Phyllis and I have just about concluded that we're going to give up the 4107. The only reason I'm posting it here, is so that potential newcomers may be able to benefit from our experience.
We came about owning the bus from a couple of directions. I've been in the transit industry for over 40 years, we've been married for almost 12 years. Sometime early in our marriage, Phyllis commented several times that, when we retire, it'd be good to buy a bus, convert it, and travel around the country. I wasn't in favor, A, because bus people don't retire, and B, because of the amount of work involved in a conversion. In Spring 2006, I was at the Hershey bus museum's Spring Fling, and in a discussion of bus values. I was sitting in the driver's seat of a 4106, felt right back at home, and was surprised that prices were lower than I'd anticipated. Shortcut -- after some research, found the 4107, trusted the seller (top notch, by the way), had plenty of cash, so we bought it and brought it home.
We've been redoing the conversion, but made difficult because we can't keep the bus at our house (and my woodshop), it's in a storage area. Last year, it was hit while in the storage area, front end stove in -- other guy's insurance paid for the repair. After the repair was complete, I've left it at the repair shop, planning to get it painted -- then back to work more on the restoration. However, in the last couple of years, the economy has taken a toll on my business -- holding even, but not with the cash surplus of prior years. We've been without the coach for over a year --- even if we had it, we're both several years from retirement, and don't have enough time to do what's on our current agenda -- work, my hobbies, her hobbies, church, etc.
And, to do nothing costs about $1,200/year, between the storage yard fees, registration, and insurance. So, to keep it until we reach retirement age still has a cost --- and with a couple of minor rust spots, a paint job isn't just cosmetic, it's also a maintenance issue. If we keep the coach, we still don't know if our health will still be good, or if we'd still be interested in that type of travel. I travel for a living, as a consultant, and there's a great advantage to using modern vehicles (including aircraft), hotels, and not having the worry about a costly mechanical malfunction on an antique vehicle. Also, since I travel for a living, I enjoy my time at home.
We have enough airline miles for a couple of trips, First Class, to Europe -- but the bus uses up the money for hotels/food, etc. The money would also let us remodel the house kitchen, something we use everyday. If I knew business was going to pick up, had a forecast of lottery numbers, etc. - we'd probably think differently. If the bus wasn't waiting for a $5,000 - $6,000 paint job, I'd be more willing to write off the $1,200 annual carrying cost. That said, it's still a tough concept to mentally write-off the dollars we've put in -- the saving grace is that it was still a reasonable decision at that time, we couldn't predict the decline in business.
The interesting part, is that I'd been trying to broach the subject -- but I was concerned because she originally wanted the coach more than I did. In the end, she brought it up, and we'd both been thinking along the same lines. Over Christmas, we had lunch with old friends (he got me into the bus business), and they mentioned that they're selling their vacation home, and need accommodations at a transportation museum they're (and we're) involved in. It turns out, while I was thinking that the 4107 could be an opportunity for them, Phyllis had had the same idea. Today, I sent them an email to see if they'd be interested.
So, here's the question. If you and your spouse, separately, think alike --- is that scary?
Arthur
It worked for us the same way Arthur anyone that puts a pencil to owning a bus will come up with the same and I never had the storage problem only cost me thousands to solve 40x60x18 shop for that one and a 4,5 or 6 thousand paint job is on the low end I wish Mike Wilson charged me 5 grand lol I try and tell people a bus and boat are about the only thing that one morning you start the engine and boom there goes 1000's up in smoke. Now I only have the boat want to buy it only holds 1500 gals of fuel
good luck
They definately are not for everyone and having the facilities and know how to keep them on the road is a priority. Hope you recover some of your money invested.
$6K for a paint job is very low, you can spend 10K just painting an automobile. Imron for example is over $400 a gallon and a bus takes ..... a big bunch of gallons! Like most things in life, owning or buiding a bus, is only worth what it is worth to YOU and no one else. When she asks me "are we going to sell our bus/" I always reply the same way .... "Yes hon, at the Estate Sale."
