| Author | Message | ||
| mark (Coolbus)
Registered Member Username: Coolbus Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.68.253.106 Rating: |
Sounds like a strange question, but as far as I can tell from others' posts, certain areas of the country are more prone to rust problems than others. As I am looking for another shell, and possibly may need to fly in, what region(s) are suspect? I live in the Northwest, but not many bus's for sale around here. I'm looking for an mc9 shell. thanks mark | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 63.232.252.44 Rating: |
N.E. is the worst. they use salt on the roads in winter,Texas,New Mexico, Az. I would say are the bestcalif. good..but, the bus 'might' have come from N.E. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 25 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.107.44 Rating: |
I lived on LI, NY.. And in Massachusetts... Road salt can be miserable to any vehicle. Now in Florida, the sea salt eats everything up. Any coastal location can be a problem.... Our Winnebago sat for six months, near the ocean, and the steel brake lines rusted through, along with starter and alternator connections, etc., etc..... But even central US states don't guarantee a rust-free bus! The MC9's usually rust on and under the dash, between the windshields, and on the right side of the dash. The entrance stairwell, and lower door area can get rusted. It's all due to the leaks from around the marker lights, and from the screws that fasten the gutter to the bus. So the bottom line should be: Don't evaluate the bus by the area it's from, the way it looks, or the honesty of the face you're buying it from. It's a -major- investment that becomes 100 times more expensive the minute you take title to it. You're not buying a "previously owned commercially inspected for safety, public transportation vehicle". You're buying 11 tons of metallic waste, that no other responsible transportation company wants to own. If they did, you wouldn't have a chance to buy it at the price you would want to pay. Do yourself and your bank balance a major favor: Have the bus checked out at a competent bus garage prior to purchase. Heed their warnings and opinion. I wish you much luck! (sorry if I sounded too harsh; you'll thank me later) | ||
| Gary LaBombard (Garylee)
Registered Member Username: Garylee Post Number: 70 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.138 Rating: N/A |
Mark, I could not have said it any better than (John-MC9) did above. I have been battling rust and replacing my "Entire" undercarriage because of it and it has taken me over 4 years, well actuall work time about 2 years. This what you want?? Then do as we all suggest, get it inspected and then if you want this reinforced, pay for another inspection to compare the findings. It will be $$$$$$$ ahead, I promise!!!!!!! Re-Read John'w post reply to your question a few times again, PLEASE!! Good luck, Gary (Even my bus name has "Rust" in it, I own the "Rustless Money Pit" | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 461 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 207.30.189.41 Rating: N/A |
Do not base too much of your decision based on where the coach is located. It may be in Arizona, but may have spent most of its younger years in the northeast or working as a shuttle bus on the coast somewhere. A thorough inspection by a competent inspector is your best insurance. Hope this helps, Jack | ||
| cw mci 9
Unregistered guest Posted From: 24.154.148.105 Rating: N/A |
Talking about the rust problem of an 9. Can the back end be replaced by a newer mci 9 back end? I am talking everything including the air beams,axels? It seems as the front and back are independent of each other and either front or back could be replaced? Just wondering if any one has done this or if it could be done. | ||
| Bill Baxter (Willum)
Registered Member Username: Willum Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 68.186.14.84 Rating: N/A |
Mark, There are a lot of buses (MC9's) and other MC buses almost the same as MC9 on the West Coast. I posted on this board that I was looking for a bus and I found one in the state of Washington due to a reply to my posting. Whereabouts are you located in the northwest as I live on the Oregon coast. Bill | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 24 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 63.233.94.103 Rating: N/A |
there is a nice one being advertised in Nevada right now as we speak | ||
| mark (Coolbus)
Registered Member Username: Coolbus Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.68.253.106 Rating: |
I live about an hour west of Portland. I am willing to go a distance to get the "right" bus, however, about two years ago I had a VERY disapointing experience with a trip down to L.A. to go to purchase a GM Buffalo. <rant> The bus was so mis-represented, I knew within the first second of seeing it that I was not going to buy this chunk of steel for ANY amount. Wouldn't even take it if I was paid to. The seller had agreed to take $7500 for it. was asking $10k to start with, so I was pretty sure I was getting a good deal. The Pictures I was sent of the bus must have been taken YEARS prior, and she looked pretty darn good! When I saw this thing in person, I about crapped. The engine, which was supposedly remanufactured, had about an inch of grime and sludge, no sign of any recent work whatsoever. The body was beat up, dents that were not shown in the pictures, missing windows, rust, don't know how the tires were still holding air, and I was supposed to drive this beast home! I wish sellers of vehicles would be accurate with their descriptions. They say everything they can just to get you to commit to make the trip, then they must figure you will buy it anyway, just because you came all that distance? NOT! Get real. I already know what a bus looks like. Show me the pictures of the imperfections, the problem areas, body damage, etc. Don't try to make it look better in the photos than it really is! FWIW Mark | ||
