DA-40 Depreciation

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Hiya,

Okay, so I read this site and I think the DA-40 is the greatest
thing since sliced bread. So is this site. I want to buy one. (I
need something that flys > 150 MPH IFR for < $200k.) But, I know
very little.

Suppose I bought a used DA-40 w/ G1000 and flew 300 hrs/ year for 3
years. How much less would I have to sell it for? How much money am
I likely to have spent for repairs? Or better yet, how do I go about
estimating such a thing?

Thanks!
R

-- Ralph Nelson, March 10, 2009

Answers

Resale value is hard to predict in an economy that melts down month by month. There is a near-infinite supply of four-seat Pipers and Cessnas and they usually settle down to being worth $35,000-50,000. So figure that the DA40 will be worth $50,000 in 10 years and that a used one will get to that value in a more or less straight line from its present value, e.g., if you bought one today for $150,000, it would depreciate another $100,000 over the next 10 years or $30,000 over the next 3 years.

How much maintenance? The 1000-hour service on a DA40 can be costly. Probably you'd spend an average of $10,000 per year if you flew it 300 hours.

-- Philip Greenspun, March 11, 2009