There's been a lot of great suggestions for SE planes, but if you want a plane for traveling I would get a C310R or Q. They sit taller and are much roomier than a B55. I like having a second engine. It will definitely cost more to operate but you will travel fast and in comfort. Some even have AC. Personally, I prefer the turbo charged models but that will drastically increase the maintenance costs.

Only the 180 can take you anywhere, land, sea, snow, ice.

The 310 and 58 baron are both great traveling machines for a family. They are both more airplane than I need or that I’d want to maintain, especially since my family doesn’t really want to travel. If I was flying 400+ miles and in weather, a twin would be at the top of my list. I don’t like the idea of real IFR or flying at night on one motor. Turbos would give me some performance, but I don’t need to go high living in OK and I don’t know if I would want to mess with oxygen. If I need to go far or with the family, I can go on the airline.

That would be the best of both worlds. The single seat Pitts would fit in my shop with the existing door. I’m not remotely interested in recognition or competition, but I would like to learn to fly intermediate level aerobatics. A really nice single seat Pitts would be about $50K and would be more airplane than I’d ever need for what I want to do. A 180 wouldn’t fit in my current shop, but Air Plains is only 65 miles away and they could do the 300 hp conversion if I wanted to spend the money. If I find that GA flying is something that I want to do long term, putting in a basic hangar at the house isn’t out of the question. A local farmer has a low time 180 that has never been out of OK that he inherited. I’d love to pick that up if he ever decided to sell, but he has said that he’ll never sell his dad's plane. I can’t blame him. On the other hand, Maules have all of the load that I’d need, incredible STOL performance, the entire side opens up to load cargo, and it would fit in my current building with a door modification. I could also get a much newer Maule for the price of a good 180. A 180 is definitely the cream of the crop, but for only 5-10 knots difference in speed, I’d probably just go with a newer Maule.

182s.

If you’re going with a Culver, why not go all-in and get a Culver Cadet? All of the fun and a tailwheel too.

182s.

Mission screams Deb.

Acq <100k
Cheap insurance
As good soft/short-field as the V tail 35s
>160 KTAS cruise for traveling.

Borrow your buddy's Dec for aerobatic and TW proficiency, he offered it because he wants it run.

-J

Socata Trinidad in the price range you mention. You won't get twin engine redundancy but you get the reliable lycoming powerplants and lots of comfort in cabin for the 160 kt speed. Trailing link gear gives soft landings and handles grass fields ok. Brand is still well supported by a financially viable company unlike Mooney or even Beech. Generally will find them upscale in equipment and the airframe is completely corrosion treated from the factory.

It’s going to be a bit of an echo chamber but maybe head over to the RV forum to ask about hauling your gear. Being an experimental born in the NorthWest I’d put money on it that someone has added a well built ski/fly rod tube or extended baggage to one, if not all of the RV’s that would fit your mission. Another benefit to the experimental scene is the affordability of upgrades. For example, if an autopilot would really feed your inner airline pilot it’s much cheaper to add a state of the art digital box to an RV than it is any certified airplane.

Bonanza , Bonanza or a Bonanza

Airplane is roomy, relatively fast and has the gear to stand up to most any grass strip well maintained or not.
Parts everywhere, eminently upgradable and great Visibiiity.

Your wife will be happy to fly in the Bo but will look at a Maule like it’s built in the 30s.

IMHO

Have you looked into Socata TB-21. Nice airplane. I used to own one and loved it.

Tushar

Early 35 will operate just fine out of a 2100 ft strip with obstacles. I am based on a 1700 ft grass strip on an island surrounded by trees and water. The north runway requires a swooping left turn approach like a Corsair carrier landing and the reverse if you are flying out of the south runway. The 35s there are down and stopped in less than half the runway and get off and out no problem at all. Very impressive from what I have seen.

[Link]http://skyranchairport.org/[/Link]

video of landing on north runway(not my video).

[Link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wftu_ybhiFg[/Link]

You don't say how many seats are needed? If only 2, look at the RVs. My RV9 has a to/ldg distance of about 500 feet at sea level, can cruise about 170kts WOT or only burn 5.6gal/hr if I pull it back to 150kts, and can make it up to the flight levels on O2 without an issue.

The RV10 would meet all of your needs for a 4-place, but you won't find a good one for that budget.