Price Variance

Anything non-technical about the Mazda Bongo Friendee van

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Bonneville
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Price Variance

Post by Bonneville » Wed Mar 28, 2018 11:21 am

Hello all,

Seriously thinking about a buying a Bongo but I've not seen a vehicle with such a wide variety of pricing for similar years. I owned a JDM Mitsubishi FTO a while ago and prices were very dependent on factory options/engine spec so was wondering if that is a factor here?
I'm seeing sheds at circa £1500 but wouldn't touch them as I know what's underneath from the FTO experience. Useable ones seem to start at £3500 but go all the way to £14K at dealers for similar age of vehicle. I'm not averse to paying a dealer mark-up but that seems a big gap between the two. Is it a mileage thing or does the camper conversion add that much to the price?

Many thanks
TheLongRoad
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Re: Price Variance

Post by TheLongRoad » Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:09 pm

Hi Welcome to forum. In answer to your question it depends a lot on condition of the vechile. Newly imported with a full campervan conversion, fresh underseal, low mileage, cam belt changed etc are at the top end of the price - in some cases beyond the 14k you have seen. They will often have a two year warrantee etc. Older vehicle that have been in the UK a while with higher miles are for sale for less. There have as you say been a number of rusty badly maintained example sold on that seem to look great with a good polish - but read the forum for those who've experienced these. I bought a newer 2.0ltr petrol because engine wise they appear more robust.
Give any potential vehicle a good inspection, get under it and look for any rust, check service record etc. Hope this helps a bit.
2002 Friendee 2.0 ltr Petrol.
Bonneville
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Bonneville » Wed Mar 28, 2018 2:02 pm

Yes, very helpful, thanks. I'm seeing a fair few that are 8 seaters that look reasonable but the camper conversion seems to jack the price higher by more than the cost of the components.
Is this due to any certification (electrics) or registration issues (DVLA) or just people avoiding the hassle of self-conversion?
My plan is to get the best shell I can find and throw money at the mechanicals as working on cars is more of a hobby then a chore with me.
I really like the idea of a diesel automatic as well given the extra torque. I've been searching for this layout in something that can navigate a narrow lane so stumbling on the Bongo was a real find. I don't think there's anything else like this.

Many thanks
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BongoBongo123
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Re: Price Variance

Post by BongoBongo123 » Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:06 pm

Rust or lack thereof, mileage, camper conversion (some are pro and some look DIY) and tin top/AFT are the big variables. Also if it is a Aero model (newer) or older shape. Not sure if Petrol/Diesel figures into it.

You only need to look at what people write on various Bongo forums to know some people buy them and run them into the ground in a couple of years with no plan to maintain or look after them, they obviously go for peanuts after that. I did wonder what the huge price differences were but what I wrote above are the main ones. Last time I checked the AFT (lifting roof) is about a grands worth and worth every penny IMO.

Dealers need their cut I guess. 14K seems like an awful lot fro any Bongo to me. Judging by what we paid about 4 years ago you should get something very good for about £6K I would have thought.. unless they have appreciated considerably.
teenmal
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Re: Price Variance

Post by teenmal » Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:23 pm

You need to be VERY careful when purchasing these old vehicles, don't think for a moment if you pay £5000 or £8000 you will get a good vehicle.
I would strongly advise getting a professional inspection and ROAD TEST.

take EXTRA care.
Flanners
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Flanners » Thu Mar 29, 2018 3:14 pm

For the spec I have, Aero tin top professional rear conversion 2.0 2002 with 42K miles (don't see the point of the pop tbh) dealer's are asking £10-13K, some with double+ the mileage; I would not personally pay so much, so would go for a private sale.

Best option is to decide what you want engine wise, body wise and pop or not, then whether you want the conversion/electrics already fitted, once you know what you want you can then search for a decent one that meets your requirements. I echo the above there are a LOT of absolute heaps about (some for stupid money too) and some unscrupulous vendors.

