Re: DA40 vs. Cirrus SR20
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 12:56 am
I am probably a pretty good person to answer this question as I have a lot of experience in both.
For background I am a CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot), and also own 3 Diamonds used in flight training, and have trained students in new and used aircraft of both.
When the time came to buy an new aircraft, I had to decide whether to continue with Diamond, or switch to Cirrus.
For me, it was a no-brainer, Cirrus won hands down.
1) There are a lot of statistics thrown around, and I can tell you as a numbers guy most of them are garbage. The big point for me, is the accident statistics for Cirrus in the last several years are completely different than previously in part due to Cirrus’ focus on training, and also because the newer versions of the plane are so much safer (G5 and G6). The accident rates for both company’s planes are very similar now.
2) you really can’t compare accidents in general between an SR22 and a DA40. They are in completely different categories (SR22 vs DA42 is much fairer, and the comparisons are not so wonderful for Diamond then) . Comparisons to SR20 are fair. There are a lot of DA40s in flight schools at this point, and there are always few fatalities in flight training, so consider that as well. Again, mission changes those numbers more than anything. In the end, not as much difference as there was 10 years ago when Diamond was hands down better.
3) Safety aside, I agree with Dave, DA40 is more of a pilot’s airplane, and an SR is more of what I would say is a traveler’s airplane. They are more luxurious feeling, more comfortable, and more designed for being like a car, not for feeling exciting to fly. Just depends on what you want. Cirrus is more stable and easier to fly in turbulence and gusty conditions though, again that comfort thing.
4). In the end items 1-3 are mainly a wash for me. The overwhelming advantage to Cirrus is you are buying into a better company that understands that this business is customer driven. Diamond thinks if they make good airplanes they can treat their clients like crap. I am offended by the entire culture at Diamond. Cirrus believes you listen to your customer, and make them satisfied and you will sell more airplanes and make money. Cirrus delivers in so many ways that Diamond doesn’t. From the delivery of a Cirrus, which is an event in itself, to maintenance, to ongoing development, to support, to ability to upgrade, Cirrus is on a completely different level than Diamond. Just constantly getting software upgrades out under warranty itself is a huge difference.
5) Cirrus’ commitment to training and development is unmatched. Until you see the training that Cirrus provides for buying a new airplane (or even providing training for people buying used airplanes), the incredible resources they have developed in house for content to teach you about the plane, or the efforts to maintain a global professional standardized instruction, then you have no idea what you are missing. I kind of chuckled at the guy who didn’t like his Cirrus instructor and was teaching too many rules. That is kind of the point, they train pilots to fly the right way. 5-10 years ago, Cirrus pilots were a bad joke to me, now they are slowly becoming models of how to fly professionally as private pilots. Cirrus’ commitment to training is the reason.
Anyway, there is a reason Cirrus sold almost 400 SRs last year (not to mention another 85 or something jets), there is a reason they sell #1 by far every year for a decade and a half, and there is a reason used Cirrus’ are now becoming the most common exchanges in used personal sales (personal observation, I have no data). They deliver as a company, and as a company you can really trust. Diamond? I don’t know anyone who really trusts that company. They have screwed their owners in the past, and have done so again to the early Nxi adopters. No reason to expect anything different in the future.
I do think it is a shame because Diamonds are a pleasure to fly, but for me to continue to invest in a plane, I have to believe in the company, and I have nothing but disdain in the company after owning 4 Diamonds over the last 17 years. Until they realize that they are driving away business with their practices nothing will ever change (and even then, who knows? Corporate culture is very difficult to change.)
For background I am a CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot), and also own 3 Diamonds used in flight training, and have trained students in new and used aircraft of both.
When the time came to buy an new aircraft, I had to decide whether to continue with Diamond, or switch to Cirrus.
For me, it was a no-brainer, Cirrus won hands down.
1) There are a lot of statistics thrown around, and I can tell you as a numbers guy most of them are garbage. The big point for me, is the accident statistics for Cirrus in the last several years are completely different than previously in part due to Cirrus’ focus on training, and also because the newer versions of the plane are so much safer (G5 and G6). The accident rates for both company’s planes are very similar now.
2) you really can’t compare accidents in general between an SR22 and a DA40. They are in completely different categories (SR22 vs DA42 is much fairer, and the comparisons are not so wonderful for Diamond then) . Comparisons to SR20 are fair. There are a lot of DA40s in flight schools at this point, and there are always few fatalities in flight training, so consider that as well. Again, mission changes those numbers more than anything. In the end, not as much difference as there was 10 years ago when Diamond was hands down better.
3) Safety aside, I agree with Dave, DA40 is more of a pilot’s airplane, and an SR is more of what I would say is a traveler’s airplane. They are more luxurious feeling, more comfortable, and more designed for being like a car, not for feeling exciting to fly. Just depends on what you want. Cirrus is more stable and easier to fly in turbulence and gusty conditions though, again that comfort thing.
4). In the end items 1-3 are mainly a wash for me. The overwhelming advantage to Cirrus is you are buying into a better company that understands that this business is customer driven. Diamond thinks if they make good airplanes they can treat their clients like crap. I am offended by the entire culture at Diamond. Cirrus believes you listen to your customer, and make them satisfied and you will sell more airplanes and make money. Cirrus delivers in so many ways that Diamond doesn’t. From the delivery of a Cirrus, which is an event in itself, to maintenance, to ongoing development, to support, to ability to upgrade, Cirrus is on a completely different level than Diamond. Just constantly getting software upgrades out under warranty itself is a huge difference.
5) Cirrus’ commitment to training and development is unmatched. Until you see the training that Cirrus provides for buying a new airplane (or even providing training for people buying used airplanes), the incredible resources they have developed in house for content to teach you about the plane, or the efforts to maintain a global professional standardized instruction, then you have no idea what you are missing. I kind of chuckled at the guy who didn’t like his Cirrus instructor and was teaching too many rules. That is kind of the point, they train pilots to fly the right way. 5-10 years ago, Cirrus pilots were a bad joke to me, now they are slowly becoming models of how to fly professionally as private pilots. Cirrus’ commitment to training is the reason.
Anyway, there is a reason Cirrus sold almost 400 SRs last year (not to mention another 85 or something jets), there is a reason they sell #1 by far every year for a decade and a half, and there is a reason used Cirrus’ are now becoming the most common exchanges in used personal sales (personal observation, I have no data). They deliver as a company, and as a company you can really trust. Diamond? I don’t know anyone who really trusts that company. They have screwed their owners in the past, and have done so again to the early Nxi adopters. No reason to expect anything different in the future.
I do think it is a shame because Diamonds are a pleasure to fly, but for me to continue to invest in a plane, I have to believe in the company, and I have nothing but disdain in the company after owning 4 Diamonds over the last 17 years. Until they realize that they are driving away business with their practices nothing will ever change (and even then, who knows? Corporate culture is very difficult to change.)