| Author | Message | ||
| g
Rating: N/A |
I am looking for book values on a 1981 MCI-9 in good to excellent shape. Thanks | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
$3000 to $7000 in FANTASTIC shape. FAST FRED | ||
| contrary Rating: N/A |
Actually, try $10,000 to $15,000 in excellent shape. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
"Book price" doesn't mean much. A commercial vehicle isn't like a car or RV. The average asking and actual selling price is what you'll need. Is the bus being sold going to be used for public transportation (meeting all legal/safety requirements), or is the thing an old, tired machine that's no longer suited for cost effective public transportation? Ebay or any other "auction" does not reflect reality. Look over the asking prices at "real" sites and call them; ask them about a bus and how low a price they will accept. http://www.busnut.com/4sale/under.html http://www.lewisbus.com/buses.html http://www.horizoncoach.com/Search.asp http://www.44bus.com/ http://www.heartlandbus.com/ http://www.mcicoach.com/ http://info.abc-companies.com/buspics/ http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/diesel/diesel-motorhomes.htm http://n6ecv.net/bus.htm You can buy a great bus -or- a real lemon; price doesn't reflect condition. A bus that's being sold for commercial use, by a company that deals in selling buses for commercial use, will usually be better than a bus that's being sold for the temporary and marginal use in the private sector.. I paid 8k for my MC9. The owner had two and both were being used for charter operations until the day I bought it. He had been asking over 14k for the same bus, a year earlier. If I had it to do over, I would have taken it in for a complete inspection to a large, reputable bus company before handing over the cash. I strongly advise anyone thinking of buying a bus, to take the time and expense of doing that prior to purchase. Then.... make an offer based on the cost of repairs. The only "book" you should go by, is your own checkbook. | ||
| G
Rating: N/A |
Thank you! G | ||
| John Rigbyj
Rating: N/A |
I would do exactly what John recomended. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
Rating: N/A |
check the following Ebay listings (These are not for sale, bidding has ended) 2493368040 2493855412 2493866408 2494342016 2494395874 2494746307 4504139909 4505635178 4508987411 Mr Contrary seems to be fairly close. Gary | ||
| Contrary Rating: N/A |
Thank you, Mr. Gary. While it has been a buyer's market on MCIs due to the offloading of large quantities of certain NJT units in recent years, it is not the case that MC9s in "FANTASTIC" condition are selling for scrap value. An MC9 of early 1980s vintage, with a low mileage engine (i.e. under 100K), auto tranny, light corrosion, minimal body damage, and good mechanical condition of suspension, air and electrical systems will bring between 12K and 15K. That's what most would consider good to excellent condition. There are, of course, exceptions to this, as pointed out by JTNG. What he didn't indicate, but alluded to, is how much money he spent after the fact to bring it up to "good to excellent" standards. | ||
| Michael Lewis (Puffbus)
Rating: N/A |
My experience is almost exactly the same as JTNG, including the price I paid for my 1982 MCI. This is actually a TMC, manufactured in Roswell, NM. There has been speculation as to whether the TMC's are as valuable as the MCI's. That's an open question. I was told that the bus needed a turbo, but otherwise was sound. It turned out that the bus did not need a turbo, but had been cannibalized for the exhaust pipe clamps (about $40 at MCI) and the curved pipe actually fell off on the trip home. I had the turbo checked and the pipe reinstalled by a diesel mechanic and it now runs and works well. However, as JTNG pointed out, there are some caveats which have been repeated many times here on BNO. Take someone with you who knows what he is looking for! I also think that there are many features and options which affect the value of a coach to different individuals. Examples are: engine, transmission. Here, we lucked out with a 6v92T and 740 Allison. Although others would disagree, I did not want a standard because my wife would have issues driving it. The cruise control and the fact that we have power steering added value. The first thing we HAD to do was purchase six new tires, which was a $1600.00 investment. Other items, such as the A/C controls and the heater valve had been cannibalized. This is where an informed helper would have been more than worth the $100 - $200 we would have paid to spend a few hours with us going over the coach. We paid Sam Caylor $100 for the heater valve and have yet to find the A/C controls which will dictate whether we keep the bus air or discard it. We will eventually have to replace the cargo bay sills. I think that this is a crucial thing to inspect on any coach, but we did not. New sills, $90 each, plus welding, etc. Another $600 - 800. I'm not looking forward to this one. Keep in mind that there were two other 9's on this lot at 