As for driving the stick - if you can do it in your car, you can do it with the bus. Every vehicle's clutch is a little different, so you'd be prepared for that. I know on my International/Bluebird the worst of my issues was the different shift pattern (R on the bus is where 1st is on my truck, so I have to -think- at times
).
Personally, I went out of my way to get a standard, so that's where I'd lean, although getting the genny and AC is pretty cool on the other bus ...