Sounds like you have figured out your "mission" first, and then selected
the tool to accomplish it.

I now own my 3rd Bonanza, and love it.

Suggest you access:

http://www.beechcraft.org/vtail/

and consider joining the mail-list from that site (about 100 messages
per day). A rambunctious and cantankerous group, some times, but no
more knowledgeable group of Bonanza owners exists.

Rich

Tom S. wrote:
A few months I ran my idea of acquiring a Commander 114/115.

As was pointed out to me, the numbers historically sold and the companies
current financial plight makes future parts availability questionable.

After some digging and evaluation, I am now considering bypassing my 2nd
choice as well, which was a T182RG.

My current selection is based on a few (amongst other) factors, the most
crucial of which a

* Performance
* Availability of parts and service (No Paggio's, thank you)
* Good history in terms of reliability and maintainability.
* Comfort (I'm 6'1", 205 and big in the shoulders)

My trips are typically going to be 300-700 miles with very few of them
carrying three passengers.

I think I'm settling on a Beech F33A. I've found quite a few that are late
80's and early 90's models, some with less than 1,000 hours. Being out in
the Rocky Mountain West, I'm also likely going to add the Tornado Alley
Whirlwind turbonormalizing system.

Your comments, warnings and advisories are welcome.

Thanks,

Tom