Opinions on AOPA's Vref program please

Jim Carter wrote:
I'm starting to narrow down my target aircraft and just today started
looking at them through Vref at the same time. I'd like to read your
opinions of that pricing service - both good and bad - and any
suggestions you might have as to other pricing tools that worked for
you.

BTW, the target will probably be something along the lines of the Cessna
172 / Beech Sierra or Sundowner / Grumman AA5. I like the Pipers also,
but want two doors - I've spent lots of time in the Commander 112
series, but don't have the budget for them.

I haven't bought any airplanes for a couple years now (my wife is happy
about that). However, in my experience Vref was about 10-20% low.
Prices were higher. However, its also regional. I'm in California. If I
were willing to fly out to Florida there seemed to be a lot of good
deals. You also sometimes find good deals in the MidWest. Last plane I
bought was a Mooney and I went out to Arkansas for it. Prices were
about 20% higher in California. We pay 7% sales/use tax either way in
California so taxes makes no difference.

-Robert

Bob Noel wrote:
In article 001101c71178$d70168d0$4b01a8c0@omnibook6100,
"Jim Carter" wrote:

I'm starting to narrow down my target aircraft and just today started
looking at them through Vref at the same time. I'd like to read your
opinions of that pricing service - both good and bad - and any
suggestions you might have as to other pricing tools that worked for
you.

As an owner who is not looking to sell, I've figured that vref consistently
puts my 140 too high, way too high, maybe 20% to 25% too high.
However, vref finally stopped giving value for common equipment
(e.g., a 2nd navcom) and stopped giving value for avionics that
people simply don't want anymore (e.g., DME).

Unless you have an IFR GPS, the DME is important. Lots of airport I
wouldn't have been able to get into w/o a DME for IFR GPS.

-Robert

In article ,
Alan Gerber wrote:

However, vref finally stopped giving value for common equipment
(e.g., a 2nd navcom) and stopped giving value for avionics that
people simply don't want anymore (e.g., DME).

Hey, *I* want a DME!

But that's probably because the Warrior I rent doesn't have a GPS. The
DME makes life easier when all you (otherwise) have is two VORs.

True - but you are renting. I think buyers want the GPS, and don't
care about DME.


Or is there something else that would give the same information as the
DME?

IFR GPS, VFR GPS, LORAN

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate