Is it better to buy something on the high end, nice and clean and ready to go or get something with one or more things worn out for less money and replace them?
Boy! This question can get a whole lot of different responses. Buying low? My first question would be, "How mechanically inclined are you?" If you are capable of doing the work yourself on the plane, then buying low can have merit. If you need to pay somebody else labor to do this work, then it really does not make much sense. Another question would,be is, "How enamoured are you with "pretty" and "snazzy?" Personally, I do not need bright, new and shiny. (These things usually jack up the cost of an airplane without adding much to how well it actually flys.) It's what underneath that exterior that matters to me the most. If terms like scuffed? faded? peeling? Do not offend you, then buying on the low end also can work.
So, it all boils down to what you desire? Your personal financial situation? And what your personal mechanical capabilities are? Ultimately, if you want that "showroom" type airplane, with all of the bells and whistles. But you have to farm out all the work? You would be better off to purchase an airplane in that condition from the very start.
(Bill Warner's 152 and Wayne Westerman's 150 quickly come to mind!)
Otherwise, you can do as Gary and I have done. Buy an airplane that may not be all that pretty to look at. Fix and repair it as required. Save your money for those upcoming big expenses that surely will happen. And in the mean time, enjoy the hell out of flying!!
Those are my thoughts.............for what they are worth!
OH? Out of curiosity? Why do you only mention trying to purchase a 152? Why are you not considering a 150? I can come up with many more reasons to purchase a 150 over a 152..........
............Again, just personal thoughts...........
Good luck!
