International 3800 Question

[britainweyant]

Found a 1995 International 3800 with 250k miles recently pull from a school system. What is a reasonable price for this bus? Everything seems in good shape from the Craigslist ad. Going to look Thursday morning.

 

[Johnny Mullet]

What engine and trans? Any rust issues? How long is it? These things determine the price.

 

[britainweyant]

What engine and trans? Any rust issues? How long is it? These things determine the price.

Not sure the transmission, I am sure I will find out on Thursday. I don't believe there is a spot of rust, but I will confirm on Thursday as well. If you had to ball park it, what do you think?

 

[britainweyant]

Not sure the transmission, I am sure I will find out on Thursday. I don't believe there is a spot of rust, but I will confirm on Thursday as well. If you had to ball park it, what do you think?

Also it is a full size bus. 3800 T444E

 

[o1marc]

Where is the bus located. It's rare to find one that is completely rust free as the rust is usually under the floor where you don't see it. Don't rely on CL pics. I have a bus here, looks great in the pics but it extremely battlescarred around the whole bus.

 

[britainweyant]

Where is the bus located. It's rare to find one that is completely rust free as the rust is usually under the floor where you don't see it. Don't rely on CL pics. I have a bus here, looks great in the pics but it extremely battlescarred around the whole bus.

Bus is located in Georgia.

 

[Johnny Mullet]

I paid $2500 for my 1996 28 foot International 3800 T444E with some minor rust on rear and 174000 miles on it. That should give you a ball park, but a mid sized bus usually sells higher than a 40 footer.

 

[o1marc]

If it's near a coastal city I would make sure to go over it with a fine tooth comb for rust. Ga. seems to run their buses longer than most and they are worn. I just bought a Ga. bus from mid north area and it is battlescarred and worn.
Trans would be a deciding factor for me. As Johnny mentioned, that typically would be a $2500 bus, less with a 545 and more with a 5-6 speed.

 

[britainweyant]

All right everyone. Here looking now. Engine sounds great, was used for schooling as I said. Tires look decent, undercarriage all looks good. Transmission IS in fact a 545. I offered 2200 they countered 2400.

 

[o1marc]

All right everyone. Here looking now. Engine sounds great, was used for schooling as I said. Tires look decent, undercarriage all looks good. Transmission IS in fact a 545. I offered 2200 they countered 2400.

Did you test drive it on the freeway to see top cruising speed? Least desirable tranny, so think about your intended use.

 

[EastCoastCB]

All right everyone. Here looking now. Engine sounds great, was used for schooling as I said. Tires look decent, undercarriage all looks good. Transmission IS in fact a 545. I offered 2200 they countered 2400.

What are mileage and engine hours?

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Popular opinion is that the T444E is a bad match for a full size bus. I have one in my short bus and it's OK but I wouldn't want to add another 5 tons to it. The AT545 will be a bigger burden than the engine at highway speed, if it is even geared to do it.

 

[Paulymac]

If it's near a coastal city I would make sure to go over it with a fine tooth comb for rust. Ga. seems to run their buses longer than most and they are worn. I just bought a Ga. bus from mid north area and it is battlescarred and worn.
Trans would be a deciding factor for me. As Johnny mentioned, that typically would be a $2500 bus, less with a 545 and more with a 5-6 speed.

Yup, I bought a '98 International 3800 with 74k miles for $2500! Good deal I thought......untill I started the demo. large sections of the floor is rotten. I mean through the steel rotten! And most of it was not visible from underneath. The windows were leaking and with the rubber floor on top, one never knew.