This is a great discussion. I originally wanted to get my ir in my cherokee but it is lacking modern instruments and I don't think I wold get the full benifits of the training, i.e. gps and auto pilot portions. I'm not going to jump right into it but I do want to start soon. I have been flying for 6 years now and definatly don't claim to know it all but I do feel that I'm in a place to start the instrument training, at least as far as knowledge goes but as for getting ahead of the bravo that's just a matter of burning fuel and practice. I have gone through the ir ground course more than once just for the knowledge. My thought behind training in the bravo is its just that much more experience in my own bird. No offense but I'm not going to buy a mooney just to turn around and rent a 172 and develop all the cessna habits only to go right back to the mooney. I'm sure it may take a little longer to get in sync with the bravo but I believe it will be worth it in the long run. I don't plan on flying solo into Imc until I have more than just the ir ticket but I do want the knowledge incase the weather changes on me and I find myself above a cloud layer that I can't get through in vfr. Again this is a good discussion and has got me thinking if things that I hadn't considered yet. I think my excitement is clouding some of the realities but that's ok, after all aviation is supposed to be fun and exciting. I'm so blessed to be at a point in my life where this is all possible.