One thing I have noticed is it really seems to pay more for a very good one right off the bat rather than to fix a laundry list of stuff over time. Spend enough to get a good one.
The other thing is I'm personally a bit tired of folks asking for is a no damage history plane. They were trainers and there are no virgins. Most have had someone bang them around at some point whether it shows in the logs or not. They are good tough little birds and can take a lot. If damage or age and corrosion has been properly repaired, I'm not put off by that. It can even be a bonus as in Sandy's plane having a recently rebuilt wing.
