Start with a 3 ? I wish any D or E model 500 now starts with a 5 !! Really due to the price increase of a new one from $1.4m to $ 2.3 m over the past 8 years
Carl, the best advice is to ask someone in the know as 206 jock says it is a combination of things but also include laws of supply and demand eg 500's, I would always go for teh machine with the best component times and descent maintenance pedigree. Also go for a machine with reasonable hours, too low and all teh components will be at a low mod state which means will be a fortune to overhaul. A very high hour machine will obviously be a bit tired but would have had lots and lots of maintenance done on it which is better than a private machine flying 50 hours a year and being seen once or twice a year by an engineer