Bongo Fury

Hi all,
I'm currently considering replacing my Mazda 5 with a JDM people carrier for my wife to use daily for short trips to her allotment, ferrying the kids around etc. Need 5 seats as we have 3 kids.
It also needs to be capable of comfortably towing as we have a caravan and I have a track car (Mazda MX5). I don't use the Mazda 5 for towing at present - I have something else for that. However, the idea of a JDM van appeals as I could use it for occasional camping on race weekends for me and maybe a couple of my kids.
Top of my list is a Bongo (you can probably tell I'm a Mazda man!) but I'm put off a bit by the age of them.
I don't mind getting my hands dirty, I have a MIG welder and loads of tools and experience from MX5 maintenance but I'd rather not have to do too much as time is limited.
Budget will be about £6 - £7k.
Will a Bongo work for me and will my budget be enough?

Hi and welcome. Whats a JDM carrier? Generally i'd advise caution to the inexperienced over buying an ageing Bongo but in your case i think not. Be fully aware of potential rust issues (which you seem equipped to deal with) and also some mechanical ones. There's no getting around its an enthusiasts car though and best owners are those able to live with the occasional inconvenience of spending time on them. Substantially a very reliable (and incredibly useful) vehicle though and it could replace the Mazda 5 in your affections. If towing, diesel is best (earlier models a little simpler on maintenance maybe) with v6 also good. But 2 litre lacks power for that. Your budget should be ok for a good unconverted one but borderline for good converted, though with your skills you might be able to go after ones needing rust repairs. Don't rush to buy - visit lots and get to know what to look out for. There's a very healthy owners community, good breakers for hard to get parts, and lots of Bongos in UK - they're becoming a classic. Good luck, keep us posted.

JDM van
Mmmmmm

Just Da Man.
Jolly Day Motor.

.??
Do tell

JDM = Japanese domestic market..

Makes sense
To someone

rita wrote:JDM = Japanese domestic market..

Thanks Rita. Well you learn something new every day!

Thanks for replies and Sorry for confusion. JDM - Japanese Domestic Market - ie vehicles made for Japan and imported to UK. So this would include the Bongo as well as the Toyota Alphard, Nissan Elgrand etc.

I have no intention of having a camper conversion. This will mainly be a day-to-day family car to replace the Mazda 5. My wife really likes the sliding doors. I appreciate the Bongo is much bigger than a Mazda 5 but she is used to big cars, having had a Seat Alhambra before and currently a Skoda Superb estate (my tow car).

Would a V6 Bongo make a good tow car?

Yep, brilliant tow car.

The 2 ltr is thought to be a bit light on power for towing.

kevham wrote:Thanks for replies and Sorry for confusion. JDM - Japanese Domestic Market - ie vehicles made for Japan and imported to UK. So this would include the Bongo as well as the Toyota Alphard, Nissan Elgrand etc.

I have no intention of having a camper conversion. This will mainly be a day-to-day family car to replace the Mazda 5. My wife really likes the sliding doors. I appreciate the Bongo is much bigger than a Mazda 5 but she is used to big cars, having had a Seat Alhambra before and currently a Skoda Superb estate (my tow car).

Would a V6 Bongo make a good tow car?

The Bongo (it is said) is a car the ladies love to drive. Wheelbase is probably no more than a sizeable estate car, its probably narrower than a lot of todays cars, and the 2wd in particular has a superb turning circle. Its biggest weak spots are narrow track and high centre of gravity on the AFT model, making them a bit lively in windy weather crosswinds, and poor visibility when reversing (as expected with a van) though the reversing mirror helps enormously. But reversing sensors are a good idea.

Went to look at one today just to get a feel for the layout and flexibility. Very impressed by the size and roominess. Two things will be a compromise for us - sliding door only on one side and the lack of three point belt in centre of middle row.
I'm minded to save up a bit longer and get a fresh import from one of the import specialists. Also planning on hiring one for a weekend to try it out.
Definitely drawn towards the V6 for towing.

Some of the smaller importers let them go for £5 - 6000 if pushed

We went and looked at Bongos, Alphards and Elgrands yesterday. We've ended up buying a tin top Bongo which we will put a pop top roof on, likely complete conversion at some point in the future but for now it's a day camper van we can occasionally overnight it and we can tow our trailer tent with.

However if we'd wanted an MPV we'd have bought a Toyota Alphard - really lovely inside, more room in the seats despite not being much bigger. And if we'd been converting now we might have gone for the Alphard too as a bigger base vehicle.

Best advice go and look at some.