The wife and I share the same passion and we don't like the expense of ownership any more than the next guy, but it is just one of the things that comes along with owning a bus or an RV. In the end, I would much rather be parked and holed up somewhere, waiting on a payday, than stuck in some motel off the beaten path.
But that is me.
BCO
Quote from: Chopper Scott on January 11, 2011, 10:42:54 AM
They definitely are not for everyone and having the facilities and know how to keep them on the road is a priority. Hope you recover some of your money invested.
Arthur,
Best of luck. Tough decisions are best made together.
Scott and BCO,
Totally agree.
Plus, not having it at the house makes it really tough to work on.
My newbie advice is use it at every phase, and don't put 40K in a 10K coach.
With a little talent and research, most anyone can build a decent coach.....without breaking the bank......
Cliff
Arthur,
You are about 4 months behind me.
Cheryl and I had our bus for about 11 years as we designed, worked, and used it. We both loved it, Cheryl was as involved in the hobby as I was.
I am 2 months away from retirement (the 2nd retirement) and I am/was very concerned about the financial issues of the bus after retirement. Also the on the road repair as I get older, etc., etc. A few months ago I sat Cheryl down and told her I wanted to get rid of the bus, the reasons why, and told her, go ahead and try to talk me out of it. She agreed with my reasoning.
But, it's not easy to get rid of a bus right now in this economy. Sooooo, I took out a few of the things I wanted, and gave the bus away. I gave the bus to a church traveling group who had just lost their bus due to a blown engine. Some folks are saying God had a plan and I was only being temporarily used to do God's work. Which is just fine with me. (I even enjoyed it while being used).
So, we now have a new sticks and staples 5th wheel we will be traveling in when seeing the Grandkids (oh, and the kids too...) and I don't have that constant thought in the back of my mind of an expensive repair or having to do on the road repairs I can't afford or may not be able to physical handle.
Bottom line, it was/is a great hobby, I have no regrets about the money spend on it, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Like someone else said, "whatever is right for you and the wife".
Good Luck,
Chris
This is always a personal decision and we will all have to make that decision sooner or later. For right now, Paula and I are still in good health, I can still do most of the necessary work on it, and we both enjoy traveling in it. When the time comes that either (or both) of us are no longer able to comfortably travel and still enjoy traveling, or able to do the necessary work on it, it will probably become an apartment on our place for visiting friends. Or may go to one of my sons that constantly reminds me to take good care of HIS bus LOL. Jack
Y'all are scaring me again. I have this old 92 Fleetwood S&S, actually an Oshkosh chassis with a 5.9 Cummins/Allison pusher. Its treated me well, but parts are almost nonexistant, and service/repairs are mostly DIY. The way they buried that motor in the back makes it very hard to do much but look at it. I cant even imagine how hard it would be to R&R it. Most I have asked wouldnt touch it with a 10 foot pole, and it makes it something I am no longer comfortable with out on the road. But I still want a large RV to tow a car. I tried the 5th wheel thing, truck rode like a lumber truck, blew around, no thanks.
So I felt a Bus would offer the best reliability, easiest to find parts, easiest service/maintenence, best driveability, and would be the easiest to find someone willing to work on it if the worst happened, if it was something I couldnt do myself. I guess I am mostly trying to fend off major away from home repairs, not go looking for them. If fears of failure and expense are keeping some of you awake at night, could you pass along your reasoning?
Cody looked the bus over once and pointed out that it has 6 handles, 3 on each side for the bay doors so he has decided that he wants to be buried in the bus, we've kept our eye out for 6 really strong pallbearers, back in 1976 he decided that he didn't want to sleep on the ground in a tent anymore so that is what started our bus/RV headaches and adventures. We've also got the revcon so anytime he feels like a change of pace we fire that up and head for summersville wv for a bluegrass fest or to canada for a fishing trip, we've even had it up to hudson bay to look at the polar bears, the bus has far more storage but the revcon drives like a sports car and he enjoys that too, especially passing trucks on long grades.
