[Tim Hancock]

I own a 1955 restored (multiple award winning) Piper Pacer, a MiniMax ultralight and am building an aerobatic DR107. My first plane was a Grumman Yankee that I purchased just after getting my ticket. I have a small grass runway at home and a part time business doing annual inspections and some custom build and restoration (I got my AP 5 yrs ago and my IA 1 1/2 yrs ago). I have had my private for 11 yrs (I have about 600 hours now). I learned in a ratty Cessna 150. I got my ticket in 45 hrs (under 6 mnths) for about $2500 total.

What is your final goal in aviation? If you just want to fly out for a hundred dollar hamburger once in awhile for fun then you might as well just rent. If you want to do things like going to Oshkosh and local fly-in type outings, you may want to look at buying something other than a Cherokee 140 or Cessna 150/172. I myself enjoy going to fly-ins where one will typically see lots of really nice classic planes that have been lovingly restored.

Most small (2-4 seat) general aviation airplanes are all going to be in the 100-130 mph speed range. New Cessna 172's (150K ?) are not really any different than the average mid 70's 172 performance wise.

You will not see anyone at a fly-in scrambling to look at some guys "new" 172, yet the guy that pulls up in a nicely restored Champ, Cub, Cessna 120/140/170, Stinson, etc etc will have many folks drooling over it. Short of buying a new Cessna, just be sure to check the logbooks of anything you look at buying.

IMO there is no reason to take lessons at a controlled airport. You will be taught the basics of air traffic control as part of your private pilot training anyways. I learned at a small airport and on occasion use ATC for radar advisories and on occasion I need to land at controlled fields, I have no problems. Most "fun flying" does not involve large controlled airports anyways.

You are wasting your money if you rent anything other than Cessna 150 type aircraft for basic flight training. After getting your private ticket, transitioning to other make/model small aircraft is a piece of cake.
All small general aviation planes are required to have annual inspections and planes that are rented out are required to have 100 hr inspections on top of that.

I could go on and on.

If you want to talk further you could give me a buzz sometime.