Don't Try This At Home

[o1marc]

So I'm looking at Craigslist for buses after telling myself to stop, don't need another until this one is done. But no, I see a 97 TC2000 with 4-100w solar panels, a 32" TV, inverter, for sale for $1150. Hmm, sounds too good to be true, but lets check it out. Seems the owner was traveling from Tn. to south Ga. and a cop ran his tag and pulled him for no insurance, yep all on computer now. Impounded the bus. Seller is in Va. in a motel. Wrecker service won't even open the gate to look at it without proof of insurance. Which kinda sucked as I at least wanted to walk around it and see what's what, no dice. Now the seller says the title is in the bus. He wants me to send him the $900 we agreed on if I pay the tow and storage ($575) as of today, $30/d) and then send him the title to sign and then I can take the bus. Fat chance of that happening. I start to call around for an insurance policy as the wrecker will not accept my word that I'm covered under my existing policy. He wants insurance papers showing the VIN of that bus. I get all the detail on insurance and can make that happen. So I text the guy last night and this morning with no reply, call him and goes straight to voice mail. I check the listing and it's been removed. Crap , lost out on that one. Called the wrecker to see if he had spoke to anyone after me and he said no. Well the guy finally calls me around 2:30 and wants to settle the deal. At this point, after jumping through so many hoops for such a shady deal I made this proposal to him. You're in a bind with no money and your bus goes to the crusher in 2 weeks. Your asking me to do about things that can get me ripped off. I'm not trying to scam you , but here's what I will do. I will go pay the wrecker fee and bring the bus home, if it's what you say, then I will mail the title to you with $500. When I get the signed title back, I'll send the other $400. He agreed and has all the extra keys he will send after he gets his $400. I only had to pay $48 down for the insurance that I will cancel as soon as I get it home. Got a friend to drive me the 2.5 hrs to the bus in the morning.

 

[Buzz Nichols]

Sounds like the '94 Bluebird I bought from an Algerian prince

 

[brokedown-SKO]

1997, you're right on the line where it could be a 12v mechanical and it could be a 24v electronic. I dig mine, really well made bus even if the drivetrain isn't exciting.

 

[o1marc]

I am expecting the 5.9/545 in it. I'm not planning on keeping it, quick flip. While the impound lot would not open the gate if I came down to look at it . , he did tell me that after speaking to the seller about me buying it he went out and drove it around the lot. Said started right up drove with no issues and you can hardly hear it run while idling. He said it's a nice bus.

 

[ermracing]

This one will kind of make up for the camper that got away....

 

[o1marc]

This one will kind of make up for the camper that got away....

You had to remind me, I'm still kicking myself for that one. It'll certainly make up for the other BB I bought and scrapped.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

It'll be a 5.9 and at545 for sure, you're just at the generation line where it might still be a 6BTA but is probably an ISB. It doesn't matter much if you're not keeping it of course.

Let me know if it has a low ratio axle in it (4.10) that you'd like to swap for a 4.78

 

[o1marc]

I asked what the to speed was and he said it was 90. I don't think so. He said he thinks it will go that fast but he hasn't done it, he's a safe 65mph guy. Even at 65 that seems unusual for that drivetrain. It's flat front, 10 window, already gutted with a futon and a "small fridge, not like a real one"

 

[Johnny Mullet]

Hope this works out in your favor.

 

[o1marc]

Hope this works out in your favor.

I'm keeping positive thoughts. He did finally tell me that there's a small radiator hose leak. He's a Christian and just wanted everything out there. Would a been nice to know that earlier. He said it leaks about 1ga. every 300 miles. I'll top it off, i'm going just over half that way, and will have extra water in my truck following me back.
It's got a wheelchair lift also.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I asked what the to speed was and he said it was 90. I don't think so. He said he thinks it will go that fast but he hasn't done it, he's a safe 65mph guy. Even at 65 that seems unusual for that drivetrain. It's flat front, 10 window, already gutted with a futon and a "small fridge, not like a real one"

I had a buddy with a TC2000 that did 75. It had the 5.9/545.
It all depends on how its geared. My GA bus and my buddies GA bus both are fast.

 

[o1marc]

I had a buddy with a TC2000 that did 75. It had the 5.9/545.
It all depends on how its geared. My GA bus and my buddies GA bus both are fast.

Encouraging
:Thanx:

I was going to do a VIN search to see what gear was in it, but it is what it is. I just don't want to do 55 all the way home. My driver will take away a big part of his day running down with me to bring my truck back.and the sooner we get back the better the chance to salvage part of the day. So heading out at 8am. He said it had a half a tank of fuel, so we'll only need to stop to fill up my truck on the way back.

 

[Native-SKO]

I am a little confused. $575.00 storage fee + $500.00 down + $400.00 afer title signing = $1,475.00 ... I though you said the ad listed it at $1,050.00.


This all seems a bit shady to me. I do hope it all works out for you.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

So how is your new bus? Everything you hoped for?

 

[o1marc]

I am a little confused. $575.00 storage fee + $500.00 down + $400.00 after title signing = $1,475.00 ... I though you said the ad listed it at $1,050.00.


This all seems a bit shady to me. I do hope it all works out for you.

It was listed at $1150, you pay the storage/tow fee ($600 today, $30 a day) Tow was $275. I paid the tow yard $600 and drove the bus home. Because the title in his name is in the bus, I will just sign his name to it with his agreement and that way I don't waste time getting it put in my name if I plan on selling it next week. So instead I will send him $700 tomorrow and then the other $200 when I get the rest of the keys and remote for the inverter. Worked out as I expected after getting all my red flag concerns address. Like why was it towed, problem? So cop ran the plate and saw it was not insured so they impounded it. The tow owner said after he spoke to the owner about me coming to get it he went out and fire it up and drove it around and verified it is a sweet running bus.

 

[o1marc]

So how is your new bus? Everything you hoped for?

Everything worked out exactly as I'd planned on such a shady deal. It all seemed shady until I got all the answers to my concerns and none of them were negative. The bus is a 10 window, 5.9/545, AC in front and back, wheel chair lift. Had a half tank of fuel , enough to get it home. It maxes out at 65 unless it has gravitational help. The fans came on once near home, low on water, no biggie. It runs fine for what it is. 255,300miles. He hasn't emptied his "bathroom" in awhile, I have to find it and remove it, places stinks of piss. Lots of his garbage , gonna take some cleaning, so much I will back the truck up, unload the bus and head to the dump. He's got tool and stereos, 2 broken TV's and one good one.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Hey man, list that in FL on CL and ask $5900!!! Seriously!

Its the common lower end bus but it does have high headroom AND folks LOVE the lower end buses on YouTube.

Nice get, man. Hope you get a good flip.

 

[o1marc]

Hey man, list that in FL on CL and ask $5900!!! Seriously!

Its the common lower end bus but it does have high headroom AND folks LOVE the lower end buses on YouTube.

Nice get, man. Hope you get a good flip.

What area in Fla?

 

[EastCoastCB]

What area in Fla?

Do like BGA and spam ALL the FL and GA Craigslist!
But if you're only gonna do one maybe shoot for Tampa or Jacksonville.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

After you take all the garbage out, put it on Facebook marketplace for 6500.