A friend of mine ( who is also the vocalist of a popular metalcore band) bought a bongo after falling for the quirkiness of it but unfortately shortly after buying his seemingly mint camper it was put up on a ramp where it was discovered rot is real. He was quoted 3 grand to rid it of all the rust and that was the end of the bongo.
It’s about time Hubnut did a Bongo! I’ve had a V6 Bongo with camper conversion for 6 years. It has been an absolute trooper! I’ve been to the South of France in it a couple of times. The V6 is moderately powerful and makes a lovely sound. There’s such a lovely community around them too. I’ve not long returned from mid Wales - the Bongo being so weirdly narrow makes it very easy to slither down a narrow lane!
When I was a member of a 3 piece Blues Band, we often travelled all over the South West of England in a Mazda Bongo. Just enough power to get you to your destination fully loaded with amps, guitars, PA systems, etc, but you had the added convenience that you didn't need to book a hotel room once at the venue.
Love a Bongo Frendee - there's a guy in my town drives a grey over green one that has loads of flowers and butterfly stickers on it - one look tells you that chap has his own expectations that his motoring will bring that do not necessarily comply with the average BMW/Audi exec mobile
With regards to the comment about rust and the Japanese considering 8 years as being very old, I think the fact that in Japan they don't use salt on the roads in winter is much bigger factor. Plenty of places selling Bongo's advertised as being fresh imports which are absolutely mint underneath. Get one of them, get it properly protected against rust and you'll be fine. As for engines, I believe the 2.0 only has 105bhp, which is fine if you aren't in a hurry (they are pretty heavy cars, about 1700-1800kg), while the 2.5 V6 has 160bhp. There may not be as big a difference in economy between the two petrol engines as you'd expect because the 2.0 is probably going to be working harder more of the time. I really like the Bongo though, such a cleverly designed and practical car while taking up very little road space, only about the same width as a Honda Jazz too. I'd much rather have a nice V6 Bongo than a new CX-80 (and anyone confined to the 3rd row seats would be much more comfortable in the Bongo. Thats progress for you!)
yeeeeeah bongo ....ive got a 97 love it . The greatest camper the world never got . love going cornwall watching VW gang struggle on narrow roads .... not with a bongo .....turning radius of 5.5 meters which is the same as a ford fiesta ST i'll have you know ...granted bit longer than a fiesta but you get the jist .
The trekkie in me heard that alarm for the top going up and all I could think was "Warp Core Breach imminent!!!", just has that level of urgency with its' harmonised two-tone alert... :P
It will forever be The Mozda Bango 🤣🤣🤣 Brilliant work Ian,, a vehicle I'm fairly confident I'll never own(I have a house) but if I do want a metal box with a canvas roof, V6 power and 4 wheel drive, I'm having this. Marvellous and fun.
I’ve had V6 for 11 years and it is a pleasure to drive. Kick down in the auto box, the hold button does what you expect and will even change down a cog if you ate in a hurry. Mine also runs on LOG which used to help with fuel economy, but places you can buy LPG on the South Coast are few and far between. Thirsty when pushed but a very comfortable affordable cruiser.
It gets worse if you're in the Cambridgeshire Marshlands... the closest LPG station that I know of, Morrisons in Wisbech (21 miles from me), is now selling LPG at a higher price than petrol! Not by much - LPG is £1.299 and petrol £1.297, but I never thought I'd see the day that happened. I'll stick to diesel until it's legislated off the road.
Flat Eric! Awesome! I used to have one for years but now he’s living with someone else. Thanks for this road test of a van I never heard of. See you soon »»» Martin 🚗💨❤️🇯🇵
Low to mid-20s MPG for the diesel is enough to make some folk cry. 4wd + auto really soaks up the power. I've looked after one of these for a family member for the past 5 yrs. Servicing is pretty easy & every 6000 miles or yearly is essential, as is regular ATF changes to keep the auto box happy. Takes loads of fluids though, so buy in bulk to keep costs low. Earthing points all over the chassis rails are susceptible to rust & worth checking if you get random electrical faults. Auto gearbox issues can often be caused by the rpm sensor on the front of the rocker cover or by aftermarket speedo converters going faulty sending voltage spikes to the speed input on the gearbox ecu. Got the t-shirt on those ones. Oh & get the expansion bottle alarm kit fitted to give warning of coolant loss. It could save you a fortune!