12-15K. Very straight, including sills and stainless panels (I have to replace one baggage door). I do think I could have backed these down to 10k and 12k, respectively. Generally, we have as clean a 9 as we could want, with virtually no rust and have made tremendous progress in the last six months. Infrastructure and finishes will be mostly complete within a year from purchase. Mechanically, the jury is still out on some pretty major items like brakes, some air issues, etc. Again, these should have been checked at purchase. I'm sure we can make it to Southern Oregon Diesel, where we will fall on the sword. Dave is waiting! I fell in love with this coach, which can be a serious mistake. I also laughed at some of the budgets thrown around here. Not laughing now. There must be some level of trust between buyer and seller. Seller has a lot more time to investigate problems and know what's wrong. We trusted a very personable individual who clearly (in retrospect) knew the issues, but failed to disclose. There is no "book" value to any of this, but it could be easily tossed into a spreadsheet and weighted to an individuals' preferences. All in all, it's our baby now, and will be treated as such. We will repair, fix adjust and love this old coach. It will become our home, and we are happy for that. Michael | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
Rating: N/A |
Fast Fred prefers 4106's which is an excellent choice. They are soosss cool. Wish I had one. All I can afford is a 1974 Crown Super Coach 40-foot 10-wheeler 3-axle ex-schoolie, which... ...in my opinion (for what it is worth) is superior to just about anything on the road today. She has six (6) huge brakes, stops on a dime and gives you change, handles like a Corvette, gets over... ...12 mpg at 60 mph, will go at least 80 mph and has a close ratio 10-speed Roadranger. Also... ...the interior is self cleaning, she never requires maintenance, answers me when I talk to her... ...and provides me an endless supply of cold beer in the summer and hot toddies in the winter and... ....is perfect in every way. Sorry, I thought I would lighten up this thread a little. Merry Christmas everyone.  | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
To fill in the blanks: My bus is said to need a rear seal, all the suspension bushings, and air leaks fixed. I have an assorted amount of electrical signaling issues, yet to be resolved. (the engine emergency kill has to be connected; the neutral safety wiring connected) The body is clean and without damage. Some modest rust under the windshield, but not overwhelming or un repairable. The air puts ice on the windows in the hot Florida sun, and the heat works great. It starts on first key twitch, but smokes on acceleration. The too large injectors that were installed were not supported by any accelerator delay, hence the smoke. I can either change the injectors, or just go easy on the pedal on take-off. It came with the Welch auxiliary air (it runs on it's own system, independent of the bus air and will cool the bus when the OE bus air is off.). The owner gave me two 60% tires to replace the bald tags. The duals need replacing; take-offs are $125 each, mounted. The steers are 80%. The power steering leaks, but not enough to be of concern at this minute. The blower is leaking oil, but it's not a major job to repair. I drove two hours each way at 60-80 to a bus garage to get rid of the seats. No problems going or coming back. It sails smooth; stops fine. The Florida sun was the only thing hot, the engine and interior were fine. The bus was in service the day prior to purchase. The owner was trying to encourage me to keep it in service for charter. He would have provided -at least- two trips per week. At $800 per month for insurance, plus fuel costs and repairs, he claimed the first two trips would pay for that... I opted to convert instead. (I'm retired and trying to stay that way) The bus had been looked at by numerous bus operators and inspected fully by each. All declined a purchase at his 14k figure. They apparently felt the cost of repairs outweighed the value of the bus. I drove it and looked it over, but did not take the time to have it inspected by any "pro". I also failed to go to the bus garages that did the inspections for the other prospective buyers. I made a blind offer of 8k, based only on what I had been seeing for sale. My 8k seemed "really low". I had looked at an '04 partial conversion for 15k (crapola), a 4905 for 18k (crapola), a 4903 for 20k (total garbage), an Eagle 10 for 15k (more rust than metal), and quite a few others. MC9s of any decent condition, were all going for well over 20k. "Decent condition" is to mean that the bus is ready for commercial carry. Safe, reliable and without major problems, or a long list of minor problems. My 8k offer for an MC9 seemed like a good deal for me. Even paying for the repairs, would still net me a great bus for less than the big dealers were asking. Was my 8k for a '79 MC9 really a good deal? The rear seal was said to be a $3,500 job, The bushings were estimated at $2,000. Air