| Author | Message | ||
| bill chisholm (Billybandman)
Registered Member Username: Billybandman Post Number: 95 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 198.236.64.25 Rating: N/A |
What would the price range be for a stock MC 8, fully seated bus, 8V71, Allsion Auto, really straight, no rust. | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 48 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.238.127 Rating: N/A |
If there were any such thing as an MC8 with no rust, it would be rare indeedy! It would probably range from $5K to $10K. It wouldn't be worth that much if the engine or trans requires work. There are numerous places that will rust on 8s. Check it out carefully. If it has a restroom, check the floor around that area. Check the air suspension. Be sure no airleaks are audible in the airbeam areas. Get an expert that knows coaches to appraise the bus before you discuss prices. There are MC8s and MC9s around that would be a liability if they were given to you. This is true of most older coaches. Your skills as a converter and mechanic greatly influence what would be a "liability." My MC9 probably falls into the "liability" category, but I have managed to keep it running without spending the farm. Enjoyed it greatly! Hope you are able to do the same. Good Luck, JR | ||
| Greg Peterson (Gpmci102)
Registered Member Username: Gpmci102 Post Number: 20 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 71.194.70.124 Rating: N/A |
No offense to you guys that bought your MCI 8 when the MCI 9 were sky high in price but today it is a different story. I really don’t understand why anyone would want to buy an MCI 8 with the prices of the MCI 9 way down. If you get a newer that 1983 9 you will have the integral power steering that is far superior to the old steering on the 8. You will have to do a lot of work to upgrade the steering on an 8 to the integral type. The 8 only came with an 8v-71n engine that is really obsolete. You can get a turbo 6v-92ta or even better 8v-92ta on the nine that will perform far better at high altitude or pulling hills. The 8 had small radiators and has even more cooling problems than the 9. I think all the MCI 8 had the air beam air bags that rust out and need to be plated or the air bag changed to a different type. The later 9 had the new style air bags that did not use the air beams. Then you have that ugly hump on the roof that needs to go in a conversion. Finally, I think they stooped making the 8 around 1979 so any 8 you could buy is going to be really old with all the fun that goes along with an old wore out machine. All the problems can be fixed. For example you could add a smoke turbo to the 8v-71n or change out the engine. Likewise with $$$ all the other problems can be fixed but why spend all the time and money. Just buy a good 9. | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 134 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 216.168.120.182 Rating: N/A |
I really like my MC-8, I've had it for while now, but if I were going to be buying a bus today, I'd look for a 102A3. Dave D | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 888 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.68.35.240 Rating: N/A |
ugly hump? geez, go easy there Greg, she was quite a pretty sight in her youth.... Some thought of her as quite sexy! Just like the rest of us, she may be showing the ravages of time and style, but ugly? Perhaps only in the eye of the beholder? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 85 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.108.42 Rating: N/A |
MCI Buses | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 256 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 206.212.230.165 Rating: N/A |
Bill - 8, 9, 96, 102... it all comes down to condition. A great 8 well taken care of will be better than a rust bucket 9. If everything were equal, of course the newer model would be the ticket. The thing is, everything is not equal, so it is up to the bus nut to sort it out. This has to be one of the nicer 8's out there in seated condition, $20K asking price (Scroll down to the Yellow Kraft tours ad. http://users.cwnet.com/~thall/mci.htm) For not too much more you can step up into a 102, but is the mechanical condition going to be there? Who knows, could be, maybe not. It's all in the hunt! Good luck! Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| bill chisholm (Billybandman)
Registered Member Username: Billybandman Post Number: 96 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 198.236.64.25 Rating: N/A |
This is an aboslutley "rust free" mc 8 that runs and shifts perfectly. I have had inspected at CUSA. It drives and shifts perfectly. You may think I am exagerating but I am not. I have abeen achater bus driver for 31 years and have owned my own GMC 4108 for 13 years. Just curious how many $$$ I should give for this? | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Registered Member Username: Blue_velvet Post Number: 378 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 67.174.112.202 Rating: N/A |
How many engine miles? If not recently "fresh", I'd say $6k - $8k or so. NJT MC9's have flooded the market in recent years and kept prices low for older MCI shells. Brian Brown 4108-216 w/ V-730 Longmont, CO | ||
| DMDave Unregistered guest Posted From: 71.125.9.62 Rating: N/A |
The hump/bump on the 7&8's look good to me. | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 258 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 206.212.230.165 Rating: N/A |
