continuing education...

[travelingfools]

Took my mechanic to look at bus number 2 yesterday..I'm getting quite an education..It was a '81 Prevost Le Mirage...He was able to point out enough problems that turned me off on that particular bus. A lot of rot on the supports for the suspension, most of the rubber bushings everywhere were either gone or destroyed, the wiring was spliced together everywhere with butt connectors, the radiator, although not leaking was garbage, etc...After doing about an hour inspection, he ran me off a list of repairs the owner had cobbed together incorrectly or half assed..During the time we were there, the owners brother came over and was chatting. He told me one of the reasons they were selling it was because it will cost them to much for it to pass DOT inspection..If nothing else, this one furthered my knowledge on buses...

And the quest continues...

[FloridaCliff]

Good story and should be required reading for ALL Newbies.

The inspection is the cheapest part of the conversion process.

And the only one that will keep money in your wallet. 

Thanks for sharing

Cliff

[HB of CJ]

Yep..Floridacliff has got it right.  One of the things we bus people kinda do is simply fall in love with the first coach that comes along, when we really need someone whispering in our ears that coaches are like trolly cars...you miss one and another will come along shortly.

$Pay$ for a professional heavy vehicle mechanic with considerable coach experience and have him do a complete "two hour" bumper to bumper inspection of the coach you have simply fallen in love with.  Then have him tell you like it is....not what you want to hear.

This is very important and probably will SAVE YOU money, time and grief later.  Also, if possible, observe the sellers of the coach to watch/gage/determine their response to the mechanic going over their coach they are selling.   A good response is.....a good response.

If the sellers appear somewhat put out or embarrassed or angry of your demand of having your mechanic go over their coach, then that is not good and may indicate the sellers are possibly hiding something or not coming clean with their description of the bus.

Their best response is to simply say go ahead and have your man go thru their coach.  If asked about specifics, perhaps the best answer they can give is that they simply do not know.  I bet that one time or another, most of us have wished we had had our coaches immspected...before we $bought$. 

[jjrbus]

Truly a very smart move!! Great investment of money. A bus need not be mint condition to be a buy.  A bus that needs a new engine may be a bette buy than a bus that has a well used motor, that gives out in a few thousand miles. Lots of things to take into consideration.