Looking for a motorhome considering a bongo but heard bad things

[Taichimorgan]

Hi I am new to this forum but looking for anaffordable motorhome considered a bongo but heard bad things about reliability fuel consumption and an inability to get parts. I will need to use it also as my regular car. I wondered if anyone could advise on these issues as bongos seem cool and compact so easy to drive.

Thanks for any advice

[ade33]

I would suggest you'll need to be good with the spanners, and happy to tinker with your own van at the weekends to keep it in shape. There's no real reason a well-looked after one can't be reliable, but they need some looking after, probably more than many other vehicles would. See if there is a garage local to you that has some Bongo knowledge; they could become a useful friend (in a good way). It's easy on the eye, easy to drive and park, and the children love it. The electric roof on ours is excellent.

However - we bought one for use in just the circumstances you describe. In the 2(ish) months we've owned it, it has spent more time off the road than on. It's currently in the garage again with suspected cooling system and gearbox issues. It's thirsty, but I knew that - 23mpg on petrol.

The Bongo was supposed to replace my wifes car, and be used at the weekends for some family fun. Sadly, the opposite has occurred, as I've spent more time underneath it than out in it. Ours may be the exception that proves the rule, but reading around here it seems they aren't the most reliable vehicles, and when they go wrong it tends to be expensive. If I'm honest I can't wait for it to be repaired, then we can sell it before it bankrupts us.

Your mileage may vary, etc, etc, but this is my experience.

[Bob]

Welcome aboard.

You do need to bear in mind that the first ones are over 20 years old, but plenty of us have owned one for 10 years with very little trouble, you tend to hear horror stories rather than good ones.

Mike pointed out some while back that the Techy section onhere is a bit like sitting in A&E thinkg everyone had broken limbs and heart attacks.

You also need to be aware of the cooling system and the need to keep it in good order and bleed it after work.

Many a post on here starts, "I knew it was leaking/overheating so I kept driving it..." Not all, but many problems could be avoided if people stopped when a problem occurs.

MPG, Our diesel gives about 30 mpg, we don't use it for short runs, just walk or cycle localy.

A 2 year old VW will doubtless do more and not need as much TLC, but it won't come at Bongo price, you pays your money...

[ukspaceman]

I have owned three and not one has given me trouble. The first two were used as everyday transport the one I have now is just for camping. The only reason I changed them was I wanted newer or a conversion. The first one I purchased was a 96 plate and its still driving around the local area.

It’s like any second hand purchase if you don’t look closely and end up buying a dog then you will end up on the tools every weekend. Just take your time and buy from a reputable dealer or if you do go private make sure it comes with a lot of recent service history.

[Taichimorgan]

Hi. Thank you for your replies unfortunately I am not very handy really when it cones to engines are there any specifics I need to check when buying. I am in the central south east can anyone recommend a reliable dealer

[Bob]

Have a read of the 'Buying a Bongo' page:

http://igmaynard.co.uk/buying/

Central South East isn't really specific, a nearby town would help us to help you.

[Dr Fingers]

Hi. Thank you for your replies unfortunately I am not very handy really when it cones to engines are there any specifics I need to check when buying. I am in the central south east can anyone recommend a reliable dealer

Colin at County Cars, Portslade..(Brighton)


Derek

[g8dhe]

Free Spirit Auto's http://freespiritautos.co.uk/

[sotal]

We've had ours just over a year now.

MPG wise it isn't really a big issue. Ours is the diesel and does just under 30mpg. Which I find acceptable given the size etc. Our other car is a petrol Mondeo and that gets a similar amount.

We've had very little problem with ours and it is used as a daily driver (as well as the long holiday trips we've been on).

To list all the problems we've had with ours (probably sounds worse than it is):

Rear drop links noisy - replaced as goodwill gesture by garage
Gearbox cooler pipe split - replaced under warranty by garage
Passenger window switch failed - replaced for free by garage
Rear arches rusted through within 6 months - new arches welded in by garage as goodwill gesture
Front drop link failed MOT - I paid to replace this.

