Originally Posted by
Wrong Stuff
If you can afford a JetProp, go for one of those. Why are you even considering a Cessna 182?!
The Skylane is on the list by two reasons, first available as new and second the most reliable aircraft we all ever encountered. The discussion to trade speed for reliability is open and if we take more frequent gras strips into account we definitely have to think more slow metal.
Originally Posted by
Wrong Stuff
On the M20K / Acclaim question, yes there's quite a difference. The Acclaim is considerably heavier (MTOW 1528kg vs 1315) and it has a stretched fuselage giving more leverage for the much bigger 280hp Continental TSI0-550 stuck on the nose vs the 210hp TSIO-360 on the K. All with largely the same suspension.
The long fuselage may be a plus, but you are correct, if it still uses the same gear we have to look deeper, if.