| Author |
Message |
Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 2:46 pm: | |
Or church has been in the process of buying a pair of used buses for about 2 months-they are at a used bus dealer, who keeps finding things that need to be repaired brfore we can pick them up- This has gone on an on always something else that needs fixing- One is a Metrotrans Legacy 1996, 30' and the other a 30' Champion, 1996 model on a Spartan chassis-neither of these are exceptionaly nice. Both have front facing seats and no restroom. When I found out about the purchace, I'd thought it was a done deal, but now find out we may be able to escape and just lose $500 deposit
The deal is $65,000.00 for the pair- That dosent seem like much of a bargain to me- I cant find comporables to price against and need to make my objections soon or be quiet- Does this seem like a reasonable price for these buses? Thanks |
Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 3:20 pm: | |
Wrong buses, too much $$$.
Mark O. |
Chris
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 3:22 pm: | |
FWIW, You should be able to get a nice running seated 40' or 35' GMC RTS for 1/10th that price. |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 3:27 pm: | |
TOO MUCH....back out of the deal....RUN LIKE THE WIND |
mel 4104
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 3:48 pm: | |
Chuck, drop the deal and get better buses for away less money by thelook of it you folks are buying in to a money pit. as TD says go to another dealer that has a good rep. as there are a lot of buses for sale right now and the price is right. No do not give them any more money.............. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 6:44 pm: | |
Stay away from church buses . <---period |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 6:48 pm: | |
Oh... I see... You want to buy new buses -for- the church!
Youse can do better, Chuck. Take a trip to ABC bus, and grab a cpl Jersey Transits.. |
Doug Wotring
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 7:25 pm: | |
Those two unit are priced near 3 times what they are worth.
I would not suggest buying a full blown highway coach. you will not like the cost of maint. |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 8:36 pm: | |
Chuck....it's a buyer's market just now and with all due respect, each of the above posts have it right on the point. Your finance committee needs to reconsider quickly.
Look around...you can do *much* better...and have $$$$ left over for maintaining. If you need a contact, let me know off line. Where are you located? Also call Luke at US Coach. He'll guide you squarely. Lots of others will as well.
FWIW
RCB |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 9:50 pm: | |
Sounds like the dealer is trying to pay off the really bad financing on those buses. I have seen a few of those metrotrans and irizars out there but apparently they are a maintenance nightmare.
Champions and the like are built on a motorhome chassis and not much better. Those you listed are also too old and odd to get reliable parts suppliers for.
Go to ABC Bus and see what they have, You will save a ton of money immediately and get something that is still in mass usage. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 9:53 pm: | |
Hello Chuck.
Run, do not walk, run away, fast.
Suggest that the loss of deposit is simply an inexpensive lesson. If the dealer isn't offering the buses ready to go, he keeps "finding" more things that are being added to the bill, forget him.
It is hard to get some church folks to shed their naivity. Ask them how many used car salesmen are known to be in the congregation.... enough said?
Ask them to be making their decisions from an old testament viewpoint, and the path may suddenly become clear. Eye for an eye and the wrath of God on those poor performing unbelievers.
This isn't about being nice, it's about good stewardship, getting good value for the church's money, and good buses!
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 10:25 pm: | |
BW definetely would know of where he speaks - consider him "the god of knowledge" when it comes to "church buses" - Niles |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:10 pm: | |
Hey Niles!
I am just a sinner who tries to be a bit better...less frequently than I should!
If you are parking outside the fence this New Year's, you'd better save me a space out there too...
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:38 pm: | |
LMAO - I have succesfully "converted" BW - I guess I'm goin' to 'ELL - Niles
P.S.- Hope you have a "fuel budget" - I guess I'll buy the beverages - only fair -
Niles
(who forgot to fill his tank) - OUCH!!!!! |
H3-40
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 7:52 am: | |
Hey when will you guys learn that the "good" seminars are inside the gate!
At least they were last year! LOL
Ace |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 7:29 pm: | |
Yeah....run like heck and don't look back. Someone somewhere is really ripping you deep. Then find out who is doing this super deal within your church group, confront him, shoot him, then hang the remains.
Then....find someone within your group who knows what the heck he is doing...then turn him loose to find a couple of good coaches that will work for your church without costing an arm and a leg. Also try to get some sort of concensus within your congregation....
....regarding exactly what you wish these two buses to do for you. Once you figure that out, then you can find good quality used rolling stock at about one quarter of what you were going to pay for buses you would be unable to use. Good luck. |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 9:04 pm: | |
trips within 50 to 100 miles...get a city bus....rts etc....long trips ....get a highway coach...4104,4106,4905,MCI etc. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 12:20 am: | |
Oh Boy!
I love a hospitality suite!
Fuel budget?
Isn't that what the Visa is for?
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Dale MC 8
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 1:51 pm: | |
Check out some of the online places, like eBay, to see what is readily available for how much and then look for something at or below that cost. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 9:12 pm: | |
Chuck-
It looks like the thread had gone astray..
"I cant find comparable to price against and need to make my
objections soon or be quiet- Does this seem like a reasonable
price for these buses? Thanks"
We all know that a price for a '96 bus is going to be higher
than the model years we deal with here. And after all, they're
going to be carrying passengers, not furniture, so the bus
has got to be dependable.
MCI has pre-owned coaches that fits the price range and
carry a limited guarantee. They stand behind their used vehicles,
so be careful backing up.
Michaud also has Pre-Owned buses, road ready, and priced
within the church's range.
Even though 65k sounds like a "deal" for two 1996 model
coaches, they may end up costing the church much more
over time. Buying a bus from a reputable dealer, can be
much more advantageous. Remind them, that a bus breakdown
mid-trip, can be disastrous. It's just not worth the chance,
buying a bus with untold problems. Take the $500 hit, and run. |
Johnny
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 12:42 pm: | |
RUN AWAY FROM ANY SPARTAN/METROTRANS AS FAST AS YOU CAN! We have one at work--a 1999 Spartan Legacy (Cummins/Allison) pusher. It is a neverending series of tow trucks, repairs, breakdowns, and several drivers absolutely refuse to drive it under any circumstances. Offhand, it has eaten, in the last year:
2 steering boxes.
1 brake booster.
1 transmission.
Both A/C compressors (and the rear A/C still isn't very good).
2 injector pumps ($$$$$$$$$$).
2 sets of front springs.
1 set of rear springs.
Both front kingpins.
1 radiator.
Also, the entire dash wiring harness has been replaced TWICE (and the tach still doesn't work).
The bus has a whopping 70,000 miles on it. The ride is, for the driver, nauseating, due to the woefully underdamped front end and long overhang, the driver is always going up and down, up and down, up and down. The non-intercooled ISB is underpowered in this 9-ton box (and the Allison totally emacsulates it anyway), requiring WOT to accelerate at all, and really working to run 65MPH. Brakes are, at best, marginal, requirting lots of pressure even when new. Electric brake booster is extremely complicated & troublesome.
You're better off with a used unicycle with a flat tire. I wouldn't own a Spartan pusher if you gave it to me. |