Originally Posted by UNITED959
For example, your Dad hands you the keys to the 1993 Corolla, or his brand new 2007 SL 65 AMG?
I've always wondered...does N128UA run smoother than, say, N178UA?
Or does N780UA handle better than N218UA?
Obviously, each aircraft of the same type should operate similarly...but does each one have its own quirks?
A guy I ride (bicycles) with regularly is a pilot for AA. I've asked him that exact same question... he says there's rarely a noticeable difference from one plane to the next, although you might sometimes get the same plane with some nagging little issue (not safety-related) from time to time. But overall, it's not like there's a plane that seems to have a lot more oomph than another.
Far greater performance/handling issues will arise from changes in temperature, humidity & elevation (particularly in terms of take-off & landing). Those are more likely to obscure anything subtle from one aircraft to another.
Or so I am told...