Coincidentally, there's an interview with Van from a while ago where he essentially said "You don't build one of these to save money. It will take too long to build and cost as much as a production plane. If you just want to go fast, spend the money on a Bonanza."

John and Dave can probably speak to this more, but I think that in order to successfully complete a build, you really need to want to be a builder and want to experience the process. If you're really only interested in the end product, you'll probably find that it's too much work and takes too long.

In the wise words of a friend of mine, "The only reason to build an airplane is if you want to build an airplane. If you just want a handbuilt airplane, buy one somebody else built, you will save both money and time." This from a guy who was single when he started building a 2-seat speedster, and when he finished it had a wife and 2 kids.

The ability to "make it your own" doesn't stop once a kit is built. You can buy one and modify it any way you want, even if that means tearing it down and rebuilding your way. The 51% rule only applies to the initial build; once it's signed off, there's no limit on how much you can pay to have done. That's essentially what RDD does with their LX7, they buy an E-AB Lancair and throw away most of it. By the time they're done the only things still "amateur built" are part of the fuselage and the data plate, everything else is built in a factory by paid staff.

Building your own plane is like wetting your pants in a dark suit. It gives you a warm feeling but nobody notices.

People who wet their pants often think that. Ain't true.

Not as fast as Lancair, not exactly hi perf in the traditional sense, but incredibly modern, Fadec, TN, incredibly reliable, can have chute, best panel - well our Bo now competes with it. We built one, and we would build it again, Sling TSI. Factory assist, quick build. There is a bit of a wait, but there are a few reliable shops that can help to build and find kits.

Goose.

Sedona w my wife.
160+ TAS on our way to Oshkosh last year.

Isn't the Pipistrel Panthera being sold as a kit right now?

Missed to say, following Dark Aero closely.
https://www.darkaero.com/aircraft/

I'd still go with the RV. Thousands made, easy to insure, company will likely still be around in 20 years.

Not really. You either buy it with the intention to build it with them (Show up, take some photos, and meet the legal minimum) or you buy an imported exhibition only aircraft.

Except it’s only a 2-place.

My RV-10 is the easiest flying airplane ever. Not as fast as what the OP seems to want, but does the rest of it very well.

this is super cool. I love these as an alternative to $1m for a new Cirrus. Don’t they have a certified model now?

What was the factory assist build like? Can someone who doesn’t have thousands of hours to commit still build one?

By the way, my son’s name is Agustín - goes by Goose!

Interesting discussion. Seems like we're in a "post" Hi-Perf Singles kit era these days.

Not knocking the RV or anything else. Once you get used to traveling over 200kts and at altitude, it is hard to step down.