Mazda Bongo and the like, experience?
Discussion
Have searched for a thread but can't see anything specific, please point me to one (or 50!) if best.
If not, in several threads people say they have them without really elaborating, so can owners tell me what they're like to live with, what goes wrong and what part availability is like?
Recommendations for anything similar sized (3 people, so a small 4 berth or equivalent with/ out awning) appreciated!
If not, in several threads people say they have them without really elaborating, so can owners tell me what they're like to live with, what goes wrong and what part availability is like?
Recommendations for anything similar sized (3 people, so a small 4 berth or equivalent with/ out awning) appreciated!
Had a Bazda Mongo for a couple of years. V6 Auto was nice. Electric pop-top (with an extra berth for the athletic) gives problems, but there are importers in Southampton who source clean vehicles and Maz-Ford spares. Forget any sense of 'fuel economy'.
Made a good weekender, but bits for the engine were getting scarce and the V6 had a rep for eating its own head gaskets. Got rid after second loss of coolant into field.
If you're good with engines then a nice weekender to own and drive.
Forum: Bongo Fury at:
http://igmaynard.co.uk/
Made a good weekender, but bits for the engine were getting scarce and the V6 had a rep for eating its own head gaskets. Got rid after second loss of coolant into field.
If you're good with engines then a nice weekender to own and drive.
Forum: Bongo Fury at:
http://igmaynard.co.uk/
I've been looking at these recently - want something small enough to be a daily driver for the wife, but more comfortable for Euro touring than a tent.
Bongos have risen in price significantly since I was last looking at them - whilst I appreciate they hold value, I struggle with paying £10k+ for a 2nd generation example.
Currently looking at 2nd generation Previas - but they're no good for the OP as they only sleep 2.
Bongos have risen in price significantly since I was last looking at them - whilst I appreciate they hold value, I struggle with paying £10k+ for a 2nd generation example.
Currently looking at 2nd generation Previas - but they're no good for the OP as they only sleep 2.
Check out the Toyota regius or grand via. 3ltr auto diesel turbo so went quite well.
We had a converted one for 4 years and it was very reliable. We had many happy holidays in it and only got rid for the larger comforts of a caravan.
If your budget is a bit higher the Toyota alphard and the Nissan elgrande would both make excellent conversions.
They are so much value compared to the very very tired t4s you see for silly money.
Just be wary of rust on the bongo and has said further up they have a habit of loosing coolant and blowing the gasket. Many owners fit a coolant alarm.
We had a converted one for 4 years and it was very reliable. We had many happy holidays in it and only got rid for the larger comforts of a caravan.
If your budget is a bit higher the Toyota alphard and the Nissan elgrande would both make excellent conversions.
They are so much value compared to the very very tired t4s you see for silly money.
Just be wary of rust on the bongo and has said further up they have a habit of loosing coolant and blowing the gasket. Many owners fit a coolant alarm.
Here's some old pics of ours. Still have the car but SORN'd from today for the winter.
Used it this year to move daughter to Paris and did over 700 miles without missing a beat.
Problems to look for include the dreaded rusty rear wheel arches in all variants. We normally only do a couple of thousand miles a year so plumped for the V6 petrol but if you go for the diesel version make sure there's an overheating warning alarm fitted. That seems to be a bit of an issue.
Check the roof operation as they have been known to stay in the 'up' position.
Remember also that the 'mileometer' will be in kilometres!
They really are great value for money albeit not blessed with acres of camper van space but easily sleep two downstairs or one up,one down.
A few pics of ours from a few years ago.![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/XNgWBl2D.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/ek5jqWDa" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ek5jqWDa.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/ilCXrSkr" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ilCXrSkr.jpg)
Used it this year to move daughter to Paris and did over 700 miles without missing a beat.
Problems to look for include the dreaded rusty rear wheel arches in all variants. We normally only do a couple of thousand miles a year so plumped for the V6 petrol but if you go for the diesel version make sure there's an overheating warning alarm fitted. That seems to be a bit of an issue.
Check the roof operation as they have been known to stay in the 'up' position.
Remember also that the 'mileometer' will be in kilometres!
They really are great value for money albeit not blessed with acres of camper van space but easily sleep two downstairs or one up,one down.
A few pics of ours from a few years ago.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ek5jqWDa.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/ilCXrSkr" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ilCXrSkr.jpg)
bristolracer said:
Check out the Toyota regius or grand via. 3ltr auto diesel turbo so went quite well.
We had a converted one for 4 years and it was very reliable. We had many happy holidays in it and only got rid for the larger comforts of a caravan.
If your budget is a bit higher the Toyota alphard and the Nissan elgrande would both make excellent conversions.
They are so much value compared to the very very tired t4s you see for silly money.
Just be wary of rust on the bongo and has said further up they have a habit of loosing coolant and blowing the gasket. Many owners fit a coolant alarm.
As someone who keeps looking at Bongos for a camper I saw an Elgrand on the road the other day and immediately looked on Ebay, price wise they were very close to the Bongo from what I saw and many looked in better nick. Doesn't have pop top thoughWe had a converted one for 4 years and it was very reliable. We had many happy holidays in it and only got rid for the larger comforts of a caravan.
If your budget is a bit higher the Toyota alphard and the Nissan elgrande would both make excellent conversions.
They are so much value compared to the very very tired t4s you see for silly money.
Just be wary of rust on the bongo and has said further up they have a habit of loosing coolant and blowing the gasket. Many owners fit a coolant alarm.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
With the exception of the Bongo all the vehicles i suggested started life as large MPVs They lend themselves as camper conversions because the seats normally clip out and you are left with a finished interior van sized space.The front seats often swivel too. There are many pop top kits for them and they often have two or three sunroof panels so there is not much cutting and finishing required.
