Originally Posted by
CrimsonEclipse
Last time I asked a bike shop on advice for a full suspension, they suggested a $7500 model.
I quit asking buying advice at bike shops.
You can get similar advice here. FWIW I spent $2500 and definitely can see where I could have benefitted from spending a few $k more. I don't have buyers remorse though. At my age I am not racing (haven't in decades) and don't need top of the line stuff. I could upgrade a bit at a time, but it isn't a bad bike for trail riding as is.
Oh, and fwiw I am a daily trail rider.
Edit to add:
I was thinking more about this while out on my morning ride. I am probably actually faster on my hard tail for the terrain I ride which sounds similar to yours. I do enjoy the full suspension bike and ride it most of the time, but really the ideal bike for it may be closer to what you already have. If I were to really build what I thought would get me over this terrain the fastest I'd build up a light hard tail with a real nice fork good wheels and fairly fat tires.