Off road .. brilliant! (long)

On or around Sun, 26 Sep 2004 21:48:04 GMT, T i m enlightened us thusly:

you've done it now... welcome to the worshipful company of nutters.

Lanr Rover, the only one :-))

Hmm, tell me about it .. !

welcome to the worshipful company of nutters.

Thanks for the welcome Austin .. but I think I was there already (in the local paper canoeing down the flooded high street, building a kit car, getting married for a second time etc) ;-)

The wife (Mrs "right now" (not Mrs Right) as I remind her ) really enjoys riding her Yamaha XV750 Virago, even when towing a fully loaded motorcycle camping trailer and until yesterday was really 'non plussed' about Land Rovers or off roading. The daughter used to fly about on her little Yamaha PW50 (twist n go kiddies motocrosser) and then a Yamaha TY80 (4 speed trials bike) so is at home in the mud and probably why she likes the Landy style. I have spent most my life on a motorbike of some sort so the novelty has worn off to a degree and the idea of working on and off-road driving a Landy (especially if I can share it with our daughter (now 14)) appeals to me (I think I'll stick to the 55 mpg, 100 quid, Rover 218SD for the loger trips) .

I asked her which she prefered so far as a birthday treat ..10 pin bowling (the most common activity to date), British Superbikes at Brands, Santa Pod or offroading .. she didn't seem to have to think about it too much! (it was BSB before yesterday).

I like the flexibility of the LR marque (swapping bits across some of the model range), cheap parts, loads of mods / addons ... sort of becomming a rolling project. I'm not sure I like the poor fuel economy, noise (I suffer from tinnitus as it is) and not even sure if at 6'2" I would fit in a Series 1-3? But I'm still keen ... ?

Talking to one of the guys at the event yesterday he suggested that he was looking for a 90 or 110 but there were all out of his budget. He ended up with a Disco at about half what he would have paid for the alternative? But, I'm not sure if I want a Disco ... ?

All the best ... ;-)

T i m

You could be right ..

However someone did mention the Lada 'Niva' (is it?) .. especially for someone on a budget who wanted to just have a bit off cheap off road fun?

Or what ...

A mate is currently restoring a 110 (he's down to the chassis at the moment welding on outriggers etc) and has a lightweight in the drive. He also had to option on a couple of other LR's (details unknown) but what should I look for please?

All the best ..

T i m

Cheap, yes, but not good for tall drivers. It's partly the RHD/LHD difference; the footwells are different and the British-spec vehicle puts the pedals in the smaller footwell.

Have'nt any experience of Niva's, but I have heard good things of them. They must be long in the tooth now so care when lookig at them. One thing the Russians did was build to sloppy tolerances and hence you find their stuff is pretty tough. I would imagine parts could be awkward but have heard there is a dedicated support group in the UK ? Personally I would go for an ex MoD lightweight or the like as spares will be easier although some military bits are peculiar such as pumps having more bolts than civilian. Lots of ex military stuff being dumped but will not last forever as MoD gets rid of it's old cold war stock.

I saw a 97 one on the net a while ago (that would be a lot newer than my 92 Rover, 82 Sierra or 78 kit car) ;-)

One thing the

Ok .. I like 'tough' .. ;-)

I would imagine parts could be awkward but have heard there

I have just googled and found such .. (no web site as yet ..)

These are the things you learn as the anorack get's christened aren't they (I already have a few) ;-)

Lots of ex military stuff being dumped but will not

I have seen some surplus stuff and assumed they should have been 'looked after' .. (bored engineers and regular 'checks' ?)

I think it's going to have to be a Landy as I believe:

1) It's got the sort of following I'd like to be part of .. (nutters) ;-) 2) (therefore) plenty of skill / knoledge on the marque .. 3) I have a reasonable workshop 4) Wide class acceptance ? 5) My (14yr old) daughter won't have anything else .. ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

Nivas are *very* competent offroad, have a lack of ground clearance, the front lower suspension arm mounts ruin the approach angle, the timing chains and tensioners are awful and the electrics make Joe Lucas look like Einstein. They also rot fairly readily and not being on a chassis are a PITA to repair.

I have owned 2 Nivas, several Series Landrovers, a Rangerover and a couple of D90's. For what you want buy a Series, and for cheapness get a tax exempt one (it should also mean your daughter learns to double de-clutch).

Twas Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:23:02 GMT when T i m put finger to keyboard producing:

I'm 6'4" and fit in my 110 no trouble at all, also driven a few S3's including one to bosnia and back, no problem.

You do seem to get alot for your money with a disco, and in my opinion no less capable than a 110.

