Piper Comanche vs Piper Saratoga

Both the Piper Saratoga and Piper Comanche are high-performance retractable singles capable of serious cross-country IFR work — but they represent very different eras of Piper engineering. The Comanche (PA-24) is a late-1950s design with a laminar-flow wing, vintage aerodynamics, and the efficiency mystique that comes from doing more with less. The Saratoga (PA-32R) is the 1980s mature touring platform — bigger cabin, 300 hp, and the support network of Piper's most successful touring era. The cross-shop appeals to buyers who want the most capable Piper single they can find, and who don't assume "newer" automatically means "better."

Live Market Snapshot

Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily

Piper Comanche
For sale now
57
Median asking
$115,000
Range
$71,900–$174,495
Model years available
1958–1992
Piper Saratoga
For sale now
170
Median asking
$226,400
Range
$115,250–$495,525
Model years available
1965–2007

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 ComanchePiper Saratoga
All events—1
Serious—0
Fatal—0
Fatalities—0
% Fatal—0%
View full Piper Comanche NTSB record →View full Piper Saratoga NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

Swipe to see all specs
Spec / Model Piper Comanche Piper Saratoga
Piper Comanche
View 65 listings →
Median $115,000
 Piper Saratoga
View 121 listings →
Median $226,400
Price Range $71,900 – $174,495 $115,250 – $495,525
Category Single Engine Piston Single Engine Piston
Model Specifications
Seats 4 6
Horsepower 250 HP 300 HP
Cruise Speed 157 kts (291 km/h) 163 kts (302 km/h)
Range 956 nm (1,771 km) 950 nm (1,759 km)
Service Ceiling 20,000 ft (6,096 m) 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
Max Gross Weight 2,900 lbs (1,315 kg) 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg)
Useful Load 1,200 lbs (544 kg) 1,360 lbs (617 kg)
Fuel Capacity — 102.0 gal (386 L)
Fuel Burn 14.0 GPH (53 L/h) 15.0 GPH (57 L/h)
TBO — 2,000 hrs
Overhaul Cost — $32,000
Annual Fixed — $20,000
Hourly Variable — $170
Engines 1 x Piston 1 x Piston

Cost of Ownership

Estimate

Piper Comanche

Fuel$77/hr

Piper Saratoga

Fuel$82/hr
Variable$170/hr
Annual Fixed$20,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr) $54,000/yr

Which Should You Buy: Piper Comanche or Piper Saratoga?

Bottom line: Choose the Saratoga for the larger cabin, active maintenance ecosystem, and the additional 40–50 hp that makes density-altitude operations more comfortable. The PA-32R's 300 hp IO-540 rewards pilots who routinely operate in challenging conditions or need true six-seat useful load. Choose the Comanche for aerodynamic efficiency — the Comanche 260 or 260C genuinely outpaces the Saratoga in cruise for less fuel, a combination that's hard to argue against for the pilot who flies solo or with one or two passengers. The Comanche's tactile, sports-car handling is legendary among retractable-single pilots. Safety axis: both are retractable-gear singles with similar gear-up landing risk profiles. The Comanche's production ended in 1972 (Hurricane Agnes/Lock Haven flood) — all flying examples are 50+ year-old aircraft requiring thorough pre-purchase inspection, airframe fatigue awareness, and a Comanche-familiar mechanic. Buyers should treat vintage certification compliance (ADs, SBs) as a non-negotiable pre-purchase step.

Pick the Comanche if…

  • Budget matters — from $71,900 vs $115,250, you save ~$43,350.
  • Longer range — 956 nm vs 950 nm.

Pick the Saratoga if…

  • More seats — 6 vs 4.
  • Faster cruise — 163 kts vs 157 kts.
  • More inventory — 121 listings vs 65.

Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Piper Comanche good for IFR flying?
Yes, and many Comanches are equipped for solid IMC operations — autopilot, IFR-certified avionics, and the airframe's stable handling make it a competent IFR platform. What requires attention on any 50+-year-old aircraft is avionics currency (many Comanches have aging IFR equipment that needs upgrading for ADS-B compliance and modern approaches) and airframe maintenance discipline. A well-equipped, recently overhauled Comanche with a modern glass panel retrofit is a fully competitive IFR touring airplane.
What happened to Piper Comanche production?
Piper manufactured the PA-24 Comanche from 1958 to 1972. Production ceased when Hurricane Agnes flooded the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania factory in June 1972 — destroying a large portion of production tooling. Piper chose not to rebuild the Comanche line, instead focusing on the PA-28 and PA-32 families. This makes every flying Comanche a vintage aircraft; the Comanche-Piper Club (COPA) remains an active organization supporting type-specific maintenance and operations.
How does the Saratoga's useful load compare to the Comanche?
The Saratoga typically carries 1,300–1,400 lb useful load, meaningfully more than the Comanche 260's approximately 1,050–1,150 lb. This difference matters when loading all six seats with adults and baggage — the Saratoga handles the mission, the Comanche may require weight trade-offs. Pilots flying solo or with one or two passengers will rarely encounter this gap practically.
Which is better, Piper Comanche or Piper Saratoga?
It depends on your mission and budget. The Comanche cruises at 157 kts with 956 nm range. The Saratoga cruises at 163 kts with 950 nm range. Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.
How do prices compare?
Piper Comanche: from $124,500. Piper Saratoga: from $397,326. Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.
What's the difference between Piper Comanche and Piper Saratoga?
Seats: 4 vs 6. Cruise: 157 vs 163 kts. Range: 956 vs 950 nm.
Which is cheaper to operate per hour?
Saratoga: about $170/hr variable cost. Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.
Which has more seats and useful load?
Comanche: 4 seats / 1,200 lb useful load. Saratoga: 6 seats / 1,360 lb useful load. Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.
How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?
Saratoga: 2,000-hour TBO, overhaul ~$32,000. Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.
Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.
Prices updated daily · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data