JRam

Ok, I didn't want to admit it, but I have a Mooney tattoo on my butt. I can't allow it to be a mistake so I'm locked in to a Mooney! In all seriousness though, the kit planes place an unreasonable fear in my head. I certainly admit it is an interesting thought to get that kind of efficiency / performance. But I'm also a pretty big guy and I'm not sure the useful load works out in my favor. Even if I get down to my college weight (200 lbs vs. 220ish) and go full fuel, the wife isn't going to like me asking her to step up the gym work so I can bring my dive gear! I've really only flown a Cessna 172, Piper Arrow, Piper Cherokee and Mooney M20E...so obviously the Mooney leaves a mark.

By the way, I recognize at this point that I may be in need of psychological assistance as I meander my mindset from spending way too much to not getting what I need. Dependent personality disorder? Darn decisions!

It's an interesting thought on the RV8's and Lancairs but I know even less about them and don't think experimental is my cup of tea. I continue to go back to the E, and definitely not ruling it out, but it's hard not to think about the benefits of the later models. My ability to spend goes above the $100K but each dollar spent on the investment is less time in the aircraft when I have it. I'm also trying to get used to the prices for hangers in the DC area. Just outside of the FRZ you are waiting in line to pay $450 for a hanger. Coming from Iowa ($125 / Texas ($200), I'm used to it cheaper and assume most costs follow that increase.But I do want a long term investment (money sink?) and I'm worried an E model for me right now stays with me only 3-5 years.

Thank you! Will look at both. There were a couple E's I was looking at but sold pretty quick at a pretty great price with what they had. I see some J's out there with the extended tanks pushing them up to 90+ gallons, would you find that to be any benefit at all given the bladder issues and the weight limitations?

Thanks! I really appreciate the advice. I've been fighting the "Do I buy low and add everything I want" or buy the closest I can get to what I want. I think you answered that question fairly concisely!

I love the insight, this is where I get tripped up. I start low at like $50K and end up around $160K = $180K and I'm trying to keep it near $100K or lower. But my pricetag keep growing for sure, because I'd love 30 knots, extra room and a decent useful load! Lol

A few years ago I made the uncomfortable decision to purchase a 66 Mooney M20E to get back in to aviation...because what says good decision like an impulse buy of something you will sit on 7000 feet above the ground?! I knew nothing about Mooney's but the mechanic at the FBO near my place worked on it and said it was a powerhouse. It was the best decision of my life, maybe not the best way to make it, but I flew everywhere. I got my IFR, did some mountain flying and went from coast to coast. I loved it. I didn't know much better as a 6'2" 220 lb man sitting in that little M20E, but I couldn't get enough for 500 hours over about 6 years. Then one day I was going overseas and the wife didn't want to babysit for a year so I decided to sell it. And now, after being back 2 years, I want back in! I'm looking all over for Mooney's and I'm getting green with envy. As I progress through these forums and learn more and more, I eventually determine I need a 2018 Acclaim Ultra. I don't know if you guys realize this, but they don't sell those for the same price as my 66 M20E!! So I have to figure out an alternate view point. So I'm going to continue to peruse the forums here, but I think I'm leaning somewhere between an M20F and an M20J and could use any advice (don't worry, I'll try to make it easy by looking most of this up in your previous posts). My M20E was a cross country machine for me and I'm looking for the same, only with more amenities. I was flying minimums in IFR with a wing leveler that didn't level as much as turn to the left slower, so I want a strong auto-pilot and would love to have that coupled to the GPS. I want to wake up on a Friday and tell the wife we are heading 1200 miles away for a long weekend (or finally get to Oshkosh!) and not think twice about it so speed and distance are critical, it's usually just her and I. And I love having the new avionics, my first buy in the echo was a GNS430W which back then was sweet. So, hit me with some advice, berate me for giving up my workhorse, pat me on the head for my lack of knowledge... I'll take it all! I'm excited to get back in and be more informed this time! (I've been talking with Jimmy Garrison down in my old home town of San Antonio and he's great, but I may be annoying him by now with my lack of direction) Justin Ramsey