Where did you go Warren?
I would like to comment further on this. The biggest problem to answering your actual question, Warren, is that you are never sure what you are buying. Being mechanical, anything can happen with an airplane. You could buy an old junk yard dog that looks like it is on it's last legs, but it flys along trouble free. You can also spend lots of money on that "perfect" airplane and have continual problems with it. Like I said, you just never know. It seems each airplane has it's own personality.
When we purchased our first airplane, (N5872G), seven, going on eight, years ago now. It was a realitively cheap buy. Right in the price range that you described. That airplane in the nearly 700 hours and six years we flew it, never gave us a lick of trouble from day one. (Well, we lost a mag on one cross country, which I really do not count!) A wonderful airplane to own and fly. And, it sounds like it is now giving John the same wonderful service?
Presently, with Mr. Ed, I really cannot say the same. Mr. Ed is much more fickle. Which, partly could be expected just because it is a modified airplane. But, so far, little "problems" just seem to keep popping up. The previous owner gave Mr. Ed up because of this. But, so far, it seems to have the continued the habit of nickle and diming. Choosing to work on my own airplane helps much in these repairs. So, in my case, little problems so far have remained relatively uneventful, financially speaking. (Except possibly replacing that muffler!)
It just may boil down to luck, Warren. If you believe in such things. I am fortunate and have been known to be very lucky. How is your luck?
And as far as Mr. Ed is concerned? Pulling it off the runway yesterday and seeing 1500 FPM on the rate of climb indicator? And then dipping, diving, zooming around, up over, down under, going through those holes in the clouds! Those nickles and dimes? WHO CARES!
