new guy

[srg]

Looking to purchase my own single engine aircraft . Private use maybe 2-3 hours a week mostly just me , once a month trips to visit family with the wife and our young boys ( 3 and 4 years old ) . Budget , cheap of course . Just need a safe plane for 60 miles trip half over water . In short , what is the best bang for the buck out there and safe for the family once in a while ??? . One more thing hate to mention fuel cost but soon enough we are going to be paying 10$ per gallon so is there such a thing as a economical plane with 4 seats ?? Thanks in advance for the advice and lets start drilling for the black gold in our own back yards .

[SkykingC310]

I fly an old Cessna 182, it's a 1961. She flies so good. 4 people, bags, fuel and still cruises at 140 knots on 12 gph. It's truly a practical family airplane. You can find the older ones, well equipped for about $50,000.