Mooney Prospecting -- Mooney Mart?

[Jamosu72]

I am a new pilot hell bent on owning a Mooney. I don't know what happened. I was caught from the first time I saw one. Now that I have my license, a littile time, and the insurance in place, it's time to shop. I ordered the Mooney buyers guide from the Sarasota/Venice Mooney Mart six weeks ago. I have called twice. Talked to Coy Jacobs. Emailed three times. Nothing. What a disappointment. This guy must just be a big deal in his own mind. How can I trust him with a $70k to $100k purchase when he won't sent me $200 worth of buyer's material. What gives? Where else is there good Mooney service in South Florida? Anyway, I'm looking for a nice Mooney. $50-80k. Probably an E or F -- though a decent J would be great I might be better off buying a little nicer, lesser E or F. Based in Fort Myers.

[scottfromiowa]

I can't comment on Mooney Mart except to say when I stopped in Coy was very friendly...gave me a Mooney Pin and said go ahead and wander around the shop and look at planes.  Service staff were friendly too.  Your price range will buy an excellent E or F Model.  If I had it to do over again I would have "waited" to buy an '84 J (or newer) and make it mine (avionics/interior/paint/) buying a high time engine would have been fine as I could have bought right and had overhaul done in a shop I know with my cylinder and peripheral (hoses, oil cooler, mags, prop etc.) done how/where I wanted.  If I had the top end of your budget I would buy a J as the extera back seat/baggage and FOLD DOWN/Removable rear seats would be awesome.  Good luck in your search.  DON'T BE IN A HURRY.  FIND SOMEONE IN FLORIDA THAT KNOWS MOONEY'S and will EDUCATE YOU on the particulars (good and bad) in a plane.  There are ALL KINDS of links on this site that will educate you and help you be an informed buyer.  If I would have had this site I would have made a better buying decision.  I believe this site is MUCH better than a Mooney Mart buyers kit...IMO.

[201er]

When I was mooney shopping I also tried ordering that Mooney Buyres Kit with no luck. They neither charged my card nor shipped it despite several phone calls. Seems like a scam to me.

[gregwatts]

I tried to do business with Coy many years ago. He certainly is a legend.......just ask him! After spending about 1/2 hour listening to him, I walked away knowing that that person would never get a nickel of mine.

Do your homework and establish your mission needs. Read all of the "expert" opinions on this site....and then set out to find Your Mooney. Your Mooney may end up being in another state, but that is not an issue. My first Mooney came from Texas, second from Florida, third from Wisconsin and the most recent from N. Carolina.

In the price range you stated, you can find a nice M20J.....the market is in your favor. Patience is key. My opinion only!

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: Jamosu72

I am a new pilot hell bent on owning a Mooney. I don't know what happened. I was caught from the first time I saw one. Now that I have my license, a littile time, and the insurance in place, it's time to shop. I ordered the Mooney buyers guide from the Sarasota/Venice Mooney Mart six weeks ago. I have called twice. Talked to Coy Jacobs. Emailed three times. Nothing. What a disappointment. This guy must just be a big deal in his own mind. How can I trust him with a $70k to $100k purchase when he won't sent me $200 worth of buyer's material. What gives? Where else is there good Mooney service in South Florida? Anyway, I'm looking for a nice Mooney. $50-80k. Probably an E or F -- though a decent J would be great I might be better off buying a little nicer, lesser E or F. Based in Fort Myers.

[acronut]

http://www.mooneypilots.com/mapalog/M20J%20Evaluation/M20J_evaluation_report.html

 

 

[mooney2201]

i have a 78 j model mooney,i love this airplane  with all my heart,however if you get any earlier model e or f ..you wont be satisfied,youll keep pouring money into it to get it to a 201j model..just take your time in this market plenty of good 201s exist,,,be very careful of leaking tanks,,corrosion under pilots side window,and tail trim bushings worn,very expensive..please please do a pre purchase inspection on the airframe,from a very reputible mooney dealer,,,,worth you spending 1500.00 up front,not to find a 10.000 dollar repair at your first annual,,remember pay me now or pay me later ,you choose anyway good hunting......

[aerobat95]

Quote: mooney2201

i have a 78 j model mooney,i love this airplane  with all my heart,however if you get any earlier model e or f ..you wont be satisfied,youll keep pouring money into it to get it to a 201j model..just take your time in this market plenty of good 201s exist,,,be very careful of leaking tanks,,corrosion under pilots side window,and tail trim bushings worn,very expensive..please please do a pre purchase inspection on the airframe,from a very reputible mooney dealer,,,,worth you spending 1500.00 up front,not to find a 10.000 dollar repair at your first annual,,remember pay me now or pay me later ,you choose anyway good hunting......

