Bongo Fury

Quinny wrote:Thank you and yes I think you are right. We have been out today again looking and have decided that if the V6 is still available on Monday morning, we will put a holding deposit on it as it is refundable if we don't like it when it arrives. I think also,we have decided just to put a back conversion in and then see how we go for storage as we are only intending to use it for weekends to begin with anyway and then if we find fuel consumption a pain we will convert it to Petrol/LPG in the future, especially for when we take it to tour Scotland. I finally feel we are getting somewhere but it is definitely worth doing plenty of research first.

We did similar research Quinny and bought a V6 with LPG and a rear converion already fitted. We have added a swivel mechanism to the middle bench seat to give the tiddlers somewhere to sit facing forwards when travelling. It's ok running on LPG but definitely runs better on petrol; I do notice a drop in 'performance' when 'on the gas'. Make sure, if you're considering LPG, that there are filling stations nearby. LPG as a vehicle fuel seems to be dying a natural death in this country so bear this in mind.

This has probably been mentioned already but - have a contingency budget and a rock-solid breakdown & recovery policy. These are not 'buy it and drive it' vehicles and they need more maintenance and tlc than a 'modern' vehicle if they are to keep running properly and not dissolve. We have found this out the hard way; ours is back in the garage this week having the cam seals and crankshaft seals replaced, along with those bits that it is advisable to replace when accessing the front of the V6 engine (water pump, cambelt, cambelt tensioner, etc etc). I'm expecting bill for about £1100.

That said, there's nothing like them - in a good way (mostly).

I'll be honest I wouldn't be surprised if LPG makes a mini comeback, if, as seems to be the way, more and more penalties are placed on diesel vehicles, especially the schemes coming in in cities then I can imagine mini cab drivers switching and creating more demand.

I could be wrong of course.

ade33 wrote:

Quinny wrote:Thank you and yes I think you are right. We have been out today again looking and have decided that if the V6 is still available on Monday morning, we will put a holding deposit on it as it is refundable if we don't like it when it arrives. I think also,we have decided just to put a back conversion in and then see how we go for storage as we are only intending to use it for weekends to begin with anyway and then if we find fuel consumption a pain we will convert it to Petrol/LPG in the future, especially for when we take it to tour Scotland. I finally feel we are getting somewhere but it is definitely worth doing plenty of research first.

We did similar research Quinny and bought a V6 with LPG and a rear converion already fitted. We have added a swivel mechanism to the middle bench seat to give the tiddlers somewhere to sit facing forwards when travelling. It's ok running on LPG but definitely runs better on petrol; I do notice a drop in 'performance' when 'on the gas'. Make sure, if you're considering LPG, that there are filling stations nearby. LPG as a vehicle fuel seems to be dying a natural death in this country so bear this in mind.

This has probably been mentioned already but - have a contingency budget and a rock-solid breakdown & recovery policy. These are not 'buy it and drive it' vehicles and they need more maintenance and tlc than a 'modern' vehicle if they are to keep running properly and not dissolve. We have found this out the hard way; ours is back in the garage this week having the cam seals and crankshaft seals replaced, along with those bits that it is advisable to replace when accessing the front of the V6 engine (water pump, cambelt, cambelt tensioner, etc etc). I'm expecting bill for about £1100.

That said, there's nothing like them - in a good way (mostly).

I must admit we were all set to put a deposit on one on Monday, but my lack of mechanical knowledge is the one thing that's holding me back. I quite agree with you that they are not buy it and drive it vehicles and its's scaring me as I don't know what I'm looking for or how to maintain them. I am wondering if I may bite of more than I can chew but it's such a shame as I long to own a Bongo.

If you are looking to buy from a reputable dealer you shouldn't have any problems short term, and there will doubtless be a warranty.

If you have little or no mechanical knowledge it wouldn't make a lot of difference what car you have as I'm guessing you will pay a garage to maintain it anyhow.

A Bongo Friendly garage is recommended for any work on the cooling system, but overall running costs shouldn't be worse that a large car.

Offset low depreciation and what a Bongo can do and I think you'll have good value.

But then I'm on here.

In the garage where we were looking at the V6 they did have a part ex diesel bongo already converted, he doesn't normally deal in diesel but it does have a years warranty on it. From a fuel consumption I know they are better and I currently drive a new diesel automatic car, but mechanically would you say they are more complicated to maintain than a V6 and in particular from a price point of view as it would definitely have to be maintained through a garage, after the warranty has run out.

