I would kindly like to explain why I feel there more to this rather than "throwing more money at it". For simplicity stakes...
Let's pretend that...
Car A: $10,000 it's can speed up to 50MPH and gives you on average of 16MPG
Car B: $16,000 it's can speed up to 80MPH and gives you on average of 20MPG
Car C: $8,000 it's can speed up to 24MPH (slow moving vehicle) and gives you on average 10MPG
According to what you said it is said that Car B is ALWAYS the "best way to go". While it boasts the "highest" specs does that means that Car B is worth the higher cost per unit of specification?
Meaning that unless you value something else of Car B for the extra over-headed costs (for example it's MAX speed) rather it's value. Then I would buy Car A any day. Since it only a $2,000 different and that $2,000 extra gives you SO MUCH more than the $8,000 version (car C).
See what I means?