Suzuki Swift Sport and Mazda Bongo Friendee
Discussion
I decided to sell my Eunos Roadster as I just wasn't using it enough to justify keeping it, plus I had a desire to give a small campervan a go and had always fancied a Mazda Bongo Friendee.
Here is the Roadster as she was when I sold her (now been turbo'ed by her new owner!)
And here is her replacement, a 2002 Bongo 2.5 V6 Petrol auto with around 93k miles on her, a fresh import from Japan last year. She has been fully undersealed, and has some rare goodies fitted including a (working) remote start kit, 3x Mazdaspeed uprated anti roll bars. She sits on 19" Mazda CX5 alloys. Plans are to keep her unconverted although I have fitted some extra storage for when we are away for a weekend in her.
This meant I had a Bongo that does around 22mpg alongside my Saab 9-3 Aero auto wagon that only did around 24mpg (local journeys) and was £540RFL so the decision was to move the Saab on...
And replace it with something slightly cheaper to run, but still fun!
I have always had one of these on my bucket list so recently bought this 2014 Suzuki Swift Sport. Previous owner owned from 2 miles to 58k and was fastidious in the detailing and upkeep. It is in immaculate condition, running on some aftermarket Enzo W alloys. I managed to source a rare (possibly last new one in the UK) front bonnet guard and yesterday swapped my plates over onto her. I had an issue with a sticking rear caliper but this was replaced with a second hand unit and appears to have resolved things.
It's a 6-speed box, keyless entry, DAB radio, cruise, etc. so pretty well specced and a complete go-kart compared to either the Saab or especially the Bongo!
Hope you like.
Here is the Roadster as she was when I sold her (now been turbo'ed by her new owner!)
And here is her replacement, a 2002 Bongo 2.5 V6 Petrol auto with around 93k miles on her, a fresh import from Japan last year. She has been fully undersealed, and has some rare goodies fitted including a (working) remote start kit, 3x Mazdaspeed uprated anti roll bars. She sits on 19" Mazda CX5 alloys. Plans are to keep her unconverted although I have fitted some extra storage for when we are away for a weekend in her.
This meant I had a Bongo that does around 22mpg alongside my Saab 9-3 Aero auto wagon that only did around 24mpg (local journeys) and was £540RFL so the decision was to move the Saab on...
And replace it with something slightly cheaper to run, but still fun!
I have always had one of these on my bucket list so recently bought this 2014 Suzuki Swift Sport. Previous owner owned from 2 miles to 58k and was fastidious in the detailing and upkeep. It is in immaculate condition, running on some aftermarket Enzo W alloys. I managed to source a rare (possibly last new one in the UK) front bonnet guard and yesterday swapped my plates over onto her. I had an issue with a sticking rear caliper but this was replaced with a second hand unit and appears to have resolved things.
It's a 6-speed box, keyless entry, DAB radio, cruise, etc. so pretty well specced and a complete go-kart compared to either the Saab or especially the Bongo!
Hope you like.
- Edit - no idea why the Thumbsnap photos have stopped showing in this post!**
Edited by AmiableChimp on Thursday 4th July 01:37
trails said:
Intrigued by the bonnet guard; my wife has a blue 14 plate Swift Sport...perhaps she needs one 
Bongo is very cool, may I ask how much you paid for it?
You'll be lucky to source a bonnet guard mate. I contacted EGR who used to make them, and they put me in touch with the company they sold their remaining stock to.Bongo is very cool, may I ask how much you paid for it?
That guy had a look and found this, his last one, for me.
Bongo was £7.5k - fully undersealed, including alloys, ready to rock from a guy in Gateshead who deals in them in small numbers. Always turns out a quality van.
AmiableChimp said:
You'll be lucky to source a bonnet guard mate. I contacted EGR who used to make them, and they put me in touch with the company they sold their remaining stock to.
That guy had a look and found this, his last one, for me.
Bongo was £7.5k - fully undersealed, including alloys, ready to rock from a guy in Gateshead who deals in them in small numbers. Always turns out a quality van.
