Forgot to mention ours is just a seven seater, but have a run out and have a look at whats on the market, conversions are another ball game , good luck.
Yes it's definately down to space with the Bongo. Also fuel. I'm putting £30 a week in my Focus estate at the moment so I realy dont want anything too thirsty. And I dont want to be 2 hours fiddling with an awning. I'll be taking 2 teenagers & a 6 yr old.
Hi Jimsmimm, glad you like my van, it's quite a rare one, it's a Grand Hiace, 3.4 petrol, Auto (column shift) Permanant 4WD, Overdrive, everything is electric, bed moves forward on a electric motor and back folds down, it has a microwave(factory fitted), i have since changed the Microwave to 240v anf fitted an outside electric connection for on site connection, the two front seats swivel round, a lot more room than the Bongo, plus a lot more storage, plus you don't have to raise & lower the roof, not as good on the turning circle as the Bongo, about the same MPH, but overall i much prefer the Toyota, i did take out the forward facing seat/bed and move it to the side bulkhead, gave me a lot more room, couldn't use the clip on table, but i just bought the tripod/leg and screwed it to the bottom and we use that, good thing is we can use it in or out, so don't need to carry another table for outside use. import by Steve in Wigan, good bloke to deal with.
we went for the Granvia because of the space..........I like the fact I can get into the back from the drivers seat........I got curtains and nets
Andy
Another Granvia fan here. We started off with a Townace then changed to the Granvia - 3L turbo diesel - last year (pics in my profile). Compared to the Townace the Granvia is huge - loads of storage, pulls our van brilliantly, it's a dream to drive and goes like s**t off a shovel on it's own. And the engine is at the front, under a bonnet like a normal car, instead of being under the front seats, so easy to get at if you need to and you can walk straight through from the front to the back. Also very competitively priced for insurance - we use Lifesure, who are brilliant for imports. Put it this way - if we'd known about Granvias first we would never have got the Townace!
We also have a free-standing tunnel-type awning for it, three flexible poles and two rigid ones inside, takes just 15-20 minutes to put up.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
it's quite a rare one, it's a Grand Hiace, 3.4 petrol, Auto
what kind of MPG are you getting ARTC....I'm getting high 20s out of town low 20s in...4x4 auto..but as It came with nearly every trick in the book plus has 7 belted seats, that lets me use it as an mpv during the week I'm prepared to put up with it plus the 3 or 4 grand more I would have paid for an equivalent T4 with far fewer seats buys an awful lot of diesel....
Hi Jimsmimm, round town is low 20's, all the stopping and starting, but on the open road i reckon it's about 28-30 if i get to use my overdrive, but i don't really worry about MPH, if you drive a big motor expect to pay for it and what the hell you only live once.
Thanx for all the advice guy's, and the offer Art. Been looking at the Toyota's & theres a Regius down the road from me, very nice van, but a bit out of my price range I think! Still trying to hunt down a few vans locally.
We have had our 14 year old Bongo for 2 years (it's just passed its MOT - no advisories second year running - dh 4-year old boxer has just cost £640 for its MOT)
We're a family of four and have go away at any opportunity. Our Bongo is unconverted ans it works for us as we use a Khyam awning for cooking in and we sleep in both the van and awning depending on how we feel!
The mpg is late 20s although we have a 2wd which fairs slightly better. Insurance is around £250 and the Bongo is kept on the road. Space for the camping stuff has never been an issue as it is unconverted and there is always room to spare even on long trips. The porti-potti is the only problem you may have, we have a porti-potti and toilet tent but rarely use it as we always stay on sites with a loo.
The Bongo has never missed a beat. We've had a coolant alarm fitted to warn of any overheating problems and servicing costs are around £150 per year, done by the dealer we bought it from.
I have no experience of any other japanese vans so can't compare but I would highly recommend the Bongo as a multi-purpose van.
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Topic: bongo v hiace