Bill - for a 8 in great condition I would pay twice market average and consider it cheap. The Kraft bus I posted a link to sounds like such a bus for example. The extra 6 to 8 K to not have major repairs and structural issues sounds reasonable to me. Personal opinion and your milage will most certianly vary! Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 51 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.238.127 Rating: N/A |
The real answer to your question: As little as possible. How long has it been on the market? What is he asking? Buying at a good price is an art. You gotta get a feel for what he may take...and offer less! Then see what happens. You can find 102A3s for $15K, which would be a much nicer shell...IF in decent condition. It's hard to believe an MC8 has no issues. You got to look for the "issues' better. They are there. Does the owner have records (engine and trans logs) of previous service and majors? If not, there's your "issue." An engine or trans failure would cost much more to repair than the coach is worth. As Brian says, I wouldn't pay over $7 or $8K for a perfect MC8 seated coach. It may be a value. But only for the right price. I wouldn't take a rustbucket of any years (well...that may depend) if it was given to me. Buy the absolute best shell you can afford. On a positve note, there are plenty of parts around for an MC8. The later MC9 has much better cooling potential, with better engines. 86 and later have much improved suspension components (as someone has already mentioned). An 8V71 in a 40' MC8 isn't going to be very fast...there's another "issue". There are plenty others too...radiators...total chassis miles. Age of tires. Does the air system stay up for more than a few hours? JR | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1015 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.113.23 Rating: N/A |
Billy - Just a note that nobody's mentioned: The MC-8 with the same engine that's in your 4108 is going to feel really, really "slow and heavy". Sort of like piloting a battleship as opposed to a destroyer. Your 4108 most likely has Sheppard power steering, whereas the MC-8 has power assist, much less desirable. Fuel mileage will be less, too. 5 - 6 is average for a 40-foot MCI. Of course, if you've been driving charters, you're already aware of the different "feel" of an MCI vs a GMC. What do you want to DO with the MC-8, anyway? | ||
| bill chisholm (Billybandman)
Registered Member Username: Billybandman Post Number: 97 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 24.22.59.54 Rating: N/A |
This board is a interesting study in human nature. I asked for a price, and got 12 responses and one answer to my questio Thanks Brian for the answer and thank to the others for the backroundnd advice. | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 261 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 206.212.230.165 Rating: |
Bill - if you read between the lines, what people are telling you is that buying an old bus is like buying a distressed property. Each one has to be judged in it's individual condition and features. Once you look at the problems you have to look at your skills and resources. A welder looks at a rusty frame different than a worn engine and so on. Same as an old house. If you are the paint and wall paper type, you should avoid the rotted post and beam foundation fixer upper, or have the coin to hire it done. Same thing with a bus. The old buses that "need nothing" are extremely rare and therefore lie far outside the average in the bell curve. You asked for the average selling price for a described non-average bus. What you got was a series of higher level answers from the "voice of experience". Indeed, a study in human nature. There is an average selling price out there for the average bus. I am not sure average is helpful on buses, the average American has one breast and one testicle; not that useful to know. Now don't apply this visual to a bus... Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 55 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.238.127 Rating: N/A |
Ah yes..."Sensory Overload"...common affliction. Human nature is indeed an interesting study. Best, JR | ||
| Greg Peterson (Gpmci102)
Registered Member Username: Gpmci102 Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 71.194.70.124 Rating: N/A |
JR had already given you the answer to your question. I just was wondering why you wanted a MCI 8 instead of a 9 or 102A3. I was driving back on route 55 this week and followed a MCI E4500 for a while. That is a really good-looking bus especially the original factory paint job. I started thinking, “boy is my 102A3 ugly” but then I slapped myself. So beauty is truly in the eye and the pocketbook of the beholder. | ||
| mich campbell
Unregistered guest Posted From: 216.209.112.177 Rating: N/A |
I have an MC8 with a standard 4 speed, an 8V71 engine, could someone please tell me what type of oils are used for, Transmission, Power Steering. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 111 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.106.97 Rating: N/A |
Craig - YIKES "the average American has one breast and one testicle; not that useful to know. " Maybe not... but you caused me to stop and take inventory... MICH - Here | ||
| jim king (Eglluvr)
Registered Member Username: Eglluvr Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 70.161.178.238 Rating: N/A |
I am not sure if this makes me "Above average" or "Below average" But hopefully not above & below average... ;) |
