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Aug 16, 2012 17:07:54 GMT
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Hey up guys and gals.. Are Rivas any good then? Particularly early 90's 1.5 Estates... I've done the rather irresponsible thing of selling my daily as it was boring me to tears just as the girlfriends car has broken rather catastrophically... If you fold the seats down in the estates is there enough room to sleep? The one I'm looking at is low mileage but with a rusty front wing (are replacements expensive?) and some surface rust on the sills that looks like it could need some work soon. I feel like it may be a little on the expensive side but has anyone got any experience of them? I need a fun/frugal/rwd car and they seem to fit the bill, hgowever I have gotten myself in a rather tricky situation and am worried I'm gonna go out and buy a lemon as I have in the past! Oh has a whirry gearbox in low gears too.. this picture would suggest sleeping is a no go not an estate but I can't hear any complaints...
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Aug 16, 2012 20:58:09 GMT
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do it ...... don't no nothing bout em but while I'm posting this only fools & horses is on in the back ground, so he who dares wins
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Lada Rivasretrolegends
@retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member 94
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Aug 16, 2012 21:03:41 GMT
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a
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Aug 16, 2012 21:17:09 GMT
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deffo awesome wagons!
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cars: orion 1600 i ghia mk2 orion 2.2 vtec ghia mk1
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,784
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Lada RivasDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Aug 16, 2012 21:40:47 GMT
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i think front wings are NLA through hadrian now. ive got a spare one though cant comment on load space of a wagon as ive not had one, they're not huge cars to start with, but they're no overly small inside for the size of em. sills are mega-simples to repair if the ends are frilly. simple flat shapes and no massively complicated multiple layers. outriggers at front/rear ends of sills, front wings behind headlights, front valances and spare wheel wheels are the bits that seem to rot. as well as the inner lower edges of bootlids/tailgates and bonnets. gearbox noise in low gears is common to the point of being usual, they're not really known to fail though. i can flog you a quiet box if it bothers you. is it pauls white/woody one youre on about? i saw the advert and think its pretty much bang-on money wise. its rare to pick up anything with T+T for under 800 quid, saloon or wagon, and if you do itll no doubt have issues.
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Aug 17, 2012 22:54:15 GMT
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Ta fellas - and Dez - I'll let you know if I need that wing
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Kieran
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,092
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Aug 17, 2012 23:11:58 GMT
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With the rear seats folded flat, and the front seats forward, there is about 5' from the tail gate to the rear seat base (now upright). Wings rot as Dez says, and they are welded on so a bit of a faff to change. I welded the front outriggers on Jenns Riva estate. Nice thick steel, just of a poor quality. The later ones came with Ozone carbs that have strange electronic boxes to help them through emissions, swapping for a 32/36 weber (bolts straight on) sorts out the running and gives a decent power boost. The E models came with a cat converter, but still the ozone carb. Getting those through a mot where they need to meet cat emissions is meant to be entertaining.... Not amazing on fuel as you would expect, especially when you swap for the Weber! Wheel stud pattern is the same as 4 stud Fiat. The biggest pain I have found is the curse word quality of the fastners, for example caliper bolts seemingly being 16.9mm across flats instead of 17mm etc and rounding for fun. Jenn loves hers. It romps along the motorway keeping up with the traffic. A bit soft and floaty, but I like the semi off roading stance. I'm in the process of fitting a 2.0 zetec to it at the moment to make it even more interesting! Jenns thread:- retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=readersrides&thread=133928&page=1#1626320
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Last Edit: Aug 17, 2012 23:14:45 GMT by Kieran
The Ashby Jackson fleet:-
1979 Mini Clubman 1.8 K series 1978 Skoda 110r Project 130RS K-oupe 1978 Austin Allegro 1500 SDL Estate 1984 BMW K100 Sidecar outfit 1999 Yamaha FZS 1000 Fazer 1991 Kawasaki ZXR400 race bike 2002 Kawasaki ZX9r race bike
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80mojo
Part of things
Posts: 753
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Never owned one myself, but just come back from a week working in Moscow and there are literally thousands of em on the streets. Every other car was a Riva. Some in better states than others, but all still going after 20 years or more.
Also, ym parents neighbour had 3 or 4 of them, so there must be something in them. Even if it was just the price when new.
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'71 Opel GT '72 Manta A '79 Dodge Autosleeper '83 Monza & a half '86 Manta GT/E V6 '91 Astra SXi '94 Carlton Diamond Estate 24v
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Aug 20, 2012 10:58:44 GMT
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I had a round headlight 1500 estate back when they were just cheap and not retro, loads of my mates were running around in mk2 escorts at the time and I have to say the Lada was no worse on fuel, reliability or speed, it actually handled well enough to keep up although it felt a bit more vague and bit heavier.
Not as bad as often painted i reckon.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Aug 20, 2012 13:40:30 GMT
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Aug 20, 2012 20:52:55 GMT
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The Lada Riva is a relatively competent and rugged car, let down only by antiquated technology and carburettor issues. If you can cope with the tractor-like driving style and fit a weber carb (or learn to fettle the original), then you can go wrong. Front wings are readily available for around £50 each from www.lada.co.ukEngines aren't bad, but steer clear of the 1.2 - very under powered. The 1.5 has around 80bhp as standard, and only weighs 950kg, so with a few teaks can be quite a fun car.
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Midas
Part of things
Posts: 508
Club RR Member Number: 14
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Lada RivasMidas
@midas
Club Retro Rides Member 14
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Aug 20, 2012 21:05:34 GMT
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I had a 1500 Estate years back, I'm 6'1" and couldn't stretch out in the back.
Mine ended up with a weber carb and Niva springs up front with the ARB removed, the first car I ever went over a ton in, on a airstrip weirdly enough.
Strong tough motors with epically heavy steering but ok on the move.
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Aug 21, 2012 13:50:52 GMT
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Well I got it thanks for the advice guys - if I can sort my photobucket issues (too cheap to pay a monthly fee!) then expect a readers ride thread soon!
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