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Old 05-03-2016, 08:44 PM   #1
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Pre-Noob in Columbia SC

A friend's church is selling their 2000 Bluebird 3800 with the 7.3 diesel and I am in lust! Only 40,000 miles and looks it inside, out, and under. Maintained always by a church-member who is part of a truck-repair company. They want close to $10,000 but is seems to my ignorant person as a rare jewel, even though 28 feet long is a little bigger than my target size. I was thinking of offering 8,000 as an opening salvo. Tomorrow I will get to drive it around the parking lot. I would appreciate any thoughts or things to look out for.
Thanks, Johnnyrob

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Old 05-03-2016, 10:41 PM   #2
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My opinion, that seems like a pretty high price for a 16 year old bus. That is low mileage and that's worth something. Our normal bus purchases usually have between 160-200k miles. A bus that does not have the Allison 545 is preferred.

It's going to be difficult for anyone here to make a judgement call on a bus we've never seen, even in pics. Based on recent past purchases here I think it is fair to say that bus can be had for between $3k and $4k. Dealer price would be about $8k.

I don't believe the church will be able to sell that bus for anywhere near $10k. I would express interest and wait for the price to seriously go down. It's a personal call though if you think it's the right bus.
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Old 05-04-2016, 06:05 AM   #3
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For ten large you can go and pick your layout and drivetrain at a bus dealer.
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Old 05-04-2016, 06:42 AM   #4
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Thank You! Lots of good points....I had heard talk of the 545 and tried to get #s from below and didn't see any. The biggest challenge was parking this thing in my yard so maybe it's not the "perfect" bus for me...I like the idea of expressing interest and seeing what happens...while doing more looking at other buses available. I guess I was caught up in the fantastic appearance of the thing! Thanks again! John
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Old 05-04-2016, 06:46 AM   #5
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Thanks! I should at least do that and see what they say. Better to know exactly how this bus fits in with other deals in the area. Being new to this I like the idea of something in a relatively "cherry" condition thinking there may be fewer "on the roadside" adventures in wrenching! Thanks, John
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Old 05-04-2016, 05:03 PM   #6
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A point I've made in the past-you really need to come up with a realistic idea of how many miles you plan to put on a bus. 5k a year? 1 long trip a year? 3 hour trip to the inlaws to camp for a week? 5k a year EVERY year for 20 years is 100k miles-before its a 140k bus--still not even broken in. You'll end up spending the same amount on time sensitive items-like tires. (with only 40 k on it, i bet they are original--them are some old tires.) Remember-low or hi miles-the bus is going to be parked far more than time on the road.
Low miles is nice-but i don't think its worth paying more than twice as much as a maintianed bus with 140k or 240k on it. None of us operate a bus the way it was designed or was used in its prior life. Buses like getting owned by us.
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Old 05-04-2016, 06:09 PM   #7
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I agree with determining how many miles you will actually drive.. AND to that end if you dont plan a lot of highway driving, who cares about the AT545.. the AT545 is not unreliable just a lot of people dont desire it because its not super great on the highway esp in mountains...

for me, I plan to drive LOTS of miles so the fact I found a bus with only 40k on the drivetrain was advantageous.. but you can get mich lower prices even at a bus dealer than they want to charge at the church... esp if you are going to put not too many miles on.. yo ucan get a higher mileage bus for much less money..
-Christopher
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Old 05-04-2016, 09:01 PM   #8
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Interesting....Yeah, any bus I get will likely be getting rather easy use. I could probably go a long time with a bus with more miles and have lower cost of ownership. These are all good points that I hadn't considered enough. There is obviously some "puppy-love" going on between this bus and me! This has helped to get me in more of a rational frame of mind...
You guys are great!
John
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Old 05-04-2016, 09:28 PM   #9
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Well Johnny, if we couldn't talk you out of buying a bus for to much money then you've obviously just got to much money. Now there's your problem.

That does sound like a great bus. I'd actually value that bus at about $5,000 in this venue if it was in quite nice shape as you say. Bus dealers would probably be double that price, which matches where the church has their mind. There are a lot of buses being sold around the country. $10k is a rich asking price in my opinion and you're not going to get any warranty. How about we help you get two buses for $10k?
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Old 05-04-2016, 10:42 PM   #10
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I see your two buses and raise it to three!
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Old 05-05-2016, 06:33 AM   #11
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Ha! I like the 2/3 bus idea! Do you think if I ask nicely my wife will put all my belongings on my number 2 bus, instead of on the side of the road?
The church probably needs the money to buy two (probably new) vans to replace it. Their problem was finding cdl drivers to go on outings...the church-members that did drive it are either getting older or just don't want the responsibility.
I'm starting to like the 5,000 dollar range a lot, since I am considering retirement and don't feel rich at all! I think I will take my chances and wait a bit, while looking at other buses in the meanwhile. John
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Old 05-05-2016, 09:04 AM   #12
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Or you can give us your zip code and there will be lots of eyes looking for a good bus in your area. How far are you willing to travel to pick up the right bus?
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Old 05-05-2016, 10:01 AM   #13
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10k is insanely high.....you can buy used buses from about 4k that are basically brand new. Do not buy that bus is ny advice.
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Old 05-06-2016, 06:39 AM   #14
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I have a friend here in columbia that buys used shorty buses to use in his rafting business.....I think from auctions in surrounding states. Thanks! I will check with him first.
John
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Old 05-06-2016, 09:50 AM   #15
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Now aren't you glad you talked to 3 dozen or so of us before you bought that bus? Nobody here likes to see wasted money, and it's just not right to pay over price even to a church.
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Old 05-06-2016, 12:30 PM   #16
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Absolutely it was a huge help to hear different views on the deal! I wasn't going to pay them what they asked, but still may have based an offer on their price which by all accounts here is way high. Of course this is the easy part compared with the challenge of converting it to a turkish love hotel/camper!
Still, saving some bucks on purchase will definitely help the remodeling fund!
John
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Old 05-06-2016, 04:13 PM   #17
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Ok, that's a new one. I haven't heard "turkish love hotel/camper" very often. That's cool.
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Old 05-06-2016, 06:49 PM   #18
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Well, that's something to aspire to, but I will be satisfied if I can make a bus feel "homey"!
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Old 05-06-2016, 07:30 PM   #19
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Not a problem. A fifth will make you feel right at home.
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Old 05-06-2016, 08:00 PM   #20
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Or a nice quarter!
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