[KobraKarl]

Mattr,
you know" there is no free lunch,"

high end cars cost more because they use better components, more components, more labor, better labor,

you have pointed out some worthy considerations...

I shopped a couple years before I plunked down my dough, and I looked at a lot of cars (hours on the net ,flew into orange county twice) ...If it was cheaper....there was always a reason...live axle not IRS...IRS but not Watts....Watts but old style axles.......watts , new axles, but original control arms.....ETC.

that goes for instruments, steering , brakes, interior,engine , gearbox ,shifter,winsheild, electrics, wheels/hubs,PAINT........beware of "imitation bargains"

If you build your own, you pretty much have to pay market $ to your vendors...you may end up with what you want ..but it probably will not be a bargain.

There are good deals out there used ,and after a while you can easily recognize one.

The trick is , DONT do something like, settle on a $2000.00 discount for a mediocre paint job when ultimately you will spend $10.000.00 redoing it.

find the best deal you can......buy the best you can afford.

Good luck, KK