A Squared wrote
Are you seriously persisting with a price comparison between the 172 manufactured in a factory by paid employees and an airplane you build your self (and thus pay nothing for the labor) which does not meet the regulatory requirements met by the 172, and cannot be used in commercial operations?
If GA is to survive, new, affordable 172 like aircraft are required. Arguably the Jab is as safe or safer in an accident than a 172 so why would a private pilot spend $369,000 USD when the type of flying he wants to do can be bought for $82,966 USD fly away.
If he wants all or more than 172 capability then build a J450 for a kit cost of $ 69,300 USD. It's a pretty complete kit and can be done in about 600 hours of builders time. Say the builder prices his time at $30 USD per hour making labour $18,000. Total cost becomes $ 87,300 ..........a bit more affordable than $369,000 for the
'certified' 172. Not everyone wants to fly their plane commercially and if prices are lower they have no need to.
The difference in cost between a J230D kit and a fly away aircraft is about $14,000 USD so the factory is not too heavy handed with its charges. Certification and insurance must be the killers.
This area of aviation, especially where it involves light aircraft, needs to be put under the microscope and reformed urgently before GA dies.