Simple answer is NO. The engine and prop are the only real negatives to the E series Bonanza (1956 and earlier). While parts are available for those items, the shops/mechanics that can support them are getting fewer with time. I love mine but I’m an A&P/IA, had it for 41 years and do my own work. The 1957 H model and later give you many more options for props and engines/upgrades.

The other elephant in the room is with the V Tails, ruddervators are extremely expensive to replace due to the magnesium only alloy allowed vs the conventional tailed aircraft such as Debonairs, F33’s, A36’s, etc can use aluminum surfaces so replacements are much more reasonable.

Good luck on your search. (F’ng spell check)

That is relatively true for the early M20s but IMO a M20J (201) is just as comfortable as a Bonanza.

WRT the "expense" of owning an older Bonanza can easily be mitigated if the owner is willing to be involved in it's maintenance. If your maintenance SOP is to hand the plane to a shop for any work and do nothing more than write a check when it's done then an older Bo can indeed require deep pockets.

Paul have you looked at getting insurance quotes? Insurance can be relatively expensive especially for a low time pilot such as yourself with little to no flight hours in a bonanza. I pay $3500 through Avemco. I have 300 hours flight time on my airplane. Annuals can be expensive on Bonanzas. 35-40 hours or about $5000 just for the Annual Inspection alone, plus parts and labor for discrepancies. Your budget of $80,000 affords you a Bonanza in the classic E-series. My airplane has an e-225-8 with Hartzell constant speed hydraulic propeller with carburetor. Carb is pressure carb and works exceptionally well for this engine. The airplane and engine have proven to be very reliable. I regularly fly mine on X country trips. The cabin is roomy and comfortable for its class. Also, consider where you are going to “park” your airplane, hangars can be expensive depending on availability and where in the country you live. You can park your airplane outside but now your bird is susceptible to the elements and Mother Nature. Join American Bonanza Society (bonanza.org). Buy Lew Gage’s book and read it from cover to cover. The book will answer many of your questions. Search the forums on Beechtalk and ABS.org for e-series bonanzas and the e228-8 engine. You will learn a lot about these birds and their upkeep. Airplane ownership regardless of make or model is Uber expensive. Parts are expensive, labor is expensive. Rent and Fly some Bonanzas if you can see if you like the bird.

More than 10 years with my G-35, and it has been great. Not for sale, but if it fetched 80K I think that would be a good day with a midlife 225-8. I live on a grass strip, use the mogas STC.

When i was looking for my Bonanza I was freshly minted private/instrument pilot with 178h total time. I started with getting insurance quotes first. Thanks to my 35h of complex/retract time my insurance required only 5h dual checkout. That was back in 2013 so market probably have changed.

As to what airplane. Look at the 'whole picture' when you select the model you're going to go after. Engine and props are obvious things, but there are more things like big/small baggage door, fuel system/capacity, piano (old) vs. new panel, available STCs (autopilots?) etc...

Generally the sweet spot in V tails is S35->V35 range. For me the biggest factor was the fuel system. Beginning with S35 Beechcraft changed it to return fuel to the tank it's drawing from. I didn't want to have to deal with constant flipping tanks and keeping track of how much fuel did I have in left tank to allow for return and to not vent overboard.

When I was looking, I set a set of criteria:
Must haves:
1. S35 or newer (IO-520)
2. WAAS GPS (I wasn't interested in starting panel do over right after purchase)
Nice haves:
3. Tip tanks
4. Big baggage door
5. Autopilot with alt hold
6. Engine in 700-1200h range

Then I started watching the market. it took me almost a year until I found one that was in my budget and had most of things from my wish list (I didn't get big baggage door).

Don't get hung up on price. Purchasing the airplane is only the price of admission. Your flying budget will quickly surpass the purchase price anyway.

It pays off to buy airplane that you won't regret getting or won't get you grounded waiting for some obsolete part.

The first model of Bonanza to always return fuel to the tank feeding the engine was the 1961 'N' version which was also the first year's model with 40 gallon (37 usable) main tanks. The 1958 J through the 1960 M models all returned fuel to the selected main tank but with the optional (pretty much all came with these) 10 gallon per side aux tanks the return fuel went to the left main when feeding from the auxes.