I've decided to buy a T210. Advice is welcom

In a previous thread (could have been as much as a year ago), I
proposed getting a twin as my first airplane. I wanted a Cessna 421,
but wiser and more experienced people talked me out of it. After a
long period of thinking and research, I've decided to get a Cessna
T210. I have some time in type, plus a lot of complex, high
performance and RG time. I would likely get my instrument rating in
the plane I buy.

I've been discussing this at lenght on the CPA forum, but always
welcome more information. Any insights by current and former T210
owners would be helpful.

John Szpara
Private pilot
Fiero Owner 2-84 Indy Pace cars, 86 Coupe, 88 Formula 3.4, 88 Coupe, 88GT

"john szpara" wrote in message
news:1118646675.a93d6cafa637b661be0a19c3ac002514@t eranews...
In a previous thread (could have been as much as a year ago), I
proposed getting a twin as my first airplane. I wanted a Cessna 421,
but wiser and more experienced people talked me out of it. After a
long period of thinking and research, I've decided to get a Cessna
T210. I have some time in type, plus a lot of complex, high
performance and RG time. I would likely get my instrument rating in
the plane I buy.

I've been discussing this at lenght on the CPA forum, but always
welcome more information. Any insights by current and former T210
owners would be helpful.

I had a 1981 T210...it was fast, comfortable and a maintenance hog. It spent
almost as much time in the shop as it did in the air. Not sure I got a
lemon, but 210's are "noted" for high upkeep.

Traded it for a B56 Baron after ten months and, though the Baron was ten
years newer, it cost less to operate than the 210 other than fuel costs.

You might ask around some shops in your area. The gear on the 210 seems
to be a cause of lots of cash flow once the airframe gets over a couple
thousand hours. I would probably look the turbo Bo A36 over the T210.
Of course, when actually facing that situation I bought the Mooney. The
Mooney is a bit smaller than the A36 but the A36 does not come with an
FAA known-ice certificate, the Mooney and the 210 can.

-Robert

john szpara wrote:

In a previous thread (could have been as much as a year ago), I
proposed getting a twin as my first airplane. I wanted a Cessna 421,
but wiser and more experienced people talked me out of it. After a
long period of thinking and research, I've decided to get a Cessna
T210. I have some time in type, plus a lot of complex, high
performance and RG time. I would likely get my instrument rating in
the plane I buy.

I've been discussing this at lenght on the CPA forum, but always
welcome more information. Any insights by current and former T210
owners would be helpful.

John Szpara
Private pilot
Fiero Owner 2-84 Indy Pace cars, 86 Coupe, 88 Formula 3.4, 88 Coupe, 88GT

You should subscribe to Aviation Consumer. they ahve a very detailed
review, including maint info, at aviation-consumer.com, in the
subscribers-only section. I won't violate their copyright but their
subtitle for the review is:

Cessna’s premier single is a wonderful machine when it’s working right.
And that’s the trouble ... it’s sensitive to proper maintenance.

Matt Barrow wrote:




I had a 1981 T210...it was fast, comfortable and a maintenance hog. It spent
almost as much time in the shop as it did in the air. Not sure I got a
lemon, but 210's are "noted" for high upkeep.

Yep, that's what I've heard too. With a 210 you get the newest one you
can find. When I decide I need to go fast no way do I buy a Cessna
retract, and I'm a Cessna guy. Bonanza all the way with me.

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:29:09 -0400, xyzzy wrote:


You should subscribe to Aviation Consumer. they ahve a very detailed
review, including maint info, at aviation-consumer.com, in the
subscribers-only section. I won't violate their copyright but their
subtitle for the review is:

Cessna’s premier single is a wonderful machine when it’s working right.
And that’s the trouble ... it’s sensitive to proper maintenance.

Thanks. I joined this morning, and found and read one article on the
210.


John Szpara
Private pilot
Fiero Owner 2-84 Indy Pace cars, 86 Coupe, 88 Formula 3.4, 88 Coupe, 88GT

"Newps" wrote:
I had a 1981 T210...it was fast, comfortable and a maintenance hog. It
spent
almost as much time in the shop as it did in the air. Not sure I got a
lemon, but 210's are "noted" for high upkeep.

Yep, that's what I've heard too. With a 210 you get the newest one you
can find. When I decide I need to go fast no way do I buy a Cessna
retract, and I'm a Cessna guy. Bonanza all the way with me.


The gear usually isn't where the maintenance money goes, unless you have an
older 210 with the main gear doors still on it. Engine and turbocharger
problems are what eat up my 210-owning friend.

In 600+ hours of owning a Cessna retract, the only money I've spent on the
gear (outside of whatever it costs to swing them for the annual) was a
one-time AD inspection that revealed no problems. Early Cardinal RGs are
known for troublesome gear, but later ones are ok in that respect. 172 and
182 RGs are not notably troublesome as long as proper maintenance is done and
their actuators and pivots have had the relevant AD and SB done.

Still rather have a Bonanza, though.

--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

I flew about 70 hrs in a 1969 T210 and loved every minute of it.
But.....it was troublesome, not in engine/turbo area, or in gear, but with
fuel
starvation/percolating issues. It's a known snag with the earlier models and
the upgraded
fuel line system is very very expensive to install.
Avoid models before about 1975.




"john szpara" wrote in message
news:1118689196.de32f2467dabff96260f05f3e5a04d9b@t eranews...
On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:29:09 -0400, xyzzy wrote:


You should subscribe to Aviation Consumer. they ahve a very detailed
review, including maint info, at aviation-consumer.com, in the
subscribers-only section. I won't violate their copyright but their
subtitle for the review is:

Cessna's premier single is a wonderful machine when it's working right.
And that's the trouble ... it's sensitive to proper maintenance.

Thanks. I joined this morning, and found and read one article on the
210.


John Szpara
Private pilot
Fiero Owner 2-84 Indy Pace cars, 86 Coupe, 88 Formula 3.4, 88 Coupe, 88GT