Quote from: artvonne on January 11, 2011, 10:34:42 PM
If fears of failure and expense are keeping some of you awake at night, could you pass along your reasoning?
If you have fears about road issues, start a maint. fund, put some cash back for emergencies. You can start a mileage fund at the same time, add a dime to it for every mile you travel, believe it or not, it add's up. Take the mileage money and put it in the maint. fund. When you have to spring three grand for some tires, all of it or at least part of it, will already be there. Same thing with repairs ... I call it peace of mind.
It aint much, but it is something, like the bank sez .... Whatever it is ... make it work for you.
BCO
I respect your decision fully as your reasoning is honest and logical. I'm honest, but not many ever accused me of being logical or smart! That being said, I recently bought a Scenicruiser that has sit for a long time, and rough as can be inside. My pockets aren't all that deep, but I am 41, so hopefully I will have a long time to work on her before I die, either way, I'll probably work on her until I die! good luck with whatever you do!
Boyce
Arthur no camper If I had to drive to work on bus it would be a long project. I just walk to shop so it is so nice to have tools and supplies at hand.Easy to work a couple of hrs when I want. I totally understand you position. Would have been nice to see a wood professional product. Follow your heart and best wishes. Bob
Everyone here will have to make this decision sometime in our lives, it's inevitable. Arthur, it saddens me to hear this, but if you both feel that you need to walk away then do it.
We have thought about our situation for a long time and when the time comes to hand over the keys, it will be a sad day. I told my wife she can just bury me in it, she said, where am I going to live then? ;)
Until that time comes, we plan to enjoy full-timing in our coach no matter what. If our fuel funds are low, we'll just park it along a river bank or other scenic spot and Thank the Lord for getting us that far.
Paul
I totally understand the high cost of Maint on a but, but have you had a car worked on lately or bought parts. I just spen ove $1500 putting a transmission in my daughter's 10 yr old car(about 1/3 what it is worth), because it is a nice car, and we don't have another $5K to shell out for a car(basic).
The VW repair shop here charges over $100 per hour, and I can get good service on the bus for $55/hr. I bought two water hoses(dealer only item) for my Jetta recently, and the parts only cost me over $200 and I could fit both in a lunch box. I also replaced the water pump, timing belt, serpentine belt, and idler. I was afraid to ask how much they cost,so I bought them online for under $100 total including shipping. The last time I had these items replaced (at a VW shop) the cost was over $1000.
All things need to be in perspective.
If we did only what made financial sense, none of us would ever have FUN or be BUSNUTS!
Just my perspective(your results may vary based on weather conditions, phase of the moon, alignment of the planets, and vitamin intake)!!!
Steve Toomey
PAbusnsut
I am 68 years young and just completing a 1964 4106. I have been a rv nut for years but the fact that I can go get in the bus live in it if I have to,go where ever the funds allow ,In one of the safest , most well built vehicle on the road means a lot. It's my last haven of freedom when freedom has almost been forgotten. I have enjoyed every moment of the work even the greasy job of rebuilding the engine. After two heart attacks and several surgeries Its a good thing all the work has been done. The cost of designing, building and finishing this bus cannot compare with the pure pleasure of the many hours of the journey. I would have spent much more on interment and had nothing. What I'm trying to say is don't think of it as a job, but fullfilling a life long dream. So for you young guys and gals out there if you can look at it that way GO FOR IT. papa T
It was previously said "if it flies,floats or wears a skirt it's cheaper to rent!" Maybe we can add buses to that quote?
I believe the post was about this:
>>So, here's the question. If you and your spouse, separately, think alike --- is that scary?
Arthur<
Arthur,
No. It's safety.. ;)
Art, Preventative Maintenance is your friend, and will do much to increase your comfort level --- in any vehicle.
When we brought it down from New Hampshire, where we bought it, we lost one nut from the temporary license plate, and one nut from the auxiliary generator tailpipe. Two pieces of coat hanger covered us for over 5,000 miles. The reason -- we'd had the dealer (former second generation owner and maintenance director of an old family bus company) do all necessary repairs and PM's. If my friend is interested in the coach, I'll probably drive it up there from Texas to Massachusetts for him. We might, then, even use it one more time to get my Mother in Law up to New Brunswick, Canada -- the first time we did it she said it was her best travel experience (of somewhere between 50 and 100).
