27/09's experience with legacy Pipers differs, and that's fine. The message is do your own homework on what the maintainbility will be. Yes, buy the maintenance history, though also buy the maintainability. Cessnas have their own challenges, and an impending AD on some four seat models is going to be burdensome. The fact that a forty to sixty year old aircraft type has 1000's out there for parts, does not assure availability of airworthy replacement parts. The junk yard aircraft have the same corrosion and wear and tear as the subject aircraft, and the wrecks have been well picked over by now. The fact that a model is still in production is also not an assurance of economical parts. My client inquired about a Cessna 206 wing nose rib (a simple one piece pressed aluminum part, a bit bigger than my open hand). US$1200 for one! And, that part is technically not eligible on the legacy 206's.
Very new aircraft probably have excellent parts availability, but you're paying the price, and it'll be more than 40k!
If you're prepared to buy the plane, and fly your value out of it, your attitude is right, and you will likely save over renting, let alone the wonderful availability of the aircraft to you, just educate yourself as to the economics of maintenance and repair for any type you consider.