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Twas Mon, 27 Sep 2004 09:32:26 GMT when T i m put finger to keyboard producing:

Hmm, yes and no on that one.

Oh yes...

Certainly is.

mutter mutter, some of us work at the roadside mutter mutter.

I think so, certainly if you go for a disco IMHO.

Sold!

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Up until about a year ago I ran a Niva, one of the last into the country ('97 P). It was a fantastic thing, I used it everyday for about three years and I used it go green laning.

There is a website run by a guy called Alan Bird with forums for Lada owners to chat on, Alan also prvides a spares service and there is nothing he shouldn't be able to get as he used to import spares personally. Very helpfull chap too.

Checkout:

As much as I loved the Niva I much prefer the 110. Save your money up until you can afford a Land Rover, they're much more fun! If you must get a Niva try and get a later 1.7i model and listen carefully to the gearbox, if it has a rumble that disappears when you press the clutch down budget for a gearbox change, a common fault.

Take care, in some conditions they have to push them to the limit and that includes servicing interval and quality, knowing a batch will be dumped to a dealer tends to lead to a lack of care at the end of it's military life. After all no profit in wasting spares and time on something going somewhere else.

Try to find where it came from, some deployments can be disastorous. Cyprus for Salt. Arctic for Salt and water. South America same as is Falklands If you can look for either some kind of cerimonial use ( rare) or an ex-RAF model that may have been used simply to ply up/ down a runway or at the very least simply in the airbase boundaries.

Me sad .. ok so I do like Kylie, 7 of 9, was racing a Yokomo MR4TC a while back and now seem to like 4x4's .. ring any bells ;-)

Welcome to the world of off-roading ..

So even just being a passenger / video engineer counts does it . (kewl) ;-)

you never

.. so I noticed yesterday .. the deeper they got the harder they tried and the more the croud was with them towards the end! Those that actually made it out the bog and up this 30 ft dirt wall did so to loads of cheers and applause! (which was great to be a part of) ;-)

The only time I'd seen such support was at the British Sports Bike champs (this round was at Brands) and *every* rider was applauded at the end by the entire audience (who were often given a wave back and a wheelie or two) ;-)

Nice .. you shure that was just 'mud' there Paul ...

I'd have to say they weren't letting the side down yesterday .. but will they still be around in 20 years time .. (not sure I will but I have to ask ..) The BIL said his Disco was still chassis based .. unlike the newer models .. (assuming a chassis is a good thing?)

All the best fella .. ;-)

T i m (currently wearing a very 'green' 'T' shirt .. with a little oval badge .. I think it's happening .... )

Hi Simon .. that was another facet of this 4x4 world I though I might like to do .. 'Green Laning' ..

Ok, thanks for that ..

(could be a long time on my current income ('house husband')) ;-(

they're much more fun!

Well, we would be on the right trach afa my daughter is concerened .. it would have to be a 90 though ..

If you must get

Expensive Simon? .. Howabout in comparison with a Disco / 90-110 gearbox?

All the best ..

T i m

Ah, interesting and handy feedback (and would never have considered the l / r footwell thing ...)

Cheers ..

T i m

Well, as do we .. the tools stay in the garage, the cars / bikes live (and get worked on) outside. I am trying to clear some space in there to the the old BM (R100RT) in there and the gearbox back on ... ;-(

Having said that I do have a 'friend' with a heated garage and a 2 and

4 poster lifts to my disposal .. I just treat him to lunch and fix his PC's now and again .. ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

Oh ok .. noted ..

Ah .. and as if by fate etc .. I took a call a just now from a mate, who in reply to me spouting off about yesterdays 4x4 fun mentioned they had just been given back a 'A' plate swb (Landy) truck that years ago was used as a recovery tractor for their speedboat off the coast ..?

He suggested that they (he or his lads) probably wouldn't take it on and therefore it might be up for grabs ... ?

I think he said the brakes were all shot (not surprising considering) but apart from chassis / bulkhead what else might not make this a 'result', if I'm given it (he said the engine was ok ..) ?

South America same as is Falklands

Ok, makes sense and thanks again ..

T i m

Ah, pertanant points indeed .. ;-(

Again .. thanks for the advice .. taking of the daughter (currently 'Goth' / Landy cammo), what is insurance like for a youngster on such things please?

All the best ..

T i m

Twas Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:55:28 GMT when T i m put finger to keyboard producing:

I'd look carefully at the axles also, could be very rusted and the diffs may be in a bad way if it's been in and out of the wet without breather pipes.

Not forgetting the gearbox of course.

swb A plate will be a 1984 S3.

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)