Reading R.A.O. pays off

All the snooping in the newsgroup just paid off...I think!
I just closed the deal on my first airplane.
Based on my mission profile and the things I learned from the newsgroup, I
had the following objectives:

1. Must be able to *legally* fit my wife and three (small) kids.
2. 180 HP or greater (high density altitude)
3. Mid-time engine
4. Decent P&I
5. Decent radios (I'm VFR, so not too fancy)
6. Work an annual into the deal

Well, I found a 1966 A23-24 Super Musketeer.
Goal 1 was met, since this has the third row bench seat.
Goal 2 was met: IO-360-A2B, 200HP
Goal 3 was met: 1050 SMOH, 2000 TBO
Goal 4 was met: 2003 paint (absolutely beautiful), Interior is clean
Goal 5 --- couple of KX-170B's, one with G/S, not exactly what I had in mind
Goal 6 --- not met....at first....

The owner was reluctant to budge from his asking price.
So, I stuck to his asking price, and had him throw in a GPS (Airmap 1000,
avionics just got better).
I also negotiated that he annual the plane (it was due in Nov).
There was a small oil leak that was not initally disclosed (or known about,
I think). Now he's taking care of it.
He also threw in a bunch of miscellaneous stuff, like headsets, an
additional intercom, manuals, etc.

All in all, I'm happy with the deal. I'm glad I gleaned some info from this
group.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO PICK IT UP!!
It'll be about three weeks when the annual is done and my finances are in
order.
I'm also looking forward to flying it back from TX to NV.

I'll pre-empt Jay Honeck, and say that I'm happy to be offically in debt as
much as the rest of you!
But at least I have a full 12 months until I get raked over the coals at my
first annual.

Adam Weiss
PP-ASEL
soon to be N7966L -- Super Musketeer!