I'd rather pay more
$$ an hour and know that the aircraft is better maintained, looks
cleaner, flies better and wont leave you hanging when you need it.

I usually rent the two most expensive (and newest) well-equipped 172s on the
field - one has maybe 2500 (2001+/- model year with a 'new' engine - $95/hr
plus tax) hrs TT, the 'new' one (2003 model year $105/hr plus tax) has about
500 hrsTT.

I WANT him to be profitable and keep on having such planes available. Keep me
out of those old wrecks.