Personally I cannot see it being economic to buy a dog either mechanically or body-wise and then try and make it a decent one, given the costs involved and problems you may encounter, when privately there are some cracking one's out there for good money.

Unfortunately (despite the current monsoon weather) this is the time of year when demand tends to push up the prices a little (looking on eBay).

Dare I say on a Bongo forum but if I was going to do £13K on a Jap import camper it would be something slightly newer like Alphard etc.
2002 2.0 Aero with Outback Conversion and Roof Top Tent
Flanners
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Flanners » Fri Mar 30, 2018 8:27 am

2002 2.0 Aero with Outback Conversion and Roof Top Tent
Winnie-bongo
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Winnie-bongo » Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:12 pm

I would also look at mot history, not just latest mot, my neighbour purchased a vw from a local dealer for well over top book! Then was telling me they put a fresh mot on for her, turns out the old one only had about 6 months left and had a few advisories including all four discs. New mot has none and all four discs need replacing I told her to take it back but a month later it still has them on. On the same lines I was looking at a privately advertised low mileage Bongo on eBay for £16500 today, stating new mot and all advisories done, yet it's mot history didn't look great as front crossmember corroded was mentioned on the last three.
teenmal
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Re: Price Variance

Post by teenmal » Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:15 pm

Winnie-bongo wrote: Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:12 pm I would also look at mot history, not just latest mot, my neighbour purchased a vw from a local dealer for well over top book! Then was telling me they put a fresh mot on for her, turns out the old one only had about 6 months left and had a few advisories including all four discs. New mot has none and all four discs need replacing I told her to take it back but a month later it still has them on. On the same lines I was looking at a privately advertised low mileage Bongo on eBay for £16500 today, stating new mot and all advisories done, yet it's mot history didn't look great as front crossmember corroded was mentioned on the last three.



Yep, and somebody will gladly throw good money at it because it has a nice kitchen unit, and it will probably be corroded / rusted elsewhere that the MOT Tester missed.

Take care
Bonneville
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Bonneville » Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:23 am

I looked at my first Bongo yesterday and I think I have my answer. The underside was crusty and it had a pair of recent but badly welded sill panels stitched to it by a blind man (arc eye, probably). The trailing arm hangers were blocks of pure rust and the petrol tank had been stoved in from what looks like a 2/4 post lift arm. It was a Cat D as well.
£4300 and 'first to see will buy'. No they won't.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, the search continues.
Bob
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Bob » Sun Apr 01, 2018 9:05 am

Sounds like just what you don't need, let's hope everyone gives it a thorough check over. :?
Markas
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Re: Price Variance

Post by Markas » Wed Apr 25, 2018 12:06 am

Bonneville wrote: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:23 am I looked at my first Bongo yesterday and I think I have my answer. The underside was crusty and it had a pair of recent but badly welded sill panels stitched to it by a blind man (arc eye, probably). The trailing arm hangers were blocks of pure rust and the petrol tank had been stoved in from what looks like a 2/4 post lift arm. It was a Cat D as well.
£4300 and 'first to see will buy'. No they won't.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, the search continues.
Hi Bonneville, there are bargains to be found, just be patient and do some homework first. I went for a 2.0 petrol based on reading advice on this forum concerning bleeding techniques for diesels and the 2.5 petrol. I then found what looked like a bargain on ebay; you can now check MOT history on the DVLA website to see what issues vehicles have had previously.
Once I'd purchased the vehicle I put it in to a specialist for a once over then off to a professional converters to do the bulk of the conversion work (I fitted the LB and split charge system myself first)
The van's just gone through its first MOT in my care with no advisories and positive comments from the tester about how solid it is underneath. The garage I use frequently tests classic cars so is used to giving them a good going over!
Excluding maintenance the van owes me less than 5K :D
I do think Bongo prices may be appreciating as VW campers are now so ludicrously expensive!!
Mark
1999 Bongo 2.0L, Northstar Outback rear conversion
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