[killbilly]

There is a pretty significant price difference in the market right now between a plane within, say 250 hours of the recommended overhaul and one which has 600 or more hours to go. Take roughly identical 172s with comparable interiors and avionics stacks and the lower-time aircraft is going to be priced $10K higher.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but there is at least a perception in the market that the price of the overhaul is a given and will have to be done.

I imagine this may have something to do with insurance, too, as mojo said.