Bigger , gas burning birds are going to cost more than smaller 40 size planes.
If your looking to save $s, Id look at what type of flying your wanting to do. If buzzing around the field, touch and goes, a few tricks now and again will do you for a while, maybe you could get by with a smaller plane and a 46 LA engine. Oporating costs will be a joke and you can get it flying real cheap as planes go.
Just an idea.