Cubdriver

$200-300 wet is where rusty-bucket trainers are these days, usually around $300 for anything with a Garmin 430. Insurance companies never go for someone with just an ME add-on and 10 hours. They want about 150ME to think about a single pilot rental, while faster twins (Baron, 310) are looking at 250 ME and about 50 hours in type.

Flyhayes

I disagree. We have a Garmin 430W in our Geronimo and yet still manage to keep the rental price under $200/hr wet. The Geronimo certainly isn't a glamorous girl, but I'd hardly call her a rust bucket. Also if the ME add-on is done through us, our insurance only requires 20 ME (Geronimo) time with an instructor before being able to rent it single pilot.

Cubdriver

That rate is with mogas on a base fuel restriction I bet. And all cheap training twins are rust buckets. It costs money to buy seats, paint, avionics etc. They are cheap because they do not have these things in very good condition. Even most $300 rental twins are kind of junky.

Flyhayes

I think it boils down to what one would consider a "rust bucket". The Geronimo mentioned earlier is certainly a no frills twin trainer. But it still manages to have a paint job and glass that is less than two years old, as well as a brand new Garmin 430W. Which in my opinion isn't bad for a 1960's trainer. As far as I'm aware, it is the only twin engine trainer that does not have any AD's on the airframe. While she may not be the prettiest airplane on the ramp and may not have the cleanest looking interior she is build to perform her mission flawlessly and still maintain a reasonable price for the student/renter. Remeber, just because something is old, doesn't mean it's not in good condition.
As far as fuel is concerned, we currently pay $4.84 for avgas (the local areas average rate is $5.51 according to AirNav), and we don't charge any fuel surcharges. The fact that she only burns 9 gallons per side certainly helps the economy of our operation.

Golden Bear

Who cares about a Garmin or any other kind of glass in a trainer? If I'm renting a twin-engine airplane for a rating I'm only looking for two things: a left and a right engine in good working order.

All that fancy cockpit stuff is for rich guys and my ride at work. In the G.A. world, save your money on the glass and put it towards keeping the rental cost down!

Makes me think of how I roll my eyes with every issue of AOPA Pilot: almost every article showcases things that 95% of the pilots reading the articles will never be able to afford.

Cubdriver

Ok so about $215 an hour if you go off base, which I assume you will if you intend to do any serious flying. That's one of the lowest rates for a dumpy trainer I have seen lately, but about right. I did a quick search of rates from various schools I am aware rent trainers and got a range $210-$365. The latter was for a new Seminole. The low end was a rusty-looking Duchess. Most of them were in the middle $250 zone, 70s vintage. Faster heavier ones (Senecas, Aztecs, Barons) started at $300 wet. It was hard to tell what the checkout policy was.