Bongo Fury

Unfortunatly this Hiace is only made for the Southern Hemisphere

I first saw them in the West Indies a few years ago as maxi taxis and have ridden in them as airport taxis operated by a car hire firm (Ace) in New Zealand. The driver told me that their ones were petrol. They don't have much guts but I believe there are also diesels. What they do have is loads of useable space because the driving position is well forward.

Unfortunately we are unlikely to get these lovely vans over here as long as the E U and the UK dealerships carry on deciding what is good for us rather than what might be exactly what we want.

Of course, if we do eventually get them as a UK model , they will be made in Europe with the switches on the wrong side of the steering column. Long live grey imports.


Frank

Glenda wrote:I like it too. In Nepal last year these new Hiace run as taxis and Nepal is Northern Hemisphere. I also believe this is the newer Hiace style in Japan. So it would be as easy to import to UK as a Bongo. If you were really keen you could import one from Australia as well. Maybe I will look into this in a few years time. Its the long wheel base that I like.

I think "Southern Hemisphere" was probably a geographically inexact reference to the Asia/Pacific market.

scanner wrote:

Glenda wrote:I like it too. In Nepal last year these new Hiace run as taxis and Nepal is Northern Hemisphere. I also believe this is the newer Hiace style in Japan. So it would be as easy to import to UK as a Bongo. If you were really keen you could import one from Australia as well. Maybe I will look into this in a few years time. Its the long wheel base that I like.

I think "Southern Hemisphere" was probably a geographically inexact reference to the Asia/Pacific market.

helen&tony wrote:Hi Mr Deano
Nice scenery....got any vacancies over there house -wise
Cheers
Helen

Always a spare bed for guest when they visit
Thought this had been hi jacked by the Toyota people Helen
Just to put a couple things straight
That particular model hi-ace has been around kiwi land for a couple years.They still are mid engined, the nose isn't really a nose, just an extension so to speak,
Now lets get back to places Bongos have visited eh!
Re the Kea, yep they can strip a vehicle of all its rubber parts in a couple of hours.
The signs say don't feed the Keas, but hey, I wanted a Bongo that had rubbers, so I gave the three Keas some dog biscuits, they seemed tastier than the rubber seals.
Will send a couple more pics,hope others can send in pics of places they have travelled to in their Bongos.

scanner wrote:

Glenda wrote:I like it too. In Nepal last year these new Hiace run as taxis and Nepal is Northern Hemisphere. I also believe this is the newer Hiace style in Japan. So it would be as easy to import to UK as a Bongo. If you were really keen you could import one from Australia as well. Maybe I will look into this in a few years time. Its the long wheel base that I like.

I think "Southern Hemisphere" was probably a geographically inexact reference to the Asia/Pacific market.

jNot being pedantic just pointing out that we should be seeing them in the UK soon if not already. Back to subject we are off to Folkestone tomorrow to stay at the Warren campsite. Brilliant place.

More pics from Deano


where Bertie Bongo hangs out at and my nick name is Feral and hence the name of where I live, "Feral's Retreat"


really quite bay over looking the little West Coast town of Moana. (from the shores of Lake Brunner or as the Locals call the place, "Lake Moana.")


sorry about the reflection of light, it is on the road to Okiwi Bay, Marlborough Sounds. My partner is from this area and has a property near by.

Nice batch

Makes me wonder now why we changed our mind about emigrating to NZ

New Zealand's loss is our gain Chell. Great pics almost a rival to our Bonnie Scotland. Does the place have a New Zealand equivalent of the dreaded wee midgy.

Tony

widdowson2008 wrote:

I wonder how many motorist's have hit this tree

MountainGoat wrote:

Makes me wonder now why we changed our mind about emigrating to NZ

New Zealand's loss is our gain Chell. Great pics almost a rival to our Bonnie Scotland. Does the place have a New Zealand equivalent of the dreaded wee midgy.

Tony

By NZ standards the "dreaded wee midgy" is an absolute rank amateur beginner.

Only a total wuss would worry about such a slight irritation as midges over there.

scanner wrote:

MountainGoat wrote:

Makes me wonder now why we changed our mind about emigrating to NZ

New Zealand's loss is our gain Chell. Great pics almost a rival to our Bonnie Scotland. Does the place have a New Zealand equivalent of the dreaded wee midgy.

Tony

By NZ standards the "dreaded wee midgy" is an absolute rank amateur beginner.

Only a total wuss would worry about such a slight irritation as midges over there.

I don't know about NZ but in Oz they have the Sand Fly with TEETH the size of a SHARK, oh yes they bite and draw blood and YES it bloody hurt's. I lost count of how many bit me

dandemann8 wrote:
I don't know about NZ but in Oz they have the Sand Fly with TEETH the size of a SHARK, oh yes they bite and draw blood and YES it bloody hurt's. I lost count of how many bit me

Yep they are the ones - complete with a stealth mode just like in "Predator"

And mossies the size of hornets and hornets the size of Sparrows.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/sandflies-and-mosquitoes/1

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-20-2006-103046.asp

scanner wrote:

dandemann8 wrote:
I don't know about NZ but in Oz they have the Sand Fly with TEETH the size of a SHARK, oh yes they bite and draw blood and YES it bloody hurt's. I lost count of how many bit me

Yep they are the ones - complete with a stealth mode just like in "Predator"

And mossies the size of hornets and hornets the size of Sparrows.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/sandflies-and-mosquitoes/1

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-20-2006-103046.asp

plus our local sandflies delight in having a fed and you don't even notice them until they have just about finished.
Midgies here where I live, seem to come at the end of Spring and the beginning of Autumn in very mild weather, they get in at night through any crack or open window and can form a "mat" on the outside window, Midges don't bite and are harmless, but after the sandflies (daytime predators) are usually accompanied by mossies in the evening,)