Good going... enjoy the Cardinal! Never flew one, but I've heard they're sweet... yet still very Cessna-like; shouldn't be too weird for you. MarcoAviator has some time in the 182RG; not quite the same, but he may have some useful advice.

I have to jump in here. I've been Flying a C177RG quite a bit lately. Just took one to Nashville (photo). Be careful.. it's an easy plane to fall in love with. Fast (for 200hp) efficient and realtively inexpensive (for travel.. not just flying for fun) at $120/hour. I made the 295nm trip from KOSU to KJWN in just over two hours each way.



At 8000 feet and 75% power (25" - 2500rpm) it will do a legitimate 140 knots true,  burning about 9.5gph. No wing-struts and retracted gear make a BIG difference. What you'll notice first is that it feels really sluggish climbing and even calls for 10 degrees flaps for a normal takeoff. With full fuel and two people (two 200lb people and bags) you'll even wonder if it's getting full power climbing out. I was told the wing loading is more for speed than climbing. You "can" take off with no flaps but you gotta stay in ground-effect until 85kias. If you try to do a soft-field take off like in a C172, get on the rigt rudder early (more than you think you need) and get the gear up quickly.

The only other thing I'd want to tell a new C177RG pilot is that it's got a stabilator, like Piper PA-28 and the yoke feels pretty heavy rounding out and flaring. You can't float it in like a 172.. if you fall below 70kias, it starts coming down whether you flare or not..

Your gonna get that "surprise" during your checkout (instructor will pull the gear fuse (keep an eye on him.. it's right by the mixture knob)).. but the emergency gear deployment is pretty straight forward.

One last thing.. Tap the brakes before retracting the gear.. they're spinning at 70knots when you take off