I know that plenty of $20k C150s exist for sale, but not in the condition that most want their plane to be in.
I am sorry, but I need to take exception to this statement. If I understand it correctly, it implies that to have a good airplane, you must have a lot of money into it. This definitely is not the case.
We purchased N5872G in 1999 for $17,000. It came with an engine with 250 hours on the top end, and 10 hours on the bottom. A real loyal and decent looking airplane that only let us down once in the over 600 hours we flew her. And that was only for a bad magneto. We then sold 72G to John. And John is finding 72G to be just as loyal to him as it was for us. He did pay a little more then we did originally. But, still under $20,000. In which he also got an upgraded radio, newly overhauled prop, new tires and VG's.
Enter N999ED. We picked it up for only $22,000. Maybe not the prettiest to look at. It definitely has it's share of bumps and bruises. But, it does have only a few hundred hours on that O-320, is very mechanically sound, and I would trust to fly it any where.
It's like an old kodger that I knew when I was growing up. He had this old rust bucket of a car, with one exception, the hood! It shined like it was layered with glass. Why? Because, to him, that was the only thing he could see when he was driving the car. He didn't care what others thought of it.
So, please allow to each their own. Yes, I admire a pretty airplane. Who doesn't? But, for me personally, I have a practical side. Other then the safety factors, if putting money into an airplane is not going to add anything significantly to it's value, or it's safety, then I am not going to do it. I am not going to waste the money. I personally do not need to have an airplane with a snazzy paint job and a panel full of gadgets just to show off. Mr. Ed will do everything that this 150 will do in which he is asking $76,000 for. And we will more then likely be able to sell it for at least as much as we paid for it. We are content with what we have, (Mostly!
) That is just the way that we are.
If you have the money and want to put more into your airplane then you would ever get out of it. That is fine. Go for it! We will be one of those on the side lines admiring it's beauty. But, for those of us that choose not to spend that type of money on our own personal airplane. An airplane in which I will guarantee is just as good as yours underneath where it counts! Please do not look down your nose at us because we make the choice not to spend a lot of money on snazzy and shine.
Thank you!
