Personally owning a 2.5V6 CDX with the tricky elec rear blind, leather door cards and I feel very happy with all aspects of the drive. Don't feel I 'need' the extra 30 horses, leather seats. As Nick says, there's not much between the two cars.
Personally I'd be finding the
car (sound bodywork, known history etc), then customise it to what you want. If FL CDX you gain Xenons/HIDs, which is nice (and thereby makes it nigh-on superior in spec to some PFL Elites)
A budget of £1000 could get you a mega low-miles CD 2.2 or something similar in low demand, a donor Elite/car with the parts you want, several weekends of swapping at your leisure. If the engine is an issue engine swaps are very doable for a few sheckles from the right OOFer's travelling services.
As above, also, galactic mileage is no issue on V6s (even on the 2.0/2.2s in many cases), especially when you really out to be doing lots of preventative maintenance on then, regardless of the history, anyway.
Also consider the personal pleasure of having your own unique-specced car. Rather than, dare I say it,
another star silver facelift Elite.
