It's hard to say whether it will be before or after the instrument rating, it'll depend on when I decide for sure which model what I want and/or if I find a deal I just can't pass up. I'm going straight into instrument though so, if I buy it before I'll use it for my instrument training and check ride. My dad has flown for 45+ years, 22 flying tankers in the AF and then as a type rating instructing on the Falcon 10, G200, G350 and PL-24, he made me promise I wouldn't go anywhere until I had my instrument rating.
I would like to use it all over, I have to be in Atlanta later this year and was in San Francisco last month, both trips I would like to fly myself in the future. We like the West and will be in the mountains of Co, Wy, Mt and Id some as well. I would rather have the turbo and not need it than the other way around, I think the extra cost is easily justified even if it's not used every trip. There will be some shorter trips around the state occasionally but, I want to buy for the longer trips.
Other than some time in an LSA with my step sister's husband when I was a kid and the pilot training now, everything I did with my dad in the SIMs for the corporate aviation was instrument and I really prefer it. I like flying an instrument approach and following the command bars to stay on the glide slope better than doing it visually, I like trusting the instruments and not having to worry about clouds or traffic as much. VFR flight at lower altitudes is fun for just screwing around and seeing some sights but if I'm going to be traveling and actually want to get somewhere, I would rather file and fly at higher altitude where I can go faster and will usually have smoother air. My wife is going to be a lot more likely to fly with me in those situations as well, she would not enjoy getting bounced around at 4,000 - 5,000 feet in the summer time.
