Most use a 4 speed from a VW bus since they are stronger. A company makes adapter plates to mount just about anything to the VW transmission. $450 for the adapter and flywheel that mounts to your motor and uses a VW clutch and pressure plate. It makes for an easy swap.

The problem is, the bus tranny's are getting less common, so the price is going up. Also, they only hold about 200hp before you start tearing them up. So guys either drive easy, or build the bus tranny with aftermarket gears and shafts, but that gets to be $4k.

This is why I'm trying the Ecotec transmission to go with my motor. The tranny is designed to hold up to the ecotec in a 3400 lb HHR, so it should be fine in a 2000 lb buggy.

You can spend as much or as little on a buggy as you want. Our 2 seater cost me about $2k, but I got a good deal on a parts car, and built the frame myself. My friend's buggy with the Northstar has a $4k trans, coilovers all the way around, and an in-dash GPS unit, so there's some money in that.