SonexBuilders.net

Why are the resale prices I see so low for Sonex? By the time I got mine completed 3 yrs
ago I had around $45k invested with everything I put into it. And that's using an Aerovee. With what I see I'd be
lucky to get $25k out of it.

Prior to this one I owned one I didn't build .. N583SX. The original builder on it did a fantastic job. It's a NICE
plane. I added individual hydraulic toe brakes, cabin heat, and a few other things. This plane has been on
the market for a few months, currently at a price around $30k. The only reason I sold it was I was preparing
to retire south and was getting rid of some things. First think I did when I retired was build another
one.

Why is the demand and price so low on Sonex?

RT

Part of the reason I think is you CAN build a Sonex for in the 20K range... obviously things are getting more expensive, but I've built my turbo (mostly from plans including WElding etc) for just over $20k. (No transponder yet) If you've spent $45k, I'm assuming a good part of it is a really high end panel, at least for a sonex?

I'm amazed the value of built Kitfox and Zeniths are more than the Sonex. kit prices are similar, avionics are similar, engines are similar, but they demand 10K more for them and seem to get it. I also think with medical reform, the selling point of LSA is not going to be very strong. Oh well, I love my Waiex and doubt I'll ever sell it.

fastj22 wrote:I'm amazed the value of built Kitfox and Zeniths are more than the Sonex. kit prices are similar, avionics are similar, engines are similar, but they demand 10K more for them and seem to get it. I also think with medical reform, the selling point of LSA is not going to be very strong. Oh well, I love my Waiex and doubt I'll ever sell it.

The price of anything you can sell always comes down to supply and demand.
With fewer pilot licences being issued and the baby boomers leaving due to illness ,age, or death, has created a glut of used airplanes on the market.The baby boomers constituted a huge segment of the flying community,and we are getting older every year .

Unless we grow the number of licences issued it will only get worse.Too many planes on the market chasing fewer and fewer pilots.
I can go out tomorrow and but a 150/52 for half the cost of my Onex in Canada . If I keep my Onex for 15 years I will come out ahead of the 150 purchase scenario because I get to do the maintenance on it and there will be no hanger fees for those 15 years.(Add up the fees for 15 yr's @ say $250/mnth and you have $45000 down the drain )
Looked at in that light my losing 30 % value on my Onex is negligible

I don't see things improving for a very long time.

Cheers
Mike

Over on the C120/140 forums they lament the resale value of their aircraft. I could have bought a flying 140 for about half my Waiex build cost. Maintenance could have eaten me alive. I like to build and a project shared with a kid is priceless.

In my opinion, the resale value of a Sonex has plummeted in the past several years for a number of reasons. Market saturation has become significant in that the ratio of sellers to buyers has risen in no small way. The reputation of the Jabiru engine has been tarnished, perhaps beyond repair. And, having the Camit engine disappear from the market so quickly after its introduction doesn't help either. There are significant numbers of potential buyers who will never fly behind a Volkswagon or Corvair conversion engine. And, the unfortunate loss of two factory airplanes certainly does not add to the value of the Sonex product.

However, I love my plans built Sonex. It fulfilled my lifelong dream of building my own airplane and there are no plans to ever let it go. It is such a hoot to fly, especially behind the power of a Jabiru 3300 engine. Flying solo, being pressed back into the seat and holding on dearly for takeoff never gets old. That alone spoils you for flying most anything in its price range.

I completed my Sonex over 11 years ago and for a number of years could have sold it for considerably more than I had into it. But those days are now gone and I wouldn't expect them to return anytime soon.

Art,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sonex taildragger #95.............Jab3300 #261

Are other designs experiencing the same decline in relative resale to build costs? RV? Zenith? Kitfox? Or is Sonex unique?

*

My plans built Aerovee Sonex has got a lot of value. After the cost to build it and the maintenance cost and 130 hours of flying in two years. I figure if i were to rent a plane 130 hours, the rental would have my Sonex almost paid off. But the freedom to hop in and go anytime I want and to take the Sonex on overnight trips and not get hit with a minimum rental fee is priceless. I did not factor in resale value into my decision to own a Sonex. It only took about 5 minutes to jump into building. I do plan on giving my plane away (or selling it for $1.00) to a youth aviation group or to a young person or persons (pilot) that have a passion for aviation. I want to pay it forward to the next generation of pilots.

I suspect one of the biggest drags on resale of aircraft in the LSA category was the push for, and now fact of, the coming change to the "driver's licence medical" for third class license. Previously an LSA category was all us old farts could fly if not qualified for or wanting to risk being denied a third class medical. Soon most (but not all) wanting to fly without the hassles, risks and costs of the traditional medical will be able to fly most of the general aviation fleet where larger more capable certified aircraft can be had for less money than fully equipping a kit built aircraft. There will always be us die-hards that want to build, fly, maintain and improve (without need to butt kiss mechanics and the FAA) our own aircraft, but the market did get smaller.

When adding up the cost of initially purchasing the wrong kit (A Zenith just before the folding, in-flight, wing problem became known). The wrong engine, (A Jabiru 3300 now sitting on crate, that developed major problems while under warranty, that Jabiru would not address),. Traveling to and attending classes at both Zenith and Jabiru, plus loading my Sonex with a lot of goodies, for a total of around $100K and which may now be worth $30 - $35K. Was it worth it ? Yes. If doing it again, would obviously try not to make same mistakes and keep costs down, but would not have gotten back in the air without it, and as noted by others, a GOOD 3300 up front is a blast to fly. CAMit released dyno info just before closing showing it developing 127 HP.

Now if could just do something about the weather around these parts.

David A. Sonex TD #1327 (from kit, not scratch) CAMit 3300 #0004