My story if it helps, wanted a 'kit car' on a budget i.e Robin Hood etc, just something to replace a motorbike, and didn't really like what I saw. Then decided to go with an accident damaged Westfield, however spoke to some local guys at a car meet, and also joined this wonderful forum and threw it out there just like your post. So your on the right track by being here!
Great advise made me think twice about a damaged one, even more so because the seller is a bit shady as well! So scrap striping and rebuilding.
I would consider building one from scratch, however time is just against me and my concern is that it would go on the back burner when life takes over, so I ended up lifting my budget and ended up with a great 2001 SEiW 2.0 Blacktop.
I have carried out some upgrades but to be honest never really committed as I should, however up to the present day, I took the discussion to sell it last August, realised straight away I had made a mistake when it drove away, by pure chance it appeared on Facebook in a post in January from a guy who had traded it against another motor, but it appeared to have engine issues. I messaged him and told him its history, anyway, forward to this month, I contacted the guy to see if he had fixed and he hadn't, so deal done bought it back! Now with a revived passion for it Im steaming ahead with sorting it out properly this time.
Moral?? Take your time, choose wisely, there are loads of great cars out there, or if you decide to build use the forum for help, advise and motivation if needed.