Thinking of purchasing Mooney

[Hank]

1 hour ago, MikeOH said:

As an F owner, I'm going to take issue with that!  I posit that the F is . . . the best 'bang for the buck'

I think the OP would be happy with either one.  Just depends what comes up in a timely fashion while he's shopping, IMHO.

This is what I've heard many times about the venerable C model! Stone simple O-360 than anyone can hot start, nimble and only gives up a very few knots to the heavier F that has more power to carry the extra weight . . . I kept one in sight and entered the pattern as it was exiting the runway; the flight was just over an hour long.

[KLRDMD]

2 hours ago, dvictory said:

I do have a CFI local that I plan to spend many hours with learning how the Mooney handles.

You want a CFI with a lot of Mooney time. This isn't when you choose the flight school CFI with a ton of 172 time and not much else. I recommend at least 500 hours of Mooney time, 1,000 is better.

[Flyler]

If the Cherokee 6 flies like the Warrior II, you are in for a real treat getting into a Mooney.  It flies like a tight handling sports car.  

[DCarlton]

7 hours ago, dvictory said:

I am looking to purchase a Mooney, but would like opinions please.  I owned a Piper 235 and have a little over 100 hours.  Would a Mooney be a good plane, and if so, which model?  I've read pros and cons and not seeing anything that would keep me from buying, but what am I missing?  Thanks all for any thoughts, good and bad.

The 235 or Dakota has always been my favorite Cherokee variant.  Used to fly one.  Great plane.  If your looking to get up and go somewhere though, the Mooney is hard to beat and it’s a lot of fun to fly.  You’ve just gotta put the gear down when the time comes.  For 20 years I’ve looked at alternatives and always come back to my Mooney.  

[Pinecone]

18 hours ago, Hank said:

If you just want to beat Cherokee 6 speed, even my little C will do that, but it has about half the cabin space you're used to.

235 is not a 6.   It is a Archer with a 235 HP Lycoming 6 cylinder.  So same size as all the Cherokees, not the bigger Pipers.