I have been blessed so far in aircraft ownership. My first bird, a 72 150/150 affectionately known as the Acme Flying Machine was purchased for $27,500. Owned her for 3 years and a bit over 300 hours flying time. Sold it and recouped everything but insurance and operating costs (fuel, oil, hangar rent).
My Cardinal rang up about $5500 in unplanned expenses in the first year of ownership, but when I ran a 30 day ad to sell it in March at the purchase price plus these expenses, I had one offer that I would have lost a couple of grand and another still pending that would make me break even.
In all, on things mechanical, I feel pretty good if I can break even.
On a positive note, however, My Ovation Model 1537 (Guitar) that I bought for $400 and almost sold in January for the same amount has now been discovered and is trading at around $1500....so at least I score in some areas.
