>>2014551$2500-3000 will buy you a reliable and high-quality full suspension bike, you can go hardtail if you really want to but be aware that you are well into respectable full suspension prices. If you do go hardtail at that price I doubt you’re gonna find any actual crap parts like base-model rockshox gold/silver/judy or $40 shimano brakes or SX Eagle or anything (but on $2500 full suspension you’d want to keep an eye out for parts like that). Also consider that there’s a lot of options for unique/special hardtail frames; if you wanted to try out carbon or titanium/steel, a new hardtail would be a straightforward way to do it.
It’s also kinda tough to pick brands, usually all major brands are completely comparable and brand name shouldn’t even be a concern at this “real bike” price, but hardtails aren’t as popular as they used to be, especially in top XC it’s not as common at the races and thus is not as common on the market, the “super” hardtail is really not getting much love for a lot of brands imo, be careful that you’re not just getting a $600 hardtail with a few expensive parts tacked on
Pic related was $3200 built up with completely chosen parts and with decent budget wheels (that were later replaced with crazy expensive carbon). My full suspension bike (YT Capra) was $2700 stock build.