The Bongo is so versatile. I’m on my second due to metal moth attacking my 2.5l diesel. Now touring Germany in my 2l petrol version. I’ve driven over 1000km in the last three days, it’s a joy. Great channel and vlog and so glad you got to drive the Bongo. 😊👍
Great vid, thanks for doing a Bongo. I have a V6 that tapps like a woodpecker on heat and plenty of rust but i love it! It's been really important to my family as a day van and real trooper for the last 5 years of ownership.
Nice, timeless styling on this era of van. Well screwed together. Mine had a small factory-fit kitchen requiring open back door - just not practical for a wuss like me. Also memories of two young, lads leaving a muddy trail up in to the roof. Too many compromises as a practical camper. Still, charming and characterful.
Love the uplifting back door, great for keeping the rain off when camping. Effing useless as a van door when trying to get something large in the back.
Mozda bango! Absolutely brilliant! Spat me tea out! I like these but I can imagine getting cross with that lethargy that reminds me of the pajero etc.... Cheers excellent review.
I've had my Bongo 10 years now, awesome van. Mine is a 2wd TinTop day van. Excellent family wagon, lots of comfy space. We used to camp in it with a large awning but now tow a Trailer tent with it instead.
Miss my Freeda so much. Only had it a year before it's lack of ABS caught up with me on a leaf strewn mode. It also averaged ~20mpg (diesel) which wasn't ideal... but I'd still have it back in a heartbeat. I noticed no AFT cushions in the roof - the people who lent it to you need a set? I still have mine under the stairs xD
Had a 3/4 converted one in 2010 for a couple of years; never had a problem with it all. Rust is definitely one of the main things to check as you say! Some people screamed about running out of coolant so they fitted alarms. No need if you actually check your levels 🤣 The 2.5TD 4x4 was great tbh but thirsty.
I had no end of coolant problems with mine. Overhauled the entire cooling system and it still dumped the fluid and blew the head gasket one day. I suspect that the garage I bought it from did a dodgy fix on an already cracked head.
@@daveh1294 The temperature gauge is a joke , if it moves a micro millimetre past its normal position , it’s already too late !! I found this out to my cost 😂
The Bongo Friendee is well known, but less so is the Honda Odyssey with a factory pop-top tent. Even less known is the Honda Day Tripper. All of these were around during the 1990s when Japan had its first major camping boom. The Subaru Aladdin is of course another that shouldn't be forgotten. However, what is almost even dead and buried in the collective memory is that Subaru developed, manufactured and sold their own caravan in the early 1970s. Especially notable as trailers and caravans, even articulated lorries, didn't start to become prevalent until the 1990s. The only articulated lorries on Japanese roads in 1991 when I first came here were oil tankers, car carriers and very few container lorries. It was very rare to see an articulated lorry. That has changed dramatically with European style artics are now common and Scania has in the last 5 years gone from being a rare sighting to a common sight. The foreign truck market mostly dominated by Volvo, but the majority stil being Japan domestic brands such as Hino, Isuzu etc. The caravan and motorhome market is now reasonably large and especially European motorhomes. Hobby, Adria, Trigano and Hymer are the biggest players in the caravan market. UK caravans are currently sparse with a few models by Swift on the road, but are unpopular here.
The Mazda Bongo van came to Australia in 1966 i remember seeing them on the roads here in the 1970s in Nsw they only had a small engine of around a 1 litre capacity.have not seen one here for a long time 🤔🤗😃😊
Two tone pop top Bongo is very high on the want list! I had an Toyota Estima with same engine layout, under the seat. It's basically a mid engined sport's van with hotel abilitlies..
Very interesting car. It has never been imported to Germany. I know the Bongo from SriLanka when we made a family visit there in 2014. One of our drivers had a Bongo Diesel which looked more like an ordinary van, as the Mitsubishi L300/Delica or Nissan Vanette. I saw a lot of different specifications of the Bongo there. I think from the middle till the end of the 80ies in Germany Ford offered the small Econovan with a 2.3l Diesel engine, based on a Mazda van, maybe the Bongo, and it looked a little bit like the L300 too. One like that in the video I saw when we spent our summer holliday in 2018 on a campingsite in the Netherlands. It came from England and I wondered myself, because I've never seen one like this before. I like Mazda cars a lot, especially the elder ones. I would never give away my lovely 1998 626 2.0 16V Sedan. Interesting that there was a 2.5 V6-option for the Bongo too. Maybe it was the same engine as it was available for the 626GE V6 or the Xedos 9. The steering wheel looks like the one from the facelift 626 GF. Thank you for the presentation of this very interesting car which seems to be very good for camping.
