Price range for 84 passenger bus

[Centermass]

Hey all, looking at this bus and not sure if it’s over priced or not. What are your thoughts? What is a fair price?

2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN 84 PASSENGER SCHOOL BUS – B08898
Price
$14,875

Mileage
Approx. 280k

Capacity
14 Rows – 84 Kids / 56 Adults

Wheelchair Accessible (ADA)
No

Storage
Yes

Chassis
Blue Bird

Engine
Cummins ISC 8.3L Turbo Diesel Engine

Transmission
Allison Automatic

Brake Type
Air Brakes

[La Camioneta]

IMHO by 2X.

[WiredForStereo]

Prices seemed to have gone up quite a bit during the pandemic but I'll share what I know.

I paid $5400 altogether for mine on one of the public auction sites, located in Tempe AZ. 02, BB, 40 RE. Mine was #87, #88 went for over $9000 plus tax. This was spring of 2021, deep in the Pandemic.

Here in Southern Oregon, Wolf Creek Motors sells 40RE buses for ~$10k.

My recommendation, do what I did (surprise surprise) and get signed in on a couple public auction sites and look for exactly the bus you want, and have a price limit. If you can afford $14k, you'll be able to pick up something much cheaper, though you're gonna have to drive it home.

Finding insurance might be a chore, I got mine through my local State Farm office (don't call any hotlines, you will get nowhere). Then I had to immediately register it as an RV in Oregon, you have to install 4 things but they don't check.

IMHO, this bus is way too expensive unless it's already partially converted.

[Timeline]

Here in Minnesota a bus like that can be found for less than $5000. Some buses that age will be too rusty, but surprisingly some of them are not. I paid $3500 for my bus.

[Centermass]

Thanks for the replies. A lot of helpful info here.

This place is in WA and they said they can get the RV registration for me and clear out the seats. They also do some work to them to ensure they are road worthy.

I would love to try and save some money buying at an auction, but I’m not a mechanic and am not sure if I’m buying something solid or a lemon.

What should I be looking at as far as limits hours/miles? I’m actually going to check some out right now. Not going to buy anything, but want to start getting a feel of what to look for.

Thanks again!

[Hutchy]

If I was going to buy from a dealer I would go with AAA bus in Arizona. I bought mine at auction off Govdeals dot com for $7k Feb. of 2022 but its a mid length and they go for more than the full size. I also personally would want lower miles, under 200k but I got lucky and got under 100k I would say that's a $3-4k bus if its no rust. If you want the peace of mind call Tony at AAA all I ever hear is good things about them.

[Centermass]

Thanks I will give him a shout.

[WiredForStereo]

I just pulled the plywood floor out of my bus today.

This is the least rusty floor pan I have ever seen on a bus, of all the conversions I've ever seen.

Buy a bus from the desert, no salt, little rain.

Bus windows leak. All bus windows leak.