My first step

scottb · Post by **scottb** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:06 am

Have completed my first step to buying my bongo. Sold my van last night so have a wedge of cash that will go towards the bongo just need to sell my other little run around and perhaps take a small loan then i will finaly have my bongo that i have been waiting for.

Post by **Muzorewa** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:08 am

Make sure you leave enough in the kitty for all those Bongo essentials you'll need to fully enjoy your new love

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:50 pm

Good luck with the Bongo Hunt. Remember to keep your head firmly screwed on. The dream can turn sour if you buy in haste and/or without reading up on your Bongos and carefully checking the history of coolant system, overheating and other such issues. My advice would be to hold off for as long as possible while enjoying the hunt before committing. Same with a lot of other things though I won't go into that here

scottb · Post by **scottb** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:20 pm

Do you think that my best bet is to buy from a member who advertises there bongo on this website or is it still good to check it out fully before purchasing.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:49 pm

Always check a Bongo out thoroughly before buying it. I recall spending 2hrs going over a couple having asked the vendor if I could be left alone to do it (no distractions - very important - and have a checklist with you). If you can get a BF member with some knowledge to come with you so much the better. Its actually fun and although you may walk away from your early visits, you get much more knowledgeable with each one inspected. In fact I'd say its essential to inspect a few before buying. Looking back, I didn't come across a Bongo and realise how nice they can be until I'd visited and test driven a few. With a complex beast like the Bongo, patience pays dividends. And remember its not mileage (within reason) that matters, its condition. Good luck.

PS - out of interest, and if it isn't rude to ask, what's your budget?

scottb · Post by **scottb** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:27 am

Well i have been looking at bongos at around the £3.500-£4.000 i know i am not going to get something fantastic and it will be the old shape one but as it is my first bongo i didnt want to spend loads i wanted to test the water i mean i dont know if it is something that we will be able to use regulary. Allthough saying that i have seen some really clean looking bongos with good write ups within that price range. What do you think am i being realistic or just dreaming.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:34 pm

scottb wrote:Well i have been looking at bongos at around the £3.500-£4.000 i know i am not going to get something fantastic and it will be the old shape one but as it is my first bongo i didnt want to spend loads i wanted to test the water i mean i dont know if it is something that we will be able to use regulary. Allthough saying that i have seen some really clean looking bongos with good write ups within that price range. What do you think am i being realistic or just dreaming.

Just what I needed to know. It can be done. I got a beaut for £3800. But it almost certainly means buying private and to do that with a reasonable chance of success you should be looking at several and really getting to know what to look out for, and what questions to ask. I actually started off by looking at dealers cars (I had the budget to buy one) and test driving them. So by all means look at dealers cars at those prices but be on your metal as you'll be lucky to find a good one at that pice when their margin has been factored in. But you will gain knowledge with every car inspected, and its exciting and fun I found.

One cost that rises up is fuel etc. travelling around to look at Bongos (which will not all be on your doorstep). I tried to think of this as money I was spending on my current hobby, not going down the pub etc.

One alternative to inspecting loads of Bongos is asking a few members if you can drop by and be given a tour of inspection of theirs and a drive (as a passenger only though I fear). You're welcome to check mine over if I'm not too far off.

Good luck

Mike

PS - Should have added, £3-4k is a v tight budget for a lifting roof (AFT) Bongo but not quite so tight for a tintop

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:50 pm

HI mate, You should get a decent tintop for 4k, You could get a nice tintop then wait till you can get some more money together then fit the new twin stage manual roof, That is what i am doing, The new roof approx 1500,
So while you ave yourself a nice tintop to go to meets and camp (etc) you can save then get a roof done on it,
Just an idea because i think you will struggle to get a decent aft at the moment for 4k.

Good luck with your search.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:10 pm

platty345 wrote:HI mate, You should get a decent tintop for 4k, You could get a nice tintop then wait till you can get some more money together then fit the new twin stage manual roof, That is what i am doing, The new roof approx 1500,
So while you ave yourself a nice tintop to go to meets and camp (etc) you can save then get a roof done on it,
Just an idea because i think you will struggle to get a decent aft at the moment for 4k.

Good luck with your search.

Pretty good advice. The tintop is better handling too due to less wieght up to. Even when converted as Platty will be doing, I reckon it should be lighter up top, plus no electrical roof stuff to go wrong.

scottb · Post by **scottb** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:13 pm

Thanks for the advice everyone i am glad that this is hear for people like me to gain as much advice as needed. I had a wish list and one thing that was on it was an AFT but like you have both said it is something that can be added later and it dosent look like it would cost too much. Also i think that with having two small children i dont know if we would use it too much for camping so a tin top may not be such a bad idea after all and if we was going to camp we would have a drive away tent for it anyway with sleeping compartments so we would all still fit in. I have had some offers from members on here to go and have a look at there bongos so i think i may take them up on there offers in the next few weeks.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:19 pm

We're off "up North" this weekend, probably Lake District & Scotland but pm me with a phone number & we'll be more than happy to pop by & give you a good run down on what to look out for.

Bought ours for £3900.

It is possible to score a peach within budget -honest!

Post by **Bob** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:36 am

We've got an AFT and due to the weather I don't think we've actualy used it while camping. Lots of people have posted about using the atic in awful weather without problems but I am wary if there are high winds, so I recon you'll do fine with a tin top.

Keep an open mind though, and good luck.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat May 03, 2008 1:59 am

You only gave 3.9 k for your bongo MM? That shows that nice examples can be found in your budget scottb.... (Mr Munkeys bongo is a freetop scott

)

scottb · Post by **scottb** » Sat May 03, 2008 2:42 pm

I am looking and i am finding them i just really hate the whole process of buying cars. I am not at all into mechanics and would not know where to start when looking at something especially a bongo. I will get there in the end i am sure of it. I have also started looking at tin tops which people have advised and theere are some really nice ones out there that seem a good price and a bit cheaper than an AFT.

Dabs · Post by **Dabs** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:14 pm

Hi Scott
Just doing a bit of catch up on Forum

Welcome and Good Luck in the search for thr elusive Bongo

There are plenty out there you will know when the right one comes along!!

Dabs

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