Depends a good deal on which 172 variant you fly too, doesn't it? I certainly don't have many hours on the 172 (even tho'
all my hours are on the 172...
), but I can definitely feel a big difference between the 172N vs the 172R and 172S.
For one thing, the one that really jumps into the air is a lightly loaded 172S! The 172N feels pretty tired even when light... The R and S feel a lot smoother and more solid in the controls as well, but I suppose that could be due to the age difference..?