Several thinks and things to say:

[ros]

First, I wonder who owns this board.

Second, I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to pm me with a valid link that ACE posted about me.  I know that I am 'bad to the bone' but I need to see with my own eyes what an evil critter that I am.

Third, as you know, 'the thread' was locked down.  I really do have lot to say about this mistake but not here, as the 'heavy, spiked hand of government - one of the moderators doesn't think we old geezers have enough experience and sense to regulate ourselves.  So I won't belabor the point here and upset them further but will take this to the other board.

I am far from a rabble-rouser but I have a great sense of right and wrong and I won't compromise my principles even though I only have a few bucks.

I do promise a good and honest,  but challenging read.

I know my place, I am just a newbie with no bus.

Ros

[RickB]

Ros,

This is a bus blog, it's not a political blog, it's not an argument blog. How about we talk about buses and keep it there for a minute shall we? Otherwise, you are gonna start to look exactly like the guy that some folks here may already believe you are and the moderators will start locking your posts a lot and folks will start pushing the ignore button big time. If you have a problem with the moderators having control over the throttle if things start to go flamefesty here, then this may not be the best place for you, because that is what works best here for us.  Trust me, posts with this kind of tone will probably not lead to you being more understood or vindicated and they will certainly not help you pick a bus.

So, back to the topic, specifically what can we do to help you find a bus?

Here's the basics:

Your budget. If you don't feel comfortable discussing that in detail then you can't be upset when folks take a lack of info and start trying to connect the dots. And not just your budget to buy a bus but your budget  to fix it if it pukes out a rod onto the pavement 175 miles from the nearest shop. Converted buses that folks are driving across this country are ridiculously expensive to maintain and they are always, without a doubt, no matter what anyone uninformed tells you, going to be a bad investment to the average person. Look at them like a cellphone, out of style next week, expensive, with poor coverage for service where a few companies have you by the monopoly cajones. They aren't for the faint of heart. Period. You better be strong enough physically, wealthy enough, self sufficient and knowledgable enough to fix it yourself or at least know how to tell a shoddy mechanic from a good one or you can do what most of us did here. Ask great questions, be prepared for some crap if you aren't teachable or clear in your questions and get ready for a long and humbling learning lesson.

Your experience. For instance, if you're capable of doing an out of frame rebuild we need to know that because that helps us understand your mechanical capabilities and if you're not very handy we are gonna assume that there is a fair chance that you could get in over your head. Don't be offended by that statement if someone says it, it's just a fact. Most everyone here has done some really stupid stuff and got in over our heads from time to time. Ask everyone here about my 8V92 fiasco a couple years back... Yikes that was an expensive lesson in learning what a dusted engine runs like after an hour on a stand.

The specific things you are looking for in a bus. Once again specificity is king, Bathroom, preferred motor, automatic or manual, etc.

Time frame. Are you fully ready to buy today? If not, maybe wait to get everyone involved here until you have that stuff sorted out. Then we can all be more helpful.

[ros]

Well, every time that I try to reply to RickB, some wonderful person in the form of a moderator named Dreamscape, Nazis my calm and reasoned reply by deleting it.

So, I will respond on the other board and see if Ian will allow a discussion about the issue of Freedom of Speech as it pertains to people that will destroy a board if left to denigrate others.

If the Constitution is no longer relevant to you and the freedom to discuss buses or flower arrangement or anything else with impunity is no longer of interest to you, stay here, if you wish.

Thanks for your time and help.

Ros

First, I wonder who owns this board.

Second, I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to pm me with a valid link that ACE posted about me.  I know that I am 'bad to the bone' but I need to see with my own eyes what an evil critter that I am.

Third, as you know, 'the thread' was locked down.  I really do have lot to say about this mistake but not here, as the 'heavy, spiked hand of government - one of the moderators doesn't think we old geezers do not have enough experience and sense to regulate ourselves.  So I won't belabor the point here and upset them further but will take this to the other board.

I am far from a rabble-rouser but I have a great sense of right and wrong and I won't compromise my principles even though I only have a few bucks.

I do promise a good and honest,  but challenging read.

I know my place, I am just a newbie with no bus.

Ros

[HighTechRedneck]

Ros, if you wish to participate here to learn from the immense bus knowledge that the members possess, and to enrich the bus nut community by sharing your bus search and adventures with everyone, then great!  That is what we are here for.  But if your intention is to argue with members, then I have to tell you that our Moderating Team will not allow it.

I@n and Ewen are friends of mine and I can tell you that while I@n prefers to let members self moderate, he and Ewen will stop excessive arguing and personally targeted insults/attacks as well.

[solodon]

The Constitutional freedom of speech pertains to non-censorship by the Government.  Individuals and organizations have the right to censor as they wish.  That's what makes America great.

[ros]

You are so right, Don.

Thank you for pointing that out.  I never dreamed it would be like that.

Now, Don, I have left that post alone and I would appreciate it if you didn't continue to stir the pot as the moderators want it to drop.

Ros

The Constitutional freedom of speech pertains to non-censorship by the Government.  Individuals and organizations have the right to censor as they wish.  That's what makes America great.