Does anyone know of this MCI F3500?

plyonsMC9 · April 13, 2018, 11:07:32 AM

First,
I promise - this is NOT for me. Wife already has me on close-watch with the two MCI's. Not looking to be ordered to take my buses and go camp out with the 3rd bus.

But I do have a friend - seriously not me - who is looking at this rig. Does anyone happen to know its history or other information? You can PM if that would be preferred.

Thanks and happy bussin'!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-MCI-Motor-Home-Coach/152981276069?hash=item239e6505a5:g:Hq4AAOSwdGJavse9&vxp=mtr

MCI 2001 F3500

bigred · April 15, 2018, 04:17:32 PM

I think if I were your friend I would do a bit more looking . Busforsale.com sold a 2004 model for less than what these folks are asking for an 01 .It had heated floors and all the bells and whistles .Going by this ,it seems that the asking price for this one is kind of out of line .I have been kicking myself ever since I let that one get away ,but the were selling it for an individual who was not interested in taking a Prevost in trade

plyonsMC9 · April 15, 2018, 10:29:17 PM

Thanks Big Red!

Appreciate your response. Looks like it is difficult to get a more recent year-model bus conversion with the 4 stroke engine - it has been months since we spotted the last 35' conversion - and it appears that it is just the MCI F3500 that is available in that class.

This one looks to be off the table for now, or already purchased, so likely a moot point. Kind of a shame there wasn't more demand and MCI pulled the plug on the 35' model.

Kind Regards, Phil

CrabbyMilton · April 16, 2018, 04:13:37 AM

MCI is going to have a 35' J model in a few years. The J3500.
TEMSA and VAN HOOL have 35' versions so obviously, there is understandably a demand for them again.

buswarrior · April 16, 2018, 05:41:19 AM

Not sure "demand" is the right word.

Very thin market on the commercial side.

Same old struggle, a small group fits in anything, a big group only fits in a big bus.

There is negligible capital savings in the short bus, but a lot less opportunity to earn its value back.
Only savings is dead wall and windows, all the expensive systems still remain.

Frustration with these truck cut-aways might drive a market niche, but if you're going to see the lender, what's the point of financing 39 seats, when you can get 56 seats for almost the same price?

If the manufacturer eyes the RV conversion market as a stream of income to justify the line, that's a lot of pain with skinny margins...

The MC5 and 4108 only lingered on as long as they did because the tooling already existed, and a stockpile of parts. With the exception of "the Greyhound effect" the 40 footers became hot potatoes once the 45' arrived.

The market will dictate, the conversion community goes for the ride.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

CrabbyMilton · April 16, 2018, 06:28:38 AM

Not to get petty but there must be some desire to have a smaller coach based on a larger one since otherwise, they wouldn't be building them or designing them. At least in the case of VAN-HOOL and the upcoming MCI J3500 is that they are based on the 45 and 40' versions so at least there is some degree of standardization but the TEMSA TS35 is in a class by itself even though they offer a 45 version that appears to be different.
You are correct that they are likely targeting the market that would be inclined to buy bus based on a van cutaway or HD pick up truck chassis.
Those are great for hotel/car rental/airport service but not so much for over the road/charter.

chessie4905 · April 16, 2018, 06:32:32 AM

Just saw one in Chicago yesterday. Might have been Temsa, as couldnt recognize name. Looked a little funny being used to 40 and 45 footers.

bigred · April 16, 2018, 06:58:49 AM

Quote from: plyonsMC9 on April 15, 2018, 10:29:17 PM
Thanks Big Red!

Appreciate your response. Looks like it is difficult to get a more recent year-model bus conversion with the 4 stroke engine - it has been months since we spotted the last 35' conversion - and it appears that it is just the MCI F3500 that is available in that class.

This one looks to be off the table for now, or already purchased, so likely a moot point. Kind of a shame there wasn't more demand and MCI pulled the plug on the 35' model.

Kind Regards, Phil

The one that BusForSale sold actually had a Cummins engine which I thought was a big Plus!!

muldoonman · April 16, 2018, 07:09:04 AM

Did I read the ad right,,, a 50 series Detroit engine?

Jeremy · April 16, 2018, 01:52:55 PM

My bus is a "shortie" too - only 8m long and in fact was also built to what was known as 'armchair' spec (more spacious for the passengers) as well which gave it even fewer seats. Very few about and it took me quite a while to find, but it's obviously able to go a lot of places that a 40 or 45-footer couldn't get to (including into my own back yard!). By the time the conversion is complete (with 4 slides) I reckon the floorplan will be a similar size and a much better shape than a regular full-size coach too.

Jeremy

Geoff · April 16, 2018, 03:21:05 PM

As I remember, National Bus Trader had a cover addition and article about a bus similar or the same bus as shown. What made it different was it had a Series 50, and the F3500's after that used a different engine.

luvrbus · April 16, 2018, 04:43:11 PM

The early 3500 had a series 50 or Cummins then when Detroit tried to meet emissions with series 50 it went away in a hurry you can still buy a series 50 for off road use,the 3500 is Mexican bus. I like the suspension no air bags

plyons · April 17, 2018, 08:47:19 PM

Yes muldoonman! The bus in the original post has (had) a Detroit Series 50 engine.

With best regards, Phil

CrabbyMilton · April 18, 2018, 03:49:47 AM

So it was emission issues that did that engine in huh? You would have thought that DETROIT would have been smart enough to bring that engine into compliance.
I always thought that the SERIES 50 was too rough running therefore not very popular for over the road buses. Transit operators could care less how it would sound.