“AA5B= Tiger (180hp) is one of the best load haulers and also does a nice speed. It will do about 130 kts @ 65% and take you about 500 NM over the course.”
I would strongly disagree with this. I owned an AA5B for some years, had it bare metal striped and repainted, engine work and new avionics. The best I could get out of it was around 125kn at 75%. It was also very much a 3 seater, with poor load capacity compared with my 160hp DR400 (my previous aircraft). The AA5 is a much better aircraft than a PA28/C172 in some ways. The ergonomics are better, you can see out and the handling is better, but it is far from perfect. The lack of mogas approval and its relative unsuitability to strip operation has hit second hand values hard, so prices are good if it does what you want. Its construction makes it a better bet to sit outside than Mr P and Mr C.
Rod1