UAZ 39625 (452A)
 

Hi there,

I wondered if there is anyone who can tell me something about how useful a UAZ 3962 4x4 minibus (used to be numbered: UAZ 452A) is for overland travel.

They seem to be the vehicle of choice in Mongolia and (eastern-)Russia. (along with the jeep-like model build on the same wheelbase) and I was quite impressed with there off-road capabilities in mud, water and on lose rock. Also: they seem to be very self-serviceable.

However I don't know how reliable they are, how they compare to other vehicles (defender, landcruiser etc.) and whether it is possible at all to register one in (main-land) Europe.

My questions are:

Is there anyone out there who has experience in diving these minibuses?

How reliable are they?

How do they compare to other 4-wheel drives?
and
Is it a realistic option for an overland trip (to Mongolia and back for example)

-greetings-
Jacco