Apparently she definitely doesn’t need one, so moot point That guy had a look and found this, his last one, for me.
Bongo was £7.5k - fully undersealed, including alloys, ready to rock from a guy in Gateshead who deals in them in small numbers. Always turns out a quality van.
There are so many things I want to own, this has just taken a high position on the list. Juicy though...I shall look at other engine options. Good luck with it
AmiableChimp said:
You'll be lucky to source a bonnet guard mate. I contacted EGR who used to make them, and they put me in touch with the company they sold their remaining stock to.
That guy had a look and found this, his last one, for me.
Bongo was £7.5k - fully undersealed, including alloys, ready to rock from a guy in Gateshead who deals in them in small numbers. Always turns out a quality van.
Apparently she definitely doesn’t need one, so moot point That guy had a look and found this, his last one, for me.
Bongo was £7.5k - fully undersealed, including alloys, ready to rock from a guy in Gateshead who deals in them in small numbers. Always turns out a quality van.
There are so many things I want to own, this has just taken a high position on the list. Juicy though...I shall look at other engine options. Good luck with it
trails said:
Apparently she definitely doesn’t need one, so moot point
There are so many things I want to own, this has just taken a high position on the list. Juicy though...I shall look at other engine options. Good luck with it
You'll find most engines do a similar mileage.There are so many things I want to own, this has just taken a high position on the list. Juicy though...I shall look at other engine options. Good luck with it
2.5 diesels have the biggest issues with cooling, etc.
2.0 petrols simplest engine but a bit underpowered.
2.5 v6 makes a lovely noise. You can convert to lpg to bring fuel bills down (assuming you do enough miles to make it worthwhile).
Mine is a weekend bus so fuel not that much of an issue.
Thanks buddy.
My son bought a 5-door Swift Sport in white as his first proper car; he is thoroughly enjoying it but has already started getting itchy feet and wants something else. He regularly asks me if I would like to buy it off him and I am seriously tempted (but Mrs T objects because the Swift has a manual gearbox).
trails said:
Intrigued by the bonnet guard; my wife has a blue 14 plate Swift Sport...perhaps she needs one
Bongo is very cool, may I ask how much you paid for it?
you'd bail out of it by Dover....Bongo is very cool, may I ask how much you paid for it?
I had a Bongo for a year, kitchen conversion, roof mattress, bluetooth radio,I managed to sell it for a fair chunk more than I bought it for. Great campers for one night, not that good for two nights. And they are very thirsty.
Weird. We seem to have similar taste in vehicles.
I've been a Bongo for a while. Mine looks almost the same as yours being a Silver Aero but mine has an AFT. Very cool looking Bongolow you have there.
Tomorrow I will be picking up our latest motor which is a 2012 Swift Sport but in Blue.
I've also had an MX5 in the past as well.
I've been a Bongo for a while. Mine looks almost the same as yours being a Silver Aero but mine has an AFT. Very cool looking Bongolow you have there.
Tomorrow I will be picking up our latest motor which is a 2012 Swift Sport but in Blue.
I've also had an MX5 in the past as well.
AmiableChimp said:
Bongo was £7.5k - fully undersealed, including alloys, ready to rock from a guy in Gateshead who deals in them in small numbers. Always turns out a quality van.
Was he a little canny fella called Stu by any chance?Edited by JimbobVFR on Saturday 25th May 17:49
S100HP said:
Am fond of the bongo. Followed a 54 plate one the other day. The "newer" ones are much nicer.
It's quite an impressive facelift as the actual body, bonnet and all bodywork (including the tailgate) is identical. It's all done with bumpers, grills, lights and various bits of plastic trim. Somehow they look much sharper than early ones, especially the Aero trim level which has side skirts and extra bits on the bumpers. (Which are really difficult to replace BTW, they're really sought after Mines very similar to the OPs just with an AFT (short for AutoFreetop which is the rather charming name for the factory fitted lifting roof)
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff