That's really not a bad idea. 150's/152's don't seem to have lost their value in this economy as much as larger airplanes. Tough call on whether or not you could recoup (most of?) the cost of a paint job in a sale of the 150 (if it won't sell for what you need out of it, you've still got a nice airplane). Solid but cosmetically challenged 172's can be had for cheap right now (compared to a few years ago). Perhaps following a 172 forum would give you some more insight! You'd need to be prepared for the higher cost of operation, including annuals.

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