Thanks Sandy! This specific aircraft (SN 23) is almost new and based in Canada.
It was ferried over by a good friend of mine last autumn.
I have considered buying it and then took N121AG instead because I wanted to make so many modifications, it did not make sense to pay new price and then throw half of the aircraft away! The seats were new, but so dated with the 1990's Porsche wrinkled leather...
N121AG is an absolute blast to fly lately and I am especially happy with the new 55% economy cruise settings which increase range while reducing cost per mile and still delivering good speed. 190 KTAS at FL200 on 18 GPH.
This is a typical flight (except for a VFR departure), notice the approach part: you can clearly see how we stayed hat FL 200 with a 10 knot tail wind until pretty much the last moment and then went down at 1'500 ft per minute. Indicated airspeed was at the limit of green to yellow arc and passengers hardly noticed anything in terms of cabin altitude change.
Imagine the same with a 50 knot tail wind and you can work out the benefit versus a PA46 that has to go down at a rate compatible with thermal management of the engine and airframe limiting speeds. Same for any non-pressurized aircraft...
2 weeks before I flew the same trip at 6'000 ft, where I got a 10 knot tail wind, instead of FL 200 where there was a 50 knot head wind. I was chugging along at 175 knots ground speed instead of 150 up high...
Apart from slaughtering a gazillion bugs, it was business as usual.
An anecdote about handling: a friend of mine just took delivery of her Columbia 400 and I finally got to fly this magnificent aircraft which was high on my "want" list for very long. I found it nicely built, comfortable and fun to fly. We went "cloud dancing" and I really liked it, but aileron forces were high and I could not help think "the Extra 400 is more nimble".
I still owe her a test flight of my own aircraft and I think she's up for a surprise! Who would expect such a big and heavy bird to be so graceful and fun to hand fly.
The road was long and challenging but I am a very very happy owner and pilot. Enough goodwill in the tanks to deal with the next ... bug!