| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
|
|
intec1172
Active Member
18 Posts |
 Posted - 01/06/2011 : 2:48:59 PM
|
| if i were a district leader, i would buy used buses to. as a tax payer and a bus fan i think buying used (with caution!) is a better deal than paying 100 grand for todays plasticky junk. |
 |
|
|
Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2011 : 3:55:18 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by intec1172
if i were a district leader, i would buy used buses to. as a tax payer and a bus fan i think buying used (with caution!) is a better deal than paying 100 grand for todays plasticky junk.
I completely agree. I think the media has really taken this in a bad direction. One of the things that hurt the "used" argument the most is that they've had a lot of "bus fires" lately, however, all of those were 1995 Thomas Saf-T-Liner ER's owned by the state purchased new, not the used buses. Now all of the citizens of SC want the school bus program to be privatized.. looks to me that they are doing a satisfactory job right now! I also liked how they said that drivers brag about the used KY buses lol. |
|
|
|
mr.bluebird
Active Member
United States
44 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2011 : 7:11:59 PM
|
| i agree to but some new and used is good as well but sc has to do whats best |
YOUR CHILDS SAFETY IS OUR BUSINESS!!! |
|
|
|
Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2011 : 7:17:36 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by mr.bluebird
i agree to but some new and used is good as well but sc has to do whats best
Well it sounds like they are doing what they can, since the state has not provided them with adequate funds to replace their current fleet. |
|
|
|
mr.bluebird
Active Member
United States
44 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2011 : 8:29:55 PM
|
| maybe they should look in to leasing their fleet |
YOUR CHILDS SAFETY IS OUR BUSINESS!!! |
|
|
|
Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2011 : 10:21:47 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by mr.bluebird
maybe they should look in to leasing their fleet
There is talk about privatizing their school bus system, but its still being debated. |
|
|
|
Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 2:42:03 PM
|
| They talk about buses from the mid '80s and cut to a picture of a C2? WTF? hahahaha So how were those C2s purchased? I find it interesting that some of the buses retain the KY black belt. |
Mike's Bus Yard - http://buses.zwebpages.com - Since 1999
|
Edited by - Thomas Ford 85-16 on 01/07/2011 2:44:09 PM |
|
|
|
Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 4:10:50 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Thomas Ford 85-16
They talk about buses from the mid '80s and cut to a picture of a C2? WTF? hahahaha So how were those C2s purchased? I find it interesting that some of the buses retain the KY black belt.
(I hate to be the only person replying to everyone here)..
Actually, they retrofitted black belts on all of the '99 Intl AmTrans they purchased from Alabama, I found that interesting. As for the new buses, I don't know about the C2s.. but they have had problems with the HDX's catching on fire  |
|
|
|
matts4290
Advanced Member
224 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 4:46:28 PM
|
I see nothing wrong with them buying used buses. I think its great that they are reusing products instead of sending to the scrap yard to be demolished. The only criticism I have is that when you purchase a used bus, it is unlikely that it will be in satisfactory condition, so I am wondering how much they spend additionally to make it fit for the road.
For instance, if I was selling a bus, I wouldn't replace the tires, or brakes if I knew I was getting rid of it. How many of these buses are ready for tires, brakes, batteries, and maintanance right from the start? |
We can't all be conventional!
http://www.youtube.com/user/matts4290 |
|
|
|
bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2011 : 5:51:31 PM
|
You'd be surprised. A lot of buses end up getting sold after a few years in pretty good shape. You can't just buy something sight unseen, but there are a lot of school districts that take very good care of their equipment. Some districts and contractors have a strict age limit and consider resale value to be significant, so they view maintenance as an investment.
A good shop won't put a used bus on the road without a thorough service. Even with replacing tires and doing a full PM and brake job, buying a used bus can still offer significant savings over new.
As for leasing or privatizing, that won't necessarily save them money over running old buses. Leasing and contracting require a regular payment, often close to the cost of payments on a new bus. Owning a vehicle outright doesn't cost as much if it's reliable, but the concern is the higher cost of maintenance to keep older buses on the road, as well as the public perception of "old buses."
The first company I worked for, Double A, ran buses up to 20 years old. They bought reliable buses, had one of the best preventative maintenance programs in the state, and sold anything that turned out to be a money pit after it was paid off. They saved a lot of money by keeping the buses they owned outright. Whenever the owner found good deals on used buses with a good maintenance history, he bought them. You need someone making purchasing decisions who knows what to look for and doesn't just look at the bottom line. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
SC: More used buses to the rescue for tax payers