My business is down, (affecting money), and Phyllis' work is up -- she's doing quite a bit of overtime (Thank you, Interstate Batteries). That affects the time we have available - both to work on the coach and, more importantly, to use it. Our issue is spending the additional money to finish out the interior, and get a coat of paint on to protect the metal. Then, we have to think about the annual costs -- storage, registration, insurance, for an asset we don't have time to use. We purchased two new cars in 2009 -- that money can pay them down faster; let us use our airline miles to go to Europe (by funding hotels/meals), etc.
A major failure, though, can happen despite PM. My wife's new Mercury wouldn't come out of Park when she made a stop on the way to work. Had it towed to the dealer where I bought my Lincoln (different dealer), and it turns out the original dealer had nicked a brake light wire when they switched out the radio. Not major, but had her stuck. I've figured out that I don't start my car, I'm booting the computer. If that goes, big bucks --- so I plan to buy the extended warranty before my 4-year warranty runs out. So, the suggestion of a maintenance reserve fund, as suggested, is a very good one. Much like I've squirreled away about 5 grand for the paint job, a reserve would cover you for emergencies.
However, if you search back in the archives, you'll see posts about blown engines on the road. Paul has a story of losing his air compressor coming to Texas -- I think he was stuck for a couple of days. It almost seems like you can multiply the expense as a function of the weight of the part, and the age of the vehicle. When I was young bus company employee, I used to bring in dead buses, and we had a good maintenance program (another family bus company, with the founder's son in charge of maintenance). I remember bringing in a schoolbus without a clutch, a good way to learn how to time stoplights. I also remember one of our guys, on a 4905, getting the transmission hung up in two gears at once. He was an old streetcar motorman, up to bus driver, and I remember it because of him swearing on the radio (I can't shift the damned thing --- oops). That was with a fairly new 4905, and I'm running an older 4107. Stuff happens.
So, as a thought -- search the archives for some of the road failure experiences - those not caused by poor PM. What would you do in the same situation. Would you look at it like a good chance to get your hands dirty, solve problems, and revel in your victory, or get upset/angry? Perhaps another parallel. In the past, I remember renting a car to drive from Dallas to do a safety review of the bus operator in Abilene, Texas, 100-150 miles each way, because I wasn't sure of the car I then owned. I had a good PM program on my car, but it was a high mileage vehicle.
Arthur
We all do it different the up keep had a little to with but not that much,I just decided after long conversation with Dave Galley the age 70 was time for me to pass the keys no regrets on my part.
I am smart enough to know I wasn't the same person as I was at the age of 60 and at 70 I don't wear glasses perfect vision lol
good luck
QuoteIt was previously said "if it flies,floats or wears a skirt it's cheaper to rent!" Maybe we can add buses to that quote?
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-03/31/content_7633623.htm (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-03/31/content_7633623.htm)
Probably.
Arthur
I have similar dilemmas, I see the cost of ownership and wonder if it is worth it. I also have the same fears of breakdowns etc. Sometimes there is no good answer, but I told my wife when we bought Wheezy Bus that I would have rather tried and failed, than turn old and only wish I had tried. You can honestly say you did it! No matter what decision you make, I wish you and your wife the absolute best.
Quote from: Barn Owl on January 12, 2011, 04:41:33 PM
I have similar dilemmas, I see the cost of ownership and wonder if it is worth it. I also have the same fears of breakdowns etc. Sometimes there is no good answer, but I told my wife when we bought Wheezy Bus that I would have rather tried and failed, than turn old and only wish I had tried.
