Jeff_S

Scott, that sounds about right. As I review the spreadsheet of changes (excellent reference, BTW) it seems like a mid-80's model that's been well maintained and maybe has a few upgrades would be just the right value. The problem I see with the mid-90s that I've scanned on TAP and other sources is that yes, the price is still higher, and yet I would likely still want to do some panel upgrades to bring them into the glass age. If I can find a mid-80's model that at least has a 430W as a foundation radio, I can build that up with one of the new glass and a/p options as necessary and still not pay what the later models are asking. BTW, anybody have comments on All American Aircraft Sales? They seem to have a stable of aircraft that they're fixing up and trying to sell at a higher price with the mods. I know a few outfits in the Piper world that do this and are really just slapping lipstick on a pig and trying to make a buck. Is All American a reputable shop?

Good stuff...thanks guys. Scott, I grew up in Wichita but left right after high school and hadn't really been back since (early '80s). But I took the Warrior on a long x-country this summer and stopped into Jabara to spend the night and see some old friends. It was amazing to see how much things have changed since I left. But I could still make my way around pretty easily.

Hello all, I'm new to the Forum and am seriously looking at some variant of an M20J as a step-up from my Warrior. I've studied several sources, including the Aviation Consumer write-up on the M20J series and sniffing around in here so this has already been a helpful place. But here's where I'd like your expertise; are there some basic "rules of thumb" I can use to help evaluate the differences introduced in the various model years, so that I can more easily evaluate planes as they come up? For example, in the Piper world there are basic differences in engine, wing style (Hershey-bar vs. tapered), body length, etc. between the Cherokees so I've gotten pretty good at quickly evaluating planes. I'd like to get better at this with Mooneys, especially the M20J variants. If there's already a good article on this, feel free just to point me to it. Thanks in advance for the help! Jeff

Kevin and Jim, thanks for the offers and be careful what you propose...I may take you up on it! I started looking early this year, but held off until I could determine whether or not my wife would ever decide to try out general aviation. Well, I finally got her up in the Warrior and we took a trip to St. Augustine so now she's hooked. All the more reason to find something that does just a little better on longer x-country trips. Cheers.

Hello all. Not a Mooney pilot..YET..but am seriously looking at some form of M20J as a step up from my Warrior so I'm going to peruse this forum and probably ask a lot of inane questions while I get familiar with the model. Cheers!