You guys are pretty funny.

Maybe minimal was an overstatement, but the depreciation loss was similar to the fuel cost. And even regular depreciation will allow a 15% drop the first year.

Some people buy a 172 and step up to a Bonanza. Some people buy a Cirrus and step up to a Mustang. Some people eat rice and hope to afford a chicken. Any flying machine is an extravagance

Let them keep building those 750k planes. The more they build the cheaper they get in the used market. Add that with the aging pilots about to sell out. I can't wait to get a nice G2 in a few years for 150k...

I have already seen some G2s that were pretty nice at that price level.

I am waiting for G3s with fiki to get to that level. Thankfully the advent of the G5 will eventually put downward pressure on those prices.

I am waiting for G3s with fiki to get to that level. Thankfully the advent of the G5 will eventually put downward pressure on those prices.

The 09 FIKIs have held their value because they essentially went unchanged until the G5. In 12 they got a fifth seat. With a FIKI bird you will run out of useful load before you fill that seat unless you have three small kids. If you have three small kids you'll out grow the plane in less than five years. The G5 will push those down. My personal favorite is a clean wing with an AC in my area icing is rare.

Why not Todd? It's just worthless fed printed paper, might as well trade it for something useful

2009 (and since) was substantially lower production compared to the boom years, so there's not an excess supply of low time late model planes like there was 5 years ago.

Here are the data from GAMA on Cirrus deliveries:

..............SR20............SR22..........SR22T...TOTAL

2013........32................112.............132 = 276
2012........84.................81...............88 = 253
2011........48................105.............102 = 255
2010........42................165..............57 = 264
2009........28................240...............0. = 268
2008........115..............427...............0. = 542
2007........113..............588...............0.. = 701
2006........150..............565...............0.. = 715
2005........116..............475...............0.. = 591
2004.........91...............459...............0.. = 550
2003........112..............355...............0.. = 467
2002........105..............292...............0.. = 397
2001.........59...............124...............0.. = 183
2000.........95.................0................0.. = 95
1999..........9.................0................0... = 9

Why not Todd? It's just worthless fed printed paper, might as well trade it for something useful

Shawn,

The "5th seat" is really just a marketing gimmick (although there is a seat belt). But when they moved the TKS tanks from the bulkheads to the wings they did free up some elbow room and the rear seats are really quite comfortable for two people.

As far as FIKI is concerned I felt as you do. However, while I don't fly in ice like many people in the north do it's nice to have. I used it for a little bit today. I don't like the hit to useful and draw down the tanks during warmer months and only carry 5 gallons usually. On balance I'm glad I have it.

I dont think anyone would stick 3 adults in there, but having 3 seatbelts for 3 kids is imho a good idea. The Socata TB20 was available with that feature, I think about it the same as the luggage compartment seats in a short body baron, V-tail or Comanche.

I would want a FIKI machine just due to the fact that it actually works. This is one of the few machines where FIKI makes a difference. The TKS panels are much larger and go back further on the wing. I would not trade my Glasair for a non-FIKI Cirrus just to gain the parachute, but sure would consider the FIKI machine to get the parachute and the de-ice that works properly. Ice is my biggest concern in the Glasair - even more so than one engine. Efficient high performance wings like the Glasair and Cirrus do not like ice. I have picked up moderate ice in FL at 8k when it was 60 degrees on the ground. Where I live it really is a concern.

I disagree. When I had my Malibu, there were a lot of "Hey, wife is pregnant with #3 and I'm shopping for something bigger than the Cirrus" posts on MMOPA. Piper got a lot of PA46 sales out of the 5th seat in that plane.

Assume Mr. New Plane buyer has a 3 year old, 1 year old and one on the way. With 4 seats he's looking at 2 years max left in a G3 Cirrus, and that assumes you want to have a toddler lapchild. Realistically, it's more like 1 year. With the 3rd seat, you could, in most cases, keep the Cirrus until the kids were probably 10, 8, 6 or perhaps a couple years longer. Big difference