Pricing out a bus

[bansil]

To start with your thinking of buying a bus...so yes your crazy

That is way over priced in my eyes,say it weighs 12,000 pounds and scrap is about $10 a hundred so thats like $1200 as scrap add $1000 if it runs and stops, so your up to $2200 as an offer...I don't think it's a low ball for a an older gasser that needs tires and maybe more

It will probably need tires and brake work esp if hydraulic brakes

Good luck

[Accordion]

That looks like an International. I don't think that it would have a Chevy motor.

[Elliot Naess]

It is very old, it has the undesirable style of wheels, and it is in use as a chicken coupe. Run!

For five grand or less you can buy a very nice 15 year old bus directly from a school district.

[Tango]

Easily overpriced by a factor of at least two. Your gut is right...keep lookin'!

[Elliot Naess]

Well, maybe it is being used as a foaling shed.
It's parked in a barnyard, the door is open, and there is junk on the floor dangling down the stairs. This is not indicative of a drivable motor vehicle.

Try to buy direct from school service -- a bus that is not somebody's given-up-on project.

[Diesel Dan]

Many people on this forum bought their buses for $2,500 - $3,500 and these are 15 - 20 year old buses. Mine is a 1996 model diesel in perfect running condition; and I got it for under $4,000 from a dealer - meaning I paid a premium price in order to get exactly what I wanted. If I was less picky about the specifics of make and model, I could have gotten a recently retired, fully functional 15 year old bus here in Texas at auction for $2,500 easy.

[syke]

I'm going with the consensus.... keeping looking man.

[Tango]

And...if you can find the unit you are looking for directly from a school district...very often you can get the full maintenance records along with the bus. They are worth their weight in gold. And a number of people who have shopped the district sales have even been able to talk with the guys who maintained them about specific units. They might all look alike but if you check the records or talk to those who kept them up, you'll at least be able to tell which ones NOT to buy.

Unless you are buying a "historic" unit like my current project, go for the very best condition you can afford in exactly the the type & size that fits your plan. Down the road it will more than pay for itself in otherwise hidden costs. Remember...repairing or replacing many of the systems on these units can easily cost more than the original selling price plus leave you stranded until taken care of.

[GreyEagle]

Keep an eye on this link....http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/browse ... ?catid=402
normally lots of buses listed...... Just watch for stuff close to you...
Best of luck.

[Motobus]

$2500-3 is the magic number for a recently retired diesel in Kansas. I have seen nice gassers with 90% tires for $1000-1500.

[dirtygoat]

I paid less than most for my fullsize shorty($1000), but while I was looking I did see the average between $2-3k... And at that price it should be pretty much turnkey and ready for a road trip without to much work... Tires are very expensive, make sure they're in good shape... And if it's a diesel check for the last maintenance records... It can get spendy just in filters and fluids...

[Tango]

Here's another source worth checking out...7K Bus Sales in Houston. Bought my first BB from Charlie there over 20 years ago. Was great to deal with and had very good prices on good stock.

http://7kbussales.com/

[superdad]

I'll sell you my old one for $1000. 3/4 length (53 passenger) 1983 international, Thomas body, DT366 diesel, AT545 automatic trans. It's a bit of a drive from here in central Illinois to Texas.

[crazycal]

DT360

[putterspitt]

looks a whole lot like my bus, I paid $986 for it on ebay

[RUskoolietailgater]

I paid $2,000 for mine. If you can, when you are dead serious about the bus find a truck mechanic and offer him $100 for an hour or so of his time and ask him to inspect the heck out of it and tell you what it needs done. At that point you'll know and if the seller doesn't want that to be done then that is your sign to go elsewhere. I would've done that. Forgot to look for tires $400 a pop and some other minor things.