Arguably the best Vehicle I have ever owned. N Reg 2.5 Diesel 4WD. Bulletproof and thankfully the rust didn't ever become an issue. Coolant Level Gauge is a must and will provide an early indication if the engine is about to be cooked. A quick check of the MOT History (we all do this don't we?) and it is still rolling 8 Years after I sold it. Advisories limited to Tyre issues. How topical! ✌️
Loved this honest review, I’m on my second Bongo, had the 2.5 TD pop top and now have the 2l petrol tin top, the driving experience is second to none, driven many many miles and they’re so comfy! Great community pages for Bongos /Fredas for advice and a laugh ☺️
Great vehicle we had one for a couple of years, not a conversion but we slept in the standard folded down seats reasonably comfortable but only a weekend device IMHO. But rust is the issue especially the rear arches. But my wife used it as a daily driver and loved it.👍
Way more flexible with the 3 rows of seats still intact imo. The middle row of seats turn into a large table, it's a full 8 seater and everyone has loads of space. I bloody love mine. Rust is an issue for most, I managed to get a rust-free import but it's the 2.0 and absolutely gutless. The V6 makes a nice noise, but doesn't add a lot of performance, the diesel is the one to have. Super flexible, reliable, I can't praise it enough. Wish there were more options, but if you want the flexibility of a bongo? You have to buy a bongo.
Despite all the Project Drive deletions, a facelift 2004/5 75 is still a wonderful place to while away the motorway miles, in particular as a KV6 Connoisseur, or if you can find one, a Ford Mustang-engined V8. The entry-level 1.8 is more refined than you'd think too.
Looked at a few of these when I was looking at buying my talbot express. Found so many had issues with overheating and water problems resulting in head gaskets going and heads cracking also rust was a big issue to drive and was great for family but we decided against it purely because of space
I had one of these for 5 years It had to be welded every single year absolute rust bucket Then the cylinder head went , I did like it though great little camper .
I missed to own a Bongo myself. Was a nice vehicle if thirsty and insurance wasn't cheap at the time. I also used to own a Toyota master-ace as well. Same as the Town - ace but with a moon roof .
Big want for one of these as a family camper. There's a company down in Bristol that specialises in converting Bongos/Fredas into really smart camper vans using rust-free imports. Better value than a VW and, I suspect, nicer to drive… especially if you opt for the 2.5-litre V6, which I definitely would. Sod the fuel bills! 😆
I had a 2.0 petrol for 8 years, also very usable as a daily driver and not noisey like this diesel. I just waxed the underside every year. Mine just started to get a little tatty on the bodywork so I upgraded to an E51 Elgrand this year.
With my pedant hat on I must correct your launch date Ian. I remember being driven around Taiwan in a Bongo in 1987 (memorable as we all giggled at the silly name). I checked on Wikipedia and production started in 1966.
I had my unconverted AFT (factory pop up roof) Bongo 2.5 V6 for over 4 years now & it has been incredibly reliable. Only 2 things you ever need to take care of - 1.Underneath! Get it regularly undersealed as the Japanese sent out new models with little rust protection as they never salt their roads but we do! 2. Some models are known to lose coolant & overheat causing damage to the head. Low coolant alarms are plentiful, cheap & easy to fit for peace of mind & damage limitation. V6 will bring 25 MPG plus on a typical run but keep the speed below 60 mph! Proper cult vehicles which have a large & dedicated following through the owners club (Bongo Fury) thus parts & good advice are freely available. The only reason that Bongo production was ended prematurely in 2005 was due to a massive fire in the factory that made them which destroyed everything within it so Mazda decided against putting in any more money into the project.
The flexibility of internal configuration is awesome, but It's all such a compromise. But that's me looking it from my perspective as someone that prefers a permanently tall vehicle and bed situation. Needs aside, I've always thought that they were cute!
When I tol;d my wife about this car a few years back she accused me of making the name up. It was only when following one I proved it to her. I never realised they were a sort of mid engine layout a bit like the Toyota Lucida Estima. Not sure why you would do this as it makes servicing a nightmare to do and also any other work for access I guess. The Toyota could also be had with 4WD. What an interesting peice of kit. As always sir thanks for sharing great content in very interesting and detailed video's Fabulous stuff!!
Monzda? Is that a new company? Never heard of them before 😉🤣🤣 I'm always surprised by just how many Japanese cars are made for their own market. Even excluding the Kei cars, there's always a few the rest of us don't get.
