I can't answer your questions about Axioms, as I've never driven one but I just want to add that the Dash swap will probably be the hardest thing you'd do.. You have to imagine that your passenger airbag MUST no longer work for safety reasons (because the dashboards and passenger seat locations are different for the two vehicles). The HVAC vents and controls... Its a job for a custom shop or someone with enough tools and materials to manufacture anything you might need for the swap.. I've been daydreaming about the VX dashboard and believe that creating a fiberglass skin/dash cover that fits seamlessly over the current dashboard and leaves the location of the airbag untouched would be the best way to go.

Also, why the transmission change?