gOlfer,
"This usually means it has not been properly maintained or they don't have the cash to repair it"
Wow - quite a sweeping statement, and as a school owner I feel disappointed that you would suggest this to a new student. Yes, poor maintenance
may be an issue at a very few schools, or the difficulty of financing a major unexpected problem, but surely you must believe that there are the odd school or two who do not fall into this category? Aircraft do go unexpectedly tech for allsorts of reasons, I've lost an aircraft for a day because of things like bird strikes, alternator failure, and other simple things that are not forseeable. They are maintained as Public Transport C of A (as was) but sometimes poo happens.
Garf, don't be put off by the instructor - flying is too much fun, find another if he is awkward and unprofessional - you are the CUSTOMER paying wads of cash. Happy flying!
FF01