18/08/2007 - Sorry Bongo Sold
(Subject to collection)
Thank you to everybody for looking. The response was quite overwelming!
Summary
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More Pictures Here
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What is a Bongo?
The Mazda Bongo Friendee was only ever sold new in Japan. There are a lot in the UK now but have been imported. They are now very popular mainly because they are incredibly versatile cars:
- There are three rows of seats that can seat 8 adults with room for luggage
- The rear seats can be folded to give a massive boot big enough to fit a couple of adult bikes whole and still seat 5.
- All the seats and be removed to use it as a reasonable size van that can swallow surf boards of even kayaks.
- The rear seats can be folded to make a double bed
- The middle seats can convert into a table and the front seats and food rest convert into backwards facing seats allowing four people to sit around the table.
The Bongo’s party piece though is the “Auto Freetop”. The roof rises electrically to create a tent that will sleep two adults which can be accessed through a trap door. The tent itself even has a light and window complete with blind.
Despite being quite tall and quite long Bongos are the same sort of width as a normal car which means they will quite happily fit into supermarket parking spaces and are very easy to drive.
Mazda Bongos now have almost a cult following and there is a very active owners’ club where you can find out a lot more information: Bongo Fury.
My Bongo
My Bongo is a 1996 (N reg). Like most it is a 2.5 Turbo diesel with automatic gearbox. It is a SLG-3 (2 wheel drive) model. As with all Bongos it has:
- Front and rear air conditioning
- Power steering
- Electric windows
- Electric mirrors
- Central locking
- Electrically closing rear door
However it is a high spec model with the following feature not found in all Bongos:
- Thatcham CAT2 immobiliser
- Air bag
- Electric rear blinds
- Electrically folding mirrors
- Foot rests
- Remote central locking
- Front cubby box (which sell of eBay for £80 alone for some reason)
- Full set of floor mats
- Alloy wheels
- Rear spoiler
- Body colour roof
- Front fog lights
- A comfortable mattress in the roof
It also has a DAB (digital) and FM radio and CD player which also plays MP3 and has an Aux input for iPods etc.
I bought my Bongo as a new import in March 2006 with approx 93,000 km (57,000 miles) and it now has done 109,000 km (68,000 miles).
When I bought it had a new cam belt, a full service and was waxoiled to prevent rust. In February it had a full service including full coolant change at Mazda Bongo specialists Bell Hill garage near Bath and passed its MOT with no problems. The full service and MOT cost around £250.
My Bongo has been to several camping trips in the UK and Europe without a hitch and recently came back from a week in Cornwall. I also use it as my everyday car for my 12 mile commute to work so I have not left it standing for weeks on end over the winter
Tax expires at the end of August but will sell with full 12 month tax if asking price is met.
Fuel economy is good for such a large car; it is the two wheel drive model so give slightly better economy than the 4WD. On my commute to work which is A roads and a bit of town it regularly gives 28mpg and on the motorway it will get 30mpg+. I have a record of the fuel used since I have owned it
Insurance is reasonable. This year I paid £300 for fully comp. with no claims protection. I am 30 with a clean licence full no claims.
The condition of the Bongo is very good. I looked at a lot of Bongos before I bought this one and this was by far the best. It was a grade 4 when imported. The interior is very clean and everything works as it should. On the outside it has a few small scuffs and stone chips but nothing serious. For its age it is in excellent condition.
I am starting a new job in September what will have a long commute and lots of driving and as much as I love the Bongo it is the wrong car for the job. Living in the centre of Bath I cannot really have two cars so sadly the Bongo has to go and be replaced with something boring.