Looking for the first plane

Blanche wrote:
Cecil E. Chapman wrote:
snip
I've got the 180 because I live in Colorado. Even in the summer, it's
just about the minimum for high-altitude flying (altho Jer/ and a
few others might disagree but they all have high HP engines, too!)
If I were living at sea level I'd go for the lower HP also.

snip
I'm headed to NM and it's higher elevations in a year or two, and like
bayareapilot, hope to become an owner. And like him, I've been
deliberating: Piper vs Cessna. A Cherokee 180 has gained prime
interest (a Comanche would be nice, or an Arrow, but mission doesn't
dictate and budget would be tight).

Blanche: a couple of questions, please, about the Cherokee 180:

What is your range of airports - elevation (or density altitude), runway
length, and load?

Do you stick to paved runways, or are you willing to use dirt or sod
strips? Do you find that there drawbacks to the low-wing Cherokee
compared to the high-wing Cessnas?