The most cost friendly idea I can think of, as far as the upholstery is concerned, is to buy another 928 with mechanical issues perhaps. You might not get a mint interior, but you may score a very decent interior for $1500 or less going that route. Not to mention a wealth of other interchangeable bits that may come in handy down the road. :cool:
Paint is a different story altogether. There are many different ways to do that. I am in the middle of repainting my '84 right now. Since I do it for a living, it will cost very little if anything. However, you can certainly shave much of the cost by approaching it the right way. Disassemble the car yourself. Don't let someone else used to taking late model Fords apart for paint go anywhere near your car. These guys are paid on commission and are often in a hurry. They're likely to easily become frustrated with the amount of time it will take to remove & install the bumpers, trim pieces, etc. vs. that of a Focus. Tearing it down yourself and doing your own prep work will save you up to $2000 on the estimate. And you'll have peace of mind knowing that your vehicle came apart and went back together as it should.
One more thing, don't let the shop buff your car within 24 hours of it being sprayed. Take it back with trash and all in the paint. Go back and buff it yourself a couple months down the road. You'll be much happier with the quality of the finish.
