Help Me With My Dilemma

[o1marc]

So I want to make a decision today and pull the trigger. I'm looking at 2 buses. One that I lost at auction that has not been paid for after 8 days of close of auction, the other is a CL listing.
Bus #1. 2000International Amtran DT466.643. Taken out of service in early 2017 sold at auction in Tenn. driven to IO where it sat for a year, recently started and found it popped a tranny main seal. I have contacted a diesel repair shop in the area to make the repair at $1300. After adding the "Trans Leak" to the auction listing, as expected, the bids did not go high I went to put a bid in with 10 seconds to go but it closed early at $1550 and my $1800 bid did not go through.
This bus has the seats already removed. It's 825 miles from me.So $1550 for the bus, $1300 seal repair, $267 airfare, $280 fuel to get home for an in the driveway price of $3297.

Bus #2. 1999 Genesis Transit bus listed on CL for $4K, would take $3500, 248k on a DT466 with an Allison 3060. 80% tire left. Seats still in. Emergency door on side middle, I can remove it as it's not needed. It's 2000 miles away. So $3500 for the bus, $680 for fuel and $352 airfare puts me in the driveway at $4552, a bit more than a wanted to initially spend, but finding just what I want is not plentiful at $1500-$2500.

The CL bus is time critical due to it being offered to anyone. The other one pretty much I have the only option at this point for it. Both buses are extremely clean inside and out. One is far away and more expensive, but has a more desirable trans, the other is closer, cheaper and has an acceptable trans.
What should I choose?

 

[iHunt-SKO]

Not knowing much about buses, and all other things equal I would just consider how much you are going to rely on the engine and transmission, and whether that is enough to warrant the extra cost for piece of mind. Just my two cents. For me, I plan to do short roadtrips to the lake and maybe one hunting trip a year, so I wont be depending on a drivetrain day in and day out.

 

[o1marc]

Not knowing much about buses, and all other things equal I would just consider how much you are going to rely on the engine and transmission, and whether that is enough to warrant the extra cost for piece of mind. Just my two cents. For me, I plan to do short roadtrips to the lake and maybe one hunting trip a year, so I wont be depending on a drivetrain day in and day out.

My trips will always be long trips of 900-3000 miles, so I want a highway cruiser. My biggest concern is not having a 5.9/545 combo. Both of the other combos are better, but the 3060 has the 6th gear options. But is it worth an extra $1250?

 

[Twigg-SKO]

If you are putting the first one in a shop to be fixed, you will have a much better-known engine and transmission once they are done with it.

For a few extra bucks they will perform a decent diagnosis on the engine and transmission, and as repairs can run into thousands that would be a lot of peace of mind, for not much money.

Granted the MD3060 is the better choice, but I wouldn't have let an MT643 stop me from buying.

 

[iHunt-SKO]

I would lean towards the better transmission IF all other aspects of the bus are the same considering how far away from home you will be on a regular basis. That being said, I am too new to understand the differences in the rest of each bus, I have just come to the realization that its easier to pay once and cry once in other aspects in life.

 

[Drew Bru]

My trips will always be long trips of 900-3000 miles, so I want a highway cruiser. My biggest concern is not having a 5.9/545 combo. Both of the other combos are better, but the 3060 has the 6th gear options. But is it worth an extra $1250?

We've got the 643 and it purred right along on the trip from Denver to Chicago. We were limited, by our toad, to 60-ish though. I can't really speak to the benefits of the 3060 over the 643.

Is the 1st bus a Transit as well? I would think the transit vs. dognose would be as much a determining factor as the difference in the transmission.

 

[o1marc]

Hopefully none will buy from under me.
Here are the 2 buses

Bus #1:https://www.purplewave.com/auction/180516/item/DF3768


Bus #2 https://twinfalls.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-genesis-transit-school/6591729736.html

 

[Twigg-SKO]

I can't really speak to the benefits of the 3060 over the 643.

The main benefit is over-drive. 4th gear on the MT643 has a 1.0 ratio.

 

[cowlitzcoach]

There would be no choice for me.

The 1999 has the high roof option and the better transmission.

It also has at least one skirt mounted luggage compartment.

The high miles and luggage compartment suggests to me it was spe'c'ed to be a route bus that could be used for trips. With the OD transmission it most likely will be able to travel at highway speeds better than the other bus.

 

[JDOnTheGo]

A couple more things that might be worth tossing into consideration are rust and tire age (date codes).

 

[o1marc]

There would be no choice for me.

The 1999 has the high roof option and the better transmission.

It also has at least one skirt mounted luggage compartment.

The high miles and luggage compartment suggests to me it was spe'c'ed to be a route bus that could be used for trips. With the OD transmission it most likely will be able to travel at highway speeds better than the other bus.

Your opinion is valued by me, I figured I would follow your recommendation and was hoping you would chime in. The extra luggage compartment was an extra option I forgot to mention.

 

[o1marc]

And on what little time I've given for replies, they are leaning towards the more expensive, but wiser choice. I made the call to purchase the Id. bus. I would have booked a flight out on the 31st, but just found out one of my best friends from high school lives in TwinFalls and won't be home till the following Mon. I wait till he's in town and spend a night with him before heading home 2000 miles.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Between those two I would go for the Genesis for sure. Glad to hear you're back in the running.

 

[o1marc]

Between those two I would go for the Genesis for sure. Glad to hear you're back in the running.

If you read my last post you will see I pulled the trigger on that one. It turns out it's not in Id, but Montana 2-1/2 hours away. No biggie as I will fly into TwinFalls and spend the night with my buddy and then have the seller pick me up the next day and pick up the bus in Mont. and head home. Full tank of gas in it saves me $300.

 

[jjhwick119]

Awesome! Congrats man!

 

[Whatthefak]

Nice!

Let us know how it goes

 

[o1marc]

Looks like 2 1000 mile/15 hr driving days. chances are if I get a late start maybe 2 hotel nights.

 

[Rovobay]

congrats...

hotel? sleep in the bus! break it in! praying to skoolie gods for safe journey home

 

[Tryonis]

I think you made the right choice, thank god i only had to go 38 miles to find my bus. I was kinda shocked you didn't buy it before i did.

 

[Drew Bru]

congrats...

hotel? sleep in the bus! break it in! praying to skoolie gods for safe journey home

Yup, that's what we did. Find a Cabela's or a Cracker Barrel and grab a sleeping bag and an air mattress and sleep in the parking lot. It was one of my most satisfying nights of sleep ever, that first night in the bus!