I bought it from Ian Taylor, it came with a 3 year warranty (obviously not everything was covered but he has been very good to replace/fix other things in the first year that weren't covered)

I would say that in general it is quite a robust vehicle - your two things to watch are rust and coolant problems. A coolant alarm helps to guard against terminal failure (we have a haydn alarm fitted), so for me the rust is the biggest concern.

Having said all that my parents bought a motorhome at about the same time as us and they've had much more problems. It has spent more time in the garage than on holiday! They've had problems with damp, they've had problems starting and other minor issues too. Theirs is newer and much more expensive.

[mikeonb4c]

Bongos (early AFT models especially) are unique for having an electric lifting roof, electric blinds, clever reconfigurable seats and being slim enough to squeeze down narrow lanes and streets. This makes them an excellent all round MPV: people carrier/goods transporter/weekend camper. They also seem to have the best / biggest in clubs and forums for owners when it comes to Jap import campervans, and that is a big plus.

They are getting old though and more issues must be expected. Rust and failing of electrical equipment are two in particular. Mine is coming up to 21 years old and has been my everyday drive for 10 years and has never let me down. It has cost me money though, but all acceptable given the lack of depreciation from its £3700 purchase price and all that it has done for me. And the basic servicing work i find easy to do myself (oil, filters, disc pads, coolant change) so that offsets the costly stuff. And some of the work ( rust/welding/partial respray) I see as an investment in keeping the car sorted for the years ahead. But get it wrong buying one and those bills could all arrive at once and be hefty. Also, if the Bongo has to be away for 2 weeks (as happened recently) I can cope without a car (though boy do i miss the Bongo).

My mechanic Adrian, one of the few time served Bongo specialists, has been indispensible in keeping me on the road. So you could use identifying a suitable willing garage near you. Adrian says Toyota (Hiace, Granvia etc) are better built than Bongos when it comes to rust (and maybe mechanical etc) but then only the Bongo has all the design qualities i mentioned earlier, and mine doesn't do badly.

On fuel consumption, my 2wd diesel typically does 30-32 on motorways at 65-70mph, but has done 41mpg on two mainly motorway trips, by keeping to 60mph max. In contrast, a short commute in town with the engine barely warming has produced mpg more like 18-20, though a more typical suburban figure is 22-25.

Prices for well looked after Bongos seem to hold up well whilst many can still be got at prices offering a lot for a little. But with the cheaper ones i'd aim to have at least £2k in reserve for getting hidden issues addressed (though you might find some that, like mine, have had work done as and when required - i've too much pride in my Bongo to want to pass it on as a lemon!)

Breaking down on the continent you might be safer with a Toyota than a Bongo, though that hasn't stopped several Bongo owners from making epic European trips and returning home safely

Parts seem substantially ok for getting especially as with so many in the uk, there is a healthy industry breaking Bongos for parts. But parts on any old car is always a consideration.

In summary, they're a fabulous motor provided you understand you're buying a pet and not a car. Tried to get my head around selling mine this summer but just couldn't do it so spent money on it instead

[Supersooty]

We have our Bongo for 10 months now. I use it daily for work and have just undertaken a 700 mile round trip without it missing a beat. He is a dream to drive but, like others a little thirsty. Mine is a Aug 2002 2 litre petrol. I regularly check oil and water but have not topped anything up apart from screenwash in this time. I bought mine from Andy's Imports just outside Norwich an excellent dealer who I have found very helpful. I suppose buying from a dealer I paid more than a private buy but, he serviced it, changed the cambelt, undersealed it etc, etc. It is such a flexible vehicle whether transporting people, large model aircraft or using it for camping. Mine is not a conversion but, has a pop-up roof, With the drive-away awning attached it is superb for a camping holiday. So far I cannot fault it and when you get one you belong to an elite club.