Cessna 182 Buyer's Guide: Legacy O-470 Skylane vs 182S/T IO-540
For pilots buying a four-seat airplane that actually carries four, and deciding between a legacy Skylane and a modern 182S or 182T.
The Cessna 182 Skylane is a high-wing, fixed-gear, 230-hp four-seater with a constant-speed propeller, built from 1956 to 1986 and again from 1997. The biggest buying decision is which half of that history to buy: a legacy airplane with a carbureted Continental O-470, or a 182S or 182T with a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540. This guide covers fit, variants, inspection points, insurance and the loan.
Who should buy a Cessna 182?
| A 182 fits if you… | Look elsewhere if you… |
|---|---|
| Regularly carry three or four people with bags, or fly high and hot | Mostly fly solo or with one passenger (a 172 costs less to run) |
| Use grass or short strips and want a forgiving, stable airplane | Want speed: a 182 typically cruises around 140 knots |
| Fly IFR and want a steady platform with room for a modern panel | Want the lowest fuel bill in the four-seat class |
| Will get a high-performance endorsement and transition training | Land flat on the nosewheel; the heavy nose punishes it |
Moving up from a 172? The 172 to 182 upgrade guide covers the training, insurance and financing step. If you need more cabin still, see 182 to 206.
Which 182 model years matter?
| Models | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 182, 182A-182D | 1956-1961 | O-470-L; straight tail through 1959, swept tail from the 1960 182C; lightest gross weights. Pre-1960 airplanes may need more down. |
| 182E-182N | 1962-1971 | Cut-down rear fuselage with "Omni-Vision" rear window, electric flaps, rubber fuel bladders, O-470-R, 2,800 lb gross on the 182E |
| 182P | 1972-1976 | Tubular steel main gear; optional larger fuel tanks from 1974 |
| 182Q | 1977-1980 | O-470-U; 28-volt electrical from 1978; integral wet-wing tanks replaced bladders in 1979 |
| 182R (and turbo T182) | 1981-1986 | Gross weight up to 3,100 lb; T182 used a turbocharged 235-hp Lycoming O-540 |
| 182S | 1997-2000 | Production restart with the fuel-injected 230-hp Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 |
| 182T (and T182T) | 2001 on | Redesigned cowling and fairings; Garmin G1000 standard from 2007; later G1000 NXi |
Source: Wikipedia (Cessna 182 Skylane). The retractable R182 Skylane RG (1978-1986) is a complex airplane with different gear and insurance considerations.
Decision rule: the 1977-1986 182Q and 182R are the sweet spot for many legacy buyers, with the 28-volt system, wet-wing tanks from 1979 and, on the 182R, the highest legacy gross weight. Buy a 182S or 182T when fuel injection, a newer airframe and an integrated glass panel are worth the price gap to you. The annual budgets differ too: see legacy 182 cost of ownership and 182S/182T cost of ownership.
What does a 182 cost to buy and finance?
On Controller.com in September 2026, most 1960s and 1970s Skylanes were asking about $119,000 to $239,000, and 182Q and 182R models about $158,000 to $225,000; heavily modified legacy airplanes with engine conversions can ask several times that. 182S models were about $299,000 to $349,000, 2004-2010 182Ts about $359,000 to $479,000, and 2022-2023 182Ts about $629,000 to $670,000. Treat these as asking prices; verify with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook. For new-aircraft pricing, contact Textron Aviation.
AOPA's lenders ask for at least 15% down on post-1960 singles and 20% on older aircraft, which may also get shorter terms. They offer 20-year terms on loans of $75,000 or more. As of September 2026, piston rates generally start around 7% and run to about 10%. The examples use an illustrative 7.75%.
| Example | Price | Down | Loan | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 straight-tail 182 | $95,000 | 20%: $19,000 | $76,000 | $912/mo over 10 years; $715/mo over 15 years |
| 1978 182Q | $180,000 | 15%: $27,000 | $153,000 | $1,440/mo over 15 years; $1,256/mo over 20 years |
| 2008 182T, G1000 | $425,000 | 15%: $63,750 | $361,250 | $3,400/mo over 15 years; $2,966/mo over 20 years |
| Term | 7.25% APR | 8.25% APR | 9.25% APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 years (180 mo) | $1,397/mo | $1,484/mo | $1,575/mo |
| 20 years (240 mo) | $1,209/mo | $1,304/mo | $1,401/mo |
Loan amount $153,000. Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Illustrative, not a quote.
Fuel at an assumed 13 gph and the AirNav national 100LL average of $7.24/gal (September 2026) is about $94.12 an hour. Check the POH and the owner's fuel logs for the real figure.
Shopping for a Skylane?
Tell us the year and price you're looking at. A financing specialist will come back with rate, term and down-payment options from lenders in our network.
What should you inspect on a used 182?
