CalACT/MBTA
Is There Really an 8% Difference in Bus Prices Between
Dealers?
A Price Comparison Study from the CalACT / MBTA Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative
When choosing to buy a bus off the CalACT / MBTA Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative,
you have many choices in bus types, options, and dealers. If price is
your primary motivation on which bus you buy and from which dealer it’s
purchased, don’t look at the base price as your only point of comparison
when making your decision. Some dealers focus on base price, to give
the impression they are a low price bidder, touting up to an 8% delta. However,
actual cost including options reveals a different outcome.
• Not all buses
are the same — quality and manufacturer specifications influence base
price differences
• Some dealers advertise
lowest base price, but their options prices are higher than other dealers
• Ask your dealer, “what
is the total, out-the-door price of this bus?”
EXAMPLE: A Starcraft, Class A bus, from Creative Bus Sales appears to
be $1,933 lower than an Elkhart Coach, Class A bus from A-Z Bus Sales, but
with options, is actually $1,281 higher.
Bus Type Champion
Eldorado Elkhart Elkhart Goshen Starcraft Startrans
Dealer CBS CBS AZB BW CBS CBS CBS
Class A Base Price $52,655 $51,880 $50,699 $49,350 $48,050 $48,766 $48,290
Base Price difference,
higher/lower than A-Z Bus $1,956 $1,181 ($1,349) ($2,649) ($1,933) ($2,409)
Commonly Requested Options
Roof Vents $495 $495 $270 $475 $495 $495 $495
Mor-Ryde Suspension $989 $989 $875 $735 $989 $989 $989
Apollo DVR w/GPS (4 cameras) $6,950 $6,950 $4,600 $6,575 $6,950 $6,950 $6,950
High Quality AM/FM $750 $750 $225 $275 $750 $750 $750
Total Cost $61,839 $61,064 $56,669 $57,410 $57,234 $57,950 $57,474
Real
Price Difference,
higher/lower than A-Z Bus $5,170 $4,395 $741 $565 $1,281 $805
EXAMPLE: A Startrans, Class C bus from Creative Bus Sales appears to
be $3,042 lower than an Elkhart Coach, Class C bus from A-Z Bus Sales, but
with options, is actually $172 higher.
Bus Type Champion
Eldorado Elkhart Elkhart Goshen Starcraft Startrans
Dealer CBS CBS AZB BW CBS CBS CBS
Class C (Ford E450) Base Price $58,799 $57,635 $58,037 $55,975 $54,999 $53,687 $54,995
Base Price difference,
higher/lower than A-Z Bus $762 ($402) ($2,062) ($3,038) ($4,350) ($3,042)
Commonly Requested Options
Roof Vents $495 $495 $270 $475 $495 $495 $495
Mor-Ryde Suspension $989 $989 $875 $735 $989 $989 $989
Apollo DVR w/GPS (4 cameras) $6,950 $6,950 $4,600 $6,575 $6,950 $6,950 $6,950
High Quality AM/FM $750 $750 $225 $275 $750 $750 $750
Total Cost $67,983 $66,819 $64,007 $64,035 $64,183 $62,871 $64,179
Real Price Difference,
higher/lower than A-Z Bus $3,976 $2,812 $28 $176 ($1,136) $172
Please call us at (800) 862-8220 or visit www.a-znewbussales.com or email sales@a-zbus.com for more information on the quality CalACT-specified
vehicles available from A-Z Bus Sales.
** These prices are taken directly from, and as posted on www.calact.org. AZB
is reference to A-Z Bus Sales, BW is reference to Bus West, and CBS is reference
to Creative Bus Sales.