It's a Mozda Bango! Ian, Mazda Bongos are very popular in the Philippines. Usually they are imported CKD from Japan, and rebuilt here in the Philippines. They are converted to left hand drive, and there are many different body styles. They can be single cab pickups, dual cab pickups, or have custom bodies to make them into transporters able to seat many passengers in the style of the Jeepneys here. Most of them are diesel engined, and they can be either 4x2 or 4x4. I haven't seen one in camper format here. Rebuilt Mazda Bongos and Suzuki Kei cars, vans and pickups are extremely popular here, as they are considerably less expensive than pickups and vans from the major car companies. They make a lot of sense.
Also a notable competitor is the Toyota Hiace which you can buy in the European spec of the same era or the imported minimal front crash structure versions usually seen in Australia or Africa.
how else could Daleks conquer such a rocky bumpy place like Wales lol? the front-mid engine with forward controls is a design that's stood the test of time. I remember the Ford Thames and Commer vans using it back in the 60s. my Nissan Cabstar and Mitsubishi Canter V6 in the 80s and 90s were built on the same principle though admittedly the Canter had a tilting cab like a grown-up truck.
If you decide to get a Bongo you should call it Boris! 😂 In a recent-ish Jago Hazzard video, there was a brief shot in an underground car park in London that showed a blue Reliant Robin camper conversion! If yourself or one of the viewers could track down the owner it would make a great Hubnut video!
Nice. Think the diesel would be my option. Too heave for the small petrol and the V6 would be a bit greedy. I think the fact it is a camper and not a vehicle for speed means the diesel suits it's used. Very nice indeed. However, give me an old Bedford Dormobile any day. 😊
We wanted a Bongo yests ago. Having read the stories about the diesels, I bought a 2litre petrol Freda. It was a brilliant thing, but woefully underpowered and awful on fuel. Great for csmping though. We went back to using our tent and bought a Galaxy instead.
Whats not to like,love the fact the Japanese select most wonderful names… Cedric, Fairlady et al. And the Bongo, can just remember my friend laughing at the funny name. Um Bongo…
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 86 | คู่เอก "คมเพชร vs ชาติพยัคฆ์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/m3q_dRYDuU8/mqdefault.jpg)
In light of all the rubbish going on in the world, watching your channel is like gardeners' world on wheels 👍
In my opinion, this is the car you need for your camping.
Not sure it's for me to be honest. I prefer being able to abandon Bob at sites.
Would it have enough tow capacity?? Be able to tow Bob and be a home base at festivals
The best thing about it is the name. I did see an Alphard Executive Lounge the other day, which looked impressive but not very Hubnut.
@@jamesjetty625 ours had a tow bar the previous owner used it for a small caravan.
A mate of mine has the V6 Alphard that he uses as his builders van (mental I know). He's still always late on the job 😂
NICE TO SEE FLAT ERIC IN THIS VID
A friend of mine ( who is also the vocalist of a popular metalcore band) bought a bongo after falling for the quirkiness of it but unfortately shortly after buying his seemingly mint camper it was put up on a ramp where it was discovered rot is real. He was quoted 3 grand to rid it of all the rust and that was the end of the bongo.
Love the funny outtakes at the end :- The Mozda Bango 😂😂
It’s about time Hubnut did a Bongo! I’ve had a V6 Bongo with camper conversion for 6 years. It has been an absolute trooper! I’ve been to the South of France in it a couple of times. The V6 is moderately powerful and makes a lovely sound. There’s such a lovely community around them too.
I’ve not long returned from mid Wales - the Bongo being so weirdly narrow makes it very easy to slither down a narrow lane!
'That is the difference that allows me to stand up in a Bongo'. Classic line!
When I was a member of a 3 piece Blues Band, we often travelled all over the South West of England in a Mazda Bongo. Just enough power to get you to your destination fully loaded with amps, guitars, PA systems, etc, but you had the added convenience that you didn't need to book a hotel room once at the venue.
Love that shirt! Oh and the Mazda. You should sell a Hubnut shirt like that.
Second that suggestion
Love a Bongo Frendee - there's a guy in my town drives a grey over green one that has loads of flowers and butterfly stickers on it - one look tells you that chap has his own expectations that his motoring will bring that do not necessarily comply with the average BMW/Audi exec mobile
With regards to the comment about rust and the Japanese considering 8 years as being very old, I think the fact that in Japan they don't use salt on the roads in winter is much bigger factor. Plenty of places selling Bongo's advertised as being fresh imports which are absolutely mint underneath. Get one of them, get it properly protected against rust and you'll be fine.
As for engines, I believe the 2.0 only has 105bhp, which is fine if you aren't in a hurry (they are pretty heavy cars, about 1700-1800kg), while the 2.5 V6 has 160bhp. There may not be as big a difference in economy between the two petrol engines as you'd expect because the 2.0 is probably going to be working harder more of the time.
