and keep the Niva's chin out of deceptively deep mud holes.
I was eyeing up one last mad fast piston engine car before being forced into a PHEV, scrap that I want a niva
Do it Luke. Honestly you won't regret it.
We need to step back and enjoy the piston a little longer.......
Better choice
@@TheLateBrakeShow maybe not during ownership, but he will on resale when he gets buttons back from his 17k.
It like the first time I`ve seen a Niva got stuck, yet, now I think I`m even more certain I like to have one or two of these brilliant little cars
In Macedonia we say:
"Where a donkey will not go, Niva will".
And donkeys are known to be good transport in hard to go places.
In Greek macedonia?becuase you are skopia!.
You mean Vardaska
@@greekshadow1319 No, I meant Macedonia.
@@JasOkTiOk What Macedonia means? It's a slavic word? Inform me because I know nothing about it.
@@greekshadow1319 well said, you know nothing about it
I want one now !! great video, always loved this car, Got a Niva in 1987, definitely agricultural, had a fantastic heater and adjustable radiator blind, brought it direct from the factory with a comprehensive spares kit as well as tool kit and drove it home to the UK from the USSR. Great experience.
Это невероятно 👍
I love that it is so basic, that you have to highlight "so, yeah in the back it's got two seatbelts".
Because it's got only 4 seats
As a 16 year old boy in the late 80s I was in centre of Australia in palm valley , sore a land cruiser and a Nissan patrol both get stuck in a rocky deep creek, then this little lada came along and went straight across. I wanted one, although I have owned cruisers and patrols since, i never got the lada, I hope they get these in oz , because this might just be my chance 😎
Great memory Ryan. You now need to buy one finally!
"brand new classic car" - good description. Also good comparison with Jimny, that actually has less comfort back and boot space.. Both have somewhat ageless design..
The only difference is that Suzuki is known for its reliability, and Niva is known for having to fix it half a time you own it.
Very little Russians are buying this car if they can afford used Japanese one.
One of the first jobs I had after leaving school in 1984 was to work as a rust proofer in a garage, I used to spray the wax into all the box sections as you pointed out
This test was as good and honest as the Niva itsself. Bravo!
Those bumpers are right out of the 80’s, as is everything else. I want one!
I was thinking the same.
70s
That 5 speed is bulletproof. Late 80s beginning on 90s 5 speed was only in FWD cars . From 1995 5 speed manual was in RWD and 4x4 cars as well.
almost bought one this LADAs in 87 but got a 87 civic 1500s instead...
These are pretty terrible cars tbh checked one out. You'll have tons of issues with it
Excellent in pulling together the brilliant analogy of the smell being similar to the storeroom of a diving club, then diving right in yourself. Real commitment to a bit.
I owned one for 3 years in Kazakhstan which can be minus 40 in winter and plus 40 in summer - mine had no A/C and I can attest to the fact that Johnny hit the nail absolutely in the head with that description 😂
Best feature: A Niva starts as easily at 40 degrees Centigrade, as it does at -40 degrees Centigrade...
Lada Niva - the litmus test for whether you're a true car pervert or not 😁.
So so true
Just before you went in there, I was thinking “wonder if there’s an aftermarket snorkel available” 🤣
There is.....
@@TheLateBrakeShow try it again with a snorkel?
@@allothernamesbutthis Taiga + Snorkel + TireSuspensionupgrade + GutsnBalls = Fun in the Pothole
There are pictures of Nivas under water like submarines
So when this happens, u take the plugs out and the filter, start it to let the water out and thats it ?
I used to have one of these to drive up to the New Zealand ski fields, left all the other namby pamby 4x4's stuck in the snow. Awesome
Can you imagine trying it in some overrated, overcomplicated Q7 or X5? I 'd be in the Lada anyday.
Had one back in the late 90s loved it fantastic off-road and good on fuel, sold it to a guy who sent it back to Russia where I bet it's still going Today, well done Lada.
