Replacing my Bongo

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:25 am

Ian Aitken wrote:And thank you for your kind words Mike - it's nice to be wanted (not always the case in my job!). Always willing to engage and be part of a community - even willing to pray for all the poorly Bongos (had plenty of practise). Maybe I could become the unofficial "Bongo Chaplain" - useless at most things mechanical (but getting better with the help of every one on BF ) but helpful in most things spiritual!

Cripes - just realised I've offered to drive to Aberdeen to fix a Bongo

I like the idea of 'Bongo Chaplain' Ian - prepare to receive PM's seeking spiritual guidance!. Maybe you should change your forum name and use the pic. of Dick Emery's vicar as your avatar pic

karena · Post by **karena** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:06 pm

The gospel according to karen book one. verse one.

just an afterthought about the idea of newer less milage vehicles I own two rovers The first one is 18 years old and has done over 100, 000 miles.
It is shabby has a bit of rust and has cost me a few hundred pounds for new parts in the last couple of years My mum passed it on to me when she bought rover number 2
Number 2 did 800 miles then my mum got too ill to drive it and eventually died leaving it to me.I was going to replace the old one with it but didnt get round to selling it I clocked up another 400 miles in number 2 before the engine blew up. It had only done 1200 miles but by this time rover had deceased so i was stuck with it.
the moral of the story is newer is not always better.
You could always stick your extra money in a savings account get some interest on it and have a reserve for repairs as theyre needed.

here endeth the first lesson.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:21 pm

I am a follower of your gospel Karen. Trevor, as an accountant, should be able to confirm that intelligent management of capital can provide as good or better returns that a parsimonious attitude to running costs

Grahame at work · Post by **Grahame at work** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:44 pm

Hello Ian,

I missed this thread and certainly didn't realise that it was from a 'local'.

Sorry to hear of your costs I have had my Bongo for nearly two years now and I haven't needed to spend that much - having said that its booked in for its second MOT a week friday

.

I had intended to do as much servicing as I could but all I have managed to do is oil change and electric bits and a few modifications. (too many other demands on my DIY skills!). I have posted a reply to a local thread in the Scottish section regards servicing - but in short I'm taking it in to Westhill Service Station on thursday for coolant change, gearbox fluid change and brake fluid change and I was quoted £92 + parts (I have my own coolant) + VAT - i.e. about 3 hrs work. I though that wasn't bad.

They have worked on Bongos before and I spoke to the fellow who had a head gasket blow that they repaired and he was quite happy with the result and no problems since.

Regards the alarms mentioned earlier in this thread - I have fitted the MAson alarm / temperature gauge modification which only takes about 20 mins plus a bit of driving around to get the setting right. I have also fitted a coolant level alarm but not the type mentioned. If you want to see / hear these in opperation I'll be happy to take you for a run aound if I can think of a hill steep enough to trigger it

As you have already spent a rather lot of cash on your Bongo I agree with the others about keeping it but I would strongly recommend fitting the alarms to avoid the dreaded overheating - I wouldn't like to see that be the 'final straw'.

If there's anything else I can do please PM me - I can't be far away from you.

Regards Grahame

Ian Aitken · Post by **Ian Aitken** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:13 pm

Sorry I've not replied for a while - been busy. We ministers don;t just work on Sunday's you know!

Thanks Grahame for your offer which I might well take you up on. I've been using Pennie Cars off Crown Street and he seems OK and had at least one other Bongo going to him. There aren't that many of us around Aberdeen (though getting more). Have I seen you around? We're a green high top N714. I don't suppose you were the person who wrote in lipstick on my window complementing me on my Bongo and advertising Bongo Fury were you? (Kind of hope you weren't!)

Quote:
"I like the idea of 'Bongo Chaplain' Ian - prepare to receive PM's seeking spiritual guidance!. Maybe you should change your forum name and use the pic. of Dick Emery's vicar as your avatar pic
" -
Thanks again Mike - though my ability to link a picture has shown my computer skills to be as good as my DIY (I'm coming across as a right dodery old minister amn't I?)

Thanks for all the other advice you've all been giving. We're definitely keeping her for the foreseeable future now. You will all receive your reward....

Bless you

Ian

Grahame at work · Post by **Grahame at work** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:33 pm

Ian,

Just PM me any time.

I have our Bongo Joanie in at Westhill Service Station today for fluid changes - I'll let you know how it goes.

The real reason for replying is to highlight that there is a possible Bongo stalker in Aberdeen

I too have had a message written in lipstick complementing me on my Bongo even though it hadn't been washed for nearly 500 miles

- this was in Costco in Westhill a couple of weeks ago.

Think I'll add a warning in the Scottish section

Regards Grahame

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:48 pm

It wasn't me. Granted my compulsion to drive my Bongo has resulted in one or two clandestine night-time visits to Aberdeen, unbeknownst to Bongo Tribe members resident in that fair City but.......

....I haven't used lipstick since I turned forty

neepboy · Post by **neepboy** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:52 pm

wasn't lipstick....

it was whiteboard marker...should just wipe off glass..(I hope!!!!..if not sorry)
Just "Spreading the Word" and trying to bring more to the Bongofury flock.

Best regards and sorry for the "lipstick"

Ian Aitken · Post by **Ian Aitken** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:43 pm

No. no it wiped off no problem at all. Actually a bit disappointed that it wasn't lipstick. (Is a minister allowed to say that?).

Ian

neepboy · Post by **neepboy** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:27 pm

me and lipstick wouldn't be a great look....I believe in certain circles it may result in others asking who was "Daddy Bear"?
best leave it there as my wife may become concerned I'm having some sort of crisis... I can see the P&J headlines now "NE minister in lipsticked Bongo"

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:27 pm

mikeonb4c wrote:I am a follower of your gospel Karen. Trevor, as an accountant, should be able to confirm that intelligent management of capital can provide as good or better returns that a parsimonious attitude to running costs

The only thing to look at is whole life costs. If you did that you would rarely if ever change cars. Changing cars is always an expensive business.

Me? I just like cars too much and get easily bored, but we have had our Bongo for longer than almost anything I have owned. We paid what many would call silly money for it, but it is just perfect. But I look at the prices of 'young' AFTs now and realise that was not silly money.