I really like the Bongo though, such a cleverly designed and practical car while taking up very little road space, only about the same width as a Honda Jazz too. I'd much rather have a nice V6 Bongo than a new CX-80 (and anyone confined to the 3rd row seats would be much more comfortable in the Bongo. Thats progress for you!)
yeeeeeah bongo ....ive got a 97 love it . The greatest camper the world never got . love going cornwall watching VW gang struggle on narrow roads .... not with a bongo .....turning radius of 5.5 meters which is the same as a ford fiesta ST i'll have you know ...granted bit longer than a fiesta but you get the jist .
The trekkie in me heard that alarm for the top going up and all I could think was "Warp Core Breach imminent!!!", just has that level of urgency with its' harmonised two-tone alert... :P
It will forever be The Mozda Bango 🤣🤣🤣
Brilliant work Ian,, a vehicle I'm fairly confident I'll never own(I have a house) but if I do want a metal box with a canvas roof, V6 power and 4 wheel drive, I'm having this. Marvellous and fun.
I’ve had V6 for 11 years and it is a pleasure to drive. Kick down in the auto box, the hold button does what you expect and will even change down a cog if you ate in a hurry. Mine also runs on LOG which used to help with fuel economy, but places you can buy LPG on the South Coast are few and far between.
Thirsty when pushed but a very comfortable affordable cruiser.
It gets worse if you're in the Cambridgeshire Marshlands... the closest LPG station that I know of, Morrisons in Wisbech (21 miles from me), is now selling LPG at a higher price than petrol! Not by much - LPG is £1.299 and petrol £1.297, but I never thought I'd see the day that happened. I'll stick to diesel until it's legislated off the road.
Had one for 7 years.. A great 4X4 camper. A very versatile vehicle, great fun and didn't depreciate much.
An excellent review Ian and Carly, I thought I recognised it and Flat Eric was the clue to the owner.
Flat Eric! Awesome! I used to have one for years but now he’s living with someone else. Thanks for this road test of a van I never heard of. See you soon »»» Martin 🚗💨❤️🇯🇵
Low to mid-20s MPG for the diesel is enough to make some folk cry. 4wd + auto really soaks up the power. I've looked after one of these for a family member for the past 5 yrs. Servicing is pretty easy & every 6000 miles or yearly is essential, as is regular ATF changes to keep the auto box happy. Takes loads of fluids though, so buy in bulk to keep costs low. Earthing points all over the chassis rails are susceptible to rust & worth checking if you get random electrical faults. Auto gearbox issues can often be caused by the rpm sensor on the front of the rocker cover or by aftermarket speedo converters going faulty sending voltage spikes to the speed input on the gearbox ecu. Got the t-shirt on those ones. Oh & get the expansion bottle alarm kit fitted to give warning of coolant loss. It could save you a fortune!
The Bongo is so versatile. I’m on my second due to metal moth attacking my 2.5l diesel. Now touring Germany in my 2l petrol version. I’ve driven over 1000km in the last three days, it’s a joy. Great channel and vlog and so glad you got to drive the Bongo. 😊👍
@@Chris_Carini Metal moth. That's funny😂😂😂😂😂
Great vid, thanks for doing a Bongo. I have a V6 that tapps like a woodpecker on heat and plenty of rust but i love it! It's been really important to my family as a day van and real trooper for the last 5 years of ownership.
V6 mid engine rwd camper, quite unique set up
Nice, timeless styling on this era of van. Well screwed together. Mine had a small factory-fit kitchen requiring open back door - just not practical for a wuss like me. Also memories of two young, lads leaving a muddy trail up in to the roof. Too many compromises as a practical camper. Still, charming and characterful.
Love the uplifting back door, great for keeping the rain off when camping. Effing useless as a van door when trying to get something large in the back.
Not just a Dalek, but Flat Eric too... gotta love the names given to JDM cars! I do like the idea of a "pop-top" though - hmmmm.... (strokes chin)
Fascinating. It has a sticky-out front like a Transit, but with the engine positioning of a Thames 400E.
Mozda bango! Absolutely brilliant! Spat me tea out! I like these but I can imagine getting cross with that lethargy that reminds me of the pajero etc.... Cheers excellent review.
Absolutely brilliant video ian miss hubnut ❤👍what a lovely van love that popup roof very interesting van beautiful brilliant
I've had my Bongo 10 years now, awesome van. Mine is a 2wd TinTop day van. Excellent family wagon, lots of comfy space. We used to camp in it with a large awning but now tow a Trailer tent with it instead.
