Good buy?

[Kaleth2]

We’ve found another short bus we’ve been thinking about. It’s close to my family and I could store it there until I could drive it home to Oregon. It a 2002 Thomas 7.3 Allison 2000. Has around 167,000. Guy sent me photo of 21 point inspection that it passed. Just had the govenor turned all way up. Mechanic checked it’s codes while doing that and owner says the bus never had any code errors before. He bought it from Midwest bus?? Bus from Illinois. I do see some rust under it in the back. He’s asking a lot 9500. We offered 6500. He says not enough and, considering the shortage of short buses, we’re not sure if we should jump on this one. My husband is inclined to buy it. I’ve seen full on conversions though, like adventure bus, that went for 16,000. Not sure what to do! DOn’t know how to add photos on this to show yo rust in the undercarriage.
Thanks! Feeling nervous about making the commitment! Seems high to me.

[Kaleth2]

FIgured out how to store photos on IMugr, but, looks like that just posts a link, not actual photo. Curious how others are getting images into their posts? Doesn’t look like mine transferred over.
Thanks!
https://imgur.com/a/ArQcVIb

[plfking]

If your rust issues are in the pics (underside, leaf springs, hinge, bottom of folding door).....you don't have any rust issues. Leaf springs are always rusty.......just make sure none are broken. That all looks as good or better than I've seen in quite a while.

Miles are pretty good, but $9500 for a low roof T444 is still too high. What trans? Date and condition of tires?

If you aren't under any time constraints, I'd keep looking.

I take pics with my phone, download them into my PC, then attach. I'm a technology dinosaur, however.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kaleth2

We’ve found another short bus we’ve been thinking about. It’s close to my family and I could store it there until I could drive it home to Oregon. It a 2002 Thomas 7.3 Allison 2000. Has around 167,000. Guy sent me photo of 21 point inspection that it passed. Just had the govenor turned all way up. Mechanic checked it’s codes while doing that and owner says the bus never had any code errors before. He bought it from Midwest bus?? Bus from Illinois. I do see some rust under it in the back. He’s asking a lot 9500. We offered 6500. He says not enough and, considering the shortage of short buses, we’re not sure if we should jump on this one. My husband is inclined to buy it. I’ve seen full on conversions though, like adventure bus, that went for 16,000. Not sure what to do! DOn’t know how to add photos on this to show yo rust in the undercarriage.
Thanks! Feeling nervous about making the commitment! Seems high to me.

Its not worth ten grand. I think your offer is plenty generous.In fact I'd probably just skip it if its rusty.

[Kaleth2]

The transmission is Allison 2000 and the tires are at 75 to 85%. I didn’t know a 6’2” ceiling was a low one? My husband 6’1”. We do plan on reinsulating and putting up some wood on the ceiling so we would loose some height there. Not sure if there’s a way to save on space from the floor end...using 1/2 inch ply??? Any other tricks. What’s the tallest ceiling we can expect to find? We’re not into a roof raise.

[EastCoastCB]

Mine has 6'7". YOu definitely want a high headroom bus if he's over 6'.

If you look at the window line you'll see the difference.
Standard headroom-


high headroom-

[Johnny Mullet]

I have a very similar bus. Good engine with low miles and a very good trans in that one. That rust is superficial and nothing to worry about. Stick with your offer even if it's a little high in my opinion. I would probably offer $5000 max, but that's me.

I am 6' tall and have the same bus body. I left the metal ceiling alone since it was factory insulated and no mold. I used 1/4" insulation and 5/8" plywood. After the luan and viynl I lost only an inch and I am good with that..........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCappl6mWrU

[EastCoastCB]

Bottom of the service door seems to be rusted out.


Definitely low headroom and spring suspension. Nothing *wrong* with springs. But this bus is priced at full on retail unicorn status. Like top shelf when in fact its just common swill. Tires look a bit more worn that 75% but real hard to tell from the pics.
Looks like a decent bus but I'd cringe paying more than about $3500 for it.

[consti2tion]

Just be patient and keep hunting those auction sites. That is way too much for that spec bus with rust. Obviously everyone Pay’s different prices for their bus but we purchased our similarly specced bus for 2100 albeit nearly two years ago now.

You may have to travel a decent distance to find a bus but it will be worth it in the long run when you do find one!

[Kaleth2]

I haven’t been seeing many short buses with tall ceilings. Maybe more out there than I’m seeing?

[brokedown]

I'm in agreement with what others have said. it's not a bad bus but that price is way too high. His price is BGA level high. That's premium money, you'd expect to see 0 rust and premium features like air conditioning and air ride.

It's also true that short buses often go for more than big buses. Is the choice to go with a short bus based on a need or a want? If you're not backed into that corner for a damn good reason you'll find it much easier to get a regular size bus at a great price. I'm on my third bus and each has been bigger than the previous.

[Kaleth2]

Thanks for that input. We are vistrained by the size of our driveway...we really would like to keep her home and avoid the costs of storage, feel free to work on her easily, and enjoy the new room (we have a small house;)! We also like the Mau ever ability and access to National Parks. We don’t plan to tow, but, to bring along some electric assist bikes.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Kaleth2

Thanks for that input. We are restrained by the size of our driveway...we really would like to keep her home and avoid the costs of storage, feel free to work on her easily, and enjoy the new room (we have a small house;)! We also like the maneuverability and access to National Parks. We don’t plan to tow, but, to bring along some electric assist bikes.

Being able to keep the bus and work on it at your house is huge. I have my bus parked 15 minutes from my house, and while that's better than the 40 minutes to my original spot, I get way more work done in a day when I drive the bus to my house and work on it there.

[Kaleth2]

Thanks for that confirmation Musigenesus. We’re having to check the reins at every turn right now it seems so excited to start the build...hard to pass up the longer buses. Know in the end this just makes the find so much sweeter when we get there. Took me years to turn our garage into an art studio....husband so supportive! Bike commuter for 20 years so I made him a bike shelter on the side of the house. Will be nice to have access to my plasma cutter, welder, and compressor right there for the bus in the driveway.. a little compulsive about the search right now!

[Danjo]

Nice bus. Not worth a dime over $6500. And that’s generous.

[EastCoastCB]

Some decent high headroom shorties in KY on GovDeals right now. Ending soon though.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Some decent high headroom shorties in KY on GovDeals right now. Ending soon though.

Going awfully low for a shorty at $1500- $1200 with 1-15 minutes to go.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Going awfully low for a shorty at $1500- $1200 with 1-15 minutes to go.

This time of year buses go CHEAP especially in that sort of area. How I get all mine.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Some decent high headroom shorties in KY on GovDeals right now. Ending soon though.

Wasn't the Cat motor in 04 the C7 and not the 3126B? Wierd that 2000 and the 2004 have identical mileage.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

This time of year buses go CHEAP especially in that sort of area. How I get all mine.

You would think with all the talk of how much more the shorties are worth than a full size, that someone would jump on these. What do you figure that 2000($1620) is worth? or the 04 ($1700)