I bought my 20 year old weekend car for exactly this reason.... Back to basics motoring. My newish daily has no gearstick, no handbrake, auto brakes (if you forget to), parks itself, puts it's own wipers and lights on.... Aargghhh!!! Need I go on?
Long live the Niva! Or actually buy a classic
In the 80's I bought a 1600 and these demonstrations are child's play, compared to what I demanded of my Lada.
Heck of an ending Jonny.
Some would say, “not ideal”.
Others, “NIVA Again!”
Niva's are very underrated. Have owned 3 of them in the past and would happily have another one. One of mine, I fitted with 6.50x16 Firestone SAT tyres which gave it over 11 inches ground clearance under the rear diff. Damn thing was almost unstoppable. Always thought it would be good to take out the standard motor and put in a 2 litre twin cam out of a Fiat 132.
Yes. I'm also looking to buy one for my Niva :) Twin cam, Lamperdi design
@@ipejasinovic As far as I could work out, the block for the Lada 1600 and the block for the Fiat 2000cc are the same exterior dimensions. Pretty sure the 2000cc fiat motor will bolt straight up to the Lada transmission, although probably have to fabricate new engine mounts.
@@unpluggedkiwi1063 Very similar, only one engine mount must be moved and also oil can must be reworked. But only so far, I've found some Alfa engines from that era, around 500€, but w/o carbs.
@@unpluggedkiwi1063 I owned one of those 20 years ago. Fiat 2l twin cam, factory conversion. Went like a scalded cat; you should have seen the looks on the faces of the sneering Torana drivers when I burned them off at the lights!
Actually, NIVA was the first 4x4 with integral body, if I am not mistaken.
И первым с передней независимой пружинной подвеской.
I love how he says: "although it was a communist design, it was quite advanced for the time"... it's BECAUSE it's was a Communist design that it was advanced, those people worshiped science.
@@kaisersoymilk6912 and were amazed of microwave stoves in 1990s, yeah. The first thing which happened in 1990s, when USSR was over - people (who had any money) tried to get used cars from abroad and foreign electronics.
Only science Soviets have done was related to weapons and military stuff. An this is what killed USSR actually.
@@archi-mendel Well, the Lada was also used by the military, so let say it belongs to that category.
However, the USSR also produced a lot of theoretical physicist (many of whom won the nobel prize), not bad for a country that was feudal before the revolution.
But you're right about the fact that they spent too much for the military.
P.S. I'm from western Europe and the first time I saw a microwave oven was around 2010.
@@kaisersoymilk6912 I was getting my phd degree in Russian Academy of Science. The huge issue is that we're great in theoretical science, but we just cannot convert studies into working product. That's why a lot of researches are sold in a form of grants to other countries like Germany, Finland, etc.
Great content as always, Jonny! This car was officially sold in Brazil from early to mid 90s, and I always thought they were so cool when I was a kid. Really wish Lada would sell them again here before its production ends.
I’m so glad this car still exists!
still made, you mean.
@@RWL2012 no I mean exists..
I watchd many times your test on the white Niva you did many year ago, it was the only one Videos about a normal man and his approach to the car. Now I found you, again on Niva that give to the man of the street, information about Niva. Maybe, after your video, I'll buy new one. you're the first one talk about differces between the entry level version and the luxury one (you told about glasses different, never read a line about it in Italy, Good job!). Now I'm going to tell to my Lady we will travel on Niva. I'll give you the feedback. Marco from Tuscany
(y)
‘It’s extremely rubbery… it’s like going into the store room of a diving club’
For a certain audience, this could be a paid for optional extra...
@@JohnBaxendale oh yes the lada car company will probably make some special editions for the S&M seasons catalogue .The Bad Dragon and the Black Mamba editions and for water sport Fans a yellow golden shower edition complete with drain plugs/ butt plugs on the floor and seats ..Russians have questionable tastes and few limits to what they will try to sell.
I was so glad he used the diving club analogy and not the Ann Summers one. There, I said it. Funnily enough a wet suit was almost required at the end.