Hey Steve, looking for your comment! Hope you lot are all well sir.
@@kevkfz5226 Cheers, we are all well, I hope all is well for you too.
Nice colour scheme on that one! What’s put me off those, is the rust on the arches. I have seen few without it. The name’s a bit silly too 😂
Miss my Freeda so much. Only had it a year before it's lack of ABS caught up with me on a leaf strewn mode. It also averaged ~20mpg (diesel) which wasn't ideal... but I'd still have it back in a heartbeat.
I noticed no AFT cushions in the roof - the people who lent it to you need a set? I still have mine under the stairs xD
Good question! Drop me an email to ian@hubnut.org and I can ask.
We had one of these when we had a baby, was amazing. One button to bring the blinds down was very handy
I had one with a rear conversion, brilliant car
Had a 3/4 converted one in 2010 for a couple of years; never had a problem with it all.
Rust is definitely one of the main things to check as you say! Some people screamed about running out of coolant so they fitted alarms. No need if you actually check your levels 🤣
The 2.5TD 4x4 was great tbh but thirsty.
I had no end of coolant problems with mine. Overhauled the entire cooling system and it still dumped the fluid and blew the head gasket one day. I suspect that the garage I bought it from did a dodgy fix on an already cracked head.
@@daveh1294
The temperature gauge is a joke , if it moves a micro millimetre past its normal position , it’s already too late !!
I found this out to my cost 😂
Nice motor
another great video has always Ian and Carly miss/mrs hubnut and hublets and hubmutt 👍
The Bongo Friendee is well known, but less so is the Honda Odyssey with a factory pop-top tent. Even less known is the Honda Day Tripper. All of these were around during the 1990s when Japan had its first major camping boom. The Subaru Aladdin is of course another that shouldn't be forgotten. However, what is almost even dead and buried in the collective memory is that Subaru developed, manufactured and sold their own caravan in the early 1970s. Especially notable as trailers and caravans, even articulated lorries, didn't start to become prevalent until the 1990s. The only articulated lorries on Japanese roads in 1991 when I first came here were oil tankers, car carriers and very few container lorries. It was very rare to see an articulated lorry. That has changed dramatically with European style artics are now common and Scania has in the last 5 years gone from being a rare sighting to a common sight. The foreign truck market mostly dominated by Volvo, but the majority stil being Japan domestic brands such as Hino, Isuzu etc. The caravan and motorhome market is now reasonably large and especially European motorhomes. Hobby, Adria, Trigano and Hymer are the biggest players in the caravan market. UK caravans are currently sparse with a few models by Swift on the road, but are unpopular here.
dont forget the Stepwgn Field Deck!
Steve's Machine's has one and he's been through hell with the rust. Looks abit like a Hiace to me. 👍🇮🇪
The Mazda Bongo van came to Australia in 1966 i remember seeing them on the roads here in the 1970s in Nsw they only had a small engine of around a 1 litre capacity.have not seen one here for a long time 🤔🤗😃😊
I always liked the Mozda Bango!
Engine access brought back memories of our Nissan Serena, but at least they put the spare wheel under the bonnet. Our Serena even had a Flat Eric!
I was going to get one of these, I ended up going for a carry 😂. Love the pop up roof.
I have always wanted me a Mozda Bango 😅 my old manager had a few, said it was like driving a sofa.
Two tone pop top Bongo is very high on the want list! I had an Toyota Estima with same engine layout, under the seat. It's basically a mid engined sport's van with hotel abilitlies..
Very interesting car. It has never been imported to Germany. I know the Bongo from SriLanka when we made a family visit there in 2014. One of our drivers had a Bongo Diesel which looked more like an ordinary van, as the Mitsubishi L300/Delica or Nissan Vanette. I saw a lot of different specifications of the Bongo there. I think from the middle till the end of the 80ies in Germany Ford offered the small Econovan with a 2.3l Diesel engine, based on a Mazda van, maybe the Bongo, and it looked a little bit like the L300 too. One like that in the video I saw when we spent our summer holliday in 2018 on a campingsite in the Netherlands. It came from England and I wondered myself, because I've never seen one like this before. I like Mazda cars a lot, especially the elder ones. I would never give away my lovely 1998 626 2.0 16V Sedan. Interesting that there was a 2.5 V6-option for the Bongo too. Maybe it was the same engine as it was available for the 626GE V6 or the Xedos 9. The steering wheel looks like the one from the facelift 626 GF. Thank you for the presentation of this very interesting car which seems to be very good for camping.