[N33GG]

I too ordered and paid for a buyers kit a few years ago.  I only received half of what I paid for.  It took several calls to get an answer on the phone.  They did not seem very concerned, and promised to ship me the rest of the order.  Well, I am still waiting for my copy of the Aviation Consumer Aircraft Guide. 

Buyer Beware!

[scottfromiowa]

Quote: mooney2201

i have a 78 j model mooney,i love this airplane  with all my heart,however if you get any earlier model e or f ..you wont be satisfied,youll keep pouring money into it to get it to a 201j model..just take your time in this market plenty of good 201s exist,,,be very careful of leaking tanks,,corrosion under pilots side window,and tail trim bushings worn,very expensive..please please do a pre purchase inspection on the airframe,from a very reputible mooney dealer,,,,worth you spending 1500.00 up front,not to find a 10.000 dollar repair at your first annual,,remember pay me now or pay me later ,you choose anyway good hunting......

[231Pilot]

In 2000 I ordered the kit and got the entire package.  It was not worth the price, but I did learn a few things about Mooneys.  I spent over 6 months finding  the plane I wanted (a C), made it mine with paint and avionics upgrades.  Flew it for 6 years before I got a J, flew it 5 years before I got a K.  I still wish I could have manual gear and flaps again.  Other than that, the K is just what I wanted.

Mooney Mart's web site was fun to look at, called them once about a plane and they tried to convince me to buy a plane priced at twice the price ceiling I gave them.  Ticked me off....always does when a sales person doesn't listen.

I called All American and they helpd me find what I wanted and stay within budget.  I have bought all 3 from them and never regretted a single transaction.

Take your time and find someone who listens to what you want and what you can spend.  You won't have any buyer's remorse.

[M20F]

http://allamericanaircraft.com/default.htm bought my plane there and reccomend them highly.  If you are a looking for a plane they can help you find one.

[richardheitzman]

Premier Aircraft Sales in Ft Lauderdale, All American Aircraft would be my choices for you. There have been so many bad comments on Coy and his business practices. I have first hand knowledge of what he did on a prebuy that would curl your toes. PM me if you want the story.

All American carries first class aircraft, Premier the same. Premier tends to stick with higher end like M20K and above. All American usually has from M20E and above, and sometimes a very nice M20C.

With all that said, participating in this forum was your first and best step in the right direction.

[David Mazer]

Don't ever even think of going to Coy Jacobs for anything.  NEVER, EVER, EVER.  Coy doesn't deliver on his promises and doesn't live up to his estimates.  He also doesn't stick to his time tables.  I would never buy a plane from him.  I wouldn't buy a stick of gum from him.

[Jamosu72]

Thanks to each of you. I am learning All American Aircraft and Don Maxwell are top notch. I have had some preliminary dealings with All American and they seemed very nice (though it's a salesman so always leery). And I have a sister in San Antonio, so that works well. I see Maxwell's website lists All American as a resource. So not sure if Maxwell doing the prebuy on an All Amercian would be wise?

Thinking I might just go with them. They always have something nice. And I've gotten gun shy from all the horror stories to be buying from Joe Blow in Peoria. Maybe it's like learning to fly, where you spend 90 percent of your time preparing for the 1 percent of bad  Sh#t that can happen to you. But the financial stakes are just too high to take chances.

I'm in Fort Myers. Anyone gets down this way let me know. I've not even flown in a Mooney yet! Maybe that will be enough to get it out of my system, though I highly doubt it! Glad I found this forum. Flying to Leesburgh tomorrow to visit my mother-in-law. First time I've looked forward to visiting her! It's an hour flight instead of a 5-hour drive. I'm learning to like this!

 

 

[MooneyMitch]

You will have no issues getting honest and professional service from Don Maxwell Aviation.

 

[Mcstealth]

Maxwell or Dugosh, take your pick.

[M20F]

Quote: Jamosu72

I see Maxwell's website lists All American as a resource. So not sure if Maxwell doing the prebuy on an All Amercian would be wise?

[Amelia]

If you shake hands with Coy Jacobs, be sure and count your fingers afterwards.

Won't go into sordid details except to say customer satisfaction is not a part of the man's ethos.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I'll chime in with another recommendation for All American, specifically Jimmy Garrison, who I worked with last summer when I traded my Encore for my Acclaim. He's a first class individual.

[danb35]

I can't say I've heard anything good about Coy Jacobs/Mooney Mart either, but I'm wondering whether the negative sentiments expressed here are from personal experience, or second-hand?

[David Mazer]

Unfortunately, from very personal experience.  Experience one never really needs, or wants, to have again.

[Wistarmo]

Personal experience.  Recommend staying as far away as possible from Mooney Mart.

[The-sky-captain]

Quote: Mazerbase

Unfortunately, from very personal experience.  Experience one never really needs, or wants, to have again.

[N33GG]

I'm still waiting for the rest of my order.  I'd call that personal experience.