I teach at a flying club and own my Mooney with a partner. The
difference with ownership is that you can often time maintenance items
so they do not interfere with planned trips. Although flying clubs say
they try to do this, it rarely works out that way. I can't think of a
single time I've had to cancel a trip in my Mooney due to mechanical
issues. However, I've had to cancel checkrides and cross countries with
students at the flying club for the same.
Also, no mater how much a flying club claims to have perfect
maintenance, a flying club plane just isn't maintained as well as an
owned plane. Its a mater of economics. It costs a damn **** load of
money to make the difference between ok and great maintenance. Members
of a flying club join because they think its cheaper than renting at an
FBO and expect it to be cheaper. Aircraft owners know that owning is
more expensive.
-Robert