Does it suck $350,000 worth of rocks?

I'm intrigued by the Cirrus, but I don't see myself buying one within
the depreciation window. It's my understanding that, on average,
planes stop heavy depreciation after about 7-8 years, but that's just
something I heard. It seems like new planes are for people with money
to throw away, but different folks get different things out of their
purchases. My wife and I buy cars that are between 1.5 and 2.5 years
old, just after the wildest depreciation has ended. We get essentially
new cars for a LOT less then the new price, plus any lemons have been
weeded out, initial recalls have been taken care of, and the little
stuff that inevitably goes bad with a brand new device has already been
cleaned up.

I'd definately apply the same logic to airplanes personally, but if I
were a corporation that could see a tax benefit out of having a clear
capital depreciation scale because I have millions I make elsewhere,
then sure, the Cirrus might be logical, but otherwise, as an individual
buyer, I'd wait a little longer.

This is completely aside to the nervousness I about the design of the
cirrus. Personally, I'm not sure I want a plane who's first recovery
technique for everything is 'pull the silks'. Parachute deployment
seems like it should be a last step, not a first. It looks like a very
nice plane, of course. Maybe in the next few years I'll 'grow out of'
those concerns. I'd love to try out that avionics package and the view
looks incredible, but not until they've come down a little in price.

Ben Hallert
PP-ASEL