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Subject Topic: Thinking about buting a Mazda Bongo Post Reply Post New Topic
Personmpelle2
13/7/2010 at 5:08pm
 Location: Esher
 Outfit: NONE View mpelle2's Profile View Profile   Reply to mpelle2 Reply   Quote mpelle2 Quote  
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Hi,

Have just joined the site because I am thinking of buying a Mazda Bongo. Never bought a camper van before but have camped round Europe and the UK- becoming sick of tents!

Have found one and I was just interested in anyones thoughts and advice as you all seem like the friendly and helpful types. The one I have found is as follows- N reg 1995, 93000miles, 2,5 litre disel, 6 months ago has had new head, new head gasket and cambelt, MOT for 6 months, Electric roof. Can get more info.

What do you think? Thanks.

 



-------------
Cheers,
Matt


Personpepe63
13/7/2010 at 5:28pm
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Toyota Granvia (Wellhouse) View pepe63's Profile View Profile   Reply to pepe63 Reply   Quote pepe63 Quote  
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It may be worth asking on here:

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/index.php


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Personmpelle2
13/7/2010 at 5:45pm
 Location: Esher
 Outfit: NONE View mpelle2's Profile View Profile   Reply to mpelle2 Reply   Quote mpelle2 Quote  
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Cheers, will have a look.

-------------
Cheers,
Matt


Personfeeblecat
13/7/2010 at 6:41pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Coachman Highlander (Amara) View feeblecat's Profile View Profile   Reply to feeblecat Reply   Quote feeblecat Quote  
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yip, bongo fury is the site for you for all bongo related questions.  Re the bongo - we have one.  The best money we ever spent and in the 2 years have been all over with it - went to the South of France last year as well as the length and breadth of Britain.  Back to France in a few weeks time.  The only advice I would give is take your time and be sure you know what you want from a campervan.  They are not very big (a plus to some re parking, mobility etc) (a minus to others who need to stretch out).  Ours is converted and we compliment it with a quechua pop-up tent for use as an awning if we are away for longer than a couple of days.  It has a small sink, 2 ring hob and fridge but I think of it as a car with a bed and not a motorhome (as some do) - it is a mindset.


Personmpelle2
13/7/2010 at 7:04pm
 Location: Esher
 Outfit: NONE View mpelle2's Profile View Profile   Reply to mpelle2 Reply   Quote mpelle2 Quote  
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Thanks for the info.

Did you buy it converted or did you get it done yourself?



-------------
Cheers,
Matt


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Personfeeblecat
13/7/2010 at 7:11pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Coachman Highlander (Amara) View feeblecat's Profile View Profile   Reply to feeblecat Reply   Quote feeblecat Quote  
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We bought it with a smashing side conversion but to be honest now I know better i would probably get a different layout - hence the advice to know what you really want from the 'van.  It doesn't detract from my love of the bongo tho, its a great van with any layout I would just know what to look out for next time or better still arrange my own conversion!


PersonMinniesmum
13/7/2010 at 7:28pm
 Location: Northeast England
 Outfit: Autosleeper Symphony Motorhome View Minniesmum's Profile View Profile   Reply to Minniesmum Reply   Quote Minniesmum Quote  
Joined: 07/7/2010

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A Bongo would have been my first choice of van for a conversion- bigger than the Doblo. However my Rover car engine blew up 3 months ago and I had to find a van fast as needed it to get to work . No Bongo's available locally and way above my budget anyway, so got the Doblo.

Still like the Bongo.....


PersonSprocket
13/7/2010 at 8:28pm
 Location: North Wales
 Outfit: Mazda Bongo & a few Quechuas View Sprocket's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sprocket Reply   Quote Sprocket Quote  
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Got ours last week. The advice I gleaned from Bongo Fury forum was invaluable. Look at lots..even if it means travelling (I drove to Gloucester and back twice in the space of 3 days (8hr round trip) to look at the one we eventually bought), but had spent a few weekends driving round the north west to see as many as we could.

Ours is a 1996, N reg and isn't converted and no immediate plans to

Like feeblecat we use a Quechua Base as an awning to spread out into, 'butts' up quite nicely to the side of the van.

Its still early days for us, but so far so good and when driving along I look like this ----->


Personmpelle2
13/7/2010 at 8:45pm
 Location: Esher
 Outfit: NONE View mpelle2's Profile View Profile   Reply to mpelle2 Reply   Quote mpelle2 Quote  
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What was the price and mileage like? If you dont mind me asking?

Thanks



-------------
Cheers,
Matt


Personfeeblecat
13/7/2010 at 9:24pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Coachman Highlander (Amara) View feeblecat's Profile View Profile   Reply to feeblecat Reply   Quote feeblecat Quote  
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We paid about 13k for ours 2 years ago (1998) - included was the back box (which we don't use now) and a drive away awning (which we dont' use either), aerial, portapotti, gas bottle etc and private number plate (I chose it as we were first to register in UK).  Can't remember the mileage when we bought it (70 odd k rings a bell) but now has 84k miles (135,000 km).  It was also fully converted.  Probably could have got similar a bit cheaper but i don't cry over spilt milk and happy with the van we have got.  Passed 2 mot's first time and never needed any money spending on it (touch wood!). 