You can buy kitchen units for most of them, and then fit a bed of your choice. If you never intend to carry passengers then a bed is easy to fit,otherwise a good crash tested rock and roll bed will set you back about £600.
Go and look at some, when we did the seller had the toyota as well as the bongos, the toyota had more room inside but it is slightly larger.
The Elgrande does look good value,most parts on these imports are used on other vehicles so good availability.
Trabi601 said:
So, what should I be paying for a nice, ready-converted, rear-kitchen Bongo?
Preferably 2.5 petrol. Too many horror stories about the diesel.
From what I've seen on eBay anywhere from £4-6k gets a half decent one. My mate has one and they got it a lot cheaper but unconverted and needed arches.Preferably 2.5 petrol. Too many horror stories about the diesel.
Check out Bumble Campers for Previa based ones, I've had a look at their site a few times and they seem decent
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Been looking at Bumble. They are tempting, but not quite as 'camper' as a Bongo. And you have to love a vehicle called a Bongo Friendee.If I was having a Previa it would *have* to be a Mk1, I reckon. (I know I said a Mk2 up there, but I've changed my mind - the Mk1 looks more fun)
We've had our bongo for 12 maybe 13 years .
The diesels aren't that bad , but the engines heads are aluminium and the temp dial is over damped so when it says it's over heating it's already happened and the heads already warped.
However get a new radiator , replace the old rubber coolant hoses and add a more accurate temp dial and you'll avoid it overheating.
Rust - the old ones rust pretty bad around the rear arches , if it's been repaired check they haven't done it on the cheap by only replacing the outer skin.
One last thing they are very narrow so if it's to sleep 2 fine , a family maybe not unless you get a awning.
Saying all that we'll never get rid of ours until the rust finally gets unrepairable , it's never broken down , got me out of some very muddy fields , thru flood water and back along a very snowy m5 motorway.
The diesels aren't that bad , but the engines heads are aluminium and the temp dial is over damped so when it says it's over heating it's already happened and the heads already warped.
However get a new radiator , replace the old rubber coolant hoses and add a more accurate temp dial and you'll avoid it overheating.
Rust - the old ones rust pretty bad around the rear arches , if it's been repaired check they haven't done it on the cheap by only replacing the outer skin.
One last thing they are very narrow so if it's to sleep 2 fine , a family maybe not unless you get a awning.
Saying all that we'll never get rid of ours until the rust finally gets unrepairable , it's never broken down , got me out of some very muddy fields , thru flood water and back along a very snowy m5 motorway.
I'm currently browsing for some fresh Mk2 imports with rear kitchens. But they're £8k. On the other hand, that's for a sub 50k miles vehicle straight from Japan. So maybe it's not such a silly price.
It's just for 2 of us - side conversions make the bed very narrow - so it needs to be a rear conversion.
It's just for 2 of us - side conversions make the bed very narrow - so it needs to be a rear conversion.
What else are you going to get for 8k?
Bear in mind it's going to have climate control , electric windows,blinds,roof,door mirrors , automatic, 4x4 if it's diesel.
They are very easy to drive/park as there so narrow .
I think the v6's seem less prone to overheating although saying that with a bit of planning you can prevent that happening with a diesel , the only other thing is do you want a folding roof or not?
With the folding roof multi story car parks aren't a option but you have more living space.
Make sure you rust proof the underside when you get it even if the dealer says they've already done it and get a engine temp alarm , best ones monitor the expansion tank level and the actual engine temp.
Bear in mind it's going to have climate control , electric windows,blinds,roof,door mirrors , automatic, 4x4 if it's diesel.
They are very easy to drive/park as there so narrow .
I think the v6's seem less prone to overheating although saying that with a bit of planning you can prevent that happening with a diesel , the only other thing is do you want a folding roof or not?
With the folding roof multi story car parks aren't a option but you have more living space.
Make sure you rust proof the underside when you get it even if the dealer says they've already done it and get a engine temp alarm , best ones monitor the expansion tank level and the actual engine temp.
Edited by egor110 on Thursday 6th October 23:34
We've been out browsing today - not massively impressed with the quality of vans available out there.
There's a local-ish dealer who has probably 20 of them on his forecourt of various ages and mileages - what struck me is that they all looked very nice on the outside - and most were not yet undersealed, so I could see they were rot free... but the Japanese trash their interiors. Lots of broken bits of trip and cigarette burns.
I'm almost decided on what I want - a facelift 2.0 petrol (most robust of the engines, as I understand it) - or possibly a 2.5 V6 petrol. Aero Cityrunner base van (lots of toys and built in blinds) and I'll send it away to a company in Southampton for a rear kitchen and full dual battery / 240v electric install. Really like white ones with dark tint windows.
Just need to find one.
There's a local-ish dealer who has probably 20 of them on his forecourt of various ages and mileages - what struck me is that they all looked very nice on the outside - and most were not yet undersealed, so I could see they were rot free... but the Japanese trash their interiors. Lots of broken bits of trip and cigarette burns.
I'm almost decided on what I want - a facelift 2.0 petrol (most robust of the engines, as I understand it) - or possibly a 2.5 V6 petrol. Aero Cityrunner base van (lots of toys and built in blinds) and I'll send it away to a company in Southampton for a rear kitchen and full dual battery / 240v electric install. Really like white ones with dark tint windows.
Just need to find one.
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