Yet another "is this a good deal" thread

[Kipin]

Originally Posted by M1031

I'm not sure if you can hang in there or not, but Katy ISD this summer is auctioning off about 200 or so buses in Houston, TX. Since I work there I can guide you to the pick of the crop. They will have another auction summer 2016 as well. Since the bond issue went through they are buying an additional 300 new busses, so the old coach buses (i.e. football, soccer, volleyball coaches) as well as old route buses are going to auction. There will be the International 444E diesel pushers, and some conventional buses in the auction this year. The Thomas MVP ER series go in 2016. *Auctions for the buses are over in a matter of minutes. Since I'm also responsible for the fluid levels, fueling, and small repairs I can definitely tell you which buses are solid and which to avoid like the plague (i.e. needing water pumps, way out of alignment due to other issues, wrecks, parts buses, etc.). These buses are 100% rust FREE. I already have my daily driver picked out for one of the auctions in 2016......... She's my BABY!

I would be very interested in joining you for this auction. I live around the corner from you in Cypress

[EastCoastCB]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Thomas-Saf ... 5&pt=Buses

[M1031]

Originally Posted by Kipin

I would be very interested in joining you for this auction. I live around the corner from you in Cypress

Sure thing! My lead mechanic is a cool guy who is keeping me informed of when the auction will happen.

[jazty]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Thomas-Saf-T-Liner-Rear-Engine-School-Bus-Diesel-/191452774365?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2c93797fdd&i tem=191452774365&pt=Buses

From the eBay listing:
"...it does have some rust but I think it is normal for a 2002 year old bus"

That thing should be in the Smithsonian!

[EastCoastCB]

Wow- the world's oldest bus is on ebay!

[selfdetermined]

Alrighty. Well it looks like the IH paid off. Was able to use it to knock another $700 off the Thomas, bringing me down to $5000. I'm happy with that. Now I just have to get down to AZ.

[selfdetermined]

Oh, and I spoke to the local Allison dealer that serviced the bus. Rebuilt the transmission in 2012. Whoop whoop.

[selfdetermined]

And the saga continues. The IH guy called today and says he has a few 2000 IC RE's coming in. He hasn't given me a price yet, but knows that he has to beat my $5k Thomas. At a minimum we know it's an 84 passenger bus with a DT530 (eek!), pass through under storage, rear bag suspension, and an air ride seat. Presumably it has a 3060 behind it, but not sure yet. 10,711 hours and 192k miles. Still an AZ bus, so no rust. Just came out of service. In great shape again. Not real thrilled about the hours...

[boojiewoojie]

Looks like you've got some good options! The DT530 is close to 300 h.p. and almost guaranteed to have the 3060 behind it.

[EastCoastCB]

Id go for one of those ic's. Underside storage is awesome as is air ride. 300 hp would clinch it for me.

[headinthetrees]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

This thread makes me wonder if buying clean used buses at auction may be a lucrative business.
I'm semi-unemployed. Would buses be worth more to the average buyer if they were washed and had the seats pulled out?
Would it be viable to buy buses and sell them already stripped? I actually like tearing into old buses and going to pick them up from the auction is sort of a fun road trip. Plus I live in Florida and folks really like our buses, even though many of our schools are among the most under-funded in the nation.
Maybe I can fund my bus build by reselling auction buses?

The current economic state has made a lot of people start questioning their concrete and stickframe lifestyles. The tiny house movement is exploding. I'm considering starting a "tiny house co-op" when I get some land. I'd stockpile materials (which I'd mostly get from recycled sources), provide workspace, tools and skilled labor, and always have a handful of projects (at varying levels of completion) on hand for sale. Those who couldn't afford their own tiny house just yet could come work on others' projects until they'd built up enough "credits" to get into something of their own. And those who could afford to just plop down the cash would be able to get their project built to suit their needs, or pick from something already done. Finished projects for sale could serve as temporary housing for workers as well. The idea is still in its infancy, but I think it has great potential and would genuinely help a lot of people. In fact, if I go this route, I've already had someone place an order for one and thats just from telling a handful of people about my idea.

So yes, I think your idea definitely has merit, though I'd focus on one bus at a time until you get established. You could do things like installing holding tanks, general maintenance, insulation and flooring to add value to prospective converters.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by headinthetrees

The current economic state has made a lot of people start questioning their concrete and stickframe lifestyles. The tiny house movement is exploding. I'm considering starting a "tiny house co-op" when I get some land. I'd stockpile materials (which I'd mostly get from recycled sources), provide workspace, tools and skilled labor, and always have a handful of projects (at varying levels of completion) on hand for sale. Those who couldn't afford their own tiny house just yet could come work on others' projects until they'd built up enough "credits" to get into something of their own. And those who could afford to just plop down the cash would be able to get their project built to suit their needs, or pick from something already done. Finished projects for sale could serve as temporary housing for workers as well. The idea is still in its infancy, but I think it has great potential and would genuinely help a lot of people. In fact, if I go this route, I've already had someone place an order for one and thats just from telling a handful of people about my idea.

So yes, I think your idea definitely has merit, though I'd focus on one bus at a time until you get established. You could do things like installing holding tanks, general maintenance, insulation and flooring to add value to prospective converters.

pretty much what I'm doin.

[selfdetermined]

I may have found my bus. Just got the spec sheet on the International. Turns out it's a 2001 with the DT530 (275hp/800lb*ft model), 3060 close ratio transmission (would prefer a straight 3060, or 3060R but I'll get over that), 410 gear ratio, tilt/telescope steering wheel, air ride seat, rear air ride suspension, 105 gallon tank, 78" headroom, 84 passenger, cruise control, 114" pass through luggage, 90k and 84k btu heaters.

10,700 hrs and 192k miles. A bit more hours than I'd like, but I'll deal with that. Looks like the biggest drawback is that the Internationals are ugly as sin. Now that's a first world problem if I've ever heard one.

[EastCoastCB]

What a bus! I'm officially jealous!

[selfdetermined]

I don't want to count my eggs before they've hatched as I haven't put any money down on this bus yet but I think we have a winner. Now begins the arduous task of coming up with a name.

[EastCoastCB]

I never gave mine a name yet.
I'd rather spend some time with it before I go assigning gender!

[boojiewoojie]

Originally Posted by selfdetermined

Looks like the biggest drawback is that the Internationals are ugly as sin.

Oh, I don't think so. We have a mix of just about every kind of bus in our district and side by side the IH RE300 looks better than the Thomas RE or a BB RE. It's a more solid kind of look.

Hope the deal comes through for you! Yes the hours are tall but there's probably a lot of life left in it. Nice gear ratio on the rear.

[BarefootGypsy]

EastCoastCB...curious...where in Maryland?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by BarefootGypsy

EastCoastCB...curious...where in Maryland?

Are you asking about the bus I saw go for 1800 at auction? I can't remember what city or county it was, but I know Montgomery has a lot of RE Thomas buses.

[EastCoastCB]

here is a Maryland bus at auction.
http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa...67&acctid=2489