Add these 182-specific items to the general pre-buy inspection checklist:
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Firewall and nose gear | Firewall cracks and repairs, a known 182 item linked to hard, nose-first landings; nose strut, shimmy damper and engine mount |
| Seat rails | Rail holes, rollers and stops, and compliance with the recurring seat-rail inspection AD that applies to many single-engine Cessnas |
| Corrosion | Wing attach points, spar carry-through, belly, tailcone and control surfaces, especially on coastal airplanes |
| Fuel system | 1962-1978: rubber fuel bladders (age, wrinkles that trap water, leaks). 1979 on: wet-wing sealant leaks. Fuel caps and sump drains on all. |
| Legacy engine (O-470) | Carb heat system and carb condition (the O-470 is known for carburetor icing); cylinders, compressions and borescope; time against Continental's published TBO (see SMOH vs TBO) |
| 182S/T engine (IO-540) | Fuel servo and injector condition, hot-start behavior, exhaust, time against Lycoming's published TBO |
| Propeller and controls | Prop governor and propeller overhaul status; elevator trim free play; cowl flaps |
| Avionics | Legacy: panel age, autopilot, ADS-B Out. 182T: G1000 software level, NXi upgrade status, autopilot type. |
Have your mechanic run a full AD search on the airframe, engine and propeller serial numbers, and review damage history and Form 337s. See reading aircraft logbooks.
What does a 182 cost to insure?
Insurers treat the 182 as a high-performance airplane, so they look for high-performance time or transition training, and a larger hull raises the premium. There's no verified 2026 Cessna 182 premium benchmark. For context only, BWI's March 2026 figures for a Cessna 172 run $1,200-$2,500 a year for a 250+ hour private owner with an $80,000-$150,000 hull (BWI); expect a 182 to cost more for the same pilot. The 2026 market has been stable to softening for experienced piston owners. Lenders require hull coverage naming them as loss payee; see aircraft loan insurance requirements.
Under MOSAIC, some 182s may qualify for sport pilots; check the POH for the clean stall speed (VS1) at maximum weight in calibrated airspeed, and note the constant-speed prop endorsement. See MOSAIC light-sport rules and financing.
First-year ownership notes for a new 182 owner
- Get the high-performance endorsement and a 182 checkout, with attention to landing attitude and trim.
- On a legacy airplane, learn the carb-heat habits the O-470 needs, and consider a carburetor temperature gauge.
- Plan the first annual with the shop that did the pre-buy, and budget for corrosion treatment on older airframes.
- Price avionics before you buy. Panel upgrades on legacy 182s are common; see avionics financing.
- Register the airplane. Registration is valid for seven years and costs $5; the temporary "pink copy" works within the U.S. only until the certificate arrives.
How this guide differs from related guides
This page covers the 182 buying decision. Specs and generated payment examples are on the Cessna 182 Skylane page. Annual budgets are split by engine: legacy O-470 182 and 182S/182T IO-540. For lender requirements on any airplane, see aircraft loan requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What engine does the Cessna 182 have?
The 1956-1986 Skylanes use a carbureted 230-hp Continental O-470 (L, R, S and U versions over the years). When production restarted with the 1997 182S, Cessna switched to a fuel-injected 230-hp Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, which the 182T kept. The retractable R182 Skylane RG and turbo T182 used Lycoming O-540 engines.
How much does a used Cessna 182 cost?
On Controller.com in September 2026, 1960s and 1970s Skylanes were mostly asking about $119,000 to $239,000, 1977-1986 182Q and 182R models about $158,000 to $225,000, 182S models about $299,000 to $349,000, and 2004-2010 182Ts about $359,000 to $479,000. These are asking prices; verify with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook.
Do I need a special endorsement to fly a Cessna 182?
Yes, a high-performance endorsement, because its 230-hp engine exceeds 200 hp (14 CFR 61.31(f)). The standard 182 has fixed gear, so no complex endorsement is needed; the retractable R182 Skylane RG does need one. Insurers usually add transition-training or time-in-type conditions for pilots new to high-performance airplanes.
Can I finance an older straight-tail Cessna 182?
Yes. AOPA's lenders don't impose an age limit on piston singles, but aircraft built before 1960 may need 20% down and a shorter term. On a $95,000 1959 Skylane, 20% down leaves a $76,000 loan: about $715 a month over 15 years at 7.75%, principal and interest only.
Is a legacy 182 or a 182S/T the better buy?
A legacy O-470 Skylane buys most of the utility for often half the price of a 182T or less, but it is older, carbureted and often needs panel work. A 182S or 182T adds fuel injection, a newer airframe and, on later 182Ts, a Garmin G1000 panel. Choose by budget, how much IFR you fly, and how long you plan to keep it.
Can a sport pilot fly a Cessna 182?
Possibly. Since October 22, 2025, sport pilots may fly airplanes whose clean stall speed (VS1) is 59 knots CAS or less at maximum takeoff weight, with up to four seats but one passenger. Some 182s may qualify; check the POH for the specific model in calibrated airspeed. The constant-speed propeller also requires a sport-pilot endorsement.
Last reviewed September 27, 2026. Rates and rules change; see our editorial standards.