Newps,

Agree with you completely on the 182 being better for unimproved
airports, the Cardinal was not designed for them at all.

I'm really curious about the seats in your A model, especially when it
was the result of an involved rebuild. I've never had a problem with
them being too high.

I'm also interested in your running out of elevator in your 177, I've
never had that happen, so I wonder if they got the gearing right when
they rebuilt it. (Then again, I've only got about 10 hours in an A
model.)

Fair amount of time in the 182 and 177, I like the 182 for carrying a
load, the 177 for comfort and burning less fuel. If the field is
rough, I prefer the 182 (unless it is one of those late '60s ones with
poor prop-ground clearance) but if I've got to go in and out of rough
strips regularly, I'd go with a 180 or 185.

All the best,
Rick