I have purchased a Setra 215 with a series 60 Detroit. I have to thank Ace for going over and taking a bunch of pictures and looking everything over. Huge thanks to Mitch Kojic at All Bus Exchange for helping me through the process with my many phone calls, questions, helping me find tires, and a mechanic to do a pre-trip service. If anyone is in need of a bus I would HIGHLY recommend Mitch. His honesty and integrity have been refreshing, I'm not normally a dealer fan but he has been great. If anyone want his contact info please let me know, I don't know if it is allowable for me to put it up on this board.
Other guys that have been helpful (in no particular order) Bryce(busted knuckle) answered Setra specific questions, Craig Shepard(gumpy)& Brian Diehl who where kind enough to take the time to show a wannabe their buses, systems, and answer a bunch of inane questions. Thanks for everyones help even if I forgot to mention you.
I'll be making the trip to pick up my new toy in mid June with my father, so look for a report on my first bus adventure to be coming after that.
Paul Hastings
Congratulations on taking the plunge - and good to see more Euro coaches being converted!
Jeremy
Congrats Paul....
We wish you many memories with your new addition to the family. ;D ;D
Nick Badame
How do you intend to deal with the raised floor on either side of the dropped aisle?
Bryce said that one busnut widened the aisle and then placed all of his cabinets and such on top of the raised floor, but I don't see how that would work for everything in the coach.
That is mostly what I'll be doing. A shortened (height) couch on either side. Also dropping the floor in certain locations, shower for example. I don't forsee anything insurmountable in my plan, but I may have to do a couple of changes to my thinking after I get going.
Paul
Congratulations from another current BUSNOT. I hope you find much satisfaction with your new purchase. Maybe your good fortune will rub off on me soon, and I will find a coach for myself.
Happy Busing!
Tom
BUSNOT #2 also wishes you the best! Have a great trip in June and remember to take lots of pics.
Frank
Frank, read my response (post 12) on the Bus Museum Spring Fling topic. A year ago I was in the same place, now I get to worry about where to get good tires cheap, how to cool a coach without cooking an engine, etc. Dale City isn't that far from Hershey, last year I drove up from a TRB meeting in downtown DC - left about 8:00-8:30, got to Hershey late morning.
If nothing else, going will give you some ideas and contacts.
Arthur
Great! One thing to remember - just keep plugging away at it! You'll get there...
Danny
Like I said over the phone, Congratulations! This upcoming trip will be a real adventure for you. Don't forget a good flash light and a good map. :-)
OOooooooo Im jelous ...
Glad your now a Certified Busnut ;D
Paul,
Glad it all worked out!
Please try resending the pics to bustedknucklegarage at yahoo for me.
I'm sorry I hadn't answered the note you left me on my web address, I have been covered up with the business & trying to pull off the buy out (I think I told you about it!) !!!
Good luck & DON'T hesitate to call if ya need ANY HELP AT ALL!
Also please PM me and give me your contact info as well as Mitch's (I had it but have lost it over time!)!
Also trust me between Gumpy, Brian D, Dallas, Nick, Richard, Yourself, Me, an all the other knowledgable & creative hands(sorry if I didn't personally id you by name but there are too many to list!) on this board we can come up with solutions to the raised floor issue! (B. Belfert you sweat the small stuff to much! LOL!)
And most of all congradulations on graduating to a full fledged bus owner/nut!
;D BK ;D
Paul -
Besides a cell phone, one of the things you should be taking with you to pick up your new toy is a copy of the Bus Garage Index, published by Bus Ride magazine, an industry trade journal.
Latest edition has recently come off the presses - lists bus garages all over the country, including contact info. May be the best $40 you'll spend on your Setra.
Available directly from the publisher - there's a link on the LH side on their main page: www.busride.com
Remember - truck stops work on trucks, not buses. . .
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Excelant point Russ! I should have definitely had you on that list! LOL! BK ;D