Piper Saratoga vs Piper Seneca
The Piper Saratoga (six-seat single piston, ~150-165 kt) and Piper Seneca PA-34 (six-seat twin piston, ~190 kt) are direct single vs twin competitors in the six-seat class — both Pipers, both club-seating.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 170
- Median asking
- $226,400
- Range
- $115,250–$495,525
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 64
- Source marketplaces
- 15
- Model years available
- 1965–2007
- For sale now
- 111
- Median asking
- $227,990
- Range
- $89,465–$640,128
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 39
- Source marketplaces
- 11
- Model years available
- 1967–2023
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Piper Saratoga | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 1 | 2 |
| Serious | 0 | 0 |
| Fatal | 0 | 0 |
| Fatalities | 0 | 0 |
| % Fatal | 0% | 0% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Saratoga | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $115,250 – $495,525 | $89,465 – $640,128 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Multi Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Horsepower | 300 HP | — |
| Cruise Speed | 163 kts (302 km/h) | 180 kts (333 km/h) |
| Range | 950 nm (1,759 km) | 750 nm (1,389 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 20,000 ft (6,096 m) | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg) | 4,750 lbs (2,155 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,360 lbs (617 kg) | 1,590 lbs (721 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 102.0 gal (386 L) | 123.0 gal (466 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 15.0 GPH (57 L/h) | 22.0 GPH (83 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 1,800 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $32,000 | $40,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $170 | $280 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 2 x Piston (Turbocharged) |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper Saratoga
Piper Seneca
Which Should You Buy: Piper Saratoga or Piper Seneca?
Bottom line: Step up to the Seneca when you need twin-engine redundancy and ~30+ kt more cruise. Choose the Saratoga for single-engine economics and the simpler systems at materially lower operating cost. ================================================================ # MALIBU / M-SERIES (10) ================================================================
Pick the Saratoga if…
- Lower operating cost — ~$170/hr vs $280/hr.
- Longer range — 950 nm vs 750 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1980 vs 1972.
- More inventory — 171 listings vs 107.
Pick the Seneca if…
- Budget matters — from $89,465 vs $115,250, you save ~$25,785.
- Faster cruise — 180 kts vs 163 kts.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.