Autopilot investment

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TBalch

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Any thoughts out there as to how much of the $25k price a GFC500 would return at resale when installed in a 2001 T182T with a high time engine?
 
I’m gonna guess “less than you’d like”

Upgrade your plane to make it the plane you want it to be and then fly it as much as you can. Don’t worry about the next guy
 
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A goodly amount... General rule of thumb is that you get half back at resale on avionics, but the Garmin stuff is in high demand and might fetch more. It definitely makes it easier to sell the plane. Price the whole thing in and see what you get.
 
If you hit TBO and sell you’re going to take it hard

I’d say if you’re going to sell a plane with a timed out engine, don’t spend money on a autopilot

If you’re going to overhaul the engine, go ahead and put in the AP, also make sure you got a TOGA button
 
You will definitely sell it quicker than one equipped with a KAP140. How much you recoup depends on how much time you are willing to wait on the best price and other factors such as TSMOH, interior and paint condition, documented excellent maintenance standard.
 
Investment? Interesting word choice

Can you sell your AP short?

Semi seriously, you won’t sell after using the gfc a few times.
 
My guess... about 10k.
You're not getting the labor back, and even with Garmin you're not getting the full cost of the equipment back.
 
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TBalch said:
Any thoughts out there as to how much of the $25k price a GFC500 would return at resale when installed in a 2001 T182T with a high time engine?
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Planes are like houses in some ways. You can add a $40,000 basement upgrade, and you're not getting the money back. Or like owning a boat.

This is an expensive hobby, not an area for investing.
 
Avionics are changing so quickly it’s hard to say, are you looking to sell in the immediate future or is this going to be your keeper airplane. Also how much time until overhaul.
 
Randomskylane said:
Investment? Interesting word choice

Can you sell your AP short?

Semi seriously, you won’t sell after using the gfc a few times.
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This was the best aviation purchase I ever made (other than buying my plane in the first place). Maybe the financial payback is terrible, but the return on the pleasure of flying is off the charts.
 
Maybe OP was asking the other way around? Meaning, asking if it made sense to take out the AP and put it in their new plane before selling the 182. Either way, I'd want the AP in the plane I'm flying if I had the choice. Even if you're just flying it VFR.
 
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