Year 2000 diesel Bongo - to buy or not?????

[Dr.Jekyll]

Hello, I have my eye on a Mark 2 (facelift) year 2000 Bongo tintop (as you do) to upgrade from my faultless Mark 1 Bongo. BUT its a diesel model. I assume its going to have the fancy fuel pump etc but my real question is this.

Should I avoid this Bongo (which is in A1 mint condition) simply because it a diesel and hold out until I find a petrol model instead? Do the 2000 -> petrol models also have a fancy fuel pump assembly or is it only the diesel?

Cheers.

Dr.J

[dom_e]

I thought you were getting a V (cough, cough) W?

What's up with your current Bongo? Just fancy a bit more bling? The new ones do look smarter.

[lpgimports]

June 99 made onwards diesels have the fancy turbo and fuel pump, also watch out for 2000 onwards diesels for rust as they are very likely to be rurally used and registered due to emmisions regulations in cities from 2000 onwards.

[Dr.Jekyll]

I thought you were getting a V (cough, cough) W?

What's up with your current Bongo? Just fancy a bit more bling? The new ones do look smarter.

Absolutely nothing wrong with my current bongo, going better than ever! I was just thinking that if I were to go to the trouble of getting a pop-top put in, then it may as well be in a new shape one. The problem with N-reg Mark 1's is getting breakdown insurance for Europe too - the 15 year rule.

And yes, VW were on the top of my list (as you can get a pop-top put in them too for £1250) but just haven't or can't find one that fits the bill. Also, being so much younger than the Bongos allows cheaper insurance both for driving and european breakdown etc. Bongo insurance for me is still around £200 per year more than a VW T5.

[Dr.Jekyll]

June 99 made onwards diesels have the fancy turbo and fuel pump, also watch out for 2000 onwards diesels for rust as they are very likely to be rurally used and registered due to emmisions regulations in cities from 2000 onwards.

OK so would you advise skipping this diesel one and going for a 2000 on petrol model based on mechanical/spare parts availability/re-sale reasons?

[321Away]

as long as its running ok then your fine, the tricky turbo is not a huge fix and can be done by someone competent with spanners, the fuel pumps dont go wrong that often as long as they're not run on veg oil etc the electronics/pick ups etc dont like it, dont start messing with the pedal switches and you wont have a problem there either, dont be put off, there are lots of people on here running them and have little or no more problems than any other type.
Julian

[Dr.Jekyll]

Thanks Julian for your help - I think I will go and have another look at it. At the end of the day, nothing is 100% and you always take a punt to some extent or another.

Cheers,

Dr.J

[MAZABON]

cant understand the question if its mint, diesel or not

any bongo should be judged as an individual vehicle, not based on the all too common scaremongering about where its from in japan or diesel, 2litre,v6, drive by wire or whatever