The Bus Assassination puts Franklin behind the wheel of a city bus to locate Isaac Penny. The gold bonus requires using that bus to kill the target after he flees on a bicycle. Its investment timing is also different from most of Lester’s hits: buy Vapid after the mission, not before.
Step-by-step walkthrough
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Collect the marked city bus
Answer Lester’s payphone in downtown Los Santos and go to the bus station. Enter the marked bus and begin the assigned route. Keep the bus usable: you need it for Hit and Run at the end of the passenger sequence.
The vehicle accelerates and turns much more slowly than Franklin’s usual cars. Leave room for wide corners and begin braking before each stop.
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Stop at every marked pickup
Drive to each bus stop in order and stop in its marker long enough for the passenger interaction to advance. Follow the next destination when it appears. Rushing past the stop without completing the pickup only forces you to turn back.
Use Franklin’s driving ability if traffic blocks a turn, but keep the route clean. The goal is to reach Penny’s stop with the bus positioned to begin the pursuit, not to build a wanted level during the route.
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Use the bus to catch Penny
At the target stop, Penny recognises the danger and escapes on a bicycle. Follow his marker with the bus and line up a controlled collision. Franklin’s driving ability helps you correct the angle as the bicycle changes direction.
Do not shoot him if you are pursuing Hit and Run. Killing the target by another method can complete the basic assassination but fails the bus-specific bonus. Avoid abandoning the bus for a faster vehicle during the chase.
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Leave the area and make the post-mission purchase
Once the objective confirms Penny is dead, leave the area and finish Franklin’s call to Lester. Check that Hit and Run was awarded if you are collecting gold results.
Only after the hit should you begin the Vapid stock purchase described below. Buying in advance exposes the position to the drop this strategy is intended to exploit.
Gold medal checklist
- Hit and Run: Kill Isaac Penny using the bus.
- Mission result: The results also display elapsed time and money earned; the distinctive bonus is the bus kill.
Stock-market timing in the story save
After completing the assassination in the main save, buy Vapid (VAP) on BAWSAQ with the characters you are investing for. Advance game time in short stages and check the recovery before selling. There is no required pre-mission stock purchase for this sequence.
Keep a manual save before the job and confirm BAWSAQ is available on your platform. A fixed percentage is not a reliable substitute for checking the portfolio in your own game. Saving these optional hits until after the story gives you more heist money to use.
Common questions
Should I buy Vapid before the mission?
No. The recovery strategy buys Vapid after the assassination has affected its price.
Can I use a gun for an easier finish?
You can eliminate Penny that way, but it will not satisfy Hit and Run. Keep the bus for the gold objective.
What happens next
Check the stock positions in your main save, then continue to the next available Lester assassination or the 100% completion checklist.