australian lada niva forum

Howzit goin everyone
Havnt had a look on the Russion sites for a while but got some nice surprises. Isnt Toronto showing us a confidence in the products. Apparently Oz lost the confidence to own a Lada. Must admit the cars let the whole appeal down. The 4 door hatch Cevaro didnt really have the head room in the back. I whatched some footage of undercover cops ripping a bloke off the street in broad daylight. FOur Russian blokes dart out of this Cevaro and pull this unsuspecting sucker back into it. I ask myself how the stuff could that have been successful- there just isnt enough room in the back for 3 large polskas.
I have also an 95 Niva just sitting doing nothing. Got a little rust in the front guards at the bottom of the lashes. I didnt clean it out after I last parked it. Got some plans for it. ABout 7 years ago I got myself back into a Mazda/Ford 626/ Telstar. Best production car for a small family I recon. They won lotsw of awards for this 85 series1 and 2 hatch. Moving on.I started thinking about reserecting the old Russian doll (as my dad coined it) My mind is going to town here. An east west configeration would be a brilliant way to raise the stakes. Hers what you get:
1) 2Lt motor- power and economy
2) 5 speed gear box that doesnt drop shimms etc and tough as nails these box's handle turbo tork without a crunch.
3) The potential to develop a PTO winch via the unused output shaft pointing front wards
4) A C.V coupling to the transfer case
Not sure that a direct hook up to the transfer is wise. This would be instead of using the Mercedes rubber coupling. Still, I cant see that a direct hook up would not damage the transfer drives as the ratio out of the 5 speed is a little higher. Who cares if there is a little loss the darn things climb like goats anyway.
Engine mounts dont seem to be a problem either and nothing that cant be over come anyway.
Well there's my first post! Anyone got any thoughts on it give me tingle or drop a message first at my g-mail.

nothing wrong with headroom in rear of samara/cevaros,done a lot of miles in the back of those (and on the road),heaps of room...........

No there is nothing wrong with the Cevaro. My old girl did 500,000 and died a firey death when I forgot to reconnect the electric fuel pump hose. The next morning I had forgotten about this and went to go to work at C.U.B brewery but didnt make it this day. Wondering why the car wouldnt start next thing boom. Got out and went to open the bonnet and my fingers slipped off the edge that was it......targets down patch out!
Original C.V's original wheel bearings and a good body. Never mind.....however I beg to differ the head room in the back was always found wanting, just not high enough. Ok if your a short Scottsman or a short Russian. Other than that if you and one passenger were all that was in it then thats ok!
I towed a trailer up to QLD one year and even with the trailer still managed on one long leg of the trip to get a 50km/lt. Not kidding. I monitor fuel consumption on all my motor cars. Always have since I began to operate a car. This car would on a regular bases return me 42km/lt.
Im told the Samara would even do better than that????????
Compared to a FOrd Laser or comparative small 4 cylinder,the longer wheel base of the Cevaro would give a beautiful ride as well.