Hi Scott,
Welcome to the forum!
I've driven a few Elises and in my opinion I consider both 5exi and Elise as kit cars..
I think that 8K is rather optimistic but it all really depends on how good you are at not wasting money on un-needed items and tools/toys..
I reckon I spent about £11-12k but then i wasn't on a tight budget...
The car is not difficult to build - this was my first time and I somehow got there in the end.. Don't forget if you really get nowhere Marlin will be happy to take it off you and finish it for a reasonable sum of money.
I can't really imagine 5Exi being suitable for everyday driving - for me its more of a weekends and track days toy.. But having said that, its quite confortable to drive, its got weather gear so if you are very keen I can't see why you couldn't use it everyday..
Ultimately, my advice is - buy the 5exi if you genuinely want to spend the time building it and if you will enjoy doing it.. If you are just doing it to get the car and drive it than perhaps buying a finished product is more suited for you..
Let us know if you have any more questions?
Dylan
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