Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 11:51:44 -0500
Reply-To: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Re: Sprinter James Cook
In-Reply-To: <24246-3C406159-2220@storefull-625.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I wouldn't drop my wrench for the Sprinter James Cook, whose bulbous
guppy head wouldn't fit in most parking garages or car ferries. Plus,
for a variety of reasons, the styling of the sprinter would make me feel
like an even bigger dork than I do already... Driving one of these, I
might as well just wear big floppy red shoes and a red ball on the end
of my nose.
But I would sell all my tools for the Vito Marco Polo, which is
essentially a TDI powered Eurovan with a REAL, complete Westfalia
camping package like my current Westy, (unlike the kinda chintzy VW
Euro-bago, or the stripped down Eurovan Weakender).
The combination of great motor, new camping equipment, and an okay body
(I still prefer the Vanagon) is irresistible to this pale face.
From historic, walkable Mount Olive, NC,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
Alliance: www.ntara.com
Home: www.MountOliveNC.info
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Lee Kouns
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 11:16 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Sprinter James Cook
The James Cook Sprinter is very nice, but I don't think everyone will
want to pack away their wrenches just yet. At our 1st Annual San Diego
Westy Event, we were lucky enough to get a tour of the unit from a
German Mercedes employee who was testing it in the U.S. According to
him, the conversion would be available in 2002 for about $60,000.
Here is some info I got from the tour.
1) diesel mileage 25 mpg highway
2) probably good for winter use--well insulated with a quiet
diesel-fueled heater for the camper taken from the fuel tank.
3) Very intelligent layout for up to 4 people.
4) Very good for stealth camping
However, some people may not like
1) The lack of a back window to see directly behind the vehicle.
2) The higher and wider profile.
3) It does not seem as easy to carry large sports equipment.
Our conclusion: as always, what's best depends on the uses you have in
mind. If we bought a James Cook, we would still keep our Westy. It would
be nice to be able to rent a James Cook before buying one. I wonder if
they can be rented in Europe?--anybody know.
Lee & Irasema Kouns
88 Westy
Los Angeles
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