"Step Up" from Squire Strat?

[stratcross]

So I am very happy with my Squier VM Strat and im not looking to replace it anytime soon but always looking down the road,i would like to own a "real"Fender Strat someday.Ive checked out several MIM Standard Strats and they really dont seem like much of an upgrade over a VM or CV series Squier,so im thinking an American Strat is the next step,the Highway One or American Special series look good and would be in the price range im thinking of,does anyone have any experience with any of these models?What should my next step be?

[AllroyPA]

Check out a MIM tele before you write that class off all togeather I've seen a few and all have been nice axes.

[1935streetrod]

Iv'e got a HWY 1 like this one and love it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-FENDER-HIGH...5850?pt=Guitar
It plays easy with jumbo frets and sounds great though my tube amp.
If you don't mind the big headstock (I don't mind it) you can sometimes get em
for less than 5 hunnert.