I am conflicted

[artvonne]

  I dont know about all the Buses so much yet, other than what I like the looks of, but we sure dont all drive the same cars. Some like pickup trucks, some like lil sports cars, some like a stick, some really dont or cant figure it out so they stick with an auto. Some like to hear the motor, some dont want to hear anything. Some people keep moving up, and up, to the next best latest and greatest, most complex thing on the planet, some like an older simpler classics. Maybe some see it as keeping up with the jones's, maybe some dont give a rats butt who the Jones's are.

 I would say drive what you like and dont care what anyone else thinks you should own. I learned quite young that no matter how much power or speed you have, someone will always have more. No matter how fast your climbing a grade, someones still going to pass you in a bigger heavier something. But at the end of the day, are they any happier than you are? And why would you care? Your the only one who has to like it.

 

[thejumpsuitman]

Well you can take that to an extreme...  Notice I said I would go find a low mileage 1992 Caddy for a driver.  I didn't say a 1959,
even though a '59 is  WAY cooler.

On deciding which bus to keep, I would give it a while and let the emotional aspect simmer down. As cool as something can seem, there's always the saying, "familiarity breeds contempt".

Marc

[Ericbsc]

I just had a brain wave!! Most of us drive a bus in the 10-60 year old range!!!! How funny is that? May have something to do with the six figure factory conversions, or the 600k shell cost!!!!!

[thejumpsuitman]

That is funny.  To a lot of guys on here, a 1983 MC9 is new-fangled.

[robertglines1]

Easy: add on to barn. no brainer.   ask BK about old yellow car in back lean-to surrounded by lumber. Just go get icecream in it.     Bob

[artvonne]

  Probably the biggest factor is getting service, the 2stroke is getting old, we all hear the newer younger guys dont know what their doing with them, gotta be your own mechanic. The rest of it has more to do with condition rather than physical age, a Bus is a Bus really. Steel hoops, aluminum and stainless skin riveted on. Wheels and brakes and air bags are all about the same, many of the same parts. However, the cost of a rebuilt auto trans would more than pay for most MC-9's right now.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

My bus is 43 years old, my truck is 52, my sports car is 49, and my jeep is 24.  Total age of them is 168 years. Average age is 42.

[Just Dallas]

My take on it is the same as some of the other posters. I like my old stuff.... I can work on it and don't have to pay someone for the privilege of lightening my wallet, not that there is much there to make lighter.
We had a 1989 VW Cabriolet for a toad that we took in trade for some work we did. The poor old thing was on it's last legs and we spent over $2000 on parts, plus the work I put into it, along with work done by some very good bus friends that I can't count the amount of... bottom line, is that it was still junk and needed about another $3000 put into it. But it was towable.

Wife went to SC to visit her parents and came home with a 2006 Ford Taurus, (One of the Ugliest Automobiles EVER built.. IMNSHO).

The VW was sold, which just about paid for the tax, license, title and insurance on the Ford.

The Ford has NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS. I can't even change the oil without having an OBDII scanner that has the ability to reset the oil change menu.
It has no spark plug wires, or user serviceable spark plugs. There is no ignition coil or coil pack. The coils are actually on top of each spark plug, on top of each rocker cover, about like the way the old Hemi 331 and 354 were set up... except anyone could work on them!

Now... for old buses. Yeah, it would be great to have a nice fancy 102" with a 4 stroke DD or a Cat or a Cummins or a MAN, but, unfortunately, I can't or don't want to work on those.
If an MUI DD 2 stroke quits, there are only a few things it can be. If an electronically controlled diesel engine quits on the road... you call road service and have it towed to the nearest service facility. Then you pay their prices to repair it, (Which, BTW, will buy you a laptop and the prolink software and connections in very short order).

My oldy PD4103 GMC is a very simple system. It's the big brother of the PD4104 and all that came after, including the MCIs and the Prevosts.
Yeah, it's a spring ride, no problem. I've added an aux air ride in the back, and still don't have to block it to crawl under it. It has Arm Strong steering, but I defy anyone to be able to back into spaces I've gotten into in one try with their power steering. (One was between two trees and was 38'... I made it in the first try.), I'm also in my late 50's, (sorry, I don't remember what year... my wife will add that later), and I learned many years ago with my old Studebaker two ton truck, never fight the steering. Don't steer it unless you are moving. It makes it a lot easier. Not like Power steering, but then again, I can drive down the road and steer with two fingers and feel what the road and the machine is saying to me.

If you have the money and the inclination, by all means, go for the newer, faster, more expensive DDEC or whatever flavor electronic controls you want. Me, I'm looking for a 1991 Neoplan AN345 with the original MUI 6V92 and 5 speed manual transmission.

BTW.. we were going up the south side of Jellico a couple of years ago in our 4103 and passed a number of DL3's that belonged to the charter company where we were going to work on a bus.
We got to the Charter yard 45 minutes ahead of those buses and were parked, plugged in and set up before they ever got to the gate, but our bus only does 64 mph and the charter buses would do well over 75 mph.

It gives a bit of a pause for thought doesn't it?

Off the soap box now!

[Kubla]

SO does that mean you might be selling the old one?

[Kevinmc5]

I sold my 1950 Harley and built the motorcycle of my dreams. It was still a hard tail but had the best engine and all the best parts. The old Harley I put 30k miles a year. The new motorcycle sat in the garage. Afther 3 years only 3k miles. Sold it and got a 1964 bus I sure miss that old Harley, but I sure like my new old bus. I worried to much about the new motorcycle. It was getting dirty some one might touch it. Just never had the same feel or personality. It was just a machine to me. Only had my bus a few months and it's talking to me like the old pan used to. Maybe it's just because it so different then whats else is on the road. I'm not sure. Take a long time to make up your mind on which bus you keep. I'm sure the new one will be a lot easier to drive, but will it bring you as much joy? Injoy them both for what they are.
Kevin

[luvrbus]

Oh yea the 60 series and the B500 will bring him much joy compared to 8v71 and a 5 speed lol

good luck