Devon TRF Group Forum

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Buying a bongo????

Harty · Devon's Best

TTR aka 'Bongo Brian' is yer man Nick

RichT4 · Champion

Not good if it's ever over heated. You can have the head skimmed but it'll probably still consume water.
No level indicator on expansion bottle so it's easy to do if it's drinking.
My mate was advised to get rid of his quickly after having it repaired (which cost an absolute packed) and was told that Mazda generally have to replace the whole engine rather than the head gasket. He over heated his while stuck in a cue (for Bug Jam) and was running both front & rear air con.

Other than that it was a nice vehicle, lot of nice features like motorised blinds etc.

Diesel 2WD version, Auto, with camper rear instead of seats and a pop top with a bed.

Low MPG was a problem though - 28 best 24 if air con used and even lower if driven in town.

phil400 · Clubman A

as rich said don't get a petrol, my sister had one. although it was a great car it really cost a fortune to run!!

TTR · Powermonger!!

We got a 2WD diesel. Goes well and is nice to drive. Tows beautifully and room to change under the open rear door if weather inclement.

We both like the "look over the hedges" driving position. Also great with the grandkids - room for everyone and don't even need to collapse the double buggy wink

About 25mpg.

Point about overheating is well made. My niece is waiting to get hers back after the dreaded head gasket problem. Reminds me - better check the coolant on ours tomorrow confuse

shack · Clubman A

Check out the Bongofury forum (http://www.bongofury.co.uk/ ) , my mate has one and had a number of issues, but (money pit aside) likes and uses it, don't think anyone has rached the Holy Grail of 40mpg even with a diesel.

Pete · Devon's Best

Cylinder heads are prone to cracking. Beware anything which needs the radiator topping up.

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Cheers guys, 86k on a diesel 2.5.

Longman · Expert

My mate bought a very late Bongo, it went into "limp" mode ,20mph and neaded a new/recon box. But he was OK................he sold it back to the Dealer in Saltash (who sold it to him) for £500 less than he paid

Lost · Expert

As it was explained to me alot of these imports have forty thousand miles on somthink to do with there emission laws ? alot of spare engines also imported ? old generation of motors a bit thirsty ?

RichT4 · Champion

Yeh, that's what my mates was (though it was an automatic) - 28mpg tops!

Still it was a lovely drive and powerful, about 130bhp I think.

L'orange · Devon's Best

TTR wrote:
We got a 2WD diesel. Goes well and is nice to drive. Tows beautifully and room to change under the open rear door if weather inclement.
We both like the "look over the hedges" driving position. Also great with the grandkids - room for everyone and don't even need to collapse the double buggy
About 25mpg.
Point about overheating is well made. My niece is waiting to get hers back after the dreaded head gasket problem. Reminds me - better check the coolant on ours tomorrow

Thought your was a petrol Bri?? wink wink

hampsterracing · Devon's Best

L'orange wrote:
Thought your was a petrol Bri??

jt · Powermonger!!

Had the tank drained before then has he? disbelief

TTR · Powermonger!!

OK OK - I fess up - I blame BP who put a black pump line on their V-Power petrol or whatever it was called disbelief

V Twin Funster · Expert

Bongos are great to drive. Akin to a great big dodgem wink . Awesome power steering. I had mine for almost a year. 4WD diesel, auto. It was the one with two batteries, so it had come from the colder bit of Japan. Another clue was that it came with snow chains. It stank of fags, mind. I was told the Japanese enjoy their tobacco.

I always drove mine like a tight ass and got into the low 40mpg. As a camper, it was not what we wanted and we ended up with a much less refined VW T25 diesel with a high top. Great family bus. 1.6 TD engine is sooo very under powered for the weight of the vehicle, but I do get mid 40mpg biggrin and the feeling I am on holiday even when I am on a trip to the supermarket biggrin .

A work colleague has taken his Bongo to Spain, Portugal, Holland, Germany etc... and it has never missed a beat.

Usual rot spots around the wheel arches.

Watch for dodgy electric gizmos and warning lights due to sensors that don't work properly.

Good luck.

Craig

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Pearcy · Expert

One of the best vehicles I ever owned.

2wd diesal.

Never ever had a problem with it from the day I got it to the day I part exd it.

Loved it, and would really like another.

Actually look back sometimes and regret still not having it.

Bongo Fury is a great site for info.

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Well, we bought it! Or rather, part ex'd against the Trafic, nive to drive, will be converting it over the next few weeks. Mine is a tin top though.

jt · Powermonger!!

Pearcy wrote:
Bongo Fury is a great site for info.

Mmmm sounds like the sort of website you would frequent

Berlingo · Novice

Take it for a long test drive, especially if its a diesel. Mate bought one privately, took it round the block, all good. On way home it started to overheat and was stuck with it.

As mentioned further up, head, pump, etc. Since he had the work done its been fine.

itisiceman · Sportsman

"Ive only got one tip" DON'T DO IT.

They are garbage, crap on fuel and cost a fortune in head gasgets...if it can be done without having a new head !

RichT4 · Champion

bit late there Iceman lol

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Berlingo wrote:
Take it for a long test drive, especially if its a diesel.

Thankfully we did, brought it back from St Austell, pastyshire! Runs like a dream, only issue is the turbo doesn't seem to cut in until we reach 2800rpm. confuse

Great bit of kit, especially for the kids when we go camping.

Fingers crossed it will be fine. hmm

Pete · Devon's Best

Check the radiator level regularly and you will get advance warning should the head gasket fail due to a cracked head. My mate kept topping his radiator up for a long time before he bit the bullet and spent £500 on a replacement cylinder head. Good luck.

philsil · Clubman B

Just saw this in the current Practical Motorhome

www.practicalmotorhome.com/advice/mazda-bongo-camper-buyers-guide%20ENews%20Bulletin%20(18.07.2013)&utm_content=Mazda_Bongo_Ford_Friendee_buyers_guide