Saw My 1st D 4000 N Model MCI

[luvrbus]

I never knew MCI made a D model 96 inches wide I thought the 12 was the end of the 96in wide MCI ,the Avi's bought 2 with Cat Diesels 2001 or 2002 models they are 40ft L x 96in W nice looking buses have any here ever saw one ? they ride and drive like a dream fwiw

[B_K]

Cliff,
I am like you an thought the 96A2 or 96A3 (or "B" in either 0ne) was the last 96" MCI!
In theory you are correct with one slight exception.
The "12's" were actually "re-conditioned "9's" that went thru various MCI authorized rebuilding shops and took them apart and basically did them as gliders with new interiors, suspension, drive trains, the newer bigger A/C system, and the 96A rear lights & anything else that needed replaced. (as told to me by a former shop manager of one of said rebuilding shops. Said he made a lot of $ rebuilding those "9's" and delivered them to customers that thought they were buying brand new buses. But he said they had been thoroughly gone through and ANYTHING that was suspect was replaced! Said they wrote up parts lists & MCI sent all needed parts and paid labor rates)
  BK 

[luvrbus]

I found where they made only 12 of the D4000N and it fits these 2 are X Pace buses from Illinois 

[buswarrior]

Buyer beware!

As BK notes, there were many MC9's that were refurbished to varying degrees by many parties and are attempted to be passed off as MC12's.

Greyhound also had a lot of their own MC9 heavily refurbished, to varying degrees, depending on the coach condition and how long they planned to keep it. Some of these cannot be detected by the usual visual cues.

Check the build plate to be sure what you are looking at.

The real MC12 were built new by MCI, intended for Greyhound, but available to anyone, few went elsewhere. The coach was built to a pricepoint, was mostly 96A3 underneath, with the older bodystyle hung on it. Few companies wanted to buy a new, "old looking" coach. There were significant savings for greyhound, initial purchase was less, and the extensive parts inventory for the MC9, and trained mechanics, carried on.

It was all about Greyhound keeping their capital costs down, and ignoring for awhile, going to the wider bodies. The future of the company, at the time, was not bright. Never forget, the dogbus was under capitalized for many years, from the Safety Kleen fiasco onward for at least a decade and a half. Not until First Group bought it up from the failing Laidlaw, did they get some decent funding.

Happy coaching!
buswarrior