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.
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.