Used Avionics

I plan to buy my first airplane and "trade-up" in about 3-4 years. I
expect my initial investment will be around $75K. At that price, it
does not seem to be worth putting in brand new avionics to the tune of
$12-$15K (thinking specifically about a Garmin 430/MX-20 combo, or a
GX-50/MX-20 combo). At the sametime, I really would like the
situational awareness benefits of such avionics. Is it practical to
consider buying used avionics? If so, where might I get used avionics
(web site pointers, phone numbers, or email addresses would be helpful
in addition to names of places).

By the way, thanks for all the great help I have been getting on this
forum. It really helps me make some hard decisions about my first purchase.

-Sami

O. Sami Saydjari wrote:
...where might I get used avionics
(web site pointers, phone numbers, or email addresses would be helpful
in addition to names of places).

I bought a couple of used radios from http://www.avionix.com and I was happy
with the way I was treated. Actually, I initially bought some new KX-170B
slide-in replacements, but I was unhappy with them, and they took them back and
sold me some used KX-155s. They held my hand the whole way, provided good advice
and I came away happy. I don't own that plane any more, but the KX-155s are
still in it and working fine.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

: consider buying used avionics? If so, where might I get used avionics
: (web site pointers, phone numbers, or email addresses would be helpful
: in addition to names of places).

If you're careful and savvy:

http://www.ebay.com




--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

Just buy a portable unit like the 196 or 295 Garmin. Then sell it on ebay
when you trade up. If you put in a panel mounted unit (used or new) you
will not see much of your money back.

Kobra


"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote in message
...
I plan to buy my first airplane and "trade-up" in about 3-4 years. I
expect my initial investment will be around $75K. At that price, it
does not seem to be worth putting in brand new avionics to the tune of
$12-$15K (thinking specifically about a Garmin 430/MX-20 combo, or a
GX-50/MX-20 combo). At the sametime, I really would like the
situational awareness benefits of such avionics. Is it practical to
consider buying used avionics? If so, where might I get used avionics
(web site pointers, phone numbers, or email addresses would be helpful
in addition to names of places).

By the way, thanks for all the great help I have been getting on this
forum. It really helps me make some hard decisions about my first
purchase.

-Sami

This is not always true, when I sold my old cherokee 180, I had put a new
garmin stack in, 430,x-ponder, audio panel and some other stuff, I got back
90% of what I had into the plane, plus, it sold in 4 days.

I cant expect to get back 100% because I did fly it and use the equipment so I
was happy with what I got back from it.

Jeff
http://www.turboarrow3.com


Kobra wrote:

Just buy a portable unit like the 196 or 295 Garmin. Then sell it on ebay
when you trade up. If you put in a panel mounted unit (used or new) you
will not see much of your money back.

Kobra

"Jeff" wrote in message ...
This is not always true, when I sold my old cherokee 180, I had put a new
garmin stack in, 430,x-ponder, audio panel and some other stuff, I got
back
90% of what I had into the plane, plus, it sold in 4 days.


It must have been a good market then because that is quite extraordinary
(unless you're dealing with someone who has more money than buying savvy).

http://www.planedata.com/aircraft%20...%20methods.htm

It was march of this year.
Maybe he just knew a good deal when he saw it.
If you take care of your plane, it will take care of you.

His comments were that he was glad to finally look at a plane that wasnt trashed
out and had good avionics.

Jeff


"Tom S." wrote:

"Jeff" wrote in message ...
This is not always true, when I sold my old cherokee 180, I had put a new
garmin stack in, 430,x-ponder, audio panel and some other stuff, I got
back
90% of what I had into the plane, plus, it sold in 4 days.


It must have been a good market then because that is quite extraordinary
(unless you're dealing with someone who has more money than buying savvy).

http://www.planedata.com/aircraft%20...%20methods.htm

"Jeff" wrote in message
...
It was march of this year.
Maybe he just knew a good deal when he saw it.
If you take care of your plane, it will take care of you.

His comments were that he was glad to finally look at a plane that wasnt
trashed
out and had good avionics.


How soon after adding the upgrades did you sell it?

Adding avionics to a plane is like adding options to a used car; you seldom
get much back when you sell it. Like buying a car, it depreciates by about
2/3rds just driving it off the dealers lot.


"Tom S." wrote:

"Jeff" wrote in message
...
This is not always true, when I sold my old cherokee 180, I had put a
new
garmin stack in, 430,x-ponder, audio panel and some other stuff, I got
back
90% of what I had into the plane, plus, it sold in 4 days.


It must have been a good market then because that is quite extraordinary
(unless you're dealing with someone who has more money than buying
savvy).

http://www.planedata.com/aircraft%20...%20methods.htm

In article ,
O. Sami Saydjari wrote:
I plan to buy my first airplane and "trade-up" in about 3-4 years. I
expect my initial investment will be around $75K. At that price, it
does not seem to be worth putting in brand new avionics to the tune of
$12-$15K

No, but you can probably find an airplane that's already so-equipped in
your price range. It's always cheaper to buy a plane that's configured
how you want.

Remember, used avionics cost just as much (maybe more!) to install,
and a large part of any avionics upgrade is the installation.

--
Ben Jackson

http://www.ben.com/

Sami
It actually depends how much your paying for the plane (if you got a good deal
on the price) if you get your money back on the avionics you put into it.
I put 20K in new avionics in my plane, I may or may not get it back, but I dont
plan on selling my plane anytime soon. The avionics is something I wanted and
something I use is why I got them, if I got back 100% of their cost was not
something I considered, having my airplane the way I wanted it what mattered to
me.

Jeff
http://www.turboarrow3.com


"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote:

I plan to buy my first airplane and "trade-up" in about 3-4 years. I
expect my initial investment will be around $75K. At that price, it
does not seem to be worth putting in brand new avionics to the tune of
$12-$15K (thinking specifically about a Garmin 430/MX-20 combo, or a
GX-50/MX-20 combo). At the sametime, I really would like the
situational awareness benefits of such avionics. Is it practical to
consider buying used avionics? If so, where might I get used avionics
(web site pointers, phone numbers, or email addresses would be helpful
in addition to names of places).

By the way, thanks for all the great help I have been getting on this
forum. It really helps me make some hard decisions about my first purchase.

-Sami