B.Itch
After my PPL (late last yr) I got a 30hr package for a PA 28 that worked out around £115 an hr and then I had to pay a fuel surcharge of 12 pounds or so per hour every time I actually went. By no means the best rate, but still roughly a 15pc discount to the rate that you mention and a further saving to the usual club rates
Obviously a group share like those mentioned above will offer potentially greater savings, but like everything they come at a cost in some other way
For myself, having just gained the PPL all I wanted was easy access to a PA 28 as and when I wanted at a cheaper rate than the club normally leased them out for. The 30hr package gave this – the cost of course was that I had to put up 30hrs worth of money. To some this may not be an option or even seem foolish, but it granted cheaper flying for myself and afforded flexibility, both of which I was wiling to pay for
It may sound silly but it also buys you time to find out more about what groups you might wish to join before rushing head first into something and finding yourself less flexible than you might have hoped
The club I fly from is White Waltham, and I am certain that there are cheaper rates around, but again everyone looks for something different
I can only talk from my limited experience, but for what it is worth, I had no issues in securing a PA 28 from WW when I wanted one under my 30hr deal (and I only fly at weekends) and even more the club were excellent at letting me have it for long period of time, (the whole day for example) even if I was only flying to northern France or some place in Cornwall for a very long lunch. While you have some money tied up with the club, you will blast through it before you know it anyway
Enjoy your flying whatever your decision post ppl
Nick