bags and leaks, around $1,500. The steering leaks, around $800. The tires, about $600. The blower leak, around $200. So adding around 8k, would bring the cost to 16k. Buying a newer MCI for 20k would have given me integral steering... and maybe some newer OE options. But the Welch air is worth every penny of $2,500, if one wanted to buy one.... Still, the final cost to put it into some perceived "fantastic" condition, would be around 16k minimum. More recent model MCIs from NJ Transit are offered by ABC bus for 14k and up (note the "and up"). I saved myself from continually traveling all over the countryside in quest of a bus, by buying mine from local operator. If you're looking for a good deal, and don't mind traversing the globe and spending countless hours and cash for inspections, go Ebay or watch the ads from across the nation. (Two "distant" bus garages I travelled to, had buses in worse mechanical -and absolutely terrible appearing- condition, for more $$$). If you're like me and just want to get started... look locally, but pay attention to details and have it inspected before you make an offer. No price is too low when the repairs start adding up, but paying a high price guarantees you nothing, either. Caveat Emptor | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
The competition is still the NJ transit 9's which had a wholesale cost of $3500 two years ago. Most MCI will need far less tubing than any Eagle , but the weak area is still the tubing that rusts rapidly under the windows . Hard to see , but not expensive to fix. As long as our highway funds are pork rolled into Publik Transportation , the market will be awash with low priced coaches. Every gallon of fuel we purchase contains the $$$ to keep bus prices down! Sad but True! FAST FRED | ||
| BrianMCI Rating: N/A |
Fred, the wholesale cost of a NJ MC-9 two years ago was $6000. I know that for a fact...I was in the market for one then... and the RETAIL price of a NJ MC-9 two years ago was as much as $12K. But, regardless of your error in pricing, a NJ MC-9 while it is made by MCI and is in fact an MC-9, it trully is in a pricing structure all it's own seperate from other MC-9's, at least it was at that time and I suspect it is still the case. (NJ MC-9's tend to sell for thousands less.) Brian | ||
| airless in Mississippi (Airless_in_mississippi)
Rating: N/A |
Not meaning to be rude but Brian in your area you may be correct. At Sawyers bus sales when I purchased my Bus Last year you could obtain a NON NJT for 5-7k that was in good shape You could purchase a NJT that was in GREAT Shape for 6-9k. ABC Bus at that time was 7-15k depending on which salesman you spoke with. I saw tons of coachs from 4-10k Hell the crook up in PA was 8k and add 12k he would put a rebuilt engine and box the inside. When I found the auction figures for the buses that ABC paid for the NJT which was avg around 3900.00 I got to see the margin being made on the buses. | ||
| TWO DOGS Rating: N/A |
yeah brian...why would anybody pay as much as you did for something that looks like a box of saltine crackers | ||
| BrianMCI Rating: N/A |
Well Two Dogs, first of all, I didn't end up getting a NJ MC-9 and secondly, I think you ought to realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder...more importantly, over time, your particular choices have proved to me that your eyesight ain't so hot. Know what I mean? <grin> Brian | ||
| TWO DOGS Rating: N/A |
.................. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A |
...especially with plugged-up wives? LOLOL | ||
| BrianMCI Rating: N/A |
Anyone can find a deal if you look hard enough Airless, and in 2002 the NJ MC-9's I was interested in were in New Jersey and the wholesale price for one of them was 6k. Some local dealers around the country may sell marginal equipment at bargain prices, but a search of listings on the internet reveals that most MC-9's are selling between $12,500 and $18,500 with highest number of listing having a $16,500 asking price. Brian | ||
| BrianMCI Rating: N/A |
...Of course, I'd love to see the proof that a 1981 MC-9 in FANTASTIC shape can be had for $3K. Brian | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
Rating: N/A |
Me too, I can probably find $3K if I did. I did find one for sale that was a mid-door, it was $6-8K IIRC. Gary | ||
| TWO DOGS Rating: N/A |
brian... yeah...there was that freckle face girl...guess I kinda know what you mean.... We have all taken a vote....& we think you need to change your headder from 'brian mci'...to "Brian the Beholder" | ||
| BrianMCI Rating: N/A |
Yeah... Kinda has a nice ring to it <smile> Brian | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
Aren't the NJ MCI9s all gone? Yesterday's prices do not dictate today's prices. When the bargains are gone prices tend to go up a bit. UNIMOG 404 4X4 trucks were down to $2500 for a while last year when the last of the Nato trucks were being auctioned off in Europe. Now the same trucks are back up to $6000 to $7500. Some people got a heck of a deal on NJ MCI9s but if they are not in the market now they don't count. |