Has anyone ever converted one of these?

Eric · January 02, 2010, 04:27:54 PM

I really like our AN440 but as a transit bus it has a lot of storage"issues" it goes down the road like a dream and such but we REALLY need something with a bit more room

was checking this out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-NEOPLAN-CITYLINER-58-SEAT-COACH-BUS_W0QQitemZ220534046934QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBuses?hash=item3358da80d6
opinions?

John316 · January 02, 2010, 04:49:14 PM

Sean will know about it...

God bless,

John

philiptompkjns · January 02, 2010, 05:19:52 PM

Isn't that the same as sean's bus?

rv_safetyman · January 02, 2010, 05:27:43 PM

ekhedge, you have some insight on the Neoplan parts issues, since you own one. However, it looks like this one has Europe style wheels which suggests it was not built in the USA. If that is the case, the parts issue will be even worse. Sean has gone through some very significant effort to find things like the tag A-arm and I think he said that the front glass is made of "unobtainium".

The bid at the present time is $5K. My guess is that with the Series 60 the reserve is at least three times that value.

I hope that Sean replies. He will have great comments. His conversion is a really neat and the elevated floor and very large bays are great features.

Jim

Eric · January 02, 2010, 05:34:16 PM

Parts are def. an issue...currently i'm having a door made for the front of ours

i just have a thing for neoplans as they are so very .....different

Thanks guys!

luvrbus · January 02, 2010, 06:04:53 PM

Jim that being a series 60 6087 G is that a DDEC III 11.L or with 400hp a 12.7

good luck

luvrbus · January 02, 2010, 07:22:52 PM

A 1995 is listed at www.bargainbusnews.com for 46,000

good luck

TomC · January 02, 2010, 11:20:00 PM

Whether it be the Cityliner, or the Spaceliner like what Sean and Louise have, they are basically european made buses with American engines and transmissions (rear end is M/B). Just talk to Sean at all the problems he's had with the mechanicals on his bus, and problems with not so good of an engine conversion-personally, not worth the headaches just to have a truly unique bus. Stick with a good old MCI, Prevost, GMC, etc American made bus. Good Luck, TomC

Gary '79 5C · January 03, 2010, 06:29:15 AM

Good & Bad with every thing, but I would not like the problems of sourcing parts. Also, the driveways, aprons, and approaches to truck stops, restraunts etc, will need to be gradual with that long over hung front end. I am thinking sitting that low would make parking, sighting traffic ahead a problem as well.
But if different is what you like, this would it, with plenty of storage.
Good Luck,
Gary

P.S. I thought that the MCI 3500 was cats behind, 35'er, newer, non 2stoke, and such, but Luke talked me out of that one due to sourcing parts, wiring...

TomC · January 03, 2010, 06:36:59 AM

Good choice Gary! I too liked the 3500 on paper, but after reading that it is basically a Dina, and a cheap one, changed my mind too.
More then once has Sean gotton hung up where he had to call a wrecker to pull him out-whether it be too low or just plainly getting stuck. I don't anticipate that kind of problem with my using a tandem drive truck. Good Luck, TomC

buswarrior · January 03, 2010, 06:40:16 AM

For ease of parts, a busnut needs a coach that was produced in some VOLUME.

So that there are likely parts on a shelf somewhere, donor vehicles, and enough folks around that can remember working on them that you can compare notes to be sure you are getting reliable info.

Otherwise, your hobby will be very much one of parts acquisition sleuthing, and some re-engineering for unobtainable bits, not busnuttery.

Which is loads of fun in its own right, but you need to want to be doing it!

I agree the Neoplans are an interesting coach for busnut consideration, these mundane maintenance matters aside!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

BG6 · January 03, 2010, 10:57:08 AM

Quote from: ekhedge on January 02, 2010, 04:27:54 PM
opinions?

That pool is empty, DON'T DIVE IN!

If you have to ask for opinions, that means you don't know the platform well enough to take chances with a less-common coach.

With GMC, MCI and Eagle, there is a LARGE pool of spare parts (and scrapped coaches), and many parts still in production. Prevosts are popular enough that you can get pretty much anything, if you can wait or hunt around a bit. Neoplans just never became a standard in the US, and that means not only a parts issue, but it's harder to find anyone willing to work on them because they don't have the service documentation.

I agree that the reserve price is going to be pretty high, and that's just for the coach, before you put so much as a hotplate in it.

If you go to crazedlist.org, you can hunt a lot of craigslist sites at once to find something more cost-effective.

If you aren't looking to full-time, my vote would be a Scenicruiser. Not enough room for full-timing, but if you want a vacation rig, that's the one I'd look for.

Just Dallas · January 03, 2010, 11:18:19 AM

Removed

Eric · January 04, 2010, 07:58:21 AM

Quote from: BG6 on January 03, 2010, 10:57:08 AM
Quote from: ekhedge on January 02, 2010, 04:27:54 PM
opinions?

That pool is empty, DON'T DIVE IN!

If you have to ask for opinions, that means you don't know the platform well enough to take chances with a less-common coach.

Currently We are fulltiming in a Neoplan An440

I've just never seen a cityliner done as a coach b4... thanks all i've got to watch the ol budget anyhow!

Sean · January 04, 2010, 08:12:34 AM

Ask and ye shall receive.

The referenced coach is a US-built model. Someone earlier said to stick with American made, and I will point out that this bus is more "American" than an MCI, which is built in Canada.

The US models such as this one will not have the same parts availability problems that I experience with my German-built Spaceliner. The axles, brakes, differential, wheels, etc. etc. are all stock US-spec parts from such providers as Meritor. The power train is Detroit/Allison. Gauges are VDO. About the only items that will be increasingly difficult to source are the glass, body panels, and molded trims.

Even then, Cityliners are much more common coaches than Spaceliners. Used take-offs for these coaches are easier to find, and I expect Pilkington to continue making the glass for years to come.

The biggest challenge you will find with these buses is that mechanics and bus garages are generally not familiar with them. Expect to become your own expert on every system on the coach, right down to the air bags and king pins. But they ride better than almost anything else on the road, have good handling and maneuverability, and you can't beat view from the passenger deck once you take the parcel racks out.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com