benpilot

+1 Fantom. All great planes. I have my checkride in 2 weeks. Wish me luck. I've had to really work hard on my steep turns and soft field takeoffs/landings to PTS standings. I've done a lot of bay tours and Bravo transitions which is good experience in busy airspace near KPAO.

Nice! Thats amazing speed and love me the Screaming Eagle as well. See a few for good prices right now. Cheaper than Ovation or Bravo prices.

Thanks guys I will take the advice into consideration. I've enjoyed flying the 201J and Rocket so once I see how many folks I take flying after getting my license it will help firm up the decision. Since I am single, most likely just me and a buddy about 90% of the time. Otherwise a plane like a Bonanza A36 would be the best one to get rather than a Mooney.

I will probably have a few hundred hours by the time I buy a plane. I take my checkride next month and I have 150 hours in Cessna and Pipers. I've been working on my weak points and no rush to buy a 252 or Bravo today. Next step is get checked out in the Mooney 20F and log 50 hours in it with experience and IFR rating.

Thanks guys, I will do that. I enjoyed the Mooney Rocket that I flew once I got the rudder pedals adjusted and figured out how to use the trim. For the money, nothing beats the Mooney in speed and fuel efficiency even though the longer body models (Ovation/Bravo/Eagle) use more fuel. I'd have to pay a cool several million to get a faster plane.

I really do hope that Mooney brings back the 201 at least in updated format to give an entry level option against Cirrus.

Thanks Cris, sounds like the Eagle is better deal now compared to an Ovation. Besides the 252 and Bravo, I will add it to my consideration should I go the Mooney route.

I see a few for sale and wondering what the specs and differences between Mooney 20S Screaming Eagle and Ovation are?

Thanks guys, sounds like the 252 or Bravo would be the perfect choice of a Mooney. Unless I like the Ovation or Eagle better.

Well if Mooney updated the 201 to compete with Cirrus SR20 and Diamond that would be awesome!

Agree about skipping the B36TC model. I looked at Bonanzas but the ones under 200k are high time planes with ancient systems. A few have been updated but sell for almost a much as a Bravo or first generation Ovation!

I've read in Aviation Consumer that the 231 had engine cooling issues similar to that in the Piper Turbo Arrows which concerns me. This was fixed in the 252. What's amazing is how good of a bargain used Bravos and older Ovations are now. Few years before the Acclaim came out the Bravo sold new for 500k! I'm curious about the Mooney 20S screaming eagles. Are these good planes to consider as well? I like the extra space in the longer body Mooneys compared to that in the 201 which is quite a bit smaller inside. A few of my friends are very tall big guys so taking jut one or two big guys is the limit in a Mooney but most time it's just me and a friend.

Cool thanks guys this is very helpful. After I pass my checkride, next month I will get checked out in the Mooney at KPAO to get some real experience and make the decision. I like the Bravo as well. Really under 200k is my budget. I also like Bonanzas but for the money, a Mooney may be less expensive and provide better performance for long missions from the west coast to east coast, and Central/South America. As a short guy, the rudder pedal extension is a must for me to be comfortable as well as good avionics like a Garmin 530W. I've heard that avionics are really expensive and time consuming to add to a plane so its better to buy one with the modern stack as much as possible.

Thanks KSMooniac! I am sorry that I ruffled some feathers at first here and do like Mooneys as well as Bonanzas. Both great planes but for the money as a single guy, the efficiency is nice on the Mooneys. I think that my next step after having passed my checkride will be to do my complex/high performance in a Mooney with a qualified CFI with Mooney experience. That way after having some time in one, I can make the best logical step. It will also give me time to save up for a plane and maintenance cash reserves.

How much more expensive is a Rocket to maintain besides the added fuel burn than a 252? Is the 231 as reliable as the 252? I also see a lot of different types of 252 such as Encore, etc. One of the flying clubs locally has a M20F and a 252 that I can get checked out in after I pass my checkride.

Great analysis and by now I've been able to fly a Mooney Rocket 231 and Mooney 201J. Also flew V35 Bonanza and Debonaire as well as Socata TB20 and Commander 112. I'm doing my checkride in couple weeks in a Piper Warrior that I've been training in so the single door is not an issue for me. Pax is me and 1-2 folks and maybe 100lbs of gear so most Mooney would be fine. My game plan is to get checked out in the club Mooney 20F after my PPL checkride is passed next month. That should give me a solid intro to the Mooney and help to make a more concrete decision. Since I am short, if I end up getting a Mooney, the rudder pedal extensions are a must for me! The yoke comes right into my chest when I pull myself up close enough to the panel to be able to see the instruments! Having 4 inch rudder extension pedals would solve this issue for me to be at home in one.

If you were to buy a Mooney, would you get a 252 or 231 and why? Or save up for a Mooney Rocket?

Well I do like Chinese food and the Nanchung warbird is one of the coolest lowcost fighter aircraft to buy and maintain unless one has millions for a P-38 Mustang or Grumman warbird. Maybe the Chinese will have Mooney add two doors to the new planes like they should have done in the first place as only Socata, Diamond and Cirrus got it right in terms of ergonomics and passenger loading. Take the fuel efficiency of the past, add more space and two doors and Mooney can win against Cirrus.

VFR flying is the real joy of why I got into flying in the very first place to view the gorgeous scenery we have in northern California. Everytime I fly over the coast, it is peaceful and amazing.

I am highly skeptical that VFR will be ended. Then again the buffoons running the executive branch and Congress are dumb enough to try such a thing.

I'm interested and local. Lets connect!

For a low time pilot like me, Insurance is sky high for Mooney 252 and Bravos but maybe I need a better insurance referral than Falcon Insurance.

Just out of curiosity how much cash did this set you back?

This is quite a good thread since I am looking at my first plane and 90% of the affordable aircraft under 100k (my budget) have ancient rotting avionics! While I prefer the user interface of Garmin, they are super expensive to retrofit a completely new IFR stack. My dream setup would be a Garmin G500 with GTN 750/650 and new Garmin radios but that would cost me 50-60k and almost as much as what the plane cost.

I'm looking at getting a Mooney 201 as a first plane under 100k, fast enough but first will get checked out in a club Mooney.