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Sept 18, 2004 1:36:25 GMT
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Hello again, I am going to need a cheap (both to buy and run) 4x4 this winter and am looking for suggestions. We already have a Golf Syncro, and another one would be Ideal, but I am also thinking: Audi 80/90 Quattro Panda 4x4 Lada Niva Sierra 4x4 All suggestions and tip offs for cars gratefully recieved Or if anyone has something suitable.... especially if they want a "mighty fine Merc" in Exchange ;D Cheers Dom
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Sept 18, 2004 7:53:26 GMT
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Mate of mine had a Panda 4x4. Said it would go places a Landrover would get stuck.
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Sept 18, 2004 9:10:06 GMT
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No wonder, the Panda is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase. A Lada Niva would be ideal, if you could deal with not having the comforts of a Range Rover or something, as it has far more space than any of the other suggestions (Panda, Sierra, Audi 80/90 Quattro) A Land Rover would be easy to find, and very capable in it's own right, plus you can get a Rover V8 in a Land Rover if you get bored! If you could find one, then a UAZ 469 would be the best off roader you could find. Apparently they're like the automotive equivelant of a mountain goat. Ok, they're not comfortable, and are very rare outside the former USSR, (although they're said to have a small following in Italy) and it would be an interesting alternative to a Defender, and would never let you down. Now if I could only find one for sale, you'd have to fight me for it! ;D ;D UAZ 469 Later ones were called 3151s, and they still make them, although now they're more refined, and called the UAZ Hunter. (All pics courtesy of
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Sept 18, 2004 10:31:44 GMT
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I like Niva's! If I were you I'd go for one of them. Trouble is, there's no dealer network any more so I don't know how parts supply would be It's the other end of the scale, but how about a Merc G-Wagen? Rock solid but a bit pricey....
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Sept 18, 2004 12:01:54 GMT
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It depends on what you want it for really, some of those in the list are sports cars and others rugged off roaders!
I had an XR4x4 for two years and have to say the traction they have is amazing, the transfer box and rear diff are both mechanical limited slip affairs so you always have at least three wheels turning. I went on what I called a 'raindeer safari' in my local forrest in mine when it snowed and it handled everything very well. Plus of course it is enormous fun in the snow as it drives like a rwd with an LSD. Great road car too, a lot of people call them the cheap mans quattro.
A friend of mine had a Panda 4x4 and I never got to sample it offroad capabilities. I have read about them being a great off road car. The only thing that would put me off owning one would be parts, I don't know what they are like for obtaining spares but I suspect it can't be easy with their relative rarity.
How about a RangeRover? The Vouge V8s are going for £1000 these days and if petrol is a problem how about a LPG converted one?
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Sept 18, 2004 13:51:15 GMT
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suzuki sj vitara or a niva
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Sept 18, 2004 13:57:57 GMT
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The Niva sounds like the one to go for to me. You shouldn't have too much trouble with parts, they're not nearly as unreliable as people claim, and there are owners' clubs for Soviet cars you could contact for spares.
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Sept 18, 2004 19:18:40 GMT
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I think the older Niva's aree better than the later 1.7 ones in terms of build quality. I looked at a late one to buy for my mum once and the build quality was diabolical. In the end she got a Panda 4x4 and loves it. They are supposed to be awesome offroad but I hear the gearboxes are a bit fragile.
If you want a big indestructible 4x4 buy an old Patrol. Not the really early one as they are 4 speed and a bit slow, you want the 2.8 turbo diesel. A mate of mine has one and even though it's a collosal long wheelbase one it's still brilliant off road. He goes green laning in his regularly. I had on old beater I used to shove things round my field with. It had unbelievable pulling power and was hard as hell. That was an old 3.3 diesel one but a 4 speed. The later TD ones are a bit more comfortable than the old ones too.
There's a couple of old Tatra 8 wheel drive trucks abandoned near my home and a load of Alvis Stalwarts if you want a REAL off roader ;D ;D ;D
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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Sept 18, 2004 19:32:30 GMT
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Thought about a Suzuki SJ or even better a Daihatsu Fourtrack? If its going to be used strictly off road then you need not worry about comfort or cornering abilities. I think the Lada would be first choice though, not sure how many Panda's 4 x 4 survived. hmmm...maybe a Dacia Duster or ARO? Or SWB Nissan Patrol......or even a Subaru brat/pick up. The really look cool, very reliable and do surface occasionally. These ARO's are from Romania and a few were sold here during the eighties. Spares might be a problem though. Also from Romania is the slightly more common Dacia Duster. They are Renault owned so there's a chance mechanics are shared from previous renault models (they manufactured and sold their version of the Renault 12 here for about 6 minutes....) The Daihatsu is a good bet, probabily better than the SJ too. Certainly safer round corners. I rather like the Subaru brat. Scope for lots of retroism too. I've still got my Tamiya RC one somewhere too! Have fun whatever you choose! It seems that the only way to enjoy anything with four wheels these days is off road.....
