Lee
New Niva Petrol Head
Posts: 10
Registered: Jul 1, 2010 12:46:13 GMT 2
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Post by Lee on Jul 1, 2010 13:14:24 GMT 2
Hi guys.......and girls if any. I am brand new to this forum and thought i would introduce myself. My Name is Lee and i recently got me a sidekick. I bought the car out of impulse because I've been looking for a cheap.....er 4x4 and fell in love with this one. Now i know and I'm sure so do many of you that a Lada is clearly not the best built car in the world, but that doesn't matter. I'm sure most of the people on this forum knew exactly what they were buying when they did. Anyway, so i am in the process of expanding my very small business venture, being a Little too eager on the Lada has brought me to a place where i am forced to sell it because of the repairs it needs. I drove out to Jan and Michelle from Centurion to get all the quotes i needed. And i was really keen to walk around and ask as many questions as i could about these jammies. Not shocked by the quote as i knew she was not a perfect car But after coming to terms with the fact that i have used my business money to buy the car and don't have money to reap air it i might have to sell it (actually, i do have to unless). Although my brother who currently lives in the UK is very keen on it wants to buy it, repair it and let me use it till he returns - I guess its a winner for me, at least until i am on my feet and can buy my own again. Now where i need everyone's help it to try get all the things done for as little as possible but doing it right so as to convince my brother that its worth spending the money on without over capitalizing on the Lada. Can anyone help, i just don't feel ready to say goodbye. signed, a possible Lada lover.
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Post by ronnie on Jul 1, 2010 13:57:38 GMT 2
Hi Lee A very warm welcome to the club and I sincerely hope you manage to find a way to keep what is a very capable and simple 4 x 4. I don't know where you live but all the active members will do what they can to assist you. Before you spend any of your hard earned money, go to the home page click on General, then click on Service good or bad, read it all and form your own opinion on who you would entrust to repair your Lada. A simpler idea is to do all your own work. Even if you think you are not capable, this is an easy vehicle to learn on. Some of the quote`s you get from the agent are a total rip off. You have been warned!!!! Regards Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Jul 1, 2010 14:19:46 GMT 2
Hi Lee
One thing I should have said to you is I don`t in any way wish to put you off your Lada. It is virtually untouchable off road this includes vehicles many times it`s price. Just be very careful how you go about doing the repairs. Once the club members come home from work you will get plenty more advice.
Regards
Ronnie
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Lee
New Niva Petrol Head
Posts: 10
Registered: Jul 1, 2010 12:46:13 GMT 2
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Post by Lee on Jul 1, 2010 14:30:06 GMT 2
Thanks Ronnie.
I live on the westrand. Actually don't mind doing alot of the smaller things myself but i don't have the equipment i need to do alot of it. Also don't really want to change a clutch myself
I will have a read through.
Any suggestions on tyres? I read last night that some of the guys here don't have a problem using wider tyres in relation to the so called wheel bearing problem but not sure if i want to take the chance? I found a goodyear wrangler 215/80/15 A/T at twt for R1000 a peice. Doesn't seem too bad but it is quite far off the 195 suggestion. I would like to get an A/T tyre as i will be using it off road occasionally. What tyres are suggested and what prices?
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Post by marius on Jul 1, 2010 14:37:20 GMT 2
Hi Lee A very warm welcome to the forum! You have nailed it - we all fell in love with a car most people would love to hate. This is a great car and perhaps you should take up the offer from your brother who earns real money - then you can look after it for him Your brother is in a very good position to source spare parts for the Sidekick at far better prices. He can even make good business by supplying the rest of us ;D The car is very easy to work on - so it would be wise to get your hands dirty in order to save yourself buckets full of money. There are numerous workshop manuals on the internet and a lot of people eager to give good advice. You should get plenty of tyres for the 15" rim - the 16" is (at the moment) a bit of a problem. Personally I would not go bigger than 205 but many would differ from me. Regards Marius
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Post by ronnie on Jul 1, 2010 16:33:42 GMT 2
Hi Lee
I am using 195 as this is what was on when I bought the Lada. I would agree with Marius and would not go wider than 205.
I am sure you will get plenty more advice later tonight.
Unfortunately I live far away from you. I am on the south coast.
Regards
Ronnie
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Post by danie on Jul 1, 2010 17:30:23 GMT 2
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spikes
Moderator
Posts: 3,689
Location: Mpumalanga
Town: Nelspruit
Registered: Apr 19, 2010 19:39:51 GMT 2
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Post by spikes on Jul 1, 2010 19:34:10 GMT 2
Hi all and a warm welcome to Lee, I go along with Marius on tyre size. Going wider than 205 will stress wheel bearings beyond their design spec. Hope you manange to keep the Lada. Cheers Spikes
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Hercules
Veteran Niva Petrol Head
Lada - your peace of mind to take on the world's vast landscapes.
Posts: 785
Location: Gauteng
Town: Benoni
Registered: Oct 2, 2009 11:55:41 GMT 2
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Post by Hercules on Jul 1, 2010 19:38:20 GMT 2
Hallo Lee.
A hartly warm welcome to the forum. I agree with Ronnie and Marius on the tyre issue, and not going wider than 205 on the Lada. The clutch is fairly easy to replace and the Valeo kid is also affordable.
I also agree that the Lada is a easy vehicle to work on and to learn on. Just make sure you download the manual and you will see that it clearly explain you how to do repair works on this little beast.
If you have any queries feel free and contact me, as I am in Benoni on the East Rand. My contact numbers is on the forum.
Regards.
Hercules.
PS. I also have a Sidekick.
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darryn
Veteran Niva Petrol Head
Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot
Posts: 713
Registered: Mar 5, 2010 21:50:09 GMT 2
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Post by darryn on Jul 1, 2010 22:06:13 GMT 2
Hey lee! I'm also in the same boat as you- although I'm nowhere near even thinking about getting rid of mine. I knew very very little about exactly how a car works, and 3 months down the line I'm really getting to know my way around my little car. There were a host of issues that I've managed to sort out cheaply- and I've just about redone the interior with just under R1000 (which is a lot of money for me). I also bought mine not really knowing just how bad a shape it was in. But the great thing about its design, however "non-european/Japanese" it's build quality might be, the mechanical components and tolerances are exceptional and designed to weather some hectic abuse. I come from the west rand, and go there frequently so if you like I can come visit and take a look (not that I'm an expert). What are the most obvious problems the Lada? Be quite specific in your description, because the guys on the forum really know their stuff and can help with even the most obscure seeming problems. Also, download the 3 1.7 manuals on the locsa site: locsa.atspace.com/links.htm they are unbelievably helpful. Good luck mate. Darryn.
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