| Cliff (Floridacracker)
Registered Member Username: Floridacracker Post Number: 293 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 65.33.17.106 Rating: |
John, I would have sent you a personal email, but your email is hidden. Would it be too much trouble to not use the word Floriduh in your every reference to the Sunshine state. For those of us born and raised in this state and who are proud of its heritage and history it can get a little old. I especially find it offensive by those who intentionally move to this state(DUH) and then put it down on a regular basis. Cliff | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 464 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 207.30.189.56 Rating: |
Hey Cliff, I have to agree with you. If "Up North" is so great, how come so many of them move to Florida? And if Florida is so bad, why do they stay here? Although I was born in Illinois, I have been in Florida since I was 5 (I didn't get to pick where my momma lived when I was born). I am proud to be a Floridian and proud of our states heritage. Jack (Proud to be a Cracker) | ||
| Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member Username: Cowlitzcoach Post Number: 114 Registered: 4-2001 Posted From: 204.245.250.13 Rating: N/A |
Mark- If you are looking for a MC-9 shell, why not go to Transit International, ABC, or A-Z down in CA and look at the MC-12's they have for sale. All of them are former Greydogs so they have a lot of miles but some of them have fresh engines and transmissions. They all have the updated enlarged radiators so cooling won't be so much of a problem as compared to the older -7's, -8's, and -9's. For the price you would pay for an old -9 and the cost of updating or repairing everything you could purchase a -12 and not have the hassle. Good luck in your search. Mark O. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 985 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.113.23 Rating: N/A |
Mark O - The problem with the MC-12s that are currently on the market is that they've been "run hard and put away wet", primarily because Greyhound's maintenance dept. has been severely hampered by the company's various bankruptcies. Most have only had "band aid" repairs, barely enough to pass a DOT inspection. This first batch are all-electronic 6V92s w/ 740s, they haven't released the -12s with the S-50s in them yet. Mark Coolbus - You might want to check out the charter bus companies located in/around Portland, to see what they've got available, or will have when the summer season's over. Talk to the shop foreman rather than the guy up front, at least initially, to find out what type of condition the fleet's in. Oh, and if you go for a visit, check out the overall look/feel of the shop. Crisp and clean vs clutterd and messy can be a good clue to the company's maintenance program philosophy. FWIW & HTH. . . | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.105.141 Rating: |
A quick hijack of the thread: My apologies, guys! No, no "duh" applies to the entire state; Florida is a great state. We honestly love it down here. And those that have been born and raised here, have been the most welcoming people we've ever met. Where was my "duh" directed? The increased population and rapid rise in the cost of living in the area we live (Brevard County), has caused it to become Long Island South, politics and attitude, included. Brevard County planners didn't take any thought to the rapidly increasing traffic, so consequently, there are only three roads traversing the county from North to South. With Palm Bay's population now over 100,000, and Melbourne, Cocoa and Titusville nearing that, it's too late for decent planning.. The burden is now on the backs of the county's taxpayers, and any solution to traffic problems requires the taking by eminent domain.. Older folks that have lived here for most (if not all) their lives, are moving north... some to Alabama and Georgia, just to be able to live on what they have. I guess you have to fall in love with Brevard County (as we did), and witness it all change for the worse within four years of being here. You'd have to be honked at while in a crosswalk by some rude out-of-state transplant.. Or listen to their harping about how much better local government was "up north", and how they'd like the conditions to be "just like that"... They move next to the airport, and start a movement to shut down a runway.. Please excuse me for my blatant disregard to you who have not felt dismayed by any changes. I'm new to the area, who am I to complain about "new transplants"... The "duh" was not intended to demean the residents... especially those of you here! I will not include it again. Sorry, and thank you for making me aware of it. Back to topic: It's true about the coastal rust hazard. | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 126 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30 Rating: N/A |
I bought my bus from a dealer in Milton, WA. The bus was a charter coach based in Yakima. I haven't found any rust issues with it. Perhaps, being that Yakima is a fair distance inland, it was not exposed to much airborne salt. DaveD | ||
| Kevin Wood Unregistered guest Posted From: 24.17.98.112 Rating: N/A |
Mark, I bought a MC9 from Northwest Bus Sales in Fife (just north of Tacoma). It has an extremely small amount of rust, and I have been looking. It was a former Raz Transportation bus from Portland. I have had it checked out by Motor Trucks and an independent diesel mechanic. Both commented on how well the bus had been maintained. You might look up Raz as they are in your area. Kevin |