Only my view, and others will hopefully chip in, but I recon the diesel is simpler.

The ignition system on the V6 must be 100% and, as said earlier, some parts on the big petrol engine are well buried. The engine was intended for use in a large saloon car with conventional bonnet.

The diesel and V6 both need bleeding after work on the cooling system while the (simpler still) 2 ltr does not. Less oomph, though.

I'm into year 10 with my diesel and (touch wood ) its given very little trouble, far less than some newer cars I've owned over the years, and it doesn't have all the fancy, delicate/expensive, electronics of modern cars.

I love my diesel. Even with the head problems they can have (and the v6 can have similarly expensive issues) they have such relaxed pulling power that they are great for a 2 ton campervan. And you have 4wd option also, a godsend in muddy fields and in snow etc.

That's worth knowing. It's a 1995 diesel with 67,000 miles on the clock so quite old but I thought the mileage seemed ok. It already has a kitchen etc and lifting roof, with not the best layout, but I think it's certainly worth a look at again, as we initially dismissed it due to thinking about buying a petrol. Do you think due to age it is worth thinking about or better to wait for something newer.

Quinny wrote:In the garage where we were looking at the V6 they did have a part ex diesel bongo already converted, he doesn't normally deal in diesel but it does have a years warranty on it. From a fuel consumption I know they are better and I currently drive a new diesel automatic car, but mechanically would you say they are more complicated to maintain than a V6 and in particular from a price point of view as it would definitely have to be maintained through a garage, after the warranty has run out.

That's worth knowing. It's a 1995 diesel with 67,000 miles on the clock so quite old but I thought the mileage seemed ok. It already has a kitchen etc and lifting roof, with not the best layout, but I think it's certainly worth a look at again, as we initially dismissed it due to thinking about buying a petrol. Do you think due to age it is worth thinking about or better to wait for something newer.

I think they stopped them in 97 anyway some one on here will know that.
Less complex than the V6 and grumble along quite nicely in the short time I drove mine.
I would say the same thing applies though, that is get a thorough service done and all the recommended work out of the way first, then you can sit back and relax.

Some years ago I had most of my teeth pulled out and false ones screwed in place, cost a bit but I have never had a tooth ache or visited a dentist other than for a check up since and I have the brightest smile on a UV lit dance floor too.


Moral in there somewhere.

Year older than mine with half the mileage.

Its all down to condition/price/history.

If you haven't already done it have a good read of the 'Buying a Bongo' info on here. You could consider paying for an inspection.

Bob wrote:Year older than mine with half the mileage.

Its all down to condition/price/history.

If you haven't already done it have a good read of the 'Buying a Bongo' info on here. You could consider paying for an inspection.

Just read the info - very useful. I think I will take that with me as a check list. Think we will go and give it a better look on Saturday if they gave still got it. I seem to remember that it's a bit tatty and had a bit of mildew on the roof, but I suppose we can forgive that for its age.

Don't rush to buy if its tatty, there's plenty of others out there. A thorough (and i mean thorough) rust inspection and a check there is no rust staining in the header tank, would be my top priorities. Also, the AFT needs to go up and down reliably. What price are they asking for this diesel? Is it 4wd? Don't rush to buy.

mikeonb4c wrote:Don't rush to buy if its tatty, there's plenty of others out there. A thorough (and i mean thorough) rust inspection and a check there is no rust staining in the header tank, would be my top priorities. Also, the AFT needs to go up and down reliably. What price are they asking for this diesel? Is it 4wd? Don't rush to buy.

It's not 4wd and they are asking £8495 for it. We will go and look at it again tomorrow and also talk to them some more about the V6
With the very low mileage. Either way there is 12 months warranty which will be useful.

Thats not especially cheap esp if it has signs of tattiness. The difficulty for you up there though may be lack of choice due to being at an extremity of the uk. To find one elsewhere is likely to require significant expenditure. You could use a buying agent operating in Bongo rich territory!

My first thought is that seems a lot for a tatty example.

Conversions comand a premium but a good base vehicle is your starting point.

You can camp in an unconverted Bongo perfectly well, come along to a few Meets and see what suits peeps, or come and meet some of the crew before you buy.

You don't need a Bongo to visit a Meet or be a Club member.