Thinking about slow, something that works great on grass fields. I would rather stay in the low $20,000 or less. There are a lot of airplanes out there for $15,000 to $20,000ish
I have zero experience and zero taildragger time. One grass field landing. I feel like I am missing out.

Slower and More basic = better
I think I would rather have metal wings (covered ok)
What are the goods and the bad ?
Good visibility/ sight seeing
Upgraded engine/HP seems to be a good thing

Cessna 120/140/140A/150 conversion
Champ
Taylorcraft
Luscombe (boy, some of these are pretty)
PA-something
Avid Flyer

Hard to beat a champ but will be tough on that budget. How about a Piper Pacer? Barnstormers.com is your friend! You'll love flying over the countryside at 1000 agl in a tail dragger.

I've been thru all the Barnstormers taildraggers pages.....over load.....that's why I came here :-)
Good to hear the 1000' comment. I think I would like it or at least need to experience it.
On BT there is a 150 tricycle with Horton Stall.Or should I stay taildraggers.

Speaking of the 150 and a Taylorcraft on BT....it's like pulling teeth (or worse) to get info out of these folks !! If I'm selling, I'm watching my PM's !

About price, for the right airplane I guess a partner could be taken in but get too expensive and then I worry about damaging it. If I can damage and then scrap....sounds less stressful :-) I talked to a guy a while back at a breakfast. He had bought a pos cub ($15k) and said it was easy to get three more partners. The forth partner money went into the reserve/repair fund.

Tricycle?

The whole point of low and slow is a tail dragger... otherwise just go rent a C150. The worst abomination known to man is called the Tripacer..

I really like the pacers. In that price range it is on of the few four seat airplanes.

Check out drew Coates super nice Stinson 108-1. I think he's asking 23 for a real cream puff.

Chester beat me to it. I'll at least give you the link:
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=118172&hilit=Stinson

I have been the caretaker to several taildraggers over the years. Cessna 120,140A ,Aeronca Chief, J3 Cub. All were great planes but hands down favorite is the Cub because of the ability to fly with the "door" open. Can't buy one for $20k though!! I have flown several Aeronca Champs and I think that will be my next low and slow airplane. Tandem seating is fun and a lot roomier than a cub. Several decent ones have been for sale recently in the low 20s.
Happy Hunting!

Just for fun,,, I found this ad,,,

AERONCA 7EC- 1957 • $14,000 • AVAILABLE FOR SALE • aeronca 7ec 1300 smoh 100 toh fabric airworthy no bounce gear. radio transponder.out of annual clean • Contact Monty V. Snowden - CENTREVILLE AVIATION, Owner - located Centreville, Canada • Telephone: 506-276-3539 • Posted July 2, 2016 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad

You're right; you've been missing something.

Budd Davisson (http://www.airbum.com) has reviewed a million Cub competitors. Go there and lose 12 hours you'll never get back. Aviation Consumer also has lots of good reviews on these airplanes.

If I'm looking for a go-nowhere taildragger-- and I might be-- I'm not looking for 4 seats. As much as I love Stinsons and Pacers, they're a lot more airplane. I'm looking for near-ultralight performance in something that looks, sounds and smells like a real airplane. That means 2-seat trainers.

Broadly, they can be divided in to pre-war and post-war. The pre-war trainers are the Cub, Champ, Chief, Taylorcraft, and probably a couple I'm missing. They're tube and fabric, usually powered by a 65hp Continental. Bigger engines, which many have, allow for an electrical system including starter. The 65 must be hand-propped. Also, you're left with a handheld radio for comms. Taylorcrafts are supposedly the fastest, even though they're side-by-side. Cubs cost the most because they're Cubs. Champs are close because they're Champs. For your <$20k, you can have a decent T'craft or Chief, or about half of a Cub or Champ.

A word about Luscombes. They're a special case in this scheme because they were made before, during, and after the war and again in the 1990's (IIRC) with various engines and other improvements. They have a reputation for being a handful on the ground, which Davisson says they don't deserve. They're all metal and inexpensive. Many have electrical systems.

The postwar trainers are the Cessna 120/140 and......um......that's all I can think of. They have electric starters, radios, and 90hp. Compared to a 70mph Cub they're rockets, with cruise speeds in the high 90's or even low triple digits! They have fabric wings, though many have been metallized. The metal adds weight -- maybe 30#? Modern fabric isn't a big deal.

How big are you? ALL of these airplanes were build for smaller people, especially the side-by-side models. I'm 5'10", 185#. In a 140 with a passenger, my right shoulder has to go forward of his or her left. A Cub is much better in that regard, but famously difficult to get in and out of. "Cub yoga," my tailwheel instructor called it. Champs are easier in and out but you can't fly with the door open. So many choices!

Then there are homebuilts. In this price range, most Kitfoxes and Avids will have 2-stroke engines. I wouldn't do that.

Edit to add: If you're going to OSH, talk to the man himself! Budd Davisson is a great speaker and he's giving several forums, including "Mastering the Tailwheel," Wednesday: http://www.eaa.org/airventure/event/Mastering_The_Tailwheel?id=A618B617FFEA408CBFC615746F61A2EC

Tony,

Got my rating in a Texas tail dragger. A converted C172. Nice size great visibility. Good power and cheap. Guy who owns it here has purchased a Saratoga and is looking for a partner in the 172. Might be able to buy it outright from him. ??

Good hunting you're on the right track. Raise your $ and you could go for a C180/185, C195, Stearman, Maule, super Cub, X Cub, Carbon Cub, Howard, DC3, Beech 18, Beech 17( ), Spartan and on and on.

Check out the Spartan it would look good wrapped around you.

Tony,

Pretty much all the answers to your questions are included in the posted comments. My input is a question: Do you want BASIC or something else?

Basic is Cub and Champ. Tandem seating offers unparalleled visibility. There are some Taylorcrafts that are tandem as well, most were made for the military during WWII and pretty much a Cub duplicate.

These are all "horsepower challenged" airplanes and a 85 hp upgrade for the Cub or Champ is nice.

The side by sides are nice but not the same.

As somebody said, be sure you can fit in any of them. They were made for smaller butts than most people have today. I've said many times that I'll know it is time to quit flying when I can't get in my Cub. I can still do one legged squats so I'm not anywhere near that yet.

It would be smart to bum a ride in the options you choose. I will happily let you fly the Cub if you come by here.

Green

A Champ with the "door off" STC is really, really hard to beat. Had one for two years to get my son and I back into tailwheels. Great fun and the easiest sell ever when the RV8 came along.