1996 Thomas 5.9 Cummins for $4500 - Worth It? - Page 2

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 04:07 PM

I was trying to get the Colorado 3800 that just sold, but been waiting over a week for my login info. Figured it's because of the new years, but I'm getting worried at this point.

Still no sign of transmissions in the listings though, but once i get logged in I can see the sellers phone and give them a ring I guess.

o1marc · 01-03-2019, 04:14 PM

Lots of good deals on Govdeals right now.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...10&StartRow=11

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

Lots of good deals on Govdeals right now.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...10&StartRow=11

I've been going off this older thread -0 http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/wh...olie-5038.html

A lot of these are mentioned, although some are either dead links or just...weird. One school bus supplier on that page now only sells cloths.

But yeah, right now I'm going through:

Public Surplus
GovDeals
422
busesforsale.com
ebay
craigslist
ncschoolbussales.dpi.state.nc.us

Going to look at a few NC school district buses tomorrow morning.

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

Lots of good deals on Govdeals right now.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...10&StartRow=11

WOOO! You're officially my lucky charm! Not 30 minutes after you posted that, my GovDeals account activation finally came through. Praise the Bus Gods!

EastCoastCB · 01-03-2019, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminusprime

I was trying to get the Colorado 3800 that just sold, but been waiting over a week for my login info. Figured it's because of the new years, but I'm getting worried at this point.

Still no sign of transmissions in the listings though, but once i get logged in I can see the sellers phone and give them a ring I guess.

Edit- nevermind... You got it!

consti2tion · 01-03-2019, 06:23 PM

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...=74&acctid=995

There's a very colorful partial conversion for you...

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 06:42 PM

I mean, it does have quite a bit that could be reused, especially that genny.

On the other hand, 200k+ miles, needs repair, 5.9L cummins, and likely a 545.

EDIT: EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW A Vista. Didn't notice that at first. IMO they are ugly as sin.

I'm going over govdeals now, some very nice looking buses from Tennessee in there.

EastCoastCB · 01-03-2019, 06:47 PM

I'd ride in it first. Those things have a ROUGH ride. As in- breaking stuff in the back rough.

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 07:05 PM

So, out of curiosity, what would you choose between these two at $3750:

A MVP-RE 8.3L Cummins with MT643 from Tennessee, but can't go see it first.

A 3800 466E with 545, seen it in person and it drives good, geared for highway speeds, and super little rust.

o1marc · 01-03-2019, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminusprime

So, out of curiosity, what would you choose between these two at $3750:

A MVP-RE 8.3L Cummins with MT643 from Tennessee, but can't go see it first.

A 3800 466E with 545, seen it in person and it drives good, geared for highway speeds, and super little rust.

The only negative in my mind is the 545. That should answer your question.

consti2tion · 01-03-2019, 07:26 PM

There was one on govdeals in San Antonio that the odometer said 7x,xxx miles, not sure if the odo is broken or if that was accurate, but it did look very clean. t444e bus, not the DT466 like you are looking for.

Edit:
And yes the Vista is an ugly little school bus, yet my wife thinks they are " CUTEEEE!!! "

BlackJohn · 01-03-2019, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminusprime

So, out of curiosity, what would you choose between these two at $3750:

A MVP-RE 8.3L Cummins with MT643 from Tennessee, but can't go see it first.

A 3800 466E with 545, seen it in person and it drives good, geared for highway speeds, and super little rust.

A MVP-RE 8.3L Cummins with MT643 from Tennessee, any day of the week.
But I love Tennessee so maybe I'm biased.

John

EastCoastCB · 01-03-2019, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by consti2tion

There was one on govdeals in San Antonio that the odometer said 7x,xxx miles, not sure if the odo is broken or if that was accurate, but it did look very clean. t444e bus, not the DT466 like you are looking for.

Edit:
And yes the Vista is an ugly little school bus, yet my wife thinks they are " CUTEEEE!!! "

They were widely hated for various non-aesthetic reasons. MANY came with a bad list to one side. They have a rather harsh ride. The longer ones are the worst for ride.

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 08:07 PM

Is it common to bid on a bus before seeing it in person?

o1marc · 01-03-2019, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminusprime

Is it common to bid on a bus before seeing it in person?

Common, but advised against. Many of us who recommend viewing before buying have bought without viewing. Some were mistakes, some were great deals.

consti2tion · 01-03-2019, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

They were widely hated for various non-aesthetic reasons. MANY came with a bad list to one side. They have a rather harsh ride. The longer ones are the worst for ride.

That doesn’t surprise me. The front end geometry seems completely screwed up. Can’t decide if it’s a conventional bus or flat nose bus.

EastCoastCB · 01-03-2019, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminusprime

Is it common to bid on a bus before seeing it in person?

Everyone has their take on that.
I've never once had the chance to see one in person as I'm in FL and I don't buy buses from here.
All 5 buses I've owned have gotten home under their own power. I've had one bus with problems, but they came up after the bus coming 1100 miles home.
I've gotten one bus for free, and paid $2150, $1760, $3900, and $1625.
The $1625 bus is from northwest GA and is the nicest bus I've owned.

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by consti2tion

That doesn’t surprise me. The front end geometry seems completely screwed up. Can’t decide if it’s a conventional bus or flat nose bus.

It's got all the drawbacks of a conventional with all the drawbacks of a flat nose!

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Everyone has their take on that.
I've never once had the chance to see one in person as I'm in FL and I don't buy buses from here.
All 5 buses I've owned have gotten home under their own power. I've had one bus with problems, but they came up after the bus coming 1100 miles home.

Think I might decide to go with the DT466 and MT643 in Tennessee. EDIT: At least if govdeals decides to unlock my account. Apparently I goofed somewhere....without even bidding.

EastCoastCB · 01-03-2019, 08:25 PM

FWIW the one that has problems is the most expensive bus I've bought. If its far away I just call and talk to the folks in charge of the buses at the school. If they say it runs decent and drives I usually go for it.

geminusprime · 01-03-2019, 08:29 PM

Yeah, all the school district guys have been the most helpful for me.

The one I'm going to see tomorrow is a 66 Passenger 3800 with DT466. The super said it was spec'd for highway use and ran at 60-65mph on open highway. Didn't have time to check the transmission, but they have a few others too so I figured I'd do that tomorrow.

They have all maintenence logs, and stated the transmission had 70k on it (bus has 180k) so at least it's a "younger" transmission.

Even offered to drive me around in them (not as the driver, understandable), and best of all - he didn't specifically say they were 545's.

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