I guess thats kind of how I am approaching the move up to a Bus. I hate motels with a passion, I hate being crammed in a car, and I hate the thought of leaving the dogs behind for someone else to care for. There is a certain confidence I have gained being on the road in a large RV. I have the car along, so a major breakdown isnt a total catastrophy, I can still drive home. But I also "am" home. The trepidation of leaving home, the fears fall away with the miles, and I soon feel like the Captain of my own ship, sailing the byways, sails unfurled. I just need to find a better ship, this thing I have now is kind of an orphan.
Fuel has by far been our greatest expense, and at 6 to 7 mpg now I dont see that changing any with a Bus, and its just going to get more expensive over time. But a major breakdown out on the road could totally trump the cost of fuel in a hurry. Guess thats the gamble you take. But thats the same with life really, just driving out of your yard every day is a gamble. So you prepare, you bring spares, either cash or parts (or both), or you dont.
I cant yet fathom the idea of stopping. My Dad lives with us, and at 89 he is starting to have a few issues that require more of our efforts. Another reason I am looking at a Bus, it would be the best way to travel with him. But I too will one day have to hang up the keys. My heart goes out to any and all who have to make that decision.
As for the spouse thinking the same thoughts in the same space and time? Thats what you call being equally yoked, just as God intended. I too wish you the best in whatever course you take.
Arthur:
How much are you asking for your bus?
Dr. Steve, central old Mexico
MLH - as I recall the saying, it's: If it floats, flies or f***s .... you're better off renting it .... sorry but it's my mantra
QuoteAs for the spouse thinking the same thoughts in the same space and time? Thats what you call being equally yoked, just as God intended.
Art, I ended up very lucky that way. There was another post that I saw before his editing, of someone that is in the same position now that I was 12 years ago. We were both mid-late 40's, never married. I'd moved around the country too much with a management company, and after I stopped moving, I was travelling a lot on business. We had each become content with our lives, weren't looking. We'd met at church, about 10 years previously, dated a bit off and on - nothing big. After a long period of going our separate ways, I'd left that church, we hadn't seen each other in quite a while, Phyllis called me. Her company/department had a suite at the Mesquite Rodeo - would I like to go? I'd never been to a rodeo, so I thought it'd be interesting. I figured I was going to eat and watch horses and cows maybe she needed someone to introduce to her coworkers, who whatever. That progressed to seeing each other again, with no plans -- in fact, we were each still quite happily single. It just happened, even though we didn't want/seek it --- so God was obviously making our plans for us.
It makes life a lot easier when we approach things the same way -- keeps the blood pressure down. We get an extra, unpaid item in our bag at the grocery store, and the only discussion is whether we go back to return it then, or wait for our next trip and save gas. Neither of us is fond of visiting one of her relatives, but we do it because it's the right thing to do.
Now, for the earlier poster that's now in the same boat as we were -- mid 40's, first marriage -- there was still a heck of a learning curve. We were both well set in our ways. It was work, hard work. It still is work at times. However, just as work yields a paycheck (at least, with all of my clients except the City of New Orleans), this work also has quite a reward.
Arthur
Most of our friends look at us as if they're going to run out and get straight jackets for us. The most common comment is "Why would I drop my money into an old bus when I can use it to fly anywhere in the world?"
On the minus side, we have to pay around $1,700 a year to store it and they have a strict policy that you can't work on it or even wash it on site. We've put easily $10,000 into it over the 3 years we've owned it. The cost of fuel is... well.. you know.
On the plus side my wife, Rhonda is also a bus fan. The mechanics on the coach are relatively simple and when I get over my head I have a couple of friends who have been valuable lifelines. There are always projects to do, which I list as a "plus" as the coach has become a hobby. I'd like to think the bus is in better shape than when we purchased it. Both former owners took really good care of it and it shows.
We don't regret it for a minute. But having said that... I understand.
Bryan and Rhonda
PD-4108
Vancouver BC
Steve, I sent you a private message yesterday.
