Bongo Fury

Just heard about 2 car related issues.

£1,700.00 for a built in sat nav replacement in a small Nissan Micra (by Nissan) because it is built into centre console with radio etc.

A left channel amplifier had blown for the car stereo system and needs to be programmed to work with the cars on board computer.

Give me well maintained old vehicles ANY day of the week.

Unless you have not got stacks of cash around stick with a decent second hand aged vehicle is my advice.

I am a bit concerned for the day when today's vehicles are the only second hand ones available.

Aye I listen with a smirk at work as people talk about taking in their Audi/BMW/VW for £800 service or their getting their DPF replaced for £1500 or even listening to their monthly payments, as none of them actually own their cars!

I had a knock on my 20 year old Volvo front left suspension, £75 got me both sides lower wishbones, droplinks and track rod ends - delivered! OK, they aren't going to last as long as the Volvo own ones but they will probably outlast the rest of the car.

That all said though, I am getting a little tired of working on the damn Bongo every week. It became a little hobby, it is now taking over every spare minute I have. I literally work on it more than I drive it. I confess I have been looking for a Vito

I'm right on track with both you guys. Currently Bongoless this week while i have rear bumper removed (and replaced with new as old one a bit tired) and rust areas cut out and welded, also respray bonnet and area above windscreen as lacquer going chalky. I'd like it fully fit for roaming when i retire next Spring though i may still do a bit of diy fettling with my new found spare time. But age and 10 years of fettling have dulled my enthusiasm a little and i'm happy to outsource where possible. I look hard at getting something newer but nothing really matches up. The Bongo is a very acceptable drive on both comfort and fuel economy on a run and there's little else that can match what it offers. And if i think it's a bit of a money pit at times i only have to read stories like BB123s to remind myself its not. And there's more chance that a well kept Bongo will hold its price than something more ordinary and less useful. Yes its a bit tedious having to put it in for restoration work from time to time but in 10 years of ownership it has yet to break down and leave me stranded, despite being my everyday car (and used almost every day). Hopefully also, the restoration schedule will lessen as the big ones get done.

I don't disagree Mike, same as you (although over only 5 years) I've never been left stranded, the engine seems to be very reliable however all of the ancillaries seem to break!

Preaching to the converted here.

Totaly agree.

roosmith wrote:I don't disagree Mike, same as you (although over only 5 years) I've never been left stranded, the engine seems to be very reliable however all of the ancillaries seem to break!

Old age, just like us i fear. But we have the technology - can we fix it? Yes we can ha ha. Agree though that its a bit of a love/hate thing. If there was another car to match it.....but i can't quite find one. Interesting that mechanic Adrian at JapanDirect is finding the same: tremendous attachment/commitment of owners to their ageing Bongos.

I've talked about this on here before, I don't fully buy into the old age thing, I've run 20 year old vehicles before without this number of failures. My Bongo hasn't done 100k yet, other old vehicles I have had, had twice that mileage an nowhere near the number of breakdowns.

roosmith wrote:I've talked about this on here before, I don't fully buy into the old age thing, I've run 20 year old vehicles before without this number of failures. My Bongo hasn't done 100k yet, other old vehicles I have had, had twice that mileage an nowhere near the number of breakdowns.

But they're not a Bongo......is what i was trying to say. Mechanic Adrian is clear that Toyota Granvia, Hiace etc are better built. Bongo Friendee was maybe a bit of a novelty design for Mazda also, so not debugged and not intended to last the years ours have?

Well other then the "ahem" we won't mention that... ours one seems ok now and yes there have been the usual bits to sort, fuel gauge, door loom, 4 way fuse/interior fan switch and now a water tank tap. (although that is just the tank itself not the Bongo) Ours is not really seeing heavy mileage either which helps. 3.5K a year approx is hardly crazy mileage. And it is wearing very well.

Fingers crossed it stays that way for quite a while. The stereo amp was from a Jaguar, apparently it needs to be programmed into a computer before it works. Surely that is simply a money earning exercise.

No doubt in a few months I will be out with the Waxoyl cans/tin doing the annual seal off. Oddly enough I rather like that. Make the Bongo all nice a dry and cosy where it needs to be over the wet and cold spell.

I bet you are looking forwards to the retirement Mike. I hope you can still enjoy your last time at work and end on a high.

BongoBongo123 wrote: I bet you are looking forwards to the retirement Mike. I hope you can still enjoy your last time at work and end on a high.

I might be able to stay on part time post 65 if i want to. The £s would be useful and it might ease the transition but i wonder if it might waste that most previous commodity - time. My job is one of the better ones i've had after some tough years, but a break from the politics of the workplace after 45 years would be nice. Bit scary having nothing you have to get up for though! But wait....there's a Bongo needs fettling. Hope it stops raining

The best one I've heard about was this http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/127250-accid ... i-did.html
Its basically someone in a GTR bumped into the towbar on a van, the only real visible damage was crack in the bumper and the paint. However it also set off the single use pedestrian safety system which pops the bonnet up for a softer landing. Cost to fix £11k I bet he'll never make that mistake again

mikeonb4c wrote:

BongoBongo123 wrote: I bet you are looking forwards to the retirement Mike. I hope you can still enjoy your last time at work and end on a high.

I might be able to stay on part time post 65 if i want to. The £s would be useful and it might ease the transition but i wonder if it might waste that most previous commodity - time. My job is one of the better ones i've had after some tough years, but a break from the politics of the workplace after 45 years would be nice. Bit scary having nothing you have to get up for though! But wait....there's a Bongo needs fettling. Hope it stops raining

And if theres no fettling to do,you can always get away camping in it once you retire.

Brian

Ha ha got that Brian

roosmith wrote:I've talked about this on here before, I don't fully buy into the old age thing, I've run 20 year old vehicles before without this number of failures. My Bongo hasn't done 100k yet, other old vehicles I have had, had twice that mileage an nowhere near the number of breakdowns.

You may just be unlucky with your Bongo.
A lot depends on the vehicle you buy and its history/maintainance by previous owner.
Ive had 3 in 10 yrs,very little repairs on all of them. My present one ive had 6 yrs in october.All thats had is a set of wiper blades,a new diff seal ,drop links and a rocker cover gasket to stop an oil leak.
Maybe ive been lucky

Hi
Yes....I have to admit that 12 years along the line I should like a small motorhome, and I've been looking for a couple of years at a larger one as well...The Bongo is very useful as a shopping trolley for the monthly supplies / occasional dog transporter (too hot here to leave them for even a minute or so)....and parking's a doddle. Constant attention has prevented rust (the mechanics / MOT station et al are stunned by it's condition), and the local mechanics all gather in a crowd when it goes in (they love all the gadgets), but I must admit that whilst the Vivaro has it's problems, an LWB version beckons as a small campervan....and all the garages across Europe should have no difficulty fixing one...Toyota and Mitsubishi engines are strong, but the Bongo has a bit of character....HOWEVER....I have now got lots of health issues that preclude tinkering...Decisions Decisions...Also sorely tempted by a Jeep Commander V8 and trailer!....
Cheers
Helen