bus buying help. bus make/model suggestions

[wencington]

Hi all-

I am a builder but not a mechanic. And know even less about engine reliability/performance in diesel buses. I'm looking at a 2007 Thomas MPV-EF but when i research online i see lot's of complaints about breakdowns etc. I guess my question is can you all help at least point me in right direction of a good reliable bus? Like, "no the thomas mpv is ok..." or "stick to bluebird" or just anything to help me narrow my search. I don't want mechanical issues, or at least give my self the best odds of little to none.

Bus basic needs for me:

High roof
25-28' length (bumper to bumper)

[o1marc]

In 2004 the EPA came in and added a bunch of emissions stuff that can be problematic, hard to diagnose and expensive to repair. It because of this that the most desirable buses are pre 04. It's such a common issue the pre 04 buses are getting harder to find at a reasonable price. There are pros and cons to each bus out there. Just keep reading and searching everything you can here.