Cessna vs Piper, who is the best manufacturer? Well how do you define that? Piper, in their manufacturing process, zinc chromate all their skins, even where you can't see. With Cessna it is a factory option. The interior finish of a Piper is usually superior to a Cessna. However it stops right there. Piper has structual Xwind limits on a lot of their aircraft due to the fact that they attach gear to main spars instead of secondary spars. Piper has sgnificant payload vs fuel load constraints. Model for equivalent model , Cessna produce a more capable and profitable aircraft. All Cessna's with the possible exception of the C177 Cardinal series will always please the accountant with their mission capability, and subsequent cost of maintenance. Compare a Cessna 206 vs a Cherokee Six, a C402 vs a Navajo, a Titan vs a Chieftain. even a 150 vs a Tomohawk or a c172 vs a Cherokee. Compare the used prices of the above, C206 = $200K +, PA32 = $ 85K PA23 Aztec $85K vs C310R $250K+, C404 $450K, PA31-350= $300K, C402 $250K, PA31-310 = $175K. These figures tell us something. If you want a better built plane for private non revenue, buy a Piper, cheap to buy but with lots of limitations that probably wont affect a private owner. If you need to make money with it, the resale figures are definitely spelling out something. You make money with range,payload and field performance, all cumulative. Why does a 20,000hr Titan command $1/2 Million and a low hour Chieftain $300K ?. Is there a more profitable aircraft flying than a C207? can you buy one for love or money? How easy is it to find a C206 or C210 to get some experience in? You can't coz they're all out making someone big bucks. Yes, Piper probably makes a better plane, but they can't please the bean counters.