How many UK James Cooks?

[CornishJamesCook]

Hi everyone,
my name is Russ, I have owned my 1998 312D James Cook since September 2019.

After 19 years of VW ownership, 5 x t25(t3) including a Karmann Gipsy and a hightop Atlantic.
Then needing more space, we bought a VW LT Florida, which we loved, but craved something that drives more modern, but had Westfalia's absolute quality and superb interior design.
We then have seen a JC for sale. And that was it.

We are now proud owners of our James Cook, which to us is the ultimate van conversion.

I was interested to know how many James Cooks are in the UK, locations and models.

[Netsrac]

Hi Russ,

welcome to this wonderfuul communinty - and congratulations to your new camper.
I don't know how many JC in the UK there are - but in this friendly forum you'll find contacts all over the world.
Many of them are able to write in english, so do not hesitate to ask what you want to know or to share informations or experiences here.

Best regards from Hamburg,

Carsten

[CornishJamesCook]

Thanks, Carsten

I was a bit worried after so many years in the VW world, that a Mercedes wouldn't be accepted, but now I know better.
Can't beat a Westfalia!!! Looking forward to all the new adventures.
Great to get such a greeting.

Best wishes
Russ & Family.

[Adrianlle]

Russ, just spotted your thread. I don’t know how many there are either. We live in Somerset and have a 2004 316cdi 5 speed auto. We’ve had that since 2016. Before that, we had a 2002 313cdi manual. We changed because I needed an auto for health reasons. We too had an LT Florida! We have looked at Hymers, Rapidios and the like but nothing comes close to the Cook package on the TN1.

We’ve never seen another one in the U.K. on our travels but Andy Brady (the Westfalia specialist in Essex) has customers who store their Cooks there during the Winter.

My guess would be no more than half a dozen or so in the U.K.

Adrian

[CornishJamesCook]

Hi Adrian,
great to hear from you, I know of 2 others for sure in the UK, now 3.
I've had a lot of vans including Hymers, but IMHO, nothing comes close to the James Cook, its size externally, internal design, masses of storage, the perfect camper.
Shortly after we got the JC, we drove to the South of France, 2300 miles in 2 weeks, returning an average 29.5 mpg, which I was delighted with after Florida ownership, you know what I mean!

Hopefully, our paths will cross, if you're in Cornwall, please give us a shout.

Best Wishes
Russ

[Netsrac]

Hi Russ,

29.5 mpg - that‘s less than 7 litres per 100 km, are you sure...?
Which engine do you have in your sprinter?
The 316 cdi normally takes 9 to 11 litres per 100 km, with automatic transmission 10 to 12 - in hurry up to 13...
Or do I make a mistake converting mpg in l/100km ?

Sunny regards from northern Germany,

Carsten

[admin]

Man kann solche Umrechnungen einfach bei Google eingeben. Da kommt dann die richtige Zahl Acht Liter pro 100 km raus. Auch das ist aber extrem wenig für einen 3,15 Meter hohen James Cook.

[Netsrac]

It's the same what I did - my google found calculator said less than 7 litres
Are there any differences between US-mpg and UK-mpg…?
But anyhow - that's not the most important thing for us here
Nice to have an international community of JamesCook-owners
And nice to have this excellent forum - thanks Peter!

Carsten

[richardk1]

Hi,
I have one James Cook 312d 2000, living in Cheshire UK. Camper got solar panels and LPG tank under the floor + lader in the back to access the roof.
Any questions welcome.

Regards,
Richard

[komposti]

Hi all,

I think there is another JC owner called "sacred turtle" (Membername in the Forum) living in the south of UK.
But I'm not shure whether he still has the JC.

Best wishes to you, Thomas

[Adrianlle]

Thomas, Sacred Turtle sold his Cook to me! My previous Cook ( a manual 313cdi) was sold via a dealer to another U.K. purchaser. Also good to hear of another U.K. Cook - this time in Cheshire. Adrian

[komposti]

Hi Adrian,

thanks for this Information.

Best whishes to you
Thomas

[h-g]

... an average 29.5 mpg, ...

...
29.5 mpg - that‘s less than 7 litres per 100 km, are you sure...?
Which engine do you have in your sprinter?
The 316 cdi normally takes 9 to 11 litres per 100 km, with automatic transmission 10 to 12 - in hurry up to 13...
Or do I make a mistake converting mpg in l/100km ?
...

Man kann solche Umrechnungen einfach bei Google eingeben. Da kommt dann die richtige Zahl Acht Liter pro 100 km raus. Auch das ist aber extrem wenig für einen 3,15 Meter hohen James Cook.

Ich denke, hier geht es nicht um US-Gallonen, sondern um britische Gallonen:
1 US-Gallone = 3,79 Liter
1 brit. Gallone = 4,55 Liter
Verwendet man brit. Gallonen, kommt man für 29,5 mpg auf knapp 9,6 l/100km, was sinnvoll aussieht und was man bei entsprechender Fahrweise auch gut schaffen kann. Wir haben diesen Wert mit unserem JC (316CDI mit SprintShift) schon des öfteren unterboten...
LG h-g

[aidang44]

Hi everyone, my name's Aidan and I've just bought a white 2002 316CDI James Cook. I thought I'd introduce myself to the forum as there don't seem to be too many James Cooks in the UK so knowing where they are seemed a good idea.

Our first job is to get some refillable LPG bottles and a reversing camera installed and then wait until we're set free to cross the channel. Any tips on either of the above topics would be appreciated as I'm still finding my way round the forum.

Aidan

[Adrianlle]

Evening Aidan and good to hear of another HK Cook. I had Autogas 2000 in Thirsk Yorkshire fit my refillable lpg bottles. One fill lasts a v long time so lI only have one refillable cylinder. That was on a recommendation from another U.K. Cook owner who has now sold his Cook.If yiu swarch threads by Richard 3rd on the forum you will find more info ( including on solar panels which I fitted myself and which we have found invaluable). Thirsk is a long way from me in Somerset but it was worth making the hike. I fitted my own camera. I got the kit from Reversing Cameras UK. Although they are a lot more expensive than eBay their stuff is really good. Fitting it was not that difficult if you don’t mind sliding under the van to run convoluted tubing to carry the cable. I have found having a twin camera- one always on instead of a rear view mirror and the other pointing down when reverse is engaged to be worthwhile driving a lhd vehicle in the U.K. it’s also fairly straightforward ar the same time to fit reversing sensors in the rear bumper. I have found a cheap set from Amazon as good as anything. Let me know if you want any more info on any of the above or anything else. They are fantastic vehicles. Adrian.