I have thought quite a bit about the Piper Meridian and though almost convinced it would work have been a little scared off by the plummeting resale values.  The main benefit is certainly cost since you can get a low hour 06-07 Meridian with glass for~1.5 mil and a brand new one for well under list.  Its even harder to understand now that fuel is so high.  It just doesn't make sense to me regardless of the issues (magnesium inlet, light airframe, low mmo, ect) why the most cost effective turbo prop is getting so heavily depreciated.  The next option for a glass equipped turboprop is the TBM 850 for 3 million and it is a much better airplane.  Is it worth another ~1.5 mil?  Controller is showing 46 Meridians for sale.  That is something like 1/7 of the entire fleet.  That is a such a large percentage of the fleet that it makes me wonder if Meridians are in an unrecoverable position instead of the typical buying cycle seen throughout GA.  Like to hear some opinions on it

Joe,

I was in your shoes 3 years ago.  I really wanted to buy the Meridian because it was substantially less than the TBM.  I finally decided to spend an extra 400k for a used TBM rather than a new Meridian.  Of course, it was the best decision I ever made.  The plane is built much better and holds it's value much better.  I sold it 2 years/700 hrs. later for what I paid for it.  So don't look at inital cost only.  Look at total cost.  The TBM will cost you less because of depreciation and you get a real airline type airframe.  Go fly a C2 model or a newer 850 model and you will see pretty quickly why it is a million more for a new one.  You get what you pay for. 

I would also tell you that if you can't afford one, I would rather see you get a partner or buy an older TBM.  I wouldn't trade a 12 yr old TBM for 2 new Meridians.

 

 

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Joe Rainey TBM 850 #448 N824RH/Cessna 182 Katmai N324RH/Honda Jet Position

joejenie:

Joe,

I was in your shoes 3 years ago.  I really wanted to buy the Meridian because it was substantially less than the TBM.  I finally decided to spend an extra 400k for a used TBM rather than a new Meridian.  Of course, it was the best decision I ever made.  The plane is built much better and holds it's value much better.  I sold it 2 years/700 hrs. later for what I paid for it.  So don't look at inital cost only.  Look at total cost.  The TBM will cost you less because of depreciation and you get a real airline type airframe.  Go fly a C2 model or a newer 850 model and you will see pretty quickly why it is a million more for a new one.  You get what you pay for. 

I would also tell you that if you can't afford one, I would rather see you get a partner or buy an older TBM.  I wouldn't trade a 12 yr old TBM for 2 new Meridians.

 

 

Joe,

Several months ago I flew a 2005 TBM C2 and thought every thing was great about the plane except for the avionics.  I hated the autopilot.  The avionics seemed like a poorly integrated mish mash of components requiring lots of extra button pushing to get a desired function accomplished.  I am sure after 700 hours in your C2 that it may seem like a retarded concern, but single pilot IFR with a complex aircraft can get very, very busy as you well know.  My familiarity with glass cockpits has made me lean toward the Meridian for that reason.  The obvious answer is the new 850, but I just don't think I can justify that kind of purchase price.  I would do a partnership in one in a heartbeat, but at 3 million I feel that I have gone past my personal insanity threshold and might as well stretch to 3.5 or whatever and get a Mustang or Phenom 100 and hemorrhage cash with a grin on my face because I have gone mad.   I actually might very well end up with C2 if I get the right deal.  Anyway, how about you put reactivate my TBMOPA membership

I still want to know what is eating the ass off the Meridian market.

In 20 hours the button pushing will be really logical.  You will also find that the redundancy is nice in the TBM.  Of course, I voted with my money and bought the G1000, but I wouldn't think twice about going back to a C2 model if I ran out of cash.  It's not that busy of an aircraft compared to the Jet's you are talking about.  Hell, it's a lot easier than the Cirrus your flying!

What's eating the ass of the Meridian is people know it is a pile of crap and it doesn't have any useful load and doesn't go very far without stopping for fuel.  That's it.  Talk to the 20 or so TBM owners that used to own one.  Pretty glass panels don't make a plane. 

I extended your membership for another 6 months.  That is the last time I can do it however.  After that, you have to own a TBM to be a member.

Joe

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Joe Rainey TBM 850 #448 N824RH/Cessna 182 Katmai N324RH/Honda Jet Position

joejenie:

What's eating the ass of the Meridian is people know it is a pile of crap and it doesn't have any useful load and doesn't go very far without stopping for fuel.  That's it.  Talk to the 20 or so TBM owners that used to own one.  Pretty glass panels don't make a plane. 

I don't buy that entirely.  Is it crap relative to a TBM, then yes I agree.  Value for the money however, its the most cost effective SE turbo prop on the market once initial depreciation has occured.  The decision would be much easier if C2 were 1.5 mil, but they are still making 2.2 to 2.5 mil from what I can tell.  That isn't all that far from the 3 mil on the 850.  Thanks for extending the temporary membership.