Devon TRF Group Forum

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Mazda bongo

Harty · Devon's Best

nickpdo wrote:
it is a better choice than a T4 or T5

Yeeeaahh right

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Harty wrote:
nickpdo wrote:
it is a better choice than a T4 or T5

Yeeeaahh right

4wd means we wouldn't get stuck in a little puddle! biggrin

Nige · Expert

More like blew all the money on a beemer

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Nige wrote:
More like blew all the money on a beemer

biggrin biggrin biggrin

T4's are the same price as Bongo's, unless you buy one in the southwest!

RichT4 · Champion

I think you've done well Nick..., now cut your losses and run before you get bit by the Bongo head gasket syndrome. wink

4wd Bongo - 28 MPG, or is it an auto too? biggrin

D13dkt · Clubman A

Try this man www.allansvehicleservices.co.uk/.
He is the bongo guru in the south west, he buys sels and repairs.
Very nice man as well. Not to easy to get hold of but persevere its worth it.

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

RichT4 wrote:
I think you've done well Nick..., now cut your losses and run before you get bit by the Bongo head gasket syndrome.
Just need to know what you are looking at before you buy, there is over 3m of metal pipework for the rad which tends to corrode when sitting on the docks in Japan.
4wd Bongo - 28 MPG, or is it an auto too?
28MPG is from the auto, the manual (rare but have found one) normally give approx 32mpg.

Thing is MPG is irrelevant as SWMBO only does about 10 miles per week. wink

And no southwest vdub tax to pay. biggrin

RichT4 · Champion

My matea was a 2WD auto and gave about 28 normal or less is you had the aircon running, the 4wd must give less MPG, as you say not an issue at 10 miles a week.

They are very well spec'd though and the engine pulls strongly, some kind of Ford Ranger based engine I believe.

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

RichT4 wrote:
They are very well spec'd though and the engine pulls strongly, some kind of Ford Ranger based engine I believe.

Yeah, they are the exact same engine as the Ford Ranger, 2.5TD 128bhp.

Vikings · Clubman A

i like the bongos. t4s are so last year. done to death. think its a good shout to stick with them as your right with the dubtax. T4s drive like crap around town anyways.

RichT4 · Champion

The T4 is a van and will drive like a van, the Bongo Friendee is large car really (MPV) so has refinements built in and isn't designed to hold or pull loads.

Still, I think if your requirement is to carry loads of stuff yet drive better than a van a nice big Volvo estate (or something similar) would be a better option.

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

RichT4 wrote:
Still, I think if your requirement is to carry loads of stuff yet drive better than a van a nice big Volvo estate (or something similar) would be a better option.

Mmmmmm, showing your age there Rich. biggrin

Bongo works for us as we go away about 6 times a year with friends to family friendly festivals, and the roof pops up to sleep the kids.

And, next time we go to Wales, I won't have to sleep in a beer garden. wink

wardy · Clubman A

Vikings wrote:
i like the bongos. t4s are so last year. done to death. think its a good shout to stick with them as your right with the dubtax. T4s drive like crap around town anyways.

yeah stick with an early nineties shogan as it's the ideal town car

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Bleedy good that shogun. Pwr mode at the lights and foot down you'll beat any thing

Vikings · Clubman A

Lol. That's my incase it snows car. Got to have a back up. Lol

RichT4 · Champion

nickpdo wrote:
Bongo works for us as we go away about 6 times a year with friends to family friendly festivals, and the roof pops up to sleep the kids.
And, next time we go to Wales, I won't have to sleep in a beer garden.

Ah, ideal vehicle then (apart from the rubbish fuel economy biggrin ).

wardy · Clubman A

RichT4 wrote:
nickpdo wrote:
Bongo works for us as we go away about 6 times a year with friends to family friendly festivals, and the roof pops up to sleep the kids.
And, next time we go to Wales, I won't have to sleep in a beer garden.
Ah, ideal vehicle then (apart from the rubbish fuel economy ).

and the dodgy import looks,weak autobox (if it has one) and head gasket thats made of cheese !!

FBF · Clubman A

My son bought one despite my advice as a mechanic with many years experience not to touch with a barge pole.

I can see the attraction, bit like a moth to a flame though.

I warned him of the inherit cooling problem which is that should it have a coolant loss then topping up just the header tank on its own is unwise and if the loss is major the engine will airlock without being properly bled.

It did and he didn't heed my advice and the head gasket fried which had also cracked the head. So if you are lucky and keep well maintained then fine. If not be ready to throw vast sums of money at it.

The Bongo is a great concept let down by poor design, poor build quality and components and van origins. Bit like space cruisers but with more flaws.

Anyway best of luck, be wary of what you buy.

shack · Clubman A

Check out the Bongo Fury forum for the full low down, my mate loves his, flaws, moneypit-itis etc said someone was looking but he wasn't interested! (he also has a volvo estate for the day to day stuff) his gets mid thirties mpg, but done every trick in the book baring driving with his mirrors tucked in!
You can get extra temp sensors etc, just watch the rust demons!
Happy hunting

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Saw one in exeter today with massive KTM stickers all over it. bought one already nick?

jt · Powermonger!!

Bongo just can't get past the name myself wink

Always fancied one of these myself...

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

delvey91 wrote:
Saw one in exeter today with massive KTM stickers all over it. bought one already nick?

Not yet, but I wouldn't want to jinx it with orange stickers!!

Looking at a couple next week.

TTR · Powermonger!!

There is a white Bongo parked in Salterton Rd Exmouth with a big sign in - they want £1,300 if my eyes didn't deceive me. That would leave quite a few squid over for remedial work.

We are very happy with our Bongo we bought in August 2008 and no big repair bills yet just the usual suspension joints, brake pads and a part of the exhaust.

FBF · Clubman A

Looked after they are fine. Its when dummies do not understand the implications of not keeping them properly full of coolant.

It all goes Pete Tong when a hose or radiator lets go.

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

TTR wrote:
There is a white Bongo parked in Salterton Rd Exmouth with a big sign in - they want £1,300 if my eyes didn't deceive me.

If anyone happens to be passing this could you let me know if it has a pop top or if it's a tin top?

Cheers.

Paul Farrow · Expert

nickpdo wrote:

TTR wrote:
There is a white Bongo parked in Salterton Rd Exmouth with a big sign in - they want £1,300 if my eyes didn't deceive me.

If anyone happens to be passing this could you let me know if it has a pop top or if it's a tin top?
Cheers.

I will be passing tomorrow so will let you know my findings

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

Cheers Paul.