Thanks for all the replies guys! Let me touch on a few comments made:
CJ Johansson and John Allgaier, thanks bunches for your comments. Now I know a bit better what Im looking at between the 4001 and the 4003. From what was said I think (if I didn't get a Laredo) a 4003 is exactly what I would want. Now at the same time I love 'buckers on a bass. I love the 'buckers on my T40 (uhm if I can admit this here, I am a Peavey NUT) and almost /always/ have my T40 set to its 'ric' tone. That is my favorite tone on it. So perhaps when it comes to the pups, the Laredo might be better for me. But, I love thin necks so thats a plus on the new 4003. I also know the years to stay away from as I have no like for a 'baseball' neck of any brand!
And yes, with the economic situation right now, I know T40s have dropped pretty hard and they had just started hitting the upper 3 digits, almost a grand range and now they are back to the $2-400 range again. I am very financially challenged so I might have timed this just right to get a Ric in regards to that. ^_^ I will also not stay so narrow in my search (as in just for a Laredo) but keep an eye out for new 4003s (the description of the new ones neck has me really intrigued).
Joshua Chandler, my budget is very challenging. I have several basses and most would be considered lower end to be honest. Though we should all know that means nothing to quality and sound but still. I will have to be selling off almost all my basses toward whichever Ric I end up with. Most of my basses are several vintage Peaveys, a vintage Yamaha, and a Squier VMJ that would be on the sell block. I would suppose those brands aren't looked at too fondly here, eh?
I do have one classic Fender bass though that is not an option to sell though for a Ric (neither is my Peavey T40, my 85 Foundation, or my Yamaha RBX4 A2, the rest though are outta here!). :p
And my issue with the PG isn't so much that it has one. I am actually neither here nor there with a PG. Some of my basses don't have them and some do. My 1995 MIM Fender Precision Special (also known as a 'Cowpoke' if anyone is familiar with this hybrid limited production Fender) that has a PG [shape] to die for IMO. My issue with a Ric 4001/4003 PG is the shape. No offense at all to those that like them!!! I am just not at all into the shape of it but I don't mind one being there if I could get one the same color as the finish (and I want a black Ric -- Jetglo). That would make it fade into the color and I would be quite happy with that. ^_^
Kris Lyons, thanks for the welcome and I hope I find /my/ Ric right when I get the money ready for it!! As kooky as it sounds, I will know /my/ Ric when I see it.
I also appreciated the better description the body of a Ric explaining why some people have problems with it. The only guitar Ive ever owned is a late 60s Lawsuit Les Paul [Black Beauty] copy (Ive owned it since 1982 and I will actually be selling it at last for the Ric I find to be mine). It has the arched top but from that point everything else is flat and sharp edged and I actually like the way its body feels to me when I do play it. I have also heard people talk that they have no place to rest their thumb playing a 4003. I tend to anchor my thumb near the neck heel and Ive studied pics of 4003s and I see the perfect spot for my thumb at least so I am confident of no issues there. ^_^
I look forward to hearing more and I can't wait to get my first Ric! Where is the market place here by the way? I looked and I must be blind cause I couldnt find it. LOL
But if all else fails I will also take a 4003 in jetglo and just swap the white PG for a black one. 
I ended up with an '85 dark Tobacco burst/maple neck..sweet monster that weighs as much tonnage as my '79 natural did. I've got the huge 4.5 inch padded Levy 'bass' strap and I can still only stand and play it for about an hour before my left arm goes numb from the weight (I have some nerve damage in my left shoulder and lower back for that matter so its a pain to own that monster literally but I won't let this one go for nothing!!). >_<
Just kidding!
