Cusco i'm sure we could all single out individual aircraft faults but as a statistic overflight was recently lifted from Permit aircraft in the UK as a detailed study of accidents over the last 30 years was carried out. It was found that crashes were about the same for permit and C of A and that included micros on a permit.
Overflight now lifted by the CAA. There now working on the IFR restriction. Mind you don't buy an aircraft waiting for this to happen.You'll probally go old and grey by then:-)
If you want cheap to run then a rotax powered machine is hard to beat, if you want out and out performance then an RV. I have cruised along side my brothers C42 at 85 Kts and I can also sail past my friends Mooney at 170Kts
The advice given about taking someone along with you who knows the type is spot on for any aircraft.