My experience with a manual bus. (And why you should consider before buying one!)

[FawnaFox]

Hi, I am the owner of a 1998 Freightliner FS-65 with a blue-bird body and a 6-speed manual. (Yes the 6-speed was a rare option, there was not just the 5-speed) Here is my two-cents on the topic. Manual busses can be fun, but for the average bus owner, I would not recommend a manual transmission, even if you can drive it. Why? mostly if you are doing what I'm doing, planning to go full-time, It can be a chore to drive. If you've never driven a manual truck or bus, here's my pros and cons.

Pros:
-No need for a transmission fluid change.
-Mechanically simpler then automatic.
-Can offer lower gearing
-More control over transmission
-Most people can't drive manual, theft is harder.
-You have the bragging right of having a manual bus
-Less wear on brakes
Cons:
-Hard to drive
-Busses have very long clutches than can be difficult for an inexperienced driver to learn on
-Stop-start traffic can be more annoying to deal with.
-Most busses are automatic now
-If you're not careful, you could destroy the transmission or engine.

 

[Tejon7]

Good points. I am a fan of manual transmissions, so I'll throw on one more pro: You'll never have to worry about your transmission overheating when driving down a long mountain pass.

 

[Dbacks2k4]

My little Corolla (will be my toad) is a manual 5 speed, I love driving it 98% of the time, it's a fun car to drive. But heavy city traffic sucks!! I don't think I'd like driving a manual on the bus, I'm very happy with my 6 speed Allison 3000 automatic.

 

[skydawg]

Hopefully anyone considering buying a bus with a manual transmission has already owned and daily driven another type of vehicle with a manual. A bus you are planning on spending time & money on converting is definitely not the time to learn whether you love or hate it

Personally, manual transmission was a must have for me. Partly because I think they are more fun to drive, and partly because the automatics (545) in the age range of bus I was looking at have a bad reputation.

 

[PorchDog]

I have a 5 speed behind a mechanical fuel injected DT466. Yes, it is crude, but even after an EMP attack, I can roll it down a hill and drive forever (with sufficient fuel) with no battery, and no wiring or computers. If I was going to war--- or Prudhoe Bay-- I would trust it to not break down.

My other bus has the same engine with an MD3060. So if I have a stroke, my wife can rush me to the hospital...

But I digress....

 

[Rucker]

Speaking as an owner of at least one (somewhat vintage) manual truck: the biggest drawback is you can't hold a latte and shift without some spillage.

 

[Tejon7]

Speaking as an owner of at least one (somewhat vintage) manual truck: the biggest drawback is you can't hold a latte and shift without some spillage.

There's always a solution

 

[Crown_Guy]

Fun Thread. Reminds me of the never-ending debate about .45 vs. 9mm.

To each his own for sure since not everyone wants or needs the challenge
of learning to get proficient at manual shifting. When you get good enough
the clutch becomes optional except when having to fully stop. Yes indeed
heavy traffic is the bane of a drivers left leg and lower back spasms, go
ahead, ask me how I know. I live and still drive commercially in L.A. where
the traffic is bumper to bumper almost 24/7 now.

But as anyone who knows me would expect I much prefer a stick shift for
the simplicity of the vehicle systems, better driver control of gearing for
terrain demands, no computers or other complexity. I embrace the notion
of driving out of a mushroom cloud situation with my purely mechanical
Crowns when all other vehicles are dead on the road. Joined most likely by
VW Bugs, and cockroaches, we will inherit the world, or whats left of it.

The idea of ultimate reliability is nothing to ignore, especially if you plan
on going far away from civilization on great adventures, like the North Slope
for instance. I always imagine the worst when I contemplate leaving the
Interstates for back roads and the many dangers and possibilities for getting
stranded. That's one of the biggest reasons I like the Crowns so much, among
many reasons. They are Way over-engineered and over-built with much
stronger components and structures. Yet they are very simple and easy to
repair and keep on the road. These are great characteristics to have for an
ultimate boon-docking get-away vehicle.

I drive plenty of Coaches with all kinds of automatics and they each have
unique pros and cons. Mechanical Allison's like the MT6xx and and legendary
HT740 are almost truly bulletproof and will last longer than the engines they
are attached to. Later Allison's are tied to engine and MCU computers and
are prone to electrical gremlins unknown to the purely mechanical units.
Automatics are fine for heavy traffic for sure but when driving in the mountains
or other difficult terrain having the driver control over what gear to use is
much more advantageous. Plus I can still shift much more smoothly than ANY
automatic transmission. And that's a point of Professional pride.

Like I said, to each his own. No wrong answer.

 

[Cheezewhiz]

Ah, wish it was a stick... most of the time.

 

[Mercuric Mind]

Every vehicle I've owned was an automatic. Mostly driving fast in slow cars and trucks, complete with reverse drops and full send air time, surprisingly never blown a transmission up. I've driven manual on occasion but not enough to consider getting one on the bus. Now a days it is rare to find a manual bus, but I can see how it would be a benefit in the mountains.

 

[FawnaFox]

Hopefully anyone considering buying a bus with a manual transmission has already owned and daily driven another type of vehicle with a manual. A bus you are planning on spending time & money on converting is definitely not the time to learn whether you love or hate it

Personally, manual transmission was a must have for me. Partly because I think they are more fun to drive, and partly because the automatics (545) in the age range of bus I was looking at have a bad reputation.

I kid you not, this is the first manual vehicle I have owned. I have driven manual before but, not as a vehicle I owned

 

[FawnaFox]

Every vehicle I've owned was an automatic. Mostly driving fast in slow cars and trucks, complete with reverse drops and full send air time, surprisingly never blown a transmission up. I've driven manual on occasion but not enough to consider getting one on the bus. Now a days it is rare to find a manual bus, but I can see how it would be a benefit in the mountains.

If I am not mistaken, the FS-65 was the last school bus optioned with a manual. I love mine and it treats me well, even taking off is more complicated then an automatic, I simply enjoy the feeling of manual, it makes me feel like I am driving a large piece of machinery.

 

[Mercuric Mind]

If I am not mistaken, the FS-65 was the last school bus optioned with a manual. I love mine and it treats me well, even taking off is more complicated then an automatic, I simply enjoy the feeling of manual, it makes me feel like I am driving a large piece of machinery.

That is true. Have you put on an air horn yet? I did one with the old fashioned pull chain air valve.

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

Well actually you should change transmission oil in a manual transmission.

I do not find it a chore to drive. It is all about personal preference. I do wish I had a 6 or 7 speed though. Or a two speed rear. Then you drive shifting the main transmission and only split the gears when pulling heavy. I had 5 and two in my older bus.

 

[FawnaFox]

That is true. Have you put on an air horn yet? I did one with the old fashioned pull chain air valve.

I've been thinking of it, but my bus has hydraulic brakes and I don't think it has an air system

 

[Mercuric Mind]

Bummer. Nothing like an air horn to give you the "Big Rig" feel. Have fun with your build!

 

[Dbacks2k4]

I've been thinking of it, but my bus has hydraulic brakes and I don't think it has an air system

They make 12v ones that come with a little mini compressor. They're usually advertised as train horns for cars/trucks. Not quite the same as a real air horn setup but it can get you close

 

[Mr P]

My little Corolla (will be my toad) is a manual 5 speed, I love driving it 98% of the time, it's a fun car to drive. But heavy city traffic sucks!! I don't think I'd like driving a manual on the bus, I'm very happy with my 6 speed Allison 3000 automatic.

Doesn't all "heavy city driving" suck?

Now that I think of it, ANY city driving..... lol