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Personjimsmimm
13/7/2010 at 9:53pm
 Location: Paisley
 Outfit: Chausson Flash 22 View jimsmimm's Profile View Profile   Reply to jimsmimm Reply   Quote jimsmimm Quote  
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I'd ask why the head went...if they never fixed the original problem it may come back... .the head is very fragile on the bongo so any over heating issues tend to crack it.....?


PersonKaiwh
14/7/2010 at 6:30pm
 Location:  Rothbury Northumberland
 Outfit: 1990 Pilote Talbot Express View Kaiwh's Profile View Profile   Reply to Kaiwh Reply   Quote Kaiwh Quote  
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We had a Bongo for 5 years without any major problems.

Bought from an importer at Hexham Northumberland, the Bongo Fury site is the place to go and get advice, best of luck. 



-------------
Shane


Personmobilecat
26/7/2010 at 5:01pm
 Location: None Entered
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Buying my Freda (bongo) is the best thing I did and the support of the bongofury forums have been invaluable. Its for sale now - on the classifieds on here so feel free to look. She has to sell in the next week or so! I still love her - I just can't take her where I am going. She has a great conversion too :)


Personflip53
02/8/2010 at 1:20am
 Location: Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Senator Indiana View flip53's Profile View Profile   Reply to flip53 Reply   Quote flip53 Quote  
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]Have just joined the site because I am thinking of buying a Mazda Bongo. Never bought a camper van before but have camped round Europe and the UK- becoming sick of tents!

Have found one and I was just interested in anyones thoughts and advice as you all seem like the friendly and helpful types. The one I have found is as follows- N reg 1995, 93000miles, 2,5 litre disel, 6 months ago has had new head, new head gasket and cambelt, MOT for 6 months, Electric roof. Can get more info.

What do you think? Thanks.

 


Personflip53
02/8/2010 at 1:40am
 Location: Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Senator Indiana View flip53's Profile View Profile   Reply to flip53 Reply   Quote flip53 Quote  
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Hi
We originally looked for a Bongo/Freda. Plenty of dealers about but make sure they have been going several years. Apparently when conversions became popular, a number of "dealers" conversion people jumped on the Bongowagon and saw it as a way to make fast ££.
You can buy or order your own van from dealers.
You can then choose your own fitments/layout/colour etc
All nice and new! Might cost a bit more but if you search the websites there are basic layouts which are priced accordingly (middle, end etc)
We looked in the Derbyshire/Leek area.

If you are looking at one that had problems with head gasket, why settle for that when the market has loads to choose from.? Unless you feel reassured that the head is new?

Firstly, cambelts do need changing if not on import then after so many miles. Make sure its done - expensive omission!

Secondly, some conversions are cheaper quality cupboards hinges than others and don't last so long. Unfortunately, we have found that out to our cost Hinges bend and screws split the wood.

They are pretty small inside. How many are sleeping in it?
However, Size makes its easier to travel and park.
Cheap insurance.

We were looking at Bongos at dealers and out of the blue a Toyota Granvia came in taken part ex. We just fell for it!

Toyota bit wider inside and OH liked the absence of centre gubbins so that we could get into the back without going outside and round in the bad weather (Or are we just plain lazy?)

We also wanted back seats to have seat belts when family travelled with us. Some bongos don't have the seat belts.

Think about cupboard space I find it a bit cramped but then I have never camped and if you are upgrading from a tent you have more experience than me at travelling light.

We have fixed top as we didn't need sleeping space above.
When we were looking at Bongos we were told that there are two types of pop up - one fitted at the factory and one converted. We were advised the factory fit was more reliable.

I have gone off onto Toyota's a bit (sorry) but i think some of the points can be considered if buying a Bongo too.

I love it so far despite some of the frustrations but I am tackling them one at a time

One thing to consider is not a lot of room for chilling . We originally had small tent separate but recently bought outwell awning to give more living space and sleeping space for OH due to small bed width (only as big as single bed really and he is 6 feet tall and quite wide - hope he doesn't read this bless him

Hope some of my rambling helps....................

shop around is my advice there are plenty to choose from and we negotiated a bit of extra cupboard added in and extended insurance from 3 to 12 months. Extended MOT 12 months and Tax was a few months.

We made it obvious we were shopping around and did the "Oh! we've been offered   XYZ" Bit of competition does wonders for getting a good deal !

Good luck..................

Post last edited on 02/08/2010 01:51:51


PersonFrancophile1947
02/8/2010 at 4:23pm
 Location: Norwich
 Outfit: Citroen Relay Campervan View Francophile1947's Profile View Profile   Reply to Francophile1947 Reply   Quote Francophile1947 Quote  
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I also have a Bongo and would be concerned about the new head on the one you are looking for. I would find out who did the job and how many miles it has done since. There are loads of cheap Chinese heads around and they have been known to fail again in a short time, especially if a genuine Mazda head gasket was not used.
Best advice is to join the Bongo Fury forum and ask there - you will get lots of help/advice.
Good luck

-------------
Cheers
John



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