Do bus prices go down at the end of the year?

[luvrbus]

There was a time we could convert a old bus and make a few dollars those days are gone unless you did the conversion and rehab like my friend Boomer and even with him I don't know he broke even when he sold both of his. 
Some people like the classic look but that is all they have, it is not going to go up in value makes no sense to pay 50 or 60k for a old bus when you try and resell your lucky to get of it half back.
Keeping a old bus on the road in good shape costs a fortune over the years.For under a 100k you can buy a late model factory shell and conversion from conversion co with a modern power train (4 stroke) and suspension that gets better fuel mileage rides and drives better, better availability for parts and can buy engine oil for 1 in a drug store.
Don't get me wrong I like the classic buses but I am not going to invest money in one with the idea it's a good investment because they are not, they fall under liability on the bottom line         

[richard5933]

...Some people like the classic look but that is all they have, it is not going to go up in value makes no sense to pay 50 or 60k for a old bus when you try and resell your lucky to get of it half back.
Keeping a old bus on the road in good shape costs a fortune over the years.For under a 100k you can buy a late model factory shell and conversion from conversion co with a modern power train (4 stroke) and suspension that gets better fuel mileage rides and drives better, better availability for parts and can buy engine oil for 1 in a drug store.
Don't get me wrong I like the classic buses but I am not going to invest money in one with the idea it's a good investment because they are not, they fall under liability on the bottom line         

Anyone buying a bus, whether converted or not, as an investment is nuts. And not the good kind of nuts. Nothing about what we did with our 4108 was done as an investment in anything other than our ability to have fun and enjoy owning and using the bus.

Some people are doing this to have a practical and cost-effective way to travel in a bus conversion, and others (like me) find joy in the old classic buses and are willing to pay for and put up with all that comes with the addiction of vintage vehicles. Neither way is more correct.

Years ago my brother and I bought a '66 MGB and did a frame-off restoration. We could easily have bought a brand new Miata for less money and effort. But, we weren't seeking the end product - we wanted the experience and joy that came from the long and sometimes very frustrating process. Same with our bus. It's all about the journey, and I don't really worry about the destination.

[Geoff]

I wouldn't buy a electronics controlled bus at any price, especially one that is retired.  I have a '82 GMC RTS that is perfect for me and I can fix anything on it.  I don't worry about resale, I will never sell it.

[luvrbus]

We been looking for only 1 type bus in the past month I want a 2010 X3-45 Prevost only because of emissions,resale, since we plan on traveling just 2 years,for service,parts, 2 slides ,because it was the last year Prevost used the series 60 and because there are some tax benefits left on a 2010. lol I am a bottom line guy and will admit it.The kids can finish the MCI or sale it I don't have time for it 

[Geoff]

There is a clawfoot bathtub for sale in the Prescott Craigslist.

[luvrbus]

There is a clawfoot bathtub for sale in the Prescott Craigslist.

Forget that Geoff we have moved on  the kids can deal with the tub

[sledhead]

so what happened to change your mind from the M C I to a newer prevost ? the slides ?

dave

[luvrbus]

so what happened to change your mind from the M C I to a newer prevost ? the slides ?

dave

I reached a point I don't want to work on it anymore and I still have a ways to go,now I need to move the bedroom windows forward about 2 ft for the floor plan chosen and I don't want to do it.All BS aside my age is the biggest factor   

[bevans6]

When my bus - 1980 MC-5C Navajo Nation - came out of service in 2000, it sold and was imported to Canada at $20K.  The importer passed it to the first conversion owner after $5K of work at $30K.  That guy converted it poorly, I bought it for $30K, fixed the electrical and mechanical conversion issues, fixed a lot of bus mechanical, installed a new engine, and now I've installed an automatic.  I have at least $45K in it.  It's close to perfect mechanically, passes a commercial DOT every year, needs cosmetic work and the conversion finished.  People now would say it's worth $5K, maybe $10K.  I ain't going to sell it, it can molder once I finish with it, unless I find someone to pass it on to.

[richard5933]

Resale value is not a consideration for us. Wasn't when we bought it and still isn't today.

However, we have done some comparisons to what else we could have spent our money on.

We paid $46,000 for our bus. Much more than many would have spent, and maybe much more than we should have. But this bus had only 41,000 miles and was cosmetically and mechanically in about as good a condition as could be found in a 44-year-old bus. The conversion was high-quality and the layout worked for us. We've spent additional money since buying the bus to update/modernize most of the house systems and to do some needed maintenance and repairs (mainly due to non-use). We're into the bus for about $58,000 total - about the same as many others that started with a much less expensive bus.

