Yet another "is this a good deal" thread

[EastCoastCB]

I doubt a forty footer with 300 hp is going to be any less economical than another.
I'll give you the tag axles raising the cost, but coaches are DESIGNED for cross country travel, a school bus is not.
THe differences between real coaches and school buses are immediately crystal clear as soon as you are the one driving the school bus a thousand miles.
That detroit engine is described as awesome or legendary if its in a Crown. Two stroke diesels are pretty awesome. They are pretty common, and will likely be cheaper than a new cat c7 as in the 2008 bluebird. How economical would rebuilding a dt530 or any other modern schoolie motor in an RE be?
I'm all about school buses, but if spending four or five grand on just the bus, I think it starts to make more sense to fly coach, so to speak.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by selfdetermined

This looks promising: http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auc...ew?auc=1293173

$9100 is the current bid.

[selfdetermined]

Yeah yeah. You were right. ;)

[EastCoastCB]

I always am!
Just kidding. I'm often VERY wrong. Just ask my better half.

[cowlitzcoach]

If you want a coach we have several for sale.

This is an MC-9: http://showroom.auction123.com/thebu...8DR004147.html

This is an MC-5: http://showroom.auction123.com/thebu...MCI/11434.html

And we have a 40' Van Hool with a Cummins L-10 with an askiing price of $7,500.00.

[EastCoastCB]

That mc-5 has my name written all over it!

[aaronsb]

That Van Hool price seems rather low, is it the one that has "call" on the pricing?

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

If you want a coach we have several for sale.

This is an MC-9: http://showroom.auction123.com/thebu...8DR004147.html

This is an MC-5: http://showroom.auction123.com/thebu...MCI/11434.html

And we have a 40' Van Hool with a Cummins L-10 with an askiing price of $7,500.00.

[cowlitzcoach]

The Van Hool is not in the online inventory.

It was recently taken out of service and it has a current DOT inspection.

The $7,500.00 price is set low to get it sold. Nothing really wrong with it other than the fact it is a 1990/1991 model.

[selfdetermined]

I've been looking very seriously into coaches over the past few days. Have a few available nearby that would spare me the cost/hassle of bringing it across the country. Certainly a few more rusty spots than west coast buses, but obviously nothing like a school bus, what with all the stainless/aluminum.

[cowlitzcoach]

The problem of rust in a coach is much worse than rust in a school bus.

First, the electrical system is much more complicated and convoluted. When corrossion gets into the grounds, junction blocks, and splices can cause nightmares you can't imagine.

Second, while most coaches were built with stainless and aluminum there is still a lot of steel in them that will rust.

Third, all coaches since the demise of Eagle and Flxible have had air suspensions that depend upon steel components. When rust gets into the air suspension components you are left with a real $$$$ pit.

If you want a coach you will save much more than the cost of travel purchasing a western bus with no rust.

[selfdetermined]

You're saying these are ... risky:
http://northernwi.craigslist.org/rvs/4842964011.html
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/rvs/4868291032.html
http://flint.craigslist.org/hvo/4828948713.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-MCI-102...34435&pt=Buses

(Yeah, yeah, the last one isn't close to the midwest. But it's close to family. WA is not. )

[selfdetermined]

And goodness coaches get terrible mileage. Yeah, I get it. It's a lot of weight, an enormous amount of surface area cutting a hole in the air, and added friction with a 3rd axle. But yikes. I was getting comfortable with 9-11 mpg in a school bus with a high 200s HP engine + MD3060 with 6th unlocked. From everything I've read, I should expect 6-8 mpg in a -71 or -92 DD powered coach. That's an expensive drop.

[cowlitzcoach]

I can't really make an informed opinion without actually seeing the buses.

Since they are currently in the middle of the rust belt they all are bound to have some sort of rust issue.

Of the bunch of them the A2 is the one I would be most interested in converting. The lack of a tag axle reduces your long term expenses by two tires, two brake drums, two brake assemblies, a tag axle and tax axle suspension, etc. You may have some weight issues if you start to use marble countertops and other heavy materials but you do get more under floor storage.

I would stay away from the Flint bus as it seems it has an 8V-71 in it. That bus will have a bad case of the slows on any sort of hill. It won't be a problem in MI or IN but if you ever get into the mountain west you will be spending a lot of time in the slow lane going up hills.

[selfdetermined]

Good to know on the 8v71 - I will be driving through mountains. I was leaning toward the 96A2 (or the MD bus on eBay). Less maintenance, less weight, potentially greater fuel economy, and I don't plan on pulling any trailers. Perhaps a vehicle with all 4 rolling, but nothing with tongue weight. So i suspect I'd be OK w/out a tag.

The Maryland bus has the advantage of more space (102 vs 96), and 10 years of maintenance records, and 10 years in Maryland which is at least marginally better than the midwest. The engine/trans have been replaced at some point after original manufacture too, so that's something.

[selfdetermined]

And then there's the '79 MC9s and '87 102AW3s at nwbus.com. Both look to be in excellent shape. Those A3s appear to have electronic engines/transmissions. I see push buttons in the youtube videos for each bus. The lift, however, is just a big waste of space.

[EastCoastCB]

There are PLENTY of nice un-corroded coaches on the east coast. Probably not as many in every area but its not like one has to drive to Cali to get a good bus.

[selfdetermined]

I'm looking everywhere. Being in MN, rust-free (or less rusty) buses are a ways away no matter which direction I travel.

Unrelated: why, oh why, oh why do people list items for auction with a reserve?! If you will only accept a minimum of X for your item start the bidding at X!! <end rant>

[EastCoastCB]

I din't know where you were located, you've been looking all over creation!
I've never understood the reserve system either. I guess its to promote interest and bids.

[aaronsb]

After building up the roof on my bluebird, I sort of have coach envy.

How far am I off base comparing a school bus to a large spartan pickup truck, and a coach (like vanhool) to a unibody full size suv?

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

The Van Hool is not in the online inventory.

It was recently taken out of service and it has a current DOT inspection.

The $7,500.00 price is set low to get it sold. Nothing really wrong with it other than the fact it is a 1990/1991 model.

[cowlitzcoach]

The GM buses, city and highway, were monocoque construction. They do not lend themselves to slides or window changes.

All other coaches integrate the frame into the body but would not be considered unibody.