Piper Comanche vs Beechcraft Bonanza
The Piper Comanche (PA-24) and Beechcraft Bonanza are the two classic high-performance retractable singles of their era — the Comanche is the fast, efficient, lower-cost Piper; the Bonanza is the benchmark for build quality, resale and support.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 57
- Median asking
- $115,000
- Range
- $71,900–$174,495
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 18
- Source marketplaces
- 8
- Model years available
- 1958–1992
- For sale now
- 5
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 2
- Source marketplaces
- 3
- Model years available
- 1947–1972
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Comanche | Beechcraft Bonanza |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $71,900 – $174,495 | $56,320 – $270,500 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Cruise Speed | 157 kts (291 km/h) | — |
| Range | 956 nm (1,771 km) | — |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,900 lbs (1,315 kg) | — |
Which Should You Buy: Piper Comanche or Beechcraft Bonanza?
Bottom line: Choose the Bonanza for class-leading build quality, the strongest support network and the best residuals. Choose the Comanche for very similar performance at materially lower acquisition cost — a connoisseur's value retractable, provided the airframe and (now-resolved) AD history check out.
Pick the Comanche if…
- More inventory — 59 listings vs 1.
Pick the Bonanza if…
- Budget matters — from $56,320 vs $71,900, you save ~$15,580.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.