The search goes on...

I have made an appointment later this week to take a look in person at the C150 mentioned in the first post of this thread. I keep telling myself not to buy it just because it is close to home and only to buy it if it meets my needs at a good price.

Since broadening my search strategy, I have come across 2 additional aircraft that look interesting to me:
Tell me what you think of either of these?

http://www.barnstormers.com/ad_detail.php?ID=122944
FULL IFR CESSNA C-150H C150 WITH NEW GARMIN STACK! ? $32,800 ? AVAILABLE FOR SALE ? LIKE NO 150 YOU'VE EVER SEEN! Refurbished 2002 by a prev. owner (Over $50,000 invested!) GNS-430 Nav/Com, GMA-340 Aud. Pnl, GTX327 Digital transponder, and King KY97 COM. STBY vac. Annual done 8-06, IFR Cert: 09-06. O-200 385 SMOH by GANN in 02 w/ new Milleniums. Lt wt. starter, Vert. Card Compass. Usfl ld 525 lbs. EXC Glass, Paint, Int. Hangared. ALL orig logs/paperwork. $32,800 or possible trade for RV3, RV4 or Champ/L-16. Can email more pics & specs. NO brokers or tire-kickers. ? Contact Brett Justus - located Easley, SC USA ? Telephone: 864-230-2956 ? Posted September 5, 2006 ?

Benefits: this plane has an excellent panel, and decent engine (compressions are 78). Is fully IFR certified including IFR GPS.
Disadvantages: Distant damage history with replacement of wings, tail section and nose gear 30 years ago. Located in South Carolina (I live in Oregon).

or

http://www.barnstormers.com/ad_detail.php?ID=114012
CESSNA 150 IFR - BEAUTY - 21,500 FIRM AT GPM TX ? $21,500 ? FOR IMMEDIATE SALE ? 1966 C150 S/N 15065341 4544TT 839 SMOH 23 STOH IFR KX155 & KX170 nav/com Glideslope/HSI ADF GPS ? Contact Josh M. Mochache - located Cedar Hill, TX USA ? Telephone: 817-301-8111 ? Posted July 17, 2006 ?

Advantages: Price is right for IFR flyer. Decent avionics. Recent top overhaul.
Disadvantages: Top overhaul at 800 hours seems like the engine might not have been treated great. Located in Texas.

Tell me what you think about these planes.

I want a 150 or 152 for my wife and I to enjoy. We will mainly use it for (relatively) short trips around Oregon, Washington and Northern California. I would prefer a useful load of at least 350 lbs. (To carry me, my wife, and a weekend's worth of clothes).

I'd like to get my Instrument rating so an IFR certified bird would be preferred.

I am planning on buying a 172 or a 182 a few years from now and don't anticipate keeping my first plane for longer than 5 years. I would prefer a plane with a low enough engine time to not have to worry about engine overhaul in the next 500 or so hours.

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