Looking for some more opinions on my Skywagon. I am trying to decide which way to go with my 180. Long story short, I bought it two years ago with the intention of painting it and keeping it. It's a solid aircraft with good times, rewired and ready to rock except for the paint. Now, I'm done house building, I'm burned out and put the Wagon on the market with the collection of parts I've accumulated for my redo. A called of guys called but were turned off by the J motor. So, I'm trying to decide which way to go. I advertised it at $72K with Gar Aeros on wheels, bubble windows, Avian yokes, VG's, door stewards and an engine analyzer, all uninstalled but with proper paperwork. The airframe has 3550 and the motor has 350. So, is it worth painting and installing all the crap on or is it better to just try selling it as is and peddling the parts separately and, if so, at what price? Ad is on Barnstormers. The biggest part of what has me scratching my head is: Is there an issue with the "J" motor? I thought the "A" was the only bad actor.
Thoughts would be appreciated
FZ

Isn't the J a 225hp model vs the 240?
I have looked at 180's all over the board from 45k on floats to 90k. Everyone of them has had it quirks/issues as expected with old planes. Seems like a lot of the same 180's have been on the market for some time. I know that I have held off because the 'right' one has not come up.

It is 225HP. There does seem to be a big asking price spread.
I'm seriously thinking about taking the wings off and taking it home for a six month interior and exterior make over. I just can't decide if the value is there or if that's just a stupid thing to do. I know it'd be a labor of love and not for profit, just don't want to throw sweat and money completely away. I am ultimately very likely going to sell it, just need to decide if that's before or after a bunch more work.

My thoughts............. generally the more you put into it the less ratio of that expenditure you get back. If you know for sure you are going to sell I would be thinking of selling it off as is. A (Good) Paint job is a major expenditure and if I was a buyer I would prefer to save the money on initial purchase, buy as is then paint so you know what you're getting rather than cover the cost of new paint in initial purchase.
The other mods cost $$ to install and who knows a potential purchaser may not want these things added, at least they have the choice and prices can be negotiated accordingly.

My 2 cents anyway

Here is a good place to compare pricing versus options versus models. He moves a fair amount of Skywagons. It's where I bought mine.

http://www.skywagons.com/aircraft_for_sale.html

Since you asked for opinions, I hope to be sincere in mine.

Nice wagon you have, I bet it's a lot of fun to fly. Skywagons are all across the board in price, and it's certainly still a buyers market, but rest assure, the good deals do go quick.

If you're overall goal is to sell it, I wouldn't pour a bunch of money and time into it. It seems early 180's sell best in the 50-70k range, the 50k planes aren't cream puffs, and the 70k planes are. Above 70k they better be the cats meow (Pponk/polished/like new/etc), or hope someone falls in love with it. In my opinion, your asking price is a little steep if I were in the market.

A -J engine is good, but has received an undeserved bad rap over the years. They aren't as popular as the -K though -U models and price should reflect that. The cooling fins (...higher CHT's), exhaust mounts, and HP/rpm is different than what most are use to. But the upside is they burn less gas (on average). You just need to fly them at little different.

Also, differences in 180's change greatly throughout the years and people tend to look at later models more. Bigger tanks, forward gear, modern panels, higher gross, etc. This is why -H models are so popular.

Last, I would reword your ad and try to make it more appealing ("feeling lazy" & "ugly beauty"). Take pride in your plane and ownership.

Good luck with the sale, but I vote for keeping it forever.

Points well taken and appreciated.

I'd suggest putting all your "spare parts" on the shelf & sell the basic airplane for less $$. Then sell off the parts that the new owner didn't want. Seems that price is the big issue now days. BUT... there are 172's on the market for near 90K!

You obviously are not interested in keeping it. So, sell it. Just about everything you do to it other than just cleaning it up is going to change the price not one bit, or rapt least you'll never get your money or your labor out of it.

Sell it before you REALLY learn to hate it. I too think your price is a little steep.

Then sell the misc. stuff you have collected and not installed. If you offer them to the buyer, he'll want them free or cheap, so sell em separate.

Good luck.

MTV

So, the other part of the story is that I have found a Maule that I find very interesting. I'm heading off to check it out on 8/4. Assuming it's a go, I think I will do as suggested and take the parts off the ad for the wagon and drop the price a bunch. Thanks for sharing the opinions.

Does your 180 have float fittings?

No float fittings. Sorry.

Why not just keep the 180 and fly it the way it is? Planes really don't care how there paint looks!! Planes are money pits, buy another one and you will get more better disease in just a week I have seen it often. If you do sell it you won't see any of the money you put into it come back the new paint will just make it sell quicker.
DENNY

No argument on the lack of value enhancement. I do have this masochistic streak though and I really enjoy the restoration process and results, even if that just benefits somebody else. My only thing is that I don't want to lose money and, in my near golden age status, I wouldn't mind some time to just kick around. Hence the request for feedback, trying to figure it out. I'm detecting a definite lean toward sell-it-as-is with the feedback. I may be developing that very same lean. Price drop is probably coming soon. Just gotta check out this Maule next Monday and make a decision.
I really appreciate the discussion.

Nice plane! I'd keep it, of course, but if you're set on selling it you might check into just painting the cowling and taking some more flattering exterior pictures. Land somewhere nice and take some pictures there.

Interior looks good to me. I wouldn't bother messing with that just to sell it.

Painting the cowling may seem silly, but I think it would help some buyers with spousal approval.

Good luck!

My .02 would also be sell as is. You will never, ever get back 100% of what you put in. I have a history of dumping money into things and getting back a fraction, I'm speaking from experience gained from past bad judgment .

As a buyer I'm actually somewhat suspicious of fresh paint because of what it can hide. And there is no way I'd pay what the seller paid to paint it, added into the purchase price. If I'm going to pay that much, I'd want to do my own scheme.

Again, just my .02 Good luck!

Agreed with much of what's already been said. Only other remark is that you see a number of ads that state "Good flier, good interior, all ready for your own paint scheme" or "Just needs paint", or words to the same effect.
Yeah, owning two (or more) planes when you want to get back to one is a time and money suck and an unsettling feeling in general.
-DP

Why would you "trade" a C180 for a Maule?

flyfish wrote:Why would you "trade" a C180 for a Maule?

....here we go!!

If you decide to sell it make sure you get GOOD pictures of it and also make sure it is a clean as can possibily be for what ever condition it is in. Also make sure the logs are in order and in a way that makes it easy to review. This makes it easier for the buyer to determine if he or she wants to proceed further. Sure sucks when you show up to look at an airplane you are excited to buy and it is filthy and the logs and paper work is in a disorganized mess. Not that difficult to get the airplane cleaned up, good photos taken and in presentable condition, doing this really pays off.

G44

PS, make sure it has an updated and accurate equipment list! SO many airplanes don't.