Bongo Fury

I am considering selling my newly imported Bongo, why? It is because I don't feel safe driving around with my kids in it. If you feel how thin the metal body, you can tell if you were ever in a crash, you would turn up like a tin of tuna. I made some enquiries from people in the know and in Japan, they told me that the Bongo has a highest level of accidents in Japan and this is the main reason they are availabe in lots. To be honest, I don't even know the safety rating for this vehicle. A Renault Espace, Multipla, Sharan, etc is a much better car. Don't carry your family and kids around in a vehicle that originally meant to be a cargo carrier not a people carrier. Japanese have a tendency of turning everything and pimping them all.

Also it is not economical at all, it does 540 km to a full tank. I use to have a Fiat Multipla, it used to fly across uk roads with extremely stability and fuel economy. I use to get 500-560 miles not kms. Instead of sleeping and putting extra fuel in the Bongo, I have realised It is better to get to something economical and pay my bed and breakfast bill wherever I go.

I know there must be lots of you who love your Bongo's. But hold a second or two and think about it. Are you prepared to carry your family in a car that we don't know its safety rating. Using so much fuel , 30 MPG is a lot considering there is lots of good sized mpv providing at least 45 MPG. Over a year, that's a hefty bill.

Most people will tell you the Bongo is fabulous, can carry 8 passenger, will turn in beds. Well, that is what Japanese vehicle is all about. When I saw it for the first time, it inspired me to buy one. But have anyone told you about safety issues.

I hope no one gets offended and please keep your views posted. Cheers.

The safety rating is for vehicles as from 1998 onwards. What about those that we have in plentiful on UK roads? There are lots of us driving mostly 1995-1997 models. I am talking about them. I have seen the post 1998 model, it has airbags and the overall package looks better.

There were no changes in the bodywork until November 99. So when this test was performed, it applied to all models (with airbags) from 95 to late 99. Also, check this out:-

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/tales/norway.htm

"Luckily no one was hurt-just shock, my elderly parents were taken to hospital, and I have to say things might have been worse if not for the strength of the Bongo."

It may not be the most economical MPV (although it's not bad for a 2 tonne block of flats), but it's one of the safest.

Reports states from 1998 onwards. Mostly safety features were added. You might have been lucky, touch wood. But believe me it is not the case for every one and not all crash are the same. The crash seems light to moderate one. Anyway, thank you for all the effort. Cheers

You have not been happy with it from your first post, so it seems that this is an excuse for you to get rid. Having worked in a variety of automotive factories, if you press the sheet metal on the bulk of them it will flex, as it is supposed to. It is what is underneath in the various pillars and sub frames etc. that you need to worry about. If you do sell, then it will be your loss. I know I certainly feel safe enough and have no qualms with squashing all of my nearest and dearest in for an alcohol fuelled knees-up.

I made some enquiries from people in the know and in Japan,

......

javednazeer - do you know their sources for this, is the data on accidents in the public domain?

Ian - do we have any contacts in Japan who could validate this?

Like most members I've got '96 model - be interested in what the extra safety features were after my model and before the facelift?

javednazeer wrote: Also it is not economical at all, it does 540 km to a full tank.

But only a couple of weeks ago you were saying:

javednazeer wrote:I am getting 100 miles out of £10 of diesel. I do know that odometer is in km.

You seem to have gone off your Bongo pretty quickly.

If you don't like it for all the reasons you state, you should sell it, and let someone have it who appreciates it.

Thanks Javednazeer

You have every right of course to raise concerns about the safety of the Bongo. Indeed we should challenge and discuss these issues out in the open. As you have of course. Your attitude sounds similar to mine, as though i had bought a Wartsburg or Moskevitch. Yes I'd hate them too!!

However we love our Bongo's because actually they are very safe, they are great fun, very versatile and you can meet like-minded people at various social events around the country. I'm not aware that Muiltipla, Espace, etc. have quite the same social calender as a Bongo. The Bongo is in fact quite a gregarious character really.

It is a shame you have not endorsed her with the love we show to our little metal freind.

Anyway all the very best with your next metal freind.

javednazeer - guess we won't be seeing you at the Bongo Bash then....

Ok ok, I got exited when I got the vehicle and I presumably made some false assumptions about fuel consumption bearing in mind it was in miles. Ok, I made a fault and I admit it, ok chief sorry for this. The issue is not really about fuel economy, it is about safety. Ian is telling us that he had an accident and he is making us believe that the accident he had is what we all have to benchmark upon. Let's face it, this web site was created to attrack people like us and to serve motor traders sell there vehicle's. You Just look on the technie side, how many people have troubles from there Bongo's. Well my query for '' How safe is the Bongo'' has risen some bells. Better be late than never fella's. Get yourself a proper MPV with some good safety rating before it's too late. Don't take word from Motor Trader's but from someone who think about safety for your family and other's on the road.

RIP - please

dobby wrote:[
javednazeer - do you know their sources for this, is the data on accidents in the public domain?

The National Police Agency in Japan publishes reports on vehicle accident which include vehicle type (don't know about model), but I cant find anything in English.

Given the low insurance most of us are paying, I doubt there is any evidence that Bongos are not safe in the UK.

If you were careless with your use of statistics, it is petty safe to say that in the UK there are more accidents and injuries involving say Citroen Picassos than Bongos!

(by the way javednazeer, thanks for posting here and not on 'chat', I'm glad I don't have to moderate this thread...)

Ian isn't a motor trader - he owns one and started this as a social site.

We had a Bongo problem poll and circa 80% were fine.

The quote wasn't Ians. Take a look at the link and at the photos. It was a BF member.

I do hear what you are saying but it is unfair to not read the website in more detail to obtain facts before blatently criticising. That, in turn, makes me wonder just how much research you have done on safety.