Lowbid

Thank you for the information! I have been looking for something like this for some time. However, the listing is gone from Ebay. Do you have the Manufacturer or seller contact information??

An update on my (almost) Mooney purchase. As I said, the plane is in Rome, GA at Cole Aviation, having an Annual performed. I decided I was not comfortable with the purchase until a pre-buy was completed. I contacted DLK Aviation, a whopping 35 NM SE of Rome and asked the owner to move the plane to DLK. His response was the he had used DLK in the past, was not happy with their work and "just not comfortable with them going through the plane." First, if he is going to sell it, why would he give a sh*t? Second, I'm paying for it! He then claims he has a person from NC coming to see the plane next week, and if he likes it, will buy on the spot. I did speak with Joey Cole, who claims the plane is a good deal for the money, but encouraged me to get a pre-buy done. The owner did not object to a pre-buy, he just wanted it done at Cole's shop! Well, although I tried, I could not find a mechanic who felt comfortable performing a pre-buy at another shop, although Cole did not object. In the end, this deal smelled funny. And so the story goes..... Thanks everybody for their input.

OK Mooney fans, after much looking and brooding over the past year and a half, I made a deal on this plane. http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/MOONEY-M20C/1963-MOONEY-M20C/1221939.htm? In my opinion, it is the best equipped C model for the money that has popped up in some time. I currently am a C-172 owner with 450 VFR hours in Wisconsin. As we speak, the owner has it in for annual at Cole Aviation, Rome, GA. I have yet to speak with Cole. But here's my questions, if Cole Aviation gives me their honest, professional opinion on the plane, and everything is a go, do I still spend the $$$$ on a pre-buy? If so, where do I go for a good pre-buy? Also, I will need instruction in the Atlanta area, who would be a good Mooney intructor in the Atlanta area? Thanks in advance...I am pumped to jump in it! Also, if you know of anyone looking for a sweet 1966 172G...I've got one for sale.

Although I don't have a Mooney (yet), in Wisconsin I use a Tannis on my C172 and turn it on the night prior for a morning departure or a few hours prior for an afternoon. I don't worry about any temps above the 30's. I also have a small ceramic electric heater in the cabin that I plug in at the same time. It's great to get into a warm cabin at -20F!! I use a custom cover from Tannis over the cowling (and prop which is important; the prop acts as a radiator to bring cold into the engine) but wish I'd have bought a Kennon. For overnight at destination airports, I have yet to find an FBO where I could not plug in the Tannis. Does anyone know of a device which will switch on the electricity in the hangar for the Tannis from home?

Well...since I'm in the construction business and if I wasn't "lowbid", I wouldn't be able to make my future Mooney purchase. Luckily, my bids haven't been too low. I'm currently studying for my IFR and have averaged about 130 hours/year in my 172. Can't wait to fly faster !!!! I've been looking and looking at 201's for sale. It just seems to make sense spending an extra $25K on a bird you expect to last for quite some time without nickel and diming you (if that's possible). I will spend more time researching the mooneyspace threads and decide a perfect panel for my mission. The problem lies in being unfamiliar with the modern avionics and autopilots. Just have to take it all in and decide using the best information you have available. I appreciate all your comments...and will keep the board updated on my purchase.

OK...thank you. I would think with today's available information over the internet, there would be some negative feedback posted somewhere if there were some unsatisfied customers. To date....I have heard and read nothing but positives. One more question for you Mooniacs...what year M20J would be your preference to refurbish. Also, assuming a guy wants a functional but not "over the top" panel; what would be your choice for Avionics?

Does anybody have any experience (or know of anybody)...with a refurbishing company out of Ohio called Pristine Airplanes...aka...Aircraft Sales, Inc. (A.S.I.) ???? Would appreciate any feedback...

Great discussion and very interesting to read. Just got back from a day business trip to Madison from Eau Claire in my 172. A great day for flying although a little windy. Had a steady xwind both down and back, probably 20 knots. Averaged around 95 knots both ways. The distance to Madison is 139 nm. Flew 3,500 Ft going down and 4,500 Ft on the way home. Very bumpy ride home. After flying this slow for three years, it's time to go faster. I will definitely look into both an F and J model. One thing about switching planes, it's time consuming. Due diligence, etc...plus selling mine can take time...which a guy never seems to have enough of. So my whole reason for spending a little more now is I would rather keep my next plane a LONG, LONG time rather than upgrade again five years from now. With fuel costs increasing, it just seems that Mooney has the best performance for fuel dollars spent.

Thanks for the reply. I've seen M20J MSE's listed? What does MSE mean and what makes it different? Also, does a Turbo mean more fuel and maintenance costs than a non-turbo model?

Hello all, I currently fly a 1966 172G. I've owned it for three years and have easily flown it over 200 hours. I am studying to take the IFR written test but have not started IFR lessons. I need to go faster...and I need autopilot. Is upgrading to a Mooney the right choice? And which Mooney model to buy? I would think purchasing a model with a GPS system coupled to the autopilot would be a wise choice. I fly with a Garmin 396 currently and love it. I am looking to spend around $100K...hopefully less. Is there a thread discussing this issue? If not, let's start one!! Thank you for your input.