Before buying our first bus, we shopped around at length for a good used diesel pusher motor home. It's easy to find a 35-40 foot model of decent quality still in usable condition at prices ranging from the upper 30s to the 60s. However, when the cost of the updates and repairs needed on these S&S motor homes was factored in, we'd still be in for at least as much as we spent on our bus. Possibly a bit less, but probably in the end about the same. Seems like modern motor homes don't age all that well and are prone to various system failures. And then we'd still only have a fiberglass shell wrapped around a S&S construction sitting on top of a chassis which was much less road-worthy than our bus. And there is nothing unique about a S&S motor home - they just don't have the same vibe as a vintage bus.

The final deciding factor for us was the safety issue. Since we spend much more time on the road than in a campground, we put being safe and road-worthy at the top of our priority list. After our collision last year we are glad we did. Nothing yet has convinced me that the fiberglass nose of a S&S diesel pusher would have allowed us to walk away from a head-on collision. That 2 seconds of use more than fully reimbursed us for the money spent on our bus.

[luvrbus]

Not all S&S as people call them are junk the entry level are nothing but junk.the Newell,Vogue,Foretravel, Country Coach and a few others are well built but come at a price since they were built from the frame up most where,I have watched the Vogue and Newell being built they didn't cut any corners they were built like a tank 
   

[buswarrior]

this has always been a hobby.

And hobbies co$t money, they rarely make money.

Demand drives price.

Travel costs money, regardless of mode. To feel better, the costs of the conversion have to be apportioned to its use.

For instance, a 3000 mile round trip to Florida for a family of 5 "co$t" more than the fuel money we all like to think it "co$t"... and would have cost how many thousands with hotel and restaurants? Money wasn't "saved" it was part of what got spent on the coach...

And the co$t to stay occupied while working on it...

What mischief would we get into without the bus to occupy us?

That is the "value" of a hobby, we mess with stuff, and spend some ca$h being the masters of our little universe.

None of this is likely recoverable, nor should we expect it to.

Oh, there always were peeps making money with conversions, lots of peeps quietly paying to have things done, that they won't do themselves. That hasn't changed one bit.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[luvrbus]

this has always been a hobby.

And hobbies co$t money, they rarely make money.

Demand drives price.

Travel costs money, regardless of mode. To feel better, the costs of the conversion have to be apportioned to its use.

For instance, a 3000 mile round trip to Florida for a family of 5 "co$t" more than the fuel money we all like to think it "co$t"... and would have cost how many thousands with hotel and restaurants? Money wasn't "saved" it was part of what got spent on the coach...

And the co$t to stay occupied while working on it...

What mischief would we get into without the bus to occupy us?

That is the "value" of a hobby, we mess with stuff, and spend some ca$h being the masters of our little universe.

None of this is likely recoverable, nor should we expect it to.

Oh, there always were peeps making money with conversions, lots of peeps quietly paying to have things done, that they won't do themselves. That hasn't changed one bit.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

The sad part of the "hobby" is when people spend the money and never make it home with the "hobby" and it happens often

[eagle19952]

If you follow Facebook interest, I think the turnkey, fair to above average coach market is on the rise.
The Excellent to high dollar (+ $60K) is stagnant.
The 6 figure plus is a different realm.
Those wanters are mostly leasing.

[Jim Blackwood]

I'm certainly in the bottom end of the spectrum, but what I'm looking at are D series in the 5-10K range, up to an absolute maximum of 17 in a conversion or possibly partially converted bus, cash on the barrel head.

What do I want, and expect to get for that? Realistically, a '94 DL with under 700K miles (500 preferred), usable tires, brakes, batteries, A/C and alloy wheels with no damage or rust and no known electronics issues. 60 series engine and automatic transmission. Based on what I've seen I don't think that is too much to ask. But I'm not going to Nevada or Cali for it and will only consider one from there if the cost plus delivery puts it under my limits. So, up to $10K cash in hand for all the above at my location. For a clean attractive bus I'd pay that today and I have the money. A 40' D series would be something I'd be interested in also.

To some of you this might not seem reasonable. But, I've been watching for nearly 6 months now and I know that it is, and at auction I might do much better than that. It's just a matter of finding the right bus. For instance, I'm not even going to look at a bus with steel wheels unless it costs at least $1500 less than a comparable one with alloy wheels. That's the absolute minimum it appears to cost to switch. I will not consider a bus with inoperable A/C. I will not consider anything over my mileage limits. I will not consider anything but the barest minimum of exterior damage. The seats now, who cares. But if it doesn't run forget about it, and I'm very leery of anything from the rust belt (that sort of includes you too Canada.)

That still includes a lot of territory, and If Mike in LA has a bus that meets my requirements I am willing to talk. It could come to that. But I'm not automatically bouncing right on up to my cash limits either. After all, I'm starting to see some pretty attractive auction items.

Jim