Go 182 over the 235, the pa28 cabin is cramped in the front for my taste, and I've owned two. About the only piper cabins worth my while these days are the pa32/34/23 series.
I'm not a fan of the continentals, especially their carb installation, but lyco 182s are priced stupid so you're a captive audience. A 177Rg would be a middle ground solution, though personally after dealing with a 200hp airplane in the texas heat, I've come to embrace the mantra of get as much horsepower as you can afford, regardless of lack of cruise efficiency.
The economy is starting to hint at my predicted recession already. Yield curves are inverting, administration is trying to placate the Chinese after their failed tariff bluff, at least until they can get the tariffs past Xmas shopping season, since Americans can't see past their personal consumption economy. They re panicking. They know 2020 is gonna fall off a cliff. Next summer is gonna be a bloodbath on the resale market, as payrolls contract and the financed crowd that ran up these 182 prices in the first place get kicked in the rear as quickly as they got in, and sell off their toys. You're looking at good timing to enter the market as a buyer in 2020 imo.
As to the Grumman, now you understand that fixed gear and prop isn't that significant of a savings over HP singles or retracts in the practical world of fleet averages and low utilization certified dinosaurs. Much against the grain of people here, from my view... it's the capex stupid. That's the only delta of consequnce between singles, unless you got unobtanium problems like magnesium ruddervator, or Cessna high wing retract actuator/pivot et al (or twins). Outside that, its all about capex.
All that said, if I could go RV right now I would. The costs regardless of brand, are indeed absurd in certified land, and it doesn't need to be this way. EAB FTW imo.
