Budget 4 place aircraft

[Desk Flying]

I know the term budget is usually unheard of when talking about buying an aircraft. I am looking at buying a small 4 place aircraft and would value some opinions from aviation nutz like myself.

I trained in pipers and LOVE them for the flying qualities, ground handeling and having a real throttle. I did refresher training this fall in a cessna 172, I hated the sloppy nose wheel steering, weird throttle, mushy controls and fighting the thing in a crosswind. I sound like a Cessna hater but it had a view, you could look out the sidewindow and see something besides a fuel cap, you could get in it without crawling. It's all about the view, not sure I can go back to piper.

I am looking at spending around 40-45k. The 2 aircraft that most fit me needs are a piper 180/warrior/archer and a 172. A financing limitation is that it has to be 1974 or newer. For my price range I can get much more aircraft for the money with a piper but what I want is a cessna. Most of the ones in my price range are high time airframes(10-13 thousand hours) with mid time engines. For the same price I can get a piper with half the airframe hours and less engine time.

Should I be afraid of a high time cessna?
Any special ADs that would ruin my life?

Any parts support issues with older pipers that were built before "new piper" took over? Is it junk yards, swap meets and ebay for "old piper" owners?

If I had never flown a cessna this would not be a problem.

Matt

[navyretread]

Coupla thoughts:

1. The reason there are so many high time Cessna's on the market is they're popular with flight schools which buy them up and keep the demand higher so they're also more expensive. When they finally turn them loose, they have 10,000 plus hours.
2. There must be a reason they're so popular with flight schools and I think that must be they're easy to fly and maintain but I can't believe they're more so than the Pipers-just different. Switching fuel tanks is about the only thing I can think of where Cessnas have a clear advantage. On the other hand, older Cessnas appear to be more subject to carb icing than Pipers so I think it's a wash.
3. You describe the C-172 as a four seater. Are you thinking those things behind the pilot and copilot seats are actually for humans? Munchkins maybe but not adults. Edge: Piper.
4. I don't know what your flying skills are like but ever think about a Maule? I think you can buy a 180-200 hp Maule with room for four average adults in your price range but you'd probably need tailwheel training. There are some tricycle gear Maules out there but on your budget you might not have that option.
5. From what I've read, parts are more an issue on old Cessnas than old Pipers but I have no personal experience either way.
6. Whatever floats your boat. You seem very taken with the visibility in the Cessnas and I'll take a guess that you're not a big guy. The 172s are pretty narrow for a guy like me and I get claustrophobic with that wing over my head. So, I like the Pipers and you like the Cessnas. Great! One less buyer to compete with when I'm ready to take the plunge.
7. They're both great and I'd gladly take you up on a chance to go flying in either one.

nrt