I have decided that the Cessna 182 is the plane for my mission. I would like to make a purchase in the next few months, but am feeling a bit overwhelmed sifting through barnstormers, TAP, etc. I am fairly new to aviation and trying to determine what value to put on avionics, TSMOH, interior, exterior, etc is not something I have the time or experience to do properly. Does anybody have a recommendation for a buyer's agent that lives nearby (Fort Collins)?

Thanks!

I would suggest doing your own homework but take a good IA along for inspection. The more you shop and talk with others the less overwhelming it will be and the more knowledgeable you will become.

As has been said before, if you are any kind of limited budget, try and keep travelling to minimum, the cost adds up quickly. Do as much as you can over the phone, with pictures, and if you can, have friend a take a quick look for you if you are looking at one out of your area to see if it may be worth investing more time and money into.

There are lots of 182s around, you shouldn't have to go far to find a good one.Radios, mods etc, are generally cheaper when bought already existing in the plane. Figure what you want and look for that plane.

Buy as close to what you want as you can afford in the beginning and add the rest as you can.
Me, if I wated a 182 I'd look for a clean, early 182 with a Pponk engine and atleast 1 good radio. I think that would give you a great platform to work from, an the option to convert to TW in the future fi your interest goes in that direction.
Gary

Seems like every time a 180/182 is mentioned, someone else brings up a Ponk engine like it's a must-have. Well, for some maybe it is, but IMHO 180/182s have been providing good service for over 60 years now with their original 225-230hp engines and for some of us they're plenty good enough.
I will agree that an early straight-tail 182 is a great airplane, and they can often be had for a very reasonable price. Esp if they're not real pretty. I think a lot of them are gonna have minimal and/or dated avionics, which IMHO is just fine if they still work. For VFR, a good com, mode c txp, and panel-mtd intercom is about all we really need, along with a handheld GPS or an ipad or similar with aviation apps.

I agree with you on the PPonk hotrod. Sure the extra power would be nice, but the moGas STC is not available with the PPonk. So if you plan on using moGas, stick with the stock 0-470.

I think you're asking for help establishing what might be a decent price. That's tough without knowing what the selling prices are for similar aircraft in the past. If there is a resource for that I don't know what it is. There are some airplanes that go pretty quick. I suspect that a clean 182 and any Super Cub would be one of those. A Cherokee 6/300 on the other hand might go for slightly above parts value. Tadpol is working up in that area someplace and probably could direct you to some help. You've asked the right question I think, now you wait until somebody from that area perks up.

Another thought though is to contact these guys: http://www.skywagons.com If there is any bad press on these guys I haven't heard it. There was a story a few years ago about the principle being involved in dirty money transactions for aircraft but he's gone from the company. Even in those days they had a good rep for good clean aircraft. They are in California but cast a wide net in the industry.

Mister701 wrote:Another thought though is to contact these guys: http://www.skywagons.com

I'll give these guys two BIG thumbs up. I bought my 185 from them. Mark is straight up and honest. I'd buy from them again in a heartbeat.

Let me make a suggestion. Years ago when I was in your shoes, I started looking at airplanes at every airport within 200 miles of Laramie, where I lived at the time. I found a decent one at Jeffco, and I asked one of the mechanics/pilots at Laramie about doing a look-see (not a pre-buy). He said, "Why didn't you look right here?" I ended up in a partnership in a 3 year old Skylane with only 330 hours on it, which had been sitting in the community hangar for awhile, a real cream puff (wish I hadn't succumbed to my pard's desire to "upgrade"--that was a great airplane).

So that's my suggestion: look locally. You've got a gob of Skylanes at FNL and some at GXY, maybe go as far as Longmont or Erie. Ask around the FBOs and mechanical shops, and I'll bet some are for sale. You just might find one you like--and then have an IA look at it closely. If you're really interested, make an offer contingent on a clean pre-buy--and I'll give you some hints on that when the time comes.

Cary

Seems like every time a 180/182 is mentioned, someone else brings up a Ponk engine like it's a must-have.

There is no doubt you can get by with the stock 470, but don't forget he will be doing most of his flying 7-10K' and it would be a lot cheaper to buy a plane with one than to put one in later. Smoother engine(generally), longer TBO, 40+ more horsepower(never saw anyone wanting less horsepower), don't need to use it all, but nice to know it's there.
Just my recommendation, worth what ya paid for it. I have been down that road and it would be one of the first things I would do if I went down that road again and could afford it.
Gary

Todd Hitchcock
Hitchcock Aviation
+1 (208) 794-2444
Was fantastic helping me with my 206 and he know 182s