Arthur
Arthur:my wife and I met in a church ( ministry ) I worked in and went thru a lot of the things you did Both diversed for ten years.. We know God put us to gather but we haven't figured which one he was mad at. papa T
As this thread has kind of got to soul searching over the wisdom of owning a bus here is my story...I like to drive older vehicles, still have my 1970 muscle car I bought almost 40 years ago when I was 16, have a 1968 International pickup, a 1972 Grumman Van, and was driving a 1976 Jeep Wagoneer to work the last few days in the snow. I can pretty much work on any problems on the older vehicles myself or can call in a couple of friends if I get in over my head.
I do have for my wife a 04 Honda and a 98 Jeep Cherokee but when they need much more than preventative work they go to a shop.
My previous Motorhome was a 22' 1973 Barth, it was a great little camper but I really got nervous hauling the grandkids around in it with the 16" truck tires, (worried about a front tire blowout every time I drove it.) I really was not looking for a bus but found the 1959 4104 up the road in Branson, got into it I feel very cheap, it had a new complete brake job, new wheels, new tires and a really nice conversion. I drive an 18 wheeler and for me bigger is better. While I do not plan on any cross country trips in the near future it is a blast to take on local camping trips with the kids and grandkids. My wife loves the storage the bus has over the Barth. The safety factor I feel with the kids aboard is priceless. I signed up for Coachnet when I bought the bus, can do most of the work on it myself, have a couple of friends I can count on if I get in over my head and do not regret the decision to buy the bus at all. I live in the country and in the great state of Arkansas so how many old vehicles I have in the driveway and in the garage is just between me and my wife.
In the past couple of years the previous owner made trips in the '04 to the Southwest U.S. and New England. When I do decide to take a long trip I will do all the preventative maintaince I can and I feel pretty good about my chances of getting there and back. Now if diesel just stays under $4.00 a gallon :)
Rick
QuoteWe know God put us to gather but we haven't figured which one he was mad at
Tony, I love that line. I'll have to find a place to use it, where I won't get into trouble.
Arthur
Quote from: Rick59-4104 on January 14, 2011, 07:32:15 AMNow if diesel just stays under $4.00 a gallon :) Rick
I wouldnt bet on it Rick. We made a trip out to SD two summers ago (09) to visit my wifes relatives. When we left town (central Minnesota) fuel was at 4.59. Believing fuel was always cheaper in SD, because it always had before, I kept driving west watching the price rise, which was also normal for Minnesota. I ended up paying 4.95 gallon 60 miles into SD. We were originally talking about keeping on going and head out to the Black Hills, but her relatives told us it was even higher out there, IIRC fuel was 5.45 in Huron, and higher yet in Rapid City. That put the kabash on going any further west and forever changed my opinion of future fuel costs. Plan for it being high, and pray that it dont.
In the planning aspect, and if I ever find a Bus, I would like to install another fuel tank to carry enough fuel to make a trip and not need to freak out over the cost so much. Buy it when its down.
It may well be that fuel prices will rise in the future, but it's always cheaper at the next station you pass after you fill up >:(
Quote from: Len Silva on January 14, 2011, 09:03:20 AM
It may well be that fuel prices will rise in the future, but it's always cheaper at the next station you pass after you fill up >:(
Aint that the truth.
Quote from: artvonne on January 14, 2011, 11:52:11 AM
Quote from: Len Silva on January 14, 2011, 09:03:20 AM
It may well be that fuel prices will rise in the future, but it's always cheaper at the next station you pass after you fill up >:(
Aint that the truth.
We must have traveled the same roads. I did learn a trick that worked every time, I always waited till a couple days after Jack Conrad filled up. Then the price was always lower!! JIm
When I first bought "Urge" the only place to keep him was 45 minutes south of me in a friend's backyard... and what happened?? No work on him for almost a year, minus painting the roof!
I completely understand... If my bus were still sitting in a field instead of outside my machine shop, I swear I would be stuck in the same place of having nothing accomplished. I completely understand your woes.
As far as your financial concerns, I am right there beside you. Luckily (hopefully) I have many decades ahead of me to catch up on what I have spent on my bus. Being someone who has never had over $5k at any given time, and has really no responsibilities aside myself, I have never had too much need to panic that I will ever be able to "not survive" if I were to go broke... It's a difficult thing to think about still. My mind gets changed every now and then and I oscillate between being worried and knowing that I am fine all the time. But, I never give up on the bus.
