An older steam-gauge -22 or -20 is a heck of a deal. About as fast as a new one, more payload and most of the bugs should have been worked out.
Downside is a lower level of interior fit/finish compared to the newer airplanes, not everybody loves the G1 doors (although I prefer them to the G2 and up door latches), lack of TKS (not a problem for folks who live in warmer climes) and the older style MCUs (big electrical box on the firewall) had some issues.
On the upside, if it's an older airplane that's been flown a bunch the MCU has probably already failed once or twice and been upgraded.
There will be the chute repack looming in a few years, which should run 10-15k if the rumors are correct. Line cutters should have been done already on the early ones, although I don't think they're terribly expensive, maybe $1,200 or so.
The early 4-point mounts are a little less smooth than the 6-point mounts but should still be plenty stout.
If you're thinking about upgrading an early model to WAAS, be forewarned, there's a bucket load of labor, hence cost, involved in properly reinforcing the body structure for the #2 GPS antenna.
On our 2000 -20, we wound up upgrading both 430s to WAAS but only upgrading the #1 antenna, leaving the #2 GPS antenna as was and placarding the #2 GPS, which wound up saving us a bundle.
If you're not a Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association member, it'd be worth the $35 to join and check out their forums. Those guys are waaay into their airplanes and you'd get an slew of informed (and plenty of uninformed) opinions.
And if you're serious, I know a guy looking to sell a TKS-equipped -22 with 1,400 hours on it for a really good price.
