FAA Airworthiness Directives and Service Difficulty Reports are available free on the web from government websites, and the club hangar section is an excellent place to start compiling a list. What you are paying for with AOPA is an already compiled (and presumably complete) listing. Don't get me wrong ... this can be a daunting task ... gathering information. I think the time and money is better spent initially locating a mechanic already knowledgeable on what needs to be looked at, and using that person for your pre-buy/annual inspection. Find someone that you trust .... when they say it's good, it's good!
There are arguments for and against title insurance. I can see good reason for it on a mortgage or Lear Jet purchase. For some reason some people worry about it on a $20,000 airplane, but wouldn't think twice aobut it when buying a $50,000 collector car! When you've picked out a plane, if you've got time, order the FAA CD on that plane. Much of the information found on a title search is on that CD, along with other valuable information on the aircraft.
Leaving an airplane outside exposed to the elements when you can afford a hangar is just silly! It's not just the sun, or wind, or rain, but most importantly to me, hail and debris damage! A supercell thunderstorm can destroy most light aircraft in seconds. Here in the southeast, hurricanes are a very real threat, and tornadoes can occur virtually anywhere in the country (they seem to like airports almost as much as mobile home communities). I didn't really consider buying a plane until I had a hangar to put it in! But, honestly? If I didn't already have a hangar, that wouldn't stop me from owning. It would make bad weather a LOT more stressful, though!