Love the shirt and trainers Ian! Thought you were about to go on holiday in that Bongo!! 5 star presentation as usual
Arguably the best Vehicle I have ever owned. N Reg 2.5 Diesel 4WD. Bulletproof and thankfully the rust didn't ever become an issue. Coolant Level Gauge is a must and will provide an early indication if the engine is about to be cooked. A quick check of the MOT History (we all do this don't we?) and it is still rolling 8 Years after I sold it. Advisories limited to Tyre issues. How topical! ✌️
Loved this honest review, I’m on my second Bongo, had the 2.5 TD pop top and now have the 2l petrol tin top, the driving experience is second to none, driven many many miles and they’re so comfy! Great community pages for Bongos /Fredas for advice and a laugh ☺️
Really reminded me of my Delica. Really miss that vehicle.... Bongos do appeal though
Great vehicle we had one for a couple of years, not a conversion but we slept in the standard folded down seats reasonably comfortable but only a weekend device IMHO. But rust is the issue especially the rear arches. But my wife used it as a daily driver and loved it.👍
I miss my Bongo. Wonderful vehicle ❤❤.
Always wanted one of these, just because it was a bongo frendee
We had a 2002 2.5 V6 with an LPG conversion. Let’s say that it caught a few boy racers out at the lights!
Way more flexible with the 3 rows of seats still intact imo. The middle row of seats turn into a large table, it's a full 8 seater and everyone has loads of space.
I bloody love mine. Rust is an issue for most, I managed to get a rust-free import but it's the 2.0 and absolutely gutless. The V6 makes a nice noise, but doesn't add a lot of performance, the diesel is the one to have.
Super flexible, reliable, I can't praise it enough. Wish there were more options, but if you want the flexibility of a bongo? You have to buy a bongo.
Lovely camper,I would love to have that thanks for the video Ian and Carly 👍
Never been aboard a Bongo until now. Thank you sir for the - might I say - rather delightful spin. I do like the secret bedroom and storage capacity.
Despite all the Project Drive deletions, a facelift 2004/5 75 is still a wonderful place to while away the motorway miles, in particular as a KV6 Connoisseur, or if you can find one, a Ford Mustang-engined V8. The entry-level 1.8 is more refined than you'd think too.
Have a nice holiday.
Looked at a few of these when I was looking at buying my talbot express.
Found so many had issues with overheating and water problems resulting in head gaskets going and heads cracking also rust was a big issue to drive and was great for family but we decided against it purely because of space
I had one of these for 5 years
It had to be welded every single year absolute rust bucket
Then the cylinder head went , I did like it though great little camper .
I like it, and the outtakes.
The Dalek went into exterminate mode at 60mph 😆 . An interesting vehicle with some nice little design touches.
I never realised the nose was empty! I’d always assumed it had a conventional layout. It has, without doubt, one of the jolliest names of all time
Always fancied one for weekend camping trips..
Lovely!
I had one, these are great
Thanks for reply to my Bongo question 😊
Beautiful Mozda, Ian! 👍👍🤣🤣
I missed to own a Bongo myself. Was a nice vehicle if thirsty and insurance wasn't cheap at the time. I also used to own a Toyota master-ace as well. Same as the Town - ace but with a moon roof .
Big want for one of these as a family camper. There's a company down in Bristol that specialises in converting Bongos/Fredas into really smart camper vans using rust-free imports. Better value than a VW and, I suspect, nicer to drive… especially if you opt for the 2.5-litre V6, which I definitely would. Sod the fuel bills! 😆
Saw that you had to borrow a towel on a recent camping trip, but I don't remember you getting Jayemm to lend a shirt!😊
I had a 2.0 petrol for 8 years, also very usable as a daily driver and not noisey like this diesel. I just waxed the underside every year. Mine just started to get a little tatty on the bodywork so I upgraded to an E51 Elgrand this year.
With my pedant hat on I must correct your launch date Ian. I remember being driven around Taiwan in a Bongo in 1987 (memorable as we all giggled at the silly name). I checked on Wikipedia and production started in 1966.
I was referring specifically to the Bongo Friendee.
Bongo van only means one thing to me: Mad Max 1. Early crash scene, one of the yellow MFPs hits a Bongo and spins it in the air!
I must watch this film again with Bongo ready eyes! It’s been many years since I’ve seen it!
@@karencallaghan9481 I think it’s near the start, it may be the first big action scene.