FWIW,
-DRT
Well, it looks like I should change the title of this thread. After much energy, we've decided to keep the 4107. We had made the decision to sell, right before the initial post; and were proceeding in that direction. Earlier this week, I went to pick it up from the shop, and it wouldn't charge -- and that seemed to seal the deal, we even had decided that the scrapyard might be a possibility. Dropped the price, and someone was interested - even with needing to rebuild the alternator (final diagnosis of the non-charge, is that the alternator was on it's last legs, and was walking with a crutch). Yesterday, I took a set of photos, and sent them to the prospective purchaser.
Phyllis and I had an extensive discussion last night, which also let me discover that she'd been thinking of selling it, far before the idea popped into my head. (For anyone coming into the movie here, she was a great part of the impetus to buy it, in the first place). Either way was fine with me, I could see both sides. I will say, that after cleaning out the inside some yesterday to take photos, I also had second thoughts. We tried to come up with a way to divine what God wanted us to do, went to bed, and both slept well.
Getting up this morning, she announced that she wanted to keep it. I've emailed and called Marc (Jumpsuitman), and, while disappointed, he understands. I also want to extend my public apology to Marc here, and thank him for his understanding. It is encouraging to be able to work/talk with honorable people.
Part of the decision is to postpone the paint job, but put the money into an automatic transmission so Phyllis can drive it. There is an 8V71/V730 powerpack at the mechanic's shop, that he was going to put into a 4106 -- but the bus owner hasn't paid him for the powerpack, nor the labor he's done so far. We may see about swapping. although that will lose me the "fun" of driving a stick, as I remember from driving 4905's in line service, it will make it easier to drive, and let her drive it, as well.
So, apparently this was a chapter in the book, not the end.
Arthur
Arthur,
First off, congrats on your decision. In reading this whole thread, it was pretty easy to hear the regret in your voice (can a typed note have a "voice"?) at the thought of giving it up. It looks like you have options and I hope they will work out for you.
Second, I have to state how totally impressed I am with your class to come in here and publicly apologize to your prospective buyer. That says so much for your character.
I also want to tell you how cool it is to see a marriage where you two really do act as one. I wish we could be around you so that would rub off on us. We at times have the same thoughts or ideas but often they are at different times! Or, one won't admit they have the same thought because they think they'd lose some perceived power in the relationship. Ouch. Thanks for showing us all a great example.
Mike
I would like to chime in as it is now known that I was the potential buyer... Arthur is a class act and handled the situation as well as anyone could ask. The way I feel is that the bus belongs to he and his wife, and they certainly have every right to change their mind since no money was spent by me and the deal was still in the talking stages.
Although I was indeed disappointed, my faith compels me to accept it with grace and to remain patient. I have learned after many years of forcing my will in situations (to my own detriment) that God's plan for me is better than my own plan for myself. I have every confidence that keeping the bus is the right thing for them and that the right bus for us will come in due time.
I am actually quite excited for them and perhaps this pivotal moment will inject them with new energy to go forward. I wish the all the best.
this is really good news, if only because endings are so filled with stress and disappointment. Beginnings are the opposite - filled with happiness and optimism! Now you have a new beginning! On the powerpack exchange, I say go for it! It not only marks a break from the old, it opens up a new path forward for you and your partner Phyllis as a team. Why not share the fun?
Cheers, Brian
Arthur and bride:
Congrats on being able to keep your bus.
I am still going to send you my friend's data over by Fort Worth who does bus conversions. Maybe he can be of help to you in your resurrection process.
Dr. Steve, central old Mexico
Arthur & Phyllis -
I'm sure you both are somewhat relieved about your decision. I'm still grieving over my 4106 that I donated. . . :'(
OTOH, I thoroughly encourage you to pursue the powertrain swap. Not only will Phyllis enjoy driving it, but Arthur - you won't have to deal with that notorious wet clutch!
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)