Good points / bad points? Seem cheap enough, why? Thinking one of them and a gert big awning would be pretty cool for riding and family trips away…

Any owners give a view? Anything I should be aware of when looking at them?

Dave

try getting parts.

Check out BONGOFURY

Good points: cheap to buy, seats that fold into a bed, window blinds, electric pop-top, reliable, easy to drive (most are automatic).

Cons: Insurance is pricey, thirsty, not all garages like to work on them, small (compared to other vans)

people will take the piss…………. 😉

Thats it Tony, you’re not having a go in my Bongo!

I believe that you need to watch the cooling system on them as they can overheat causing damage to the head.

A guy I work with has one and loves it, but he had some kind of alarm fitted to warn him when it starts to get too hot.

try getting parts.

Everything’s readily available, although used, from all the vans writen off by insurance companies due to the cost of repairing accident damage using new parts specially imported from Japan.

If that makes sense. 😆

Had one for three years, as a camper, and pretty happy with it.
Shorter and narrower than a VW, pretty thirsty, bit of body roll. Easy to work on. Fairly high spec for the money.
Practicality depends on the configuration and size/age of your family.

DaveyBoyWonder – Member
Thats it Tony, you’re not having a go in my Bongo!

Dave, get a tranny like mine, 240000 on the clock, and still running

Bregante……………….bastid 😆

Just something on the list. Wife likes the look of them, I’d prefer to go mad and get something like a crew cab Vivaro etc and a big awning.

We’ll see.

Thanks for the Bongo Fury link – some good reading on there…

Had one, which was a camper conversion and bought a mahoooosive awning that fitted to the side / sliding door – could pitch another small tent (or 2 or 3) inside the awning for the kids to sleep in.

Hard going dragging a trailer and can’t sleep 4 and was a little uncomfortable sleeping in it – limited use of camping conversion unless ultra fine weather

Upside; great day van, easy to drive (2.5 v6, 4WD auto), found a good independent garage who never had a problem getting parts etc. Cheapish to run

My Bongo has been great. It’s an un-converted ’96 diesel 4×4 and I’ve used it as my daily driver for the last 12 months, it’s been reliable so far only needing a ball joint at it’s MOT last week.
I camped in it at a few of the Gravity Enduro races and the STW Weekender last year. I much prefer sleeping in it than under canvas.
Camping in it is good when solo or 2 people but add two kids and things get cramped – even with an awning. We did a 2 week Scottish road trip as a family last year with all our gear plus 4 bikes, we had a fun holiday but it was hard work. I’m thinking about getting something bigger.

mate of mine has one – we drove it to Morzine in the summer.
comfortable, car footprint so a good size but spacious enough inside. cool in a kind of retro way.
but, gutless on the motorways and drinks like a fish (sorry Mark 😉 )

Looked at these ages ago. Had we just been a couple we’d probably have gone for it. Kind of small inside if there’re kids to accommodate, though. We had a local garage that specialised in them at the time, and even they said it’d be a bit cramped. Still have a soft spot for them, though. A powered elevating roof will never get old 🙂