Would you buy a bus with a Manual Transmission

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

If you were to convert another bus or buy one already converted, would you buy one with a Manual Transmission?  Or would you only buy one with an Automatic Transmission and why?

[richard5933]

Either way - would totally depend on what the transmission was attached to. I bought my current one with a manual - not because of the manual but rather in spite of it. Like what I have now, if it was a bus I like it wouldn't matter.

That all said, presented with two identical buses - one with a manual and one with an auto - I'd probably choose the auto.

[benherman1]

I prefer a manual if possible. While shopping for buses originally I wasn't particularly worried either way though I usually prefer to drive a manual in my faster vehicles. After reading about the prices associated with maintenance and repair of an automatic of this size I'd sway heavily towards a manual.

No sensors, no cooler, no problems.

I understand that having a manual decreases the total value of the vehicle but I'm not converting my bus to sell it. The only reason I can see why I would replace mine is if something happens that results in it being scrapped.

[chessie4905]

Wait till it needs a clutch.

[luvrbus]

Wait till it needs a clutch.

Average clutch job now is over 4 grand in a bus you don't need to pull the engine like the MCI 5's,Automatic are better for the average bus owner,they maneuver better both forward and backwards in tight areas,no linkage or reverse solenoid to deal with,no gear grinding or missing a gear ,u joints last longer and easier on the engine distributing the power band,the newer autoshift 10 speeds are not a lot of buses have those   

[benherman1]

I do have to agree about maneuvering backwards. I have no idea who thought a reverse gear of that speed was a good idea. As far as the clutch goes as long as it doesn't happen far from home I have access to equipment to do the job myself. In my experience they give plenty of warning though I've never been around the dual disc type when they quit. I'd assume as far as U joints and the power band goes that's more based on the quality of the driver though it would make sense that the torque converter will take any shock rather than sending it down the line. I am by no means a pro but after driving my 51 Dodge around the 4 speed Spicer seems pretty smooth.  Before I bought mine I read up on the 8v71 and the Spicer and was pretty worried about damaging something or lugging the engine too much. My first experience driving it the PO pulled it to the end of their driveway and sent me down a windy hilly road through the woods. It was surprisingly easy to stay in the power range and shift up or down as needed.

Take all of this with the consideration that I have driven my bus a grand total of 40 miles and may change my mind entirely once I've had more experience with it. I have also never driven an automatic bus so I have no direct comparison.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 The month after buying a 4106, the wife and I toured the state of Idaho for two weeks.. At the end of that trip I had a LARGE blister on my right hand from the almost constant shifting of a Spicer transmission,, and the short twisty and graded roads of Idaho..  I swore to never do it again when autos are so mainstream in today's vehicles..>>>Dan ( But I did learn a lot about the care and feeding of mousetraps!)

[DoubleEagle]

To be practical, it would be best nowadays to go with an automatic if you ever need someone who is not handy with a manual to drive the bus, and if you ever want to sell it and get a good price. If you are old school and grew up driving manual transmissions in trucks or buses, then you might consider a manual because you like to feel connected to the vehicle in a way that an automatic cannot do. But, if your left leg gets tired in stop and go traffic that seems to be worse in recent decades, well then, your manual days might be over unless you put in an automated one with a throttle controlled centrifugal clutch (but then it would be a stretch to call it a manual). 

[CrabbyMilton]

I would never under any circumstances own any vehicle with a manual.

[luvrbus]

Clutches in buses wouldn't be bad if they used the pull type like trucks do but the push type double disk clutches in a bus are a real PITA and exspensive  to replace

[chessie4905]

Don't  forget the looong traffic lights that make you decide to shift into neutral, then waiting forever for the gears to stop spinning before you can reengage 1st, or holding the clutch in till your leg starts to ache.

[oltrunt]

At this point in life the only way I'd buy anything with a stick trans would be if I had a buyer for it --with cash in escrow. Jack

[windtrader]

Many tradeoffs between auto vs manual but seems autos get the vote due to convenience and drivability. One personal insight, driving a MC8 8V71 auto for a couple seasons is a manual with more gears to select going up steep grades There are times it is clear the bus would pull a couple extra miles an hour if the bus was running in a different gear. The only benefit is if there are more manual gears to select over the auto in those conditions.


Cliff mentions newer autos with many more gears and that would eliminate the benefit mentioned here. The reality is the newer autos are also mated to more powerful engines making for the best combination.

[luvrbus]

The 754 CR Allision is a good setup it takes the gap out with 5 speeds,the guys with the V730 pay a price in certain conditions because of the huge gap between 2nd and 3rd gear
 

[pabusnut]

I would buy an automatic next time.  I have a manual now, and I like the fuel mileage, but maneuvering in campgrounds is a pain when first and reverse idle at like 5 mph.  The automatic's fuel mileage might be tolerable if I had a newer 4 stroke motor ahead of it.  I hear that some of them are up in the 8-9 range with an automatic behind them.  My bus is only about 27 now and I am pretty sure that helps me get the 6.5 - 9 mpg I get now with the manual 4 speed.

Steve Toomey