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Old 01-25-2018, 07:05 PM   #1
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Too Good To Be True?

Ive been hunting for a vehicle to convert and live in, and my most recent efforts surfaced a short 2003 ford 450 7.3 diesel, 105k miles, with new tires for 5500. I cant think of any reason why this cant work, as the seller mentioned that the bus was purchased and driven from New Jersey to California with no issues. Looks like the seller was going to convert it but ran out of steam. Is this the dream? Can there be any reason why I shouldnt purchase this dream boat? Ive been looking casually for a year, but I only recently started to ramp up the search. Ive never purchased a car before either, so this is very strange for me.

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Old 01-25-2018, 07:16 PM   #2
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Ive been hunting for a vehicle to convert and live in, and my most recent efforts surfaced a short 2003 ford 450 7.3 diesel, 105k miles, with new tires for 5500. I cant think of any reason why this cant work, as the seller mentioned that the bus was purchased and driven from New Jersey to California with no issues. Looks like the seller was going to convert it but ran out of steam. Is this the dream? Can there be any reason why I shouldnt purchase this dream boat? Ive been looking casually for a year, but I only recently started to ramp up the search. Ive never purchased a car before either, so this is very strange for me.
Shorties command a premium, so $5500 for one with new tires isn't outrageous.

However, if you are not used to buying vehicles, a few hundred dollars to persuade a diesel mechanic to go look at it would be money well spent.
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Old 01-25-2018, 07:29 PM   #3
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Shorties command a premium, so $5500 for one with new tires isn't outrageous.

However, if you are not used to buying vehicles, a few hundred dollars to persuade a diesel mechanic to go look at it would be money well spent.
Can you comment on the one I sent you a link for?
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Old 01-25-2018, 07:40 PM   #4
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Can you comment on the one I sent you a link for?
Okay.

Sent you a reply.

I think it's too much money, but not knowing all the options it's hard to tell.

If it has an Allison 2500, and/or an FD ratio in the 4's ... It might be worth a lot more to you than it would be to me.

Looks fairly clean, but photos can lie, and frequently do.

I never forget that I only paid $400 more, for a helluva lot more bus ... but my bus wouldn't suit your needs, so to you that $4k might have seemed expensive.

ps ... If the tires really are "nearly new", then that alone is worth $1000 to you, and suddenly the price is not so bad if everything else checks out.
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Old 01-25-2018, 07:49 PM   #5
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Okay.

Sent you a reply.

I think it's too much money, but not knowing all the options it's hard to tell.

If it has an Allison 2500, and/or an FD ratio in the 4's ... It might be worth a lot more to you than it would be to me.

Looks fairly clean, but photos can lie, and frequently do.

I never forget that I only paid $400 more, for a helluva lot more bus ... but my bus wouldn't suit your needs, so to you that $4k might have seemed expensive.

ps ... If the tires really are "nearly new", then that alone is worth $1000 to you, and suddenly the price is not so bad if everything else checks out.
Ya, engine looks brand new. Same as the tires in the pic. I'll drive out and check it out tomorrow.
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Old 01-25-2018, 08:04 PM   #6
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The bigger the bus, or boat, the cheaper they get. That expense is offset by higher operating costs and increased storage, or moorage, cost.
Saw a bunch of big floating boats, like 50 feet, sell for basically nothing a while ago. Deadbeats in the marina.
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Old 01-25-2018, 08:16 PM   #7
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The bigger the bus, or boat, the cheaper they get. That expense is offset by higher operating costs and increased storage, or moorage, cost.
Women can be like that, too.
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Old 01-25-2018, 11:16 PM   #8
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Small women and boats are expensive too.
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Old 01-26-2018, 12:47 AM   #9
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