Post
by Zelandeth » 13 Dec 2016, 20:03
Nice, but that's too expensive I reckon.
Saloons are relatively easy to get hold of provided that you're willing to wait a bit for the right car to come along - in the few months I had the "I'm looking for a Riva Estate - cash waiting!" feelers out there, I must have come across half a dozen saloons. The really sought after ones are the earlier models which pre-dated the Riva, or the Riva Estates which are really quite hard to find now.
Being an import vehicle it's worth remembering that the fit and finish on this car is poorer than the cars originally destined for the UK market (which is one of the reason so many got dragged back to the home market in the 90s and early 00s). Interesting to see that it's still got a km/h speedo as well...that technically should have been changed.
Does look to be in pretty decent shape from the photos, though there are a notable lack of any of the underside. Also looks to still be wearing the original soviet tyres, which obviously I'd want off there sharpish!
1300 engine is the oddball in the family as well in that it has a timing belt rather than a (stupidly over engineered, double row) chain, do wonder when (if) that was last changed.
One other question which also springs to mind, given that this is a low mileage car is has it been in continual (albeit low mileage) use, or has it spent a lot of its time in storage, and if so has any necessary recommissioning work been done properly?
It's a tidy car. Don't know whether there is actually some work needed or if it's just that the ad could do with some more info added. Being an LHD car though, and a relatively (by Lada standards!) easily obtainable model I reckon it's overpriced. £2-2.5K would probably be my upper estimate for what it's worth.
This one does however wear the older style front grill which I really do need to get for mine!