Talk me out of buying this bus!

[Wantabus]

Saw this guy today, really itching to pull the trigger. Gas I know but a solid shorty!

5 window, thomas body, gmc 6 L.gas engine
2006
245,000 km (152, 236 m)
$5985 CA ($4385 USD)

E tested, safetied, and delivery included

We've seen 10 in person but hundreds online, we have a window over the next 4 months to convert a bus so I don't want to keep waiting for something better unless strongly urged to by the group!

Thanks in advance!

[Willie_McCoy]

IDK, there looks to be some decent rust/rot on there.....

I'm guessing from your conversion to freedom units that your in Canada, and that might just be par for the course up there. How does this compare to what you have seen already?

[o1marc]

The biggest issue we find is that in 2004 they started loading the bus with all kinds EPA EGR emission systems that can be problematic, hard to diagnose and expensive to fix. The schools even realize this and instead of keeping buses for 15-20 years, they are now dumping them at 10-12 years to avoid the coming expense. I personally would not want a gas engine in a bus.

[PNW_Steve]

I looked at several buses at a local school district before buying mine.

I spent quite a bit of time talking to the maintenance manager about all things school bus.

They had replaced all of their diesel cutaways with 6.0 GM gas units. He loved them. He told me that they did not last quite as long as the diesels they replaced but were much less expensive to repair/replace and got similar fuel milage.

I put some miles on a 6.0 Powerstroke equipped cutaway and it got about the same mileage as my 6.0 gas Chevy truck.

Personally, I would drive nothing but diesels if I could. Unfortunately we have to be practical sometimes

[EastCoastCB]

Gas 6.0 GM is a great engine. The rust looks like more than I'd want to deal with but you Canadians seem to be used to it.
Thats THE engine to get in a smaller van-bus.

[BlackJohn]

How deep are your pockets to feed that engine?

It seems to be a good one though but suggest finding a diesel.
Rust is par for the course up here.


John

[joeblack5]

Not sure if that is oil or coolant stain on the front cross member?


With 250000 miles and gasoline I would think that engine could be ready for an overhaul.
If you want to use the bus for a long time and spend a lot of work on it then I would look for less rust.

My 0.02


Good luck

later J

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

Not sure if that is oil or coolant stain on the front cross member?


With 250000 miles and gasoline I would think that engine could be ready for an overhaul.
If you want to use the bus for a long time and spend a lot of work on it then I would look for less rust.

My 0.02


Good luck

later J

I think OP said 152k miles. I would not consider that excessive. I have seen a number of 6.0GMs being taken out of service with 200-275k miles.

[joeblack5]

Steve, you areright sorry . misread, km it was. But then he wants to be talked out of it.
Later J

[msilkjr]

Where in Canada are you. East coast? I’m in Vermont USA and I have a 2003 Chevy with the same engine with less miles that I’m getting ready to sell. I have already gutted it and I have welded in a whole new floor and it is painted green.

[msilkjr]

Where in Canada are you. East coast? I’m in Vermont USA and I have a 2003 Chevy with the same engine with less miles that I’m getting ready to sell. I have already gutted it and I have welded in a whole new floor and it is painted green.

[Kegger]

We live outside Toronto and got our bus from Sarnia (2001 GMC, 5 window, 5 stick, gas, truck body), it has a lot of rust underneath the bottom but when we pulled up flooring etc it was no worse than those i've seen from warmer areas.

[Wantabus]

We are in Toronto, Is that a deal breaker?
How much are you looking to get for it?
How Much standing room?

Thanks!

[sandbagger2u]

Rust needs converting but I like it. Fixing to buy one my ownself.

[yfrank14]

Must be a different kind of rust in Canada.
Here in CT, i would not buy any vehicle with that much rust.
For every rust spot you see, there are 10 rust spots you do not see.
I own a 1995 dodge cummings diesel pick up.
Leaf spring shackles, Tail pipe, fuel tank straps, brake lines, rear axle breather, and a lot of the body, rusted away.
Rear brake drums are fused to the axle. I had to pull the axle shaft with the drums still on to replace the wheel cylinders.
I know rust.
When i buy a bus, it will be from AZ.

[msilkjr]

It’s not a deal breaker for me. I was looking to get about $5000 USD. I can take pics for you. Email or call me if your interested.
msilkjr@gmail.com or (802)839-0255

Originally Posted by Wantabus

We are in Toronto, Is that a deal breaker?
How much are you looking to get for it?
How Much standing room?

Thanks!