Originally Posted by
NuGuy
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
I'm based out of PDK. I thought about renting out of there as well but it's worth the drive for me to go to KFFC and put gas in my buddy's Christen Eagle. I live on the north side of ATL and it's a solid hour (in good traffic!) but totally worth it.
I still can't believe I paid $45/hr for a 152 and $20/hr for instructor. I don't know how guys do it now. My flight training combined was less than 13k. That was in 2000-2001. Not too long ago!