For comparison, I saw in a news article just now that school buses cost $80-95,000.

I expect they are subject to a much more intense maintenance schedule than many other vehicles.

They're also pretty darn simple. Very basic. No sophisticated hi-tech engine, no A/C (on most of them), not a lot of fancy do-dads to break.

I've ridden on buses where the exhaust system is pointed upward. It's not impossible but I'm sure it costs more. Unfortunately, buses with the exhaust pointed up are not all that perfect either. If the bus is dirty, the exhaust gets dumped about 15 feet in the air but comes right down creating a cloud of smoke that's almost as bad as if were pointed on the ground.

Bus Ex.

Yes, it goes stright back, very simple, cheap, and smart.

GEEK