Edsel

[Tom-D]

I do. But I don't see that much value diff. Particularly with the H2 engine. Meh - it's just me.

Probably.... but many buyers don't mind flying the H2AD until it needs replacing. That is one great aircraft for the up grade.

That 172 and the XP upgrade would be one hell of a nice aircraft.

 

[Henning]

I do. But I don't see that much value diff. Particularly with the H2 engine. Meh - it's just me.

A plane has two mutually exclusive values, market value that you can sell it for, and practical value, the value you get through its continued use. If you are looking for a plane to flip and cash in $10k on minimum effort and investment, this isn't going to be it.

However if you are looking for a 172 to own long term and fly for the next 10 years or foreseeable future, and you want a nice plane that will maintain economical operations well into the future and try to get the same capability value as a G-1000 172 for less money, this may be an excellent starting point depending on the price that can be struck. The longer one intends to own the plane, the less relevance 'overpaying' for the plane has. You get a sweet low time corrosion free Texas plane that has been in a hangar all its life for $65k and put it next to the typical 172 that I have been looking at for $45-$55k, and operate them next to each other for 10 years, I give it even odds on coming out even money. If you do like some and keep it forever, forever will be much further down the line, and will cost less to get there.

Best Result is Best Market Value only if you are in the aircraft flipping business.

 

[tyndall]

On the mag subject, Kelly is the only manufacturer of new parts, and they're junk. The blocks have a nasty problem of the threaded inserts pulling out when the contacts are torqued to specs. Most that come into our shop that have suddenly stopped working have contacts that have shifted closed.

Other parts are non-existent, like the coil hold down springs that are 100% replacement per the OH manual. In other words, a true, by the book overhaul is impossible. A few impulse couplings are NLA as well. I've seen mags sitting on the shelf for six months waiting for a coupling.

With duals it's no longer the design to worry about. It's the current low quality parts keeping them running.

 

[Dav8or]

Seventy thousand dollars for a 40YO Cessna 172 with a troublesome engine design?

Gulp. If it were me, I'd buy two old Bonanzas for that price and have money left over. One plane to fly(faster, more load) and one for parts.

Yep. Screw that noise. That will buy you a super clean Mooney 201 with vintage radios, or a vintage Mooney with speed mods and new radios.

Skyhawks, Skylanes and all the Piper Cherokee variants get a big price bump because they are the "safe" and familiar choices, not because they are better planes in any way.

 

[Henning]

Yep. Screw that noise. That will buy you a super clean Mooney 201 with vintage radios, or a vintage Mooney with speed mods and new radios.

Skyhawks, Skylanes and all the Piper Cherokee variants get a big price bump because they are the "safe" and familiar choices, not because they are better planes in any way.

That is true, but the reality is, that exact perception is what creats the market reality, so it is what it is. 172 is probably near the bottom of my list of planes I'd buy, because they are ubiquitous rentals that I can operate cheaper than ownership if I need that level of capacity. It doesn't make sense to buy one. If I buy a plane, it fills a roll I have for it that I cannot find a rental to fill.

That does not mean everyone is in the same usage position as I though, for some having a top quality 172 is perfect.

 

[kmead]

I pull my lifters out of my H2AD engine every other year. No problems yet but it does have the Ney oil lubrication mod done to the case.

Anybody interested in another 1977 C172 with an H2D engine? Have no idea what to ask yet. Garmin 650, airbag seat belts, very good original paint and interior. About 2500 hrs airframe total time and about 900 SMOH. I am going to get the annual finished soon and get it listed.