I would buy a parkwood, build it up cheap with either a new deore set and second hand finishing bits or vice versa, upgrade over time and then swap the frame to a stanton or something similar. Or they do a parkwood build with low end sram for £599 (or did)

Upgrading over time is ok, but unless you dont ride much, the cycle of replacements makes it hard to get everything where you want it to be to swap it onto a decent frame. On that basis, buying complete will usually be better – buy a donor 26er or something for drivetrain and buy a decent frame first.

Also depends what you have in your spares, if you have a lot of parts I would go with the frame first and go from there. Get some rigid forks on to start with.

Ridgeback X1? Full bike for £499. Fully rigid. Excellent frame and forks, heavy chainset, average wheels. The only real downside is clearance for a rear tyre. Max is 2.1. After a year, I’ve gradually upgraded mine into quite a versatile bike.

Buy frame, build up with what ever you’ve got laying around, share wheels with your enduro to save money.

I agree with Zippy. Check out the Pinnacle Ramin 1, under £500 and a great upgradeable bike.
Largely ignored by the MTB press, yet raved about by the mtb’ing community. There’s a great thread on here somewhere, with riders pictures and reviews.

If I were you, I’d buy my Scott scale from the classifieds…

10% off just now

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/ramin-one-2015-mountain-bike-ec071312?country=GB&currency=GBP&esvt=886-GOUKE241694&esvadt=999999-0-32836-1&esvcrea=61233485096&esvd=c&esvo=EV207300-L-LIME&esvaid=50080&gclid=CjwKEAjwnKCrBRCm1YuPrtWW0QMSJAC-5UYk_thojsEgIUkWzwYpxGoCMxapMKYUFLDAIItVz9pgFxoCG4Hw_wcB

Ive just bought a second hand inbred, just picked up yesterday from powdercoaters. Have bars, stem, cranks and saddle from spares, have bought deore kit for brakes and drivetrain as and when on special. Should build up in the next couple of weeks, think it will come in at around £400-£450, including pace rigid forks at a cost of £85.

BUt if i were doing it again, or in a hurry, I’d pick the Ramin or parkwood full build, as all the little bits add up. Depends if you have spares which will allow better spec in other areas up to your £500 budget. Second hand is always an option but quality is so variable.

I have an Evans gift card that i’d sell you with some money off to bring the price of that Pinnacle down even further. Email in profile if interested.