I see. I guess that would explain the tremendous preference for 25 year old
cars, versus newer.

And, in fact, people who don't make much money *do* prefer old cars. For exactly
those reasons.

I've gotta add my weight to the "buy used" market segment. Until
my/our dreams come true and airplanes start costing $25,000 and
$50/year to operate, Aviation will be expensive! Even a 'dream' sport
aircraft will be expensive to own and operate. How would you expect to
get your 25' wingspan kitplane from the field to your local cheap auto
mechanic? Does anyone expect that on-field mechanics are going to be
as cheap for an oil change as the jiffy-lube down the street charging
$19.95?

Back to the used argument. I own, 100%/no financing, a 1997 Toyota
Camry that I purchased a year ago. I purchased it because it was
relatively safe, decent looking, reasonable on gas, and would get me
to and from work/weekend events etc. I went that route, because I want
to have enough money someday to own (part of?) a plane. When it comes
time to buy a plane, I'll probably go the same route: a used 172 or
cherokee for a first plane... why? the depreciation is mostly done
(almost all with the airplanes)... The safety records don't show that
2003 Toyotas are significantly better than 1997 ones, and with
airplanes this is even more obvious. When a pilot gets disoriented in
a cloud, or flies into the earth in IMC, no newfangled
Cirrus/Diamond/Kitplane/Cessna/whatever is going to save them and
their pax. Most of these airplanes (except the diamond/kitplane) use
the same engines that you can get at overhaul - negating a possible
argument for better reliability.

Finally - there's the tried and true argument I've read many times
here... I've also read horror stories about the new Cirrus planes
being in the shop for more labor hours than in the air by a factor of
2.

Anyhow - if a C152 ever drops in price from the current (guess range)
$20k to even $15k, I may just have to buy one! and that's supply and
demand... the price isn't going to drop much and I doubt at all...