Maule has one solid thing going for it and that's the price, you can't beat it with a stick for what you get. Especially if you're going to buy a new one. We had an M7-235-C for about six years and flew it all over the place, including up to Alaska and back. It was a capable airplane and could haul a lot of stuff but don't be deceived, it's not all that roomy inside so if he's a big guy he ought to try it on for size before buying one.
Maintenance-wise it wasn't much trouble, an MXT7 could aptly be compared to a Piper Tri-Pacer although maybe not quite that ugly. The fuselage is fabric as is the horizontal stab and elevator. The wings are metal skinned but not stressed construction like a Cessna, just basically metal skin in place of what would have normally been fabric. They have fairly decent STOL characteristics but it's something you'd have to work at. I'd say they are not quite as well composed as your typical Cessna but it's a fun airplane with enthusiastic owners and it will do some things a 182 won't for a lot less money.
I'd say all of the above with a minor disagreement - the tricycle Maule is just a bit uglier than the almost cute Piper milk stool. They both look fantastic sitting on their tails.
I owned a tailwheel MX7-180a for over 10 years and 1500+ hours. I was the third owner but got it with 35 hours on it. A great value for the $$$.
I can't think of a better mission for one than "dinking around the ranch". It's tough, simple, easy to maintain. The 180 Lycoming is a great engine for it. I had a full 1,000 lb for people and gas. The challenge is fitting it all in... but it will fly it and fly rather well at full gross. No need for a bigger engine. It won't go much faster and will just burn more gas. I ended up getting and using my instrument ticket in it. Not an ideal platform for such work but it'll do it.
It's handling is a bit truck-like but straight forward. It does not have any nasty stall characteristics at all. Just the opposite. I didn't have turbulators and never felt the need. It has decent STOL characteristics except that one does have to work to land short over an obstacle. The flaps are not particularly effective compared to Cessnas. I had an extra flap setting that I understand is not on most models. I didn't even bother using it because it didn't really do anything except look extreme. On the other hand, the reflex (negative) setting is a godsend when you want to come down.
If you try for a maximum angle, minimum speed approach with full flaps and power-off, you won't have enough elevator authority to properly flare unless a bit of power is added. That's one more thing that you have to do compared to a 152/172 which have more effective flaps and enough elevator to finish off a steep, minimum speed approach. Oh, and it slips just fine too.
Size wise, I'm 6' and 215. I was comfortable but glad that my wife is petite. It will haul a load. My favorite configuration is with the rear seats out giving you an enormous cargo area with access that only a steel tube fuselage can muster as in, "sure, we'll come down and pick up the christmas tree and the kids trike". We've put two full size bikes back there with just the front wheels removed. It's tight but highly accessible space. I think the MX7 is slightly smaller than the M7.
You can also fly it with any one of the 4 doors (!) removed. I suggest the pilot door early in the morning with a good set of noise cancelling phones on.
Can you tell we loved our Maule?
