A good simple fun kart can be built for a grand IF you find deals on the motor and do not go to fancy and can dio the work yourself. Once its done you can play on it and work on a fancier one with what you learned the first time through.
Go Karts, Off Road Go Kart Plans, we supply plans and kits.
Something like that? Or are you thinking different? Thats a pretty good simple and cost effective build.
For anyone to help you with the cost idea you should get a little specific. What motor are you thinking of using? (Do you already have it?) The amount of power it makes will make the drivetrain cost go up of course. Electric start is a must with a clutch cause you WILL stall it. A CVT (sled type clutch) is far more forgiving if you gotta pull start it.
How much travel do you want it to have?
One seater or two?
Do you need reverse? Getting unstrapped and out of a buggy to push it around is a real pain. Same for starting the clutch motor if you stall it.
The terrain you plan to run in helps also. Where are you gonan be driving it.
Anything else you can tell us you would like this machine to be capable of will help.
Oh yeah! Welcome :]