LZU is consistently over the top spendy. Their fuel is almost always at least a buck and a half more expensive then the surrounding airports. Heck, you can even get cheap SS fuel and free parking at PDK.

Check out by Gainesville, Jackson Co or Winder.

Stay away from anything with a G1000. Stick to steam, and you should be able to find a 172 in the $100 range with a minimal checkout.

Fuel is spendy, but the real expense is commercial insurance. It's not just the end operator (the rental place), but everyone he does business with...the FBO, MX, MX vendors, the airport, etc. It all compounds. It spiked after 9/11, and never really came back down. It was masked for a little while gas got cheap a few years ago, but I think it's the real cost driver.

Nu