Paul kgyy wrote:
Don't skimp on the pre-purchase inspection. Have it
done by an independent shop.

Do your homework and find a REALLY reputable mechanic to do a pre-buy
inspection, and if possible, familiarize YOURSELF with obvious things
and be present at the pre-buy inspection, looking over their shoulders.
I trusted my pre-buy inspection, done by an independent mechanic/shop.
They found nothing wrong -- that should have been the first clue ...
there's always *something* to be found. After buying it, we discovered
that the inboard wing ribs were cracked on both sides, the inboard hinge
on the flaps on both sides had been attached with Home Depot rivets, and
the flap skin beneath those hinges on both sides had 1.5-inch cracks.
There was extensive corrosion behind the switches/fuses. As you can well
imagine, that was an exten$ive repair. I would not have bought the
airplane had I known. That pre-buy inspection was a joke.