mountainwagon wrote:Here is an opinion and experience that most would not or may not be able to do. In doing it this way you learn more about the aircraft and why you wanted it and why you may not need it.
I was able to own a long wing M-7-235. I owned three other Maule's also. I owned a Cessna 180H and several other Cessna's also.
I was able to have the Long wing parked next to a 180H and jump from one to the other and fly them both the same day.
I was able to experience the build up and repair and finding parts and see how it's made and put together on the M-7-235.
I was able to experience the build up and repair and finding parts and see how it's made and put together on a 180H.
I was able to sell both and experience the market for them.
I really loved Maule's and started " Just buy a Maule" years back. A maule is not a 180 and never will be and they are different in many ways and would take a lot of typing to spell it out. A Cessna 180 will never have a few things a maule has and you have to have both and build up both to know what I mean.
For the cost of either one needing the airplane or just wanting one will come into play. Both aircraft flew different in there own way's. A maule is like a Mr. potato head, same basic fuselage with different wings, controls and engines. A Cessna had different models and all models had various changes throughout the years. The 180 being one with a lot of changes you may not know about until you build one, find parts for one do research on one and fly a so called early light one to later H,J,and K models. I would stay away from the first year's of the 180, the cost is not much different and there are benefit's in later 1950's models when you get down to it, Don't settle on either airplane do your research.
Final conclusion for the value end of it.
22 year old Long wing Maule M-7-235 over 1000TT Really nice airplane sold just under 90K
50 year old Cessna 180H just over 3000TT Really nice airplane sold just over 100K
So, which one would I choose?

mountainwagon wrote:Here is a unabridged version
Had a lot of airplanes a lot as in dozens. I am not Waldo Pepper. I fly, feel and fix. Just some things about the two aircraft.
First off I give my hat's off to B.D Maule for doing what he did. There are a lot of changes in the Maule models throughout the years. Some times changes are not for the good. Flying a m-4-220 around wanting more out of it. You don't read much about a Maule when one owns one how it may be. kind of like a first girlfriend. One thing to think about is why Maule went away with the long wing. It may be it had adverse yaw and aileron control was weak, maybe that is why the A model shortened the flap and added it to the aileron. Some guys ask about auto pilots on a Maule WTF. Maybe because they noticed it hunt's in the air. kind of like a v-tail fix with a yaw damper. Maule's are small airplanes. They are ugly except the M4 round tail. The exhaust system sucks ass, the fuel system is a system in itself. They are a one off model and not a lot of options for propellers etc. Hard to get in and out of when you get old and have to duck under the wing. They need more AOA and putting about 10K out for extended gear and bush wheels will fix that but it 10K and then be in the air? No thanks. Parts are not cheap anymore and getting them can be a hair puller. Not a lot of used parts on the market or over stocked parts from dealers. A lot of unknown out there on them by owners. They are quiet with only a 81 inch prop turning 2400 rpm and the exhaust is not beefy sounding. Be good for not pissing off locals like a 88" 180 prop. They do fly nice if you learn to fly them. They will land short and take off short. Load it up and that changes. The side cargo doors are real nice. They are a slow airplane, Not a M-4-220. Tubing and fabric can cost you if it comes time for a recover. They are the closest certified aircraft to being a homebuilt. You can build most parts if you had to. I don't think they will hold there value like a 180 has and a new one will fly like a old one. Would I get another one, sure not a M7 long wing though.
Finding parts for a Cessna 180 can be a chore and cost you some $. The good news is there are parts out there. It takes a lot more time and tooling to do sheet metal work and to do it right and nice. There are a lot of changes with the 180 through out the year and for the price of one being a 1953 or a 1968 I would go with a later one. Even a late 50's had changes worth passing up the first and second. That is where my don't settle and do the research comment comes in. Sure a lot of guys have them and some have been modified. I would rather just get one that Cessna did all the R&D on and move on with my mods. Also Cessna did not use the name sky wagon until 1969 for thew180 so any older than that is just a old Cessna 180 as in 60-50 years old. They fly nice. Some are fast some are slow. Most have been bent to shit and fixed. They are easy to get in and out of. They are tall and big looking. You can do a lot with engine and propeller mods. Stall mods, gross weight, wing extension mods and every thing else to pour money into it. They sound real beefy and can really piss off some ground pounders with a 88" prop. After a while you have to ask yourself do I really need this or just want it. Could be a ego thing for some. The one's with the hand on the prop and cock pose on the ramp or the one calling sky wagon on down wind in the pattern and it is a old 180. For what they are and the price they bring I think they are over priced. I am glad I sold mine while the money is still good in this country. Would I buy another one, sure not for the price they are though.
If I had to choose a M7-235 or a 180. It would depend on what I wanted to do with it. If I had Metallica rocking in my head sets and was going to take myself or one more and a light load to the motocross track of the airways I would go with a Maule. If I put some Rush or Led Zeppelin through the head sets and loaded up the wife and kids for a long flight to get where ever I wanted I would get a 180H.
I would get a late 50's 180 if the price was right. I would take a M-4-220 any day over any other Maule out there. Just my choice and favorite Maule. I would also take a 170B or another AL-3 American Legend for a LSA. Can't beat a good old 182 or the Cadillac of the single Turbo 210.. I sold four airplanes this year. Been around airplanes all my life. Found out after a few wrecks I never let anyone fly me. I don't want a airplane older than me 1964. I have had over 53 airplanes, never did a pre buy on one. Sold over 60 airplanes. Met and talked with some of you. Met and lost some great people. Never seen such a close nit and sincere and honest group as pilots we are.
At this time in my life with changes I have no airplane and have moved on to another chapter to explorer in life with all this extra $ .

mountainwagon wrote:....Could be a ego thing for some. The one's with the hand on the prop and cock pose on the ramp or the one calling sky wagon on down wind in the pattern and it is a old 180......

Super-Maule wrote:

Oregon180 wrote:I'd never considered that using "Skywagon" in the pattern in my lowly old 1959 180 would offend anyone. Live and learn!

"Yellow and white Cessna Taildragger" is probably better anyway.

maules.com wrote:.....A Cessna aileron is nearly $6000 and a Maule aileron nearly $1000.....