[Sam B]

I want to tell you all about 1 good financial decision we made during the emigration process. Just the 1, the rest were c**p! We bought a Mazda Bongo campervan on Trade Me 2 months before we left the UK. We bought it from a reputable dealer (Stu MacDonald in Napier - he's ace) and paid half the cost as a deposit, and then the rest when we picked it up. He was fine about hanging on to it for us.

Our thinking was that we wanted to see as much of NZ as possible - especially as we only planned to come for a year initially. The Mazda Bongo we bought sleeps 4 people - 2 downstairs, and 2 in the pop-top. The van we bought was an ancient Japanese import, but with fairly low mileage - 80,000km. It cost $11,000.

It has a kind of retro, A-team style, with it's ugly boxy shape and red go-faster stripes. When we first posted on this forum and said what we'd bought, someone posted back and told us we'd made a huge mistake - Mazda Bongos are a nightmare etc etc. Nothing could be further from the truth - it's SOOO reliable. It has never let us down, despite severe abuse on our part - e.g. frequently running out of diesel. Well, the starter motor conked out on New Year's Eve in a very remote part of the South Island, but all turned out well thanks to a friendly local mechanic.

We've been everywhere in it, and slept everywhere in it and it's great - saved us a fortune in baches and motels. And it's still going strong. And if the kids are fighting - they can have a whole row of seats to themselves. We love it. Here are some pics:

Just picked it up

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_0850.jpg

The Coromandel

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_1226.jpg

[Sam B]

The south Island Tour

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_4470.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/brydons_2007/DSC_4474.jpg

[JandM]

That's great. Isn't it good when you get a vehicle that feels like part of the family?

[lockstock]

Soooo envious. We'd do that if we could. Except without the kids. Just the dogs.

[StevieD]

As long as that roof doesn't blow up in a gale Sam!!

Looks great - saves lugging a tent I suppose....

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Has it got a name?

I'd call it Brian.

[mark&kerry]

Great, we had a Bongo in the UK for a year. Fantastic versatile vehicle. Had some great times!! Unfortunately, it was so expensive for fuel here we had to sell it on and get a smaller car. Really depressing.

Make the most of it!! I feel some great times ahead!! Photos are great, can't wait to get over there!!

[vixxann]

You have just so made my day...
we have a Bongo here in the UK :D

Its a fairly recent purchase for us and we haven't really given it as much use as I'd have like to but I think its absolutely FAB! The looks we got off people when we bought it,,,everyone thought we were mad! But its fantastic, versatile, plenty of room for travelling and sleeping and SO easy to drive.

We are hoping to be able to buy one in NZ - not worth trying to bring this one over as its quite an old one. You have given me hope that we can get a nice one over there!

oh.. the other day I came out of work and had a note under my window wiper to say "you've been BONGO'D" !!! it was a fellow bongo owner telling me to look at the forum/website bongofury.com - so there are plenty of us out there!

[Carey]

Vicky tell me more about one that sleeps 5......please! Would LOVE to ahve something that we could all fit in but had looked at camper vans and been HORRIFIED at the cost, but maybe there is hope!

[vixxann]

Vicky tell me more about one that sleeps 5......please!

it officially sleeps 4 but it would depend on size of the children. Some people sleep a small child on the front passenger seat fully reclined - others can squeeze 3 small ones into a double bed size.

our boys are slightly older at 12 and 14 and love to kip outside in their own tent but if necessary they can go in the roof tent and little girl on front seat or in with us.

( you can also get tents / awnings that attach to side or rear door)

but Bongos ARE deceptively spacious!

[wobbler]

We too have a Bongo here in the UK and are jolly pleased with it. Bongos tend to be in good condition due to the way the Japanese do not use Salt on the roads and better local build quality. Plus generally better looked after.

BongoFury have members in NZ and is really usefull for spares and lots of friendly advise/support.
Mike

[Tia Maria]

This 'Bongo' thing is new to me.... very interesting....

How do you get in the pop top? Do you park it at campsites?

I think its definitely a Bessie, if its really that practical and good at multi tasking, then its got to be a girl! :p

Cheers

Tia

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Sorry, still think it's a Brian.

Brian is the traditional name for a snail, which carries it's home on it's back.

Maybe that's too much Magic Roundabout as a kid? I do have a kid called Dylan too!

Brian Bongo. See. Even sounds good. Bessie Bongo. Not bad, but a bit of a mouthfull.

[Tia Maria]

BBB - Look, I don't want to have to fight you on this, but its something I feel passionately about, it is clearly a girl. :p

Don't make me start a poll.........

Cheers

Tia

[IanW99]

BBB - Look, I don't want to have to fight you on this, but its something I feel passionately about, it is clearly a girl. :p

Don't make me start a poll.........

Cheers

Tia

How about Black Bessie Bongo, then we would have another BBB on the forum :p :exit

Ian

[Sam B]

It IS a girl, sorry BBB, anything useful and hard working is female of course.

Tia - there is a trap door in the ceiling above the back 2 rows of seat, and you open this, shove the kids up and then shut it, and leave them to fumble around in the dark making their beds.

We have set it up in various locations, including campsites, but avoid these where possible - DOC sites are a fave, or we free camped a lot in the South Island.

Sam and Bessie

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

How about Black Bessie Bongo, then we would have another BBB on the forum :p :exit

Ian

Fair enough, I can go with that. BBB Mk II

There are certain similarities I suppose. I have been known to enjoy a Red Stripe, for starters, and slept with my head in a bush on occasion, I'm pretty laid back and built for comfort rather than speed.

Bessie it is.

[KerryS]

It looks cool! I really want to buy an old 70s VW camper, but am scared off by the crazy prices and extortionate cost of repairs. Your Bongo looks fun.

Randomly I had a 2CV when at Uni called Brian. He was yellow with a red roof, so looked just like the snail from Magic Roundabout.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Brian.....

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/BaldyBeardyBloke/brian.jpg

[beth&rich]

Thats so cool! I'll have to let my Dad know how much you like your Bongo....he's been thinking of getting one to go and tour the Lake District in. I have to admit, I thought he'd made it up! Bongo just seems such an unlikely name.:uhoh