I have not purchased Austin.I own a MIM Tele and I doubt you would need to upgrade unless you felt like it. That said if lower price and decent quality are wanted you could look into Agile from Rondo Music. SX from Rondo as well makes some really nice Strat copies and they have some stock to hot rodded Tele copies.

Video of the Tele.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YhrJDejjF4&feature=related