What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

[edwood]

Hey there BG 4x4 people,
I'm thinking about buying a 2nd hand 4x4 - maybe a Lada Niva. Does anyone know if they are any good? Are there other cars on the market of a similar spec? someone mentioned a Russian brand - laz?

I don't want to spend too much money and I'm also a bit concerned about MPG, what with the rising fuel costs and the damage caused by big engined vehicles....I don't think I'l be doing anything too extreme in my car but think it'd be good to have something like the Niva for holidays and weekends.

Where should I look for these kinds of cars? My bulgarian isn't that good.

okay sorry for all the questions, any thoughts appreciated

[huko]

До: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

Hi there,

As I assume you live here in BG?
The main concern here is not purchase but maintanance of a vehicle. My advice would be - first, find a person or a Service you can trust to keep your weels spinnig, than consult him/them what to buy.
The brand of the 4x4 would depend mainly on the purpose you'll use it for. Niva does not have solid metal framce for a chassy and has poor articulation with its original suspension. As other Rusiian vehicals it needs constant maintanance, and if you are not capable of performing basic mechanical interventions - it is not the car for you.

Good luck with your purchase, just be patient, do not rush it.

[kuzdov]

До: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

The better choice for you is Suzuki Samurai or Vitara. They cost about the same money, but are times better than Niva or UAZ for your purpose IMHO

[edwood]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

yeah I'm here in Sofia. Could u recommend some trustworthy eng speaking folks who I could deal with? I'm partial to the idea of Suzukis but quite like the idea of an eastern car as I'm here in the (south) east. cheers for comments any further ideas appreciated...

[Dirk]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

best deal for your money is a discovery 1

upper class offroader, very strong and cheap in parts (not as in Japanese cars) and easy to work on. They are well maintained in general.

Beware of some invisable rust (outer shell is aluminum, but inner bodywork isn't)

Do not buy the V8 or you'll pay more taxes registering then the car is worth.

If you have the possibility of buying abroad, do not hesitate.

Good luck

[edwood]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

i don't want anything that looks too mutra or too mum's on school run...i like the idea of a russian car. are they that much of a pain in the arse?

[митко]

До: Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

are they that much of a pain in the arse?

big time but the folks still use to drive them.

[Dirk]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

i don't want anything that looks too mutra or too mum's on school run...i like the idea of a russian car. are they that much of a pain in the arse?

Get a Uaz and a set of screwdrivers if you like the Russian offroaders
They even break down looking at them.
Btwn if you go offroad, you don't want your car to brake down on a steep hilldescend or in the middle of nowhere

fe: this is what a Disco can become with minimal mods.

[edwood]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

even with all those crazy modifications I can still see the Mum on the school run in the landrover discovery...why r u guys so anti russian motors? Pls speak in laymans terms, I understand rust and other basic things but I'm no good (hence why you're trying to steer me away from them)....but I'd like to know.

[Dirk]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

even with all those crazy modifications I can still see the Mum on the school run in the landrover discovery...why r u guys so anti russian motors? Pls speak in laymans terms, I understand rust and other basic things but I'm no good (hence why you're trying to steer me away from them)....but I'd like to know.

Spend a few 1000 on buying this and as much on repairs in the bushes or mountains and you'll get the picture.
in layman terms: every day another screw

Btw have you done some offroad before ?

[huko]

До: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

If you are so much into russian cars...
Niva is actualy a car, you have to know that. It is not good onroad if you want to travel a lot. Offroad - its poor articulation will amaze you.
If you WANT a offroader - buy UAZ - it is a military vehicle offering spartan komfort and handling.
All vehicles need reparing, russian ones just need it constantly.

My advice would be - make a few test drives. May be you'll find out russian vehicles are too spartan.
If you still like them after the test drives - buy one - may be you'll enjoi fixing the car as much as driving it.

[edwood]

Re: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

ok sooo where can I test drive some Russian monsters....? It would probably do very little offroading to be honest, more of a rubbish anti car pose that said i'd like to buzz round the balkans for a year in a bit...can anyone recommend a sofia (pref) place i can find any?

[huko]

До: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

There is no special place you can find old russian cars
You can use http://mobile.bg/pcgi/main.cgi?topmenu=2&leftmenu=2 and check for offers.

If you are not going to do much offroading, my advice would be: buy a long base Vitara - it is cheap to buy and maintain, it is reliable enough and you will be able to drive it for hours. If you put a BF Goodrich T/A tyres you can take it for some off-road.

[prado]

До: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

There is no special place you can find old russian cars
You can use http://mobile.bg/pcgi/main.cgi?topmenu=2&leftmenu=2 and check for offers.

If you are not going to do much offroading, my advice would be: buy a long base Vitara - it is cheap to buy and maintain, it is reliable enough and you will be able to drive it for hours. If you put a BF Goodrich T/A tyres you can take it for some off-road.

Hi
Huko is right you dont need Russian 4x4 the Suzuki is better on-road, not as good off-road as the Niva, but you are no going to hunt with it. i think Long Vitara 2L 16V with air-con is the best choice for not a lot of money. it is good on Petrol,. you can put it on LPG and it will be very cheap to run.
If you go for Niva or Uaz you will need good, honest, cheap mechanic to fix . because there will be a lot of fixing. a friend of main Englishman who lives near VT bought New Niva, non stop problems, brakes, clutch, they change the gear box in the guarantee.
think about before you do something stupid.
Prado

[Dirk]

Re: До: What cheap 4x4 should i buy and where?

the Suzuki is better on-road, not as good off-road as the Niva

but he's right for other reasons (fe fuel economy, reliability, etc)
I would still go for a disco as they are in the same price range