It's difficult to get any cheaper on a cost per mile basis than a Mooney M20C-J.

I would say a RV-6A would be cheaper. While not exactly comparable I would give this some thought before dealing with the possible reseal of Mooney fuel tanks. The RV is a proven airframe/engine combination and the owner could legally do the maintenance.

That said, I would buy a Bonanza before an RV and certainly before a Mooney if the budget allowed.

Robert

I would say a RV-6A would be cheaper. While not exactly comparable I would give this some thought before dealing with the possible reseal of Mooney fuel tanks. The RV is a proven airframe/engine combination and the owner could legally do the maintenance.

That said, I would buy a Bonanza before an RV and certainly before a Mooney if the budget allowed.

Robert

+1

I have owned a Bravo, a long body Mooney, for eight years now. It has about as much similarity to a 20C as an A36 does to a Musketeer. I also own a Skylane, the third I have owned over the years.

I absolutely cannot imagine why anyone would consider purchasing a M20C over a Skylane. Speed? I doubt seriously there is 5 knots difference in the airplanes. The room, comfort, safety, reliability, parts availability, and maintainability between the two is so incredibly in favor of the Cessna as to be no comparison. The Skylane will burn about 3 gallons more per hour and engine reserve will be more, but other than that, the Mooney is a distant, not second, 25th to the Skylane.

Other than the long body Ovations, Bravos, and Acclaims, I am not a Mooney fan other than the fact that they are cheap to purchase and for good reason.

Jgreen

Purchase price quite simply. Cost to buy the thing is as much a budget consideration as owning it. If a guy has a M20C budget he's not looking at a Skylane.

Same thing if a guy has an M20C budget he's not looking at a M20J/201.

Granted, all this changes if he decides he's willing to change his budget and increase it to accomodate the "better" airplane. To some of us adding 20k to a budget is an enormous jump quite frankly. Why have a budget at all?

What he said.

Purchase price quite simply. Cost to buy the thing is as much a budget consideration as owning it. If a guy has a M20C budget he's not looking at a Skylane.

Same thing if a guy has an M20C budget he's not looking at a M20J/201.

Granted, all this changes if he decides he's willing to change his budget and increase it to accomodate the "better" airplane. To some of us adding 20k to a budget is an enormous jump quite frankly. Why have a budget at all?

This is why Mooeys don't work, been there done that, unless you want a tandem two place airplane.

If someone gave me a M20C, I would sell it immediately. If someone gave me a 201, I would fly it for a little while and then sell it. If someone gave me a Rocket, I would have a very hard time giving that up ....

I have time in all 3. In fact, I did my single engine commercial in an old M20C with manual gear and flaps. I became very proficient with the Johnson Bar, but I never grew to like it. Add to that the stupid manual hydraulic flaps, idiotic instrument layout, uncomfortable seating position, poor visibility; should I go on?

Comparing an early Mooney with a 201 for instance is like comparing an A35 with a V35. They might share a type certificate and look similar on the ramp, but are very different airplanes.

Purchase price quite simply. Cost to buy the thing is as much a budget consideration as owning it. If a guy has a M20C budget he's not looking at a Skylane.

Same thing if a guy has an M20C budget he's not looking at a M20J/201.

Granted, all this changes if he decides he's willing to change his budget and increase it to accomodate the "better" airplane. To some of us adding 20k to a budget is an enormous jump quite frankly. Why have a budget at all?