Doing the instrument rating requires bit more equipment than the usual
VFR flivver with one radio - I am not attempting to pick on NW_PILOT's
airplane - It was a simple observation / comment that experience
shows that airplanes that have not been previously used as intensively
as the typical rental IFR trainer, have an increased rate of equipment
failure when they are first thrown into that environment... Part of
this is that our personal airplanes usually do not have a mechanic to
stay late and solve that day's problems so the machine is ready to go
again in the morning.. Part of it is that the non IFR owner has not
usually spent 5 hours a day with all the radios, strobes, lights,
heater, etc., on at the same time... Electronics slowly overheat with
extended running time, alternators start to voltage sag, old fuses get
brittle, hydraulic pumps get unhappy when asked to cycle the gear a
dozen times in a few hours, boost pumps get grumpy from doing
approaches repeatedly, electric trim motors bind up with constant
trimming for missed approaches, and problems start mounting... Once
these teething problems are addressed then the machine will settle down
and be reliable as a regular IFR trainer, but that process may put a
few kinks in the training schedule, especially for the owner/student on
a fast track...

Denny