Advice on Rust

[frankenboom]

Hey!
I've been reading these forums obsessively but have never had a reason to post until now.

I'm looking to buy a bus, both for myself and a school project, (low- energy heating and cooling! perfect for a bus!) and there is one nearby that I'm interested in.
The description lists:

Year: 2004
Make: International
Model: International
Mileage: 141008
VIN: 4DRBGAAN44A966285
Running Condition: Good
Engine: DT466E
Transmission: Allison Automatic
Body Style: Transient
Tires: Poor
Brakes: Fair

And some of pictures of rust are attached to this post (i think i did that correctly)
Here's the link: Public Surplus: Auction #1770110

Is the rust extensive enough to be worrisome (would this scare you away entirely)? How much would an underbody spray cost?

And, assuming the transmission is an mt643 or Md3060, what should I be paying for this bus? I was thinking $2,000 at most, considering tires, brakes, mileage.

Many thanks! I'm itching to get started!

[lucasd]

Just from looking at the pictures, I don't think the rust has done any severe damage yet, but you could count on spending some time or money on halting its progress. I have no idea what an underbody spray would run. I will await more experienced advice on that point, since I am somewhat curious myself.

Is this bus near your location? Your instinct to be conservative about pricing, based on the rust and the condition of the tires, is probably accurate. Still, if it has a solid engine/transmission combo, it could be worth playing with.

[EastCoastCB]

I've seen worse. For two grand it aint a bad bus if you don't mind taking care of all that before it does get worse.

[Dapplecreek]

Originally Posted by frankenboom

...
Body Style: Transient
...

I guess... doesn't that mean 'not in one place for long'?

[Rusty]

That isn't RUST, that's patina. I say grab ahold with both hands and never let it go.

Looks like honest seller. Ask to see service records, ya know, just for giggles.

Tires can be spendy,though.