$2.2 Million for Two Buses! Marathon Coach?

[CrabbyMilton]

That's the way to do it. Some of us may disagree on politics but at least we can laugh at ourselves instead of acting like little kids fighting over the last chocolate bar. So true about Bush and Obama and their ears.

[belfert]

Seems that I may have created a stir.... When I first noticed it was a Prevost, I sent an email to the editors of The Blaze regarding an American President riding around in a Canadian built bus with links to the relevant info. Low and behold, they did a story on it today.

Did you suggest another USA made coach they could have purchased?  Probably not, because I'm pretty sure no coach bus is made in the USA.  If I remember correctly MCI coaches start life at the plant in Winnipeg and then are transferred to Pembina, North Dakota for final completion.

If nobody makes something in the USA I would much rather they buy from Canada than from China.

[paulrobie]

Seems that I may have created a stir.... When I first noticed it was a Prevost, I sent an email to the editors of The Blaze regarding an American President riding around in a Canadian built bus with links to the relevant info. Low and behold, they did a story on it today.

Did you suggest another USA made coach they could have purchased?  Probably not, because I'm pretty sure no coach bus is made in the USA.  If I remember correctly MCI coaches start life at the plant in Winnipeg and then are transferred to Pembina, North Dakota for final completion.

If nobody makes something in the USA I would much rather they buy from Canada than from China.

Somebody, somewhere, in the USA must make a motorcoach suitable for the Potus.... Not necessarily a bus conversion per say but an American made product he could use, (since i doubt he's like, actually using it for anything other than rolling into a town.... not like he and the family are out camping in it or anything... right?)

[luvrbus]

Don't be to tough on him the bus does have the piece of crap D13 engine built in the USA lol

[belfert]

If you were buying a bus for your conversion would you choose a fiberglass shell on top of a Freightliner or Spartan chassis or a real bus like an MCI or a Prevost?  I guess they could have used a transit bus as they still make those in the USA.  They probably need all the bays for communications equipment and a generator and batteries to run it all.

[Van]

Hundred amp Clifford?

[Busted Knuckle]

They could of bought him a new Dina. They are still produced in S. America ! LOL!

ducking again! LOL!
  BK 

[blank]

  I thought they were building Eagles over in Oklahoma? What about a Newell or something? Surely someone in this freakin country could build a one off custom coach for the Prez for $1.1 million.

  I wouldnt have a problem with an MCI, its more American than anything else on the road.


 

[CrabbyMilton]

Like I said, MCI is based in IL. That's Obama's home state. If they replace Airforce 1 with a non BOEING(Chicago based) aircraft, then we'll just confirm that he doesn't show loyalty.

[lostagain]

Most of you American bus nuts have foreign buses, (except Eagles), so what is wrong with your President using one?

Just to stir this pot a little, LOL.

JC

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I doubt that the President is the one who decides what brand of plane/bus/limo is going to be used.

[belfert]

Silver Eagle is based in Tennesee now.  My understanding is they haven't produced any buses since they moved from Texas.  Everybody wants the government to cut spending yet they want government to order a completely custom bus just to have it made in the USA and it would probably cost more to boot.  A lot of vendors charge government extra because of all the extra red tape to sell them anything.

At one point the Air Force was seriously considering an Airbus as a replacement for Air force One.  The issue was that Airbus makes a larger plane than Boeing.  If they went with something like an A380 they would restrict the choice of airports.  The 747 can land at more places than the A380.

[Len Silva]

Could it be as simple as going with the lowest bidder?

[Dreamscape]

Ours is a Belgium built Eagle, with a USA drive-train. So there ya go!

[belfert]

Could it be as simple as going with the lowest bidder?

Don't government request for bids almost always take the low bid all other things being equal?  I don't know if there are preferences given for made in the USA.  I remember when the Pentagon wanted to order a whole bunch of berets a number of years back.  The only manufacturer that could meet the deadline was Chinese.  I don't recall if they ended up buying them or not.

There are plenty of manufacturers who have right on their website the specific terms to put in a bid request so only their equipment will meet the requirements of the request for bids.  If the Secret Service specifically wanted a Prevost and not just a coach bus they could have made the requirements tailored so only a Prevost would qualify.