I had my unconverted AFT (factory pop up roof) Bongo 2.5 V6 for over 4 years now & it has been incredibly reliable. Only 2 things you ever need to take care of - 1.Underneath! Get it regularly undersealed as the Japanese sent out new models with little rust protection as they never salt their roads but we do! 2. Some models are known to lose coolant & overheat causing damage to the head. Low coolant alarms are plentiful, cheap & easy to fit for peace of mind & damage limitation. V6 will bring 25 MPG plus on a typical run but keep the speed below 60 mph! Proper cult vehicles which have a large & dedicated following through the owners club (Bongo Fury) thus parts & good advice are freely available. The only reason that Bongo production was ended prematurely in 2005 was due to a massive fire in the factory that made them which destroyed everything within it so Mazda decided against putting in any more money into the project.
Bongos are cool. Are you going to give Jayemm his shirt back?
The flexibility of internal configuration is awesome, but It's all such a compromise.
But that's me looking it from my perspective as someone that prefers a permanently tall vehicle and bed situation.
Needs aside, I've always thought that they were cute!
Ian and Carly, we need more blooper vids!
Beware rust! Otherwise, all good and probably more weathertight/easier than an elderly folding camper!(wonderful though she is!)
When I tol;d my wife about this car a few years back she accused me of making the name up. It was only when following one I proved it to her. I never realised they were a sort of mid engine layout a bit like the Toyota Lucida Estima. Not sure why you would do this as it makes servicing a nightmare to do and also any other work for access I guess. The Toyota could also be had with 4WD. What an interesting peice of kit. As always sir thanks for sharing great content in very interesting and detailed video's Fabulous stuff!!
Keep the bloopers!!!
Monzda? Is that a new company? Never heard of them before 😉🤣🤣
I'm always surprised by just how many Japanese cars are made for their own market. Even excluding the Kei cars, there's always a few the rest of us don't get.
So perfectly hubnut
Would love a rust free Mozda Bango 🤣
It's a Mozda Bango! Ian, Mazda Bongos are very popular in the Philippines. Usually they are imported CKD from Japan, and rebuilt here in the Philippines. They are converted to left hand drive, and there are many different body styles. They can be single cab pickups, dual cab pickups, or have custom bodies to make them into transporters able to seat many passengers in the style of the Jeepneys here. Most of them are diesel engined, and they can be either 4x2 or 4x4. I haven't seen one in camper format here. Rebuilt Mazda Bongos and Suzuki Kei cars, vans and pickups are extremely popular here, as they are considerably less expensive than pickups and vans from the major car companies. They make a lot of sense.
Um Bongo they drive it in the Congo.
:D
Is it only me that thought of Jones's van when it was fitted with a gas bag when the roof went up.
Well I always wondered what Auto Free Top referred to. I think you and miss H need one 😉
Also a notable competitor is the Toyota Hiace which you can buy in the European spec of the same era or the imported minimal front crash structure versions usually seen in Australia or Africa.
Dalek keeping an eye stalk on you. 😂
how else could Daleks conquer such a rocky bumpy place like Wales lol?
the front-mid engine with forward controls is a design that's stood the test of time. I remember the Ford Thames and Commer vans using it back in the 60s. my Nissan Cabstar and Mitsubishi Canter V6 in the 80s and 90s were built on the same principle though admittedly the Canter had a tilting cab like a grown-up truck.
You didn't do the whooooshhhhh at the end 😂
Finally, the Mozda Banger
Nice 😊
My gavourite is the mazda bongo frendee moving cottage! I want one just for the name
If you decide to get a Bongo you should call it Boris! 😂
In a recent-ish Jago Hazzard video, there was a brief shot in an underground car park in London that showed a blue Reliant Robin camper conversion! If yourself or one of the viewers could track down the owner it would make a great Hubnut video!
Nice. Think the diesel would be my option. Too heave for the small petrol and the V6 would be a bit greedy. I think the fact it is a camper and not a vehicle for speed means the diesel suits it's used. Very nice indeed. However, give me an old Bedford Dormobile any day. 😊
That steering wheel cover would do nicely in Bella 😅
We wanted a Bongo yests ago. Having read the stories about the diesels, I bought a 2litre petrol Freda. It was a brilliant thing, but woefully underpowered and awful on fuel. Great for csmping though. We went back to using our tent and bought a Galaxy instead.
You look very comfy in it though.
Whats not to like,love the fact the Japanese select most wonderful names… Cedric, Fairlady et al. And the Bongo, can just remember my friend laughing at the funny name. Um Bongo…
Bet you want one!
I like it but I don't think campers are really my thing. Prefer car and folding camper.
@@HubNut I get that, but soap on the roof won't make it leak, lol.