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Sept 18, 2004 23:32:40 GMT
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Dacia Duster - I remember those! I reckon you'd be lucky to find one that's survived the ravages of rust though - I think driving on a salted road was a no-no in those things as it'd dissolve! I used to have a Daihatsu Sportrak - real beater, loads of fun, and faster than a Vitara / SJ. We (me and my brother) simplified the air intake (basically chucked away all the piping and wibblepoo and bolted on a performance filter pulled from a P6!) it flew after that! And the induction roar was unbelievable! It survived going through a brick wall, hitting a tree and going over a bus shelter (not at the same time : . Unfortunately my friends didn't share my enthusiasm and used words such as "death-trap" and "not f*ckin' likely" when I offered lifts! Great fun!
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Sept 19, 2004 10:29:56 GMT
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To be honest if you were going for Eastern 4x4s then an earlier Niva or UAZ 469 would be a better option than a Dacia. The ARO was well built too but the UAZ was the one that was thought to be hard enough to be the official 4x4 of the Red Army. It's kind of the Russian Hummer.
Pracitically though, an old Suzuki might be easier to get bits for.
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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carnut1100
Part of things
If it's got wheels I like it!
Posts: 194
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Sept 19, 2004 11:14:14 GMT
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Go the Niva, they are just about indestructible and like a goat off road. You can fit a Fiat twin cam in them fairly easily ( you will need a custom sump, modify teh oil breather, turn the battery 90 degrees, fit a heat shield on the exhaust, make a custom frint engine mount and possibly move the cluthc master cylinder over by about 1/2 inch by elongating the holes. Alternatively you could fit a Peugeot/Citroen diesel like the one that was optional in some markets.
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They won't be restoring Hyundais in 30 years!
1970 Peugeot 404 1973 Volvo 164E 1979 Volvo 242GT
In the family, 1975 Volvo 245 1985 Volvo 360 GLT 1969 Ford Transit Mk1 1963 Humber Vogue Sports 1960 Morris Minor van
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Sept 19, 2004 11:20:08 GMT
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What about a Merc 300E 4Matic or a BMW 325iX?
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Sept 19, 2004 18:34:43 GMT
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Get a Panda 4x4 and slap a Uno Turbo lump under the bonnet! ;D
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Sept 19, 2004 20:09:16 GMT
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Thanks guys for all the replies Its more a 4x4 for snow use on road rather than an off roader. Its for using in the Alps this winter and will be fitted with snow tyres when we get out there The Golf coped admirably last year and will be coming out again, but I need something for myself as well this season....... I am leaning more towards a 4wd car rather than an offroader, the Lada was included as they seem pretty bulletproof and are cheap, anything much bigger starts getting expensive to run and harder to find parking space for Golf size or slightly bigger would be Ideal Cheers Dom
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
Column Shifting!
Posts: 3,442
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Sept 19, 2004 20:10:11 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 19, 2004 20:11:59 GMT by RetroMat
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Sept 20, 2004 10:56:16 GMT
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You listed 4x4 saloons/hatches as well as the Niva jeep styles. I guess you will be driving over dirt roads and broken roads in the hills rather than total serious offroading, how about a Subaru legacy Estate.
not a full on offroader, but a good serious road/field car.
available in turbo and non turbo form. Seen them advertised from £750 for a non turbo estate and John Shelley (Skofast on here) had one that he used to use for yomping back and forward to CZ
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Higgim
Part of things
Posts: 269
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Sept 20, 2004 11:03:17 GMT
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I would suggest a Panda aswell. There are still loads around in the Alps, get a cheap flight over to France and buy one now before the snow starts. You could leave it over there or just sell it at the end of the season.
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Vorsprung Dub Technik
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Sept 20, 2004 11:11:26 GMT
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Sept 20, 2004 11:21:58 GMT
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Yep, something exactley like those. And they don't have the knob factor/thief factor of the Impreza or the price.
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