To Buy? 200 Intl 162K - $1900

[jdotlynn]

Hi! Somewhat lurker on here just found my potential bus!!
Its a 2000 International 3000
7.6L L6 diesel
DT466 engine and allison 2000 transmission
167K miles, driven from Duluth to Illinois, no issues for the sale. Ill be driving it to Texas.
Never looked at a bus in person(or driven one)
Any tips on things to make sure to look for? Any questions I should be sure to ask? Should I get it inspected(extra $175)?
I'm buying from Midwest Transit, they have lots of used buses so I am hoping its a good one!
Thanks!

[brokedown]

Critical things you didn't mention:


. Length of bus
. AC equipped?
. Handicap lift equipped?
. Functional heater?
. Service records available?
. Condition and age of tires?
. Air or Hydraulic brakes?
. Air ride equipped?
. 6h gear unlocked?
. Final drive ratio?
. Electronic speed limiter?

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by jdotlynn

Hi! Somewhat lurker on here just found my potential bus!!
Its a 2000 International 3000
7.6L L6 diesel
DT466 engine and allison 2000 transmission
167K miles, driven from Duluth to Illinois, no issues for the sale. Ill be driving it to Texas.
Never looked at a bus in person(or driven one)
Any tips on things to make sure to look for? Any questions I should be sure to ask? Should I get it inspected(extra $175)?
I'm buying from Midwest Transit, they have lots of used buses so I am hoping its a good one!
Thanks!

I'm not seeing that one listed in their inventory.

Rust ... look for rust and at the condition of the tires. Midwest have a lot of buses, if the tires are shot they probably have better ones lying around.

[o1marc]

Now that place has some reasonable priced buses. Seem many of them are under 100k miles.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Now that place has some reasonable priced buses. Seem many of them are under 100k miles.

MidWest Transit are one of the biggest dealers in the country.

They sell buses to school districts and others, they also have many out on lease.

As a result, they take in trades against more expensive buses. While they have a good idea of the value of their stock, the trades they take they will let go at trade prices, ie ... what the bus owes them. If a $2000 bus is occupying a space they could fill with a $20k bus, they will let it go for $2000, rather than try to squeeze $4000 out of it.

Be wary of those buses. There might be very little wrong with them, and they might be full of holes and fit only for scrap. As the last thing to go is the yellow paint, you need to go inspect them, but bargains can be had.

As a dealership they do seem to have a reputation for being fair to people, but your purchase is not really that important to them. You are clearing their lot, they are selling $100k+ buses.

[jdotlynn]

Originally Posted by brokedown

Critical things you didn't mention:


. Length of bus
. AC equipped?
. Handicap lift equipped?
. Functional heater?
. Service records available?
. Condition and age of tires?
. Air or Hydraulic brakes?
. Air ride equipped?
. 6h gear unlocked?
. Final drive ratio?
. Electronic speed limiter?

Thank you! I have seen pics, its a midsize, but I will ask the dealer that and get back to you

[jdotlynn]

Originally Posted by Twigg

I'm not seeing that one listed in their inventory.

Rust ... look for rust and at the condition of the tires. Midwest have a lot of buses, if the tires are shot they probably have better ones lying around.

They took it down, I put it on hold earlier today!

[jdotlynn]

Originally Posted by Twigg

MidWest Transit are one of the biggest dealers in the country.

They sell buses to school districts and others, they also have many out on lease.

As a result, they take in trades against more expensive buses. While they have a good idea of the value of their stock, the trades they take they will let go at trade prices, ie ... what the bus owes them. If a $2000 bus is occupying a space they could fill with a $20k bus, they will let it go for $2000, rather than try to squeeze $4000 out of it.

Be wary of those buses. There might be very little wrong with them, and they might be full of holes and fit only for scrap. As the last thing to go is the yellow paint, you need to go inspect them, but bargains can be had.

As a dealership they do seem to have a reputation for being fair to people, but your purchase is not really that important to them. You are clearing their lot, they are selling $100k+ buses.

Very good info to know, I was wondering why it was so cheap but that makes sense. Hoping its not rusted out going to see it this coming Monday.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by jdotlynn

Very good info to know, I was wondering why it was so cheap but that makes sense. Hoping its not rusted out going to see it this coming Monday.

MidWest are a little different from most main dealers.

We have several very close to here, as is the International factory (Tulsa). They do not advertise cheap buses on their shiny websites, so I presume they do what the big car dealers do, and farm them out either to the trade or to auctions.

[jdotlynn]

Here's the reply!

Length of bus? about 31 ft
AC equipped, functioning? AC yes, functioning no.
Handicap lift equipped, functioning? Yes & yes
Functional heater? Yes
Service records available? NO
Condition and age of tires? Not sure how old but tires look good about 50%
Air or Hydraulic brakes? Air
Air ride equipped? Not 100% but I think it is air ride.

6h gear unlocked? Not sure
Final drive ratio? Not sure
Electronic speed limiter? Might be governed but not sure.

How's the rust? Slight areas of rust but nothing major.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by jdotlynn

Here's the reply!

Length of bus? about 31 ft
AC equipped, functioning? AC yes, functioning no.
Handicap lift equipped, functioning? Yes & yes
Functional heater? Yes
Service records available? NO
Condition and age of tires? Not sure how old but tires look good about 50%
Air or Hydraulic brakes? Air
Air ride equipped? Not 100% but I think it is air ride.

6h gear unlocked? Not sure
Final drive ratio? Not sure
Electronic speed limiter? Might be governed but not sure.

How's the rust? Slight areas of rust but nothing major.

Sounds well worth a look.

It doesn't have 6th gear unlocked ... or color me astonished You will know as soon as the ignition is turned on, the transmission shift control will have a shiny red "6" showing when you hit "D".

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by jdotlynn

Very good info to know, I was wondering why it was so cheap but that makes sense. Hoping its not rusted out going to see it this coming Monday.

Would you mind checking a couple out while you're there for me? I can give you the stock numbers.

[Kubla]

2000 series allison were made as 5 speeds also, so there might not be a 6st gear to unlock, it is the 3060's that always seem to have 6st gear locked

[Tango]

There